DINED LAST NIGHT ON A FRESH ARTICHOKE THAT I BOILED, ADDED BUTTER DIP TO, AND IT WAS DELICIOUS

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION

Rich source of fibre

Low in calories and fat

Excellent source of folic acid

Moderate source of Vitamins C and K

#7 on USDA's Top 20 Antioxidant-rich foods

MORE DETAILS ABOUT ARTICHOKES

COME ONE, COME ALL: LESLIE HINDMAN TO AUCTION ITEMS JUNE 14TH FROM KLUGE ESTATE FROM $500 UP AND UP AND UP

“Giving back” is well represented by the late billionaire John Kluge’s generosity.  Four acres with two houses and three other buildings held a lot of “goodies” including  furniture, decorative accessories and other objects symbolic of “the good life.”  The property has been on the market for five years with all the furniture remaining inside. 150’ of oceanfront land is included.

Kluge Estate Guest House by Addison Mizner

Palm  Beach’s 89 Middle Road just sold for $39MM, with receipts for property, furniture et al slated for scholarships at Columbia University, Kluge’s alma mater.  In time to come the buyer will decide what to do with this outstanding property.

Leslie Hindman received about 400 items to appraise, catalog and put up for sale, June 9-13, allowing remote bidding.

Christie’s will auction some of the furnishings, silver and porcelain in New York City December 2nd and 3^rd, about 100 lots of treasures.  Kluge’s extensive fine art collection generated about $12MM at a Christie’s auction a few years ago. Periods represented include “newer and still chic items” alongside the antiques. 

  

Models of sailing ships and a billiards table are included.  Kluge loved lavishly landscaped gardens and outdoor furniture and decorative items used on the grounds will be included, some of it bamboo furniture.  Other fabulous auctions handled by Hindman’s company included items from the Kennedy and Lilly Pulitzer estates, the historic Manalapan home, Casa Alva and similar expansive and well-decorated estates.

DOES THIS GIVE YOU AN IDEA FOR YOUR LOCAL SHELTER?

GREEN COVE SPRINGS is northwest of St Augustine, Clay County, in Florida known for its natural Sulphur springs.  It is located on the St. Johns River, south of Jacksonville. 

Kudos to the Clay County Animal Care and Control shelter for developing a new Business Cat Program which helps business owners and shelter animals.  Shelter cats are placed at pet-friendly businesses until they find forever homes. The cats get exposure to the public which can increase their chances of being adopted.  The benefit to employers is to see increased productivity and decreased stress among its employees.

Clay County Old Courthouse

Animals first get complete veterinary care, being spayed or neutered and vaccinated prior to a business placement.  Supplies come with the kitty such as food and litter.  Businesses provide a safe enclosed environment, and love and affection from office staff.  Cats are carefully chosen according to the environment with few or lots of people around the business.  A large crate is provided for night time for the cats.

18-hole Eagles Landing golf course

Result: 25 shelter cats recently found new homes during a Super Adoption Weekend.   All potential business cats were adopted.  There is no fee and the cats are considered “borrowed.”

Nature Trail

Tree House for Overnight Camping

WHO WAS TY COBB? THE HISTORY WE KNOW THAT’S WRONG!

 About a talented baseball player, all-around nice guy, the price of fame and reporters who make up false stories to sell their books and articles. 

Ring a bell today?

http://imprimis.hillsdale.edu/who-was-ty-cobb-the-history-we-know-thats-wrong/

LAST HOUSE WANTED BY AUGUSTA NATIONAL SAYS “NO!” TO BUY OFFERS

LAST HOUSE WANTED BY AUGUSTA NATIONAL SAYS “NO!” TO BUY OFFERS

Since about 2001, Augusta National Golf Club, dubbed the most powerful golf club on earth, has spent about $40MM to entice locals to sell their properties and thereby bought up much of the land bordering their exclusive grounds.  BUT there is one holdout on the northwest corner of the club owned by a couple who just celebrated their 60^th wedding anniversary.  The area is a free parking lot, Gate 6A, now bulldozed, that was once a fully lived in neighborhood, where kids happily played in the streets.  The house in question at 1112 Stanley Road is in the middle of Gate 6-A.

