A GOOD TASTE OF FLORIDA HOSPITALITY

Wishing for a getaway, nearby, with historic reminders and beautiful gardens, near a downtown area brimming with museums, theaters, interesting eateries, Antiques Row, art galleries, yachts on waterways and a new downtown waterfront area? 

You can get away from the cares of the day with a weekend or longer stay at the Casa Grandview, located in downtown West Palm Beach’s trendy Grandview Heights historic district, south of City Place and Clematis.   Here you will enjoy a 1925 historic bed and breakfast inn featuring private luxury vacation resort cottages, main house guest rooms and 1948 art deco cabana suites.  It has received the AAA Four Diamond Award.  

Accommodations are chic, warm, eclectic styles and inviting and retain the original interior architecture.  There is a cozy Caribbean-like island atmosphere with a Mediterranean flair.

Walk beneath a canopy of leafy palms and flowering trees.  Sit in the garden and enjoy the serene view.  Feel surrounded by history.  Some rooms reflect the Henry Flagler Era of 1893-1913, or the Palm Beach Boom Era of 1913-1926.  Others remind you of the Historic Neighborhood Downtown Boom Era of the 1894-1920’s.

Choose from Spanish Mission, Revival, Craftsman Bungalow, Art Deco and Key West styles, one or two bedrooms and suites.  This off-the-beaten path resort provides an authentic Florida vacation experience and gracious hospitality.  There are one bedroom units, suites with living rooms, units with kitchens.

Walk to the tennis courts, the Kravis Center, and the Convention Center.  Bike or jog the scenic route.  Have lunch at the world famous Breakers Hotel.

Some accommodations enjoy complimentary breakfasts, coffee and tea service and all have allergy blocking mattress and pillow encasements.  There is a DVD rental library, hammocks, keyless door entry, 600-thread count sheets, outdoor lounging areas, chaises, dining and grilling areas.  Cottages have washers and dryers.

For more information.

WE CAN BE PROUD...

Out of 4783 acute care hospitals in the US, Boca Raton Regional Hospital and 175 others were identified as Top Performers, receiving the 2012 HealthGrades Women’s Health Excellence Award.  That puts BRRH in the top 5% for excellence in women’s heath care... for the third year in a row!  

BRRH is also the recipient of  the 2012 Best 100 Hospitals in the Nation for Cardiac care, stroke Care, Gastrointestinal Treatment.  US News Media & World Reports 2011-2012 Best Hospitals ranked BRHH as a top hospital in the South Florida metropolitan area.  

The hospital is a recognized leader in oncology, cardiovascular disease and surgery, minimally invasive surgery, orthopedic, women’s health and emergency medicine, all of which offer state-of-the art diagnostic and imaging capabilities and designated by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration as a Comprehensive Stroke Center.

ENJOY A FOOD TOUR IN A HISTORIC DISTRICT

Come on over on certain Saturdays, listed below, and join the "Taste History and Culinary Tours of Historic Palm Beach County."  Visit restaurants, eateries, cafes and markets in historic districts, areas and buildings in either Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Lake Worth or Lantana, and enjoy food sampling. Learn about food history, food culture facts and foodways.

You  will be touring on a bus and walking four to six blocks for four hours, rain or shine, visiting at least two of fifteen eateries regularly on the tours, markets and urban farms.  See and hear narrative information by a live guide on historic buildings, districts and landmarks located along the tour.  Dietary restrictions cannot be accommodated but you may visit local home-grown markets, vegan restaurants, organic eateries, gourmet restaurants, soul food, visit an urban farm, and more.  Some food tasting is standing only - no sitting, so wear comfortable shoes.

Cultural Arts venues include stops at the Lake Worth Art League Gallery and the Clay, Glass, Metal, Stone Gallery in the downtown Lake Worth arts district. Cost is $35 per person, less for groups of ten, all paid in advance.   Tours being at 11 am so be there at 10:45 am.  Tours start at the Boynton Beach Mall (Macy's - Outside at East Entrance), 801 N. Congress Avenue.