Augusta National was designed by Bobby Jones and others and opened for play in 1933, with the Masters starting there the following year.  In Golf Digest’s 2009 list of 100 greatest courses, Augusta National ranked #1. In Golfweek Magazine’s 2011 list of best classic courses for course architecture in the US, it was ranked #10.  The first female members were admitted in 2012, Condoleezza Rice and Darla Moore.  In 1990, African Americans were admitted to this exclusive membership.  There are 10 cabins on the property, one built exclusively for member President Dwight D. Eisenhower after his election, according to secret service specifications.  Famous golfers Ben Hogan and Sam Snead were also members.  Others include Warren Buffet, Bill Gates, Roger Goodell, Sam Nunn, T. Boone Pickens, Jr, Jack Welsh and many other CEOs of top companies.  Membership numbers about 300 and is by invitation only.  Members and tournament winners receive a distinctive green sports coat.

    

Club officials stop by regularly with offers, but the residents don’t want to go.  They raised their family in this 1900 sq ft 3-bedroom house, with everyone coming back for the holidays, which Zillow values at $355,126.  Initial sellers got about $250,000 for their homes.  Built in 1959, on the cusp of being a historic home, it remains the “piece de resistance”.  Their grandson has become a professional, Scott Brown, age 32.  He is a PGA Tour member, not yet making the Masters.  Their brother sold his home, on two acres, and two other homes he owned, for a cool $3.6MM.  The residents owned another property across the street that they sold to the club for $1.2MM.   A nearby holdout wound up settling for $960,000, for a very similar house.

When the Masters is played at Augusta, the area fills up with cars, the rest of the year it is very quiet there.  Fans will stop by and greet the residents, complementing their landscaping and asking for gardening tips.

ALL ABOARD FLORIDA'S BRIGHTLINE TRAINS WILL BE PET FRIENDLY, A MOVE TOWARDS PROGRESS

All Aboard Florida's passengers can include pets on their 32 daily trains from Miami to Orlando. Stops include West Palm Beach and Ft. Lauderdale.  

The West Palm Beach segment has their launch planned for the end of 2017, but that date may be changed, according to officials.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SELLING YOUR PROPERTY RIGHT NOW!

If you live in Florida, you are really in luck. Real estate prices are rapidly increasing due to the low inventories and a hot job market - it is a seller’s market.  Keep your eye on the following factors:

1. Why it's a seller's market.  If the economy in a particular region such as Palm Beach County has bounced back strong since the downturn that began in 2008, home prices will be higher because more people will be coming to that area for employment or to retire and relax. Most of Palm Beach County prices have outreached expectations, sometimes higher than the peak in 2007 and 2008.  It may be that prices are or will be staying more steady in the near future, but they are HIGH now.

2. The price must be right. It is more important than ever to work with an experienced, licensed Realtor who understands your local market trends and issues. You will need to price your home at the going market rate that reflects not only the value of your home but the neighborhood where it is located. Price too high, and there will be little interest in your property; too low, and potential buyers may wonder what hidden issues your property may have.  As a Realtor in Palm Beach County since 2000, I have been asked that question many times… “Why is the price so low?  What is wrong?”

3. Going up... or down.  Mortgage rates have a significant effect on the dollar figure that you use to price your home.  As percentage rates go up, you have to subtract the top dollar amount you had planned to spend to compensate and stick to your budget.  While mortgage rates have been historically low in order to make homes more affordable, this is a trend that may not continue in the near future so it may be prudent to buy while interest rates are low.

4. List during peak season. Take full advantage of the old rules of supply and demand. When the most people are looking to purchase a home is the best time to put yours on the market. The summer months especially June, July and August, are one of the hottest times for buyers who are planning where to be the following winter, or where to reside when school begins in the late summer and a great opportunity for you to take advantage of potential bidding wars and faster sales.  Fall is a good time as well, and January, February and March are perhaps the hottest selling months.

5. Incentives. Yes, incentives work in a seller's market.  Last year more than a third of all home sellers offered incentives. With a good percentage of the market made up of first-time home buyers and second home buyers, providing incentives could result in higher profit and a faster sale for you. 

Want to chat about the status of the market in our area, and what incentives could help a sale? Connect with me, a luxury homes specialist, today to get started.  Call or text 561-302-3388 or my landline 561-513-6180.