The Tour is run by the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History in Boynton Beach, a non-profit 501c3.  Tours are held on the 2nd (Lake Worth), 3rd and 4th Saturdays (Delray Beach and Boynton Beach) of each month, year-round. The website is http://mlfhmuseum.org/culinaryfoodtours.html.

For more information call 561-243-2662 or E-mail tour@tastehistoryculinarytours.org. Private group tours are also offered.

IDEAS FOR LIVING LONGER, NOTHING NEW BUT YOU MAY NEED TO REFOCUS

United Healthcare’s 7^th Annual 100@100 Survey found that more than half of the 100-year olds exercise nearly every day.  Activity favored by  nearly half: walking, and almost as many do exercises to strengthen their muscles.  Some enjoy yoga, Tai Chi, riding a bike, jogging or participating in sports.  It is estimated there are 72,000 centenarians nationwide with Medicare plans.  

The survey included 300 baby boomers in their early 50’s, and 100 centenarians and answers focused on talking with a friend or family member almost every day,  attending social events, and finding reasons daily to giggle or laugh.

Asked who to invite to a family dinner from a list of 14, Betty White was number one for 78%.  Half would pick “Gone with the Wind” as the greatest movie from the  past 100 years.  Boomers picked “It’s A Wonderful Life.”

Almost 75% of the centenarians polled said they will vote in November.

REALTORS ASSOCIATION 

OF THE PALM BEACHES 

POINTS OUT THAT THE MEDIAN 

SALE PRICE OF SINGLE FAMIILY 

HOMES IS UP TO $197,000 

FROM $190,000 THE PREVIOUS YEAR

______________________________________

The median townhouse-condo price in Palm Beach County is $82,500, up from $75,000 a year ago.  Less than 1 in 5 closings were for residential home sales in financial distress.  Distressed inventories are at 2007 levels.

Short sale process by Bank of America has been "accelerated."  These indications bode well for the housing market.

Total March pending single-family home sales in the county are up 70% from a year ago for homes and 41.1% for townhouses and condos.  Single family homes inventory has decreased 38% from the previous year and 40.8% from a year earlier.

The inventory decrease and increase in number of buyers has created a more competitive market place and that has positively impacted property values.

HEADING UP SOON THEY TELL US...

"For people who have been waiting to time their home purchase close to market bottom, it's time to start shopping," said Stan Humphries, Zillow's chief economist.  Bidding wars have returned as buyers compete for a shrinking supply of homes.  Inventories of single-family homes in Palm Beach and Broward counties have fallen in the past year by 38% and 48%, respectively, local Realtor boards say.  (From loansafe.org.)


The Sun-Sentinel interviewed a dozen builders, buyers, analysts, real estate agents and other local housing observers and they agreed that the region has reached a housing floor, despite concern that another wave of bank-owned homes will hit the market.


With prices back to levels last seen in 2002, demand is strong again, particularly from foreign investors and others willing to pay cash.

BROKEN SOUND CAR SHOW RAISES $18,000+ FOR PAP CORP CONATION FOR CANCER RESEARCH

Broken Sound Club’s First Annual Classic, Collector and Exotic Car Show raised more than $18,000 which was presented on May 1 to the Boca Friends of the Pap Corps, Champions for Cancer Research.

The car show brought car participants from all over South Florida to show off their antique and classic cars. Spectators voted for the best car and club in show, won raffle prizes and enjoyed a barbecue. 

The club has plans to hold an even bigger event next year, and open the show to neighboring clubs.

Broken Sound Club’s Chapter of the Pap Corps joyfully accepted the $18,429.00 check. All proceeds will go to the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

RIS MEDIA: HOUSING MARKET MAY BE ON THE RISE

The key word is MAY.

Many economists see the easing of foreclosures as the key reason the market may be on the rise.  However, they note, “Banks still retain many foreclosed properties on their books and some analysts have predicted that housing prices could weaken again if lenders dump these properties into the recovering market.” 

Lowe’s Daily Real Estate Report for first three months of 2012 says, “Foreclosure filings up in most markets.” This was for more than half of the markets tracked by RealtyTrac, “an early sign that long-dormant foreclosures are coming out of hibernation in many local markets.”

The foreclosures referred to above are only part of the shadow inventory, and more people who are “underwater” may do short sales or be foreclosed on in the near future.  Ris Media points out that one of several factors holding back a major turnaround in the housing market is, “the huge number of homeowners who owe more on their mortgages than their homes are worth leaving them essentially stuck in their properties.”  

One good sign is that Standard & Poor’s Case-Shiller Index of 20 US cities shows the steady shrinking in recent months of a year-over-year decline in home values.  Ris Media says, “analysts note that prices have stablizied and sales volume has been gaining.

DataQuick of San Diego reported that, “statewide the notices of default had a 17.6% drop from the same period last year.”  One of the early callers of the housing crash, Christopher Thornberg of Beacon Economics said, “What are important are sales and inventory, and those are pointing in the right direction… I would say that by the end of the year, they should translate into better prices.”  As reported in this blog recently, NAR Chief Economist said that by the end of the year prices might rise by 10%.  Zillow predicts a 5%+ price rise by the end of  the year.

Some promising factors for home sales include low interest rates and the availability of bargain-priced properties, and a prevalence of investors buying up, fixing up and renting out former foreclosures.  New home sales, with last year being their worst on record, are up 16% for the first three months compared to 2011.  Now we will wait to see what happens to some or all those shadow inventory foreclosures.

CANCELED DUE TO WEATHER

SOMETIME THIS WEEKEND

HEAD OVER TO THE

DELRAY AFFAIR

ARTS AND CRAFTS FESTIVAL

Stretching from Swinton Avenue to the Intracoastal Waterway, encompassing10 city blocks, the Delray Affair will be open starting at 10 am and Fridays and Saturdays to 6pm, Sunday to 5 pm along eastern Atlantic Avenue.  

Eight hundred of the best artists, crafts persons and photographers from all over the US will be participating. Delicious foods will be available. The area will only be open to pedestrian traffic.  Included will b 5 food courts, two beer and wine gardens, live music and strolling street performers.  This is Delray’s BIGGEST PARTY, and this is the 50^th anniversary of this annual event.  Admission is free.

Ora Sorenson as selected as the artist for the commemorative poster.  The landmark Colony Hotel is pictured with a stalk of pretty gladiolas.  The festival evolved from the original Gladiolas Festival.

The Downtown Roundabout Shuttle will provide free round trip service 9 am to 8 pm on Atlantic Avenue from the Congress Avenue TriRail station to the Public Library, just west of the event.  See map for parking garages.

Attendance may top 300,000 people, 66% of whom attended in past years.  Forty-five percent are over age 54, 73% are Palm Beach County residents. The event generates $21MM in economic activity and has an advertising budget of $180,000, according to the Chamber of Commerce.

HIRING 5,000 HEROES

Yesterday, job fairs for military veterans took place in New York, Chicago and Fort Hood, Texas.  In New York the job fair was held at the Intrepid Air & Space Museum.  There, over 5000 veterans and military spouses connected with more than 100 employers.  A total of 23,000 veterans and military spouses attended Hiring Our Heroes events.

 

Companies came with job opportunities in hand, including rock band KISS.  They received over 500 applicants for their roadie job.  Comcast was there. NBC Universal pledge to hire 1000 veterans over the next three years.

 

Over 400 more job fairs are being held across the country.  Military.com and Monster.com are holding virtual career fairs for veterans and military spouses; over 19,000 people applied online.

The campaign was held by the US Chamber of Commerce, the National Chamber Foundation and Capital One, which has pledge $4.5MM to support job fairs and workforce training initiatives.  NBC has promoted this effort.

Andrea Mitchell reported that the veteran unemployment rate was 12.1% last year.

The Realtors' Research Division of the National Association of Realtors reports that last year 68,200 residential transactions closed at $1MM or more, about 1.6% of all home sales in 2011.


The $500,000 and above market segment represented 10% of all home sales.

While luxury homes are a small niche, they are generally outperforming the market.

The Grandview Heights Historic District will be hosting their 15^th annual historic home tour on Sunday, April 01st,  between 3 – 7 pm. This home tour will mark the 100^th birthday of the oldest section of Grandview Heights. Located within walking distance to City Place and the downtown Clematis Street Historic District, the Grandview Heights Historic District has become one of the most desirable residential neighborhoods in West Palm Beach due to its superb location and eclectic, old south Florida atmosphere. Established in 1912 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this neighborhood has one of the highest concentrations of historically significant architecture, such as Spanish Mission, Mediterranean Revival, Florida Bungalow, Art Deco and Dutch Colonial Revival.

This year’s tour features 14 homes, the biggest ever, with various styles and in different stages of restoration.  11 of the homes have never been shown in the past, including one which dates back to 1912. Highlights of the tour this year include art exhibits by locally acclaimed artists at Grandview Gardens Bed & Breakfast and Casa Grandview Historic Luxury Inn, a complimentary street party including a full meal, wine, soft drinks and live entertainment by Samm, one of the areas most popular jazz singers.

Tickets can either be booked in advance for $ 25 (plus small booking fee) online at www.historichometours.com or by calling 659-6721. Tickets are $30 on the day of the tour and can be purchased in front of the Armory Art Center in Howard Park. Visit www.grandviewheights.net for more information.

MOODY's ECONOMY.COM PREDICTIONS

… market will not rebound to previous highs until 2030 or later, particularly in south Florida, California, Nevada and Arizona

… Other regions are predicted to recover in 2020

LATEST NEWS

• The 258,000-square-foot Delray Marketplace retail center project has begun construction with Deerfield Beach-based SIKON Construction Company. The center, which is located at the northwest corner of West Atlantic Avenue and Lyons Road, will feature shopping, restaurants and entertainment, and is set for completion Nov. 15 of this year. 
  
• In Florida, the Federal Housing Finance Agency says it completed 119,113 loan modifications in 2010 and 2011. More than 56,550 short sales or deeds-in-lieu of foreclosure were also completed during the same time period
• Florida has more loans that are one year or more delinquent than any state in the U.S. but California, according to a new report by the Federal Home Finance Agency. There are a total of 166,000 Florida loans more than one year delinquent, out of 292,000 delinquent loans backed by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, the Palm Beach Post reported. California has 174,000 loans that are delinquent by a year or more.
• Miami-Dade County saw the greatest increase in the state when it came to the rate of mortgage delinquencies, with 23.5 percent more mortgages 90 or more days delinquent than in the previous quarter, according to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. In the same period, the number of delinquent mortgages rose 19.3 percent in Broward County and 16.3 percent in Palm Beach County.  

FROM THE BREAKERS HOTEL

We are proud to share with you that The Breakers has been nominated as one of Florida's top 100 buildings by the Florida chapter of the American Institute of Architects. The "Florida Architecture: 100 Years, 100 Places" competition is one of many events planned to celebrate the organization's 100th anniversary and to recognize the most architecturally significant buildings in our state.

As you are a valued guest of The Breakers, we hope you will join us in voting for the resort as often as you can from now through April 6, 2012.  There is no limit to the number of times an individual can vote. The winner will be announced in early April and honored at the chapter's annual convention held at The Breakers in July 2012. It would be very exciting if The Breakers was named the #1 building in Florida! Vote Now>

We are honored to showcase the original 1926 building and its breathtaking public rooms, all hand painted by Italian artisans, to thousands of visitors to enjoy each year. The parallel path of preservation and modernization has allowed The Breakers to thrive in the luxury hotel sector and survive as the only large historic luxury resort in the country still in the hands of its original owners.  At 116 years old, this is an unusual feat.

Given the number of other buildings included in this survey, it would be an honor to rank at the top of the list. Thank you for your vote and, as always, for being our guest. We look forward to welcoming you back to the resort again in the near future.

Warmest Regards,

The Breakers Team 

PS: You can vote for more than one and The Colony Hotel is on the list as well.

HOUSING PREDICTIONS

Robert Schiller, Yale Professor of Economics and originator of Case-Shiller housing reports, says we may be at bottom, but has no indications of another boom any time soon.

Hear what he has to say.

Florida has one of the highest negative equity 

percentages nationwide

with 44 percent of its mortgaged properties 

reported as being underwater