Recent Blog Posts

The Most Common Florida Weather Myths

The Most Common Florida Weather Myths Ahh, sunny Florida. The beaches, the breeze, the salty air, the…thunderstorms? Although there’s no denying they call it the Sunshine State for a reason, Florida weather doesn’t always mean clear blue skies. Check out some of the most common Florida weather myths, and read about what to watch out […]

Home Improvements

Home improvements: sell or stay Are you thinking of downsizing from your current home or getting another place that better fits your needs? Deciding whether or not to make improvements to your house and stay, or upgrade and sell can be tough. First is the emotional factor. Maybe your kids grew up in that house, […]

Homestead Exemption in Florida

THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION In the state of Florida, a $25,000 exemption is applied to the first $50,000 of your property’s assessed value if your property is your permanent residence and you owned the property on January 1 of the tax year. This exemption applies to all taxes, including school district taxes. An additional exemption of […]

Pet therapy: how dogs, cats and horses help improve human wellbeing

We’ve all heard of the psychotherapy couch, and the dynamic between a client and their human therapist. But perhaps less well known is the increasingly popular pet therapy. And no, that’s not therapy for your pet – it’s the relatively new phenomenon of therapy for humans, which involves animals. These animal assisted interventions (AAIs) – […]

Why does my cat wake me up so early, and what can I do about it?

You’ve got an important meeting in the morning and your cat wakes you at 4am. Why? And what can you do to stop this happening again? Although cats are evolved for night-time activity, during domestication they have adapted to human lifestyles. Domestic cats tend to be most active early in the morning and at dusk, […]

How to keep your pets safe in a heatwave

As temperatures reach uncomfortably high levels, pets are likely to struggle with the heat. Here’s how to keep them safe during the heatwave. Animals kept in a cage or hutch may find it hard to escape the heat as the sun moves around the garden, so you may need to move them or create shade […]

Get back in shape

You once had a regular fitness routine. These days? Not so much. It happens to the best of us. But it’s important to get back in the game as soon as possible. Experts agree that regular physical activity can help prevent chronic diseases and lengthen your life span, in addition to helping you look and […]

Eat for longevity

Every single one of us is aging, but some people seem to age better than others. While you can point the finger at genetics, longevity may actually start with what you put on your plate. “Healthy eating behaviors, both what you eat and how you eat, are really one of the key ingredients to health,” […]

Subtle symptoms you shouldn’t ignore

It’s normal to occasionally experience minor aches and ailments. But if you have persistent symptoms that are new to you, don’t be too quick to chalk them up to getting older. Here are five that could be red flags for your health—plus the condition each could be a sign of: Forgetfulness. Whether it’s a momentary […]

Best exercises for when you’re short on time

There are times when a trip to the gym just isn’t in the cards. But that doesn’t mean you need to skip your workout entirely. These four simple body-weight exercises from Jim White, ACSM exercise physiologist and owner of Jim White Fitness & Nutrition Studios, based in Virginia Beach, Va., can give you a full-body […]

Less stress in 10 minutes

Does thinking about finances turn your stomach into a knot? You’re not alone. According to a recent American Psychological Association (APA) survey, money is a significant source of stress for about 75 percent of Americans. Soothe frazzled nerves with these five easy techniques that you can put to work in 10 minutes or less. Order […]

Unwind your mind

In today’s hectic world, it’s easy to feel distracted. That’s probably why mindfulness — a means of finding your way back to the present moment — is such a popular mind-body movement. “Our tech-packed days and busy schedules encourage productivity, but also constant worry over the past and future,” says Belisa Vranich, Psy.D., a clinical […]

Harness the power of your smartphone

If you have a smartphone, you know it does far more than just make calls. You likely already use it to snap photos of loved ones or share pictures on Facebook. But there are many other surprising ways to put your phone’s photo capabilities to good use. They’re quick, easy, and—most importantly—they help you get […]

Is your home retirement ready?

Previous generations of retirees were likely to downsize and head to warmer locales. Today, more people are option to stay put, with 53 percent of retirees choosing to stay in their home throughout retirement. “There’s always been an expectation that when people retire they will head to warmer weather and kick back a little, but […]

The pros and cons of customer loyalty programs

Who doesn’t love a good deal? Have you ever dug deep into your wallet for something and instead found that rumpled buy-10-get-one-free punch card from your favorite frozen yogurt shop that closed three years ago? Thought so. And, you’re not alone — 80 percent of Americans choose to participate in a customer loyalty program. Not […]

5 vacation spots that welcome you home

Planning a warm-weather getaway to escape winter’s chill? Make that vacation do double duty and test the waters, so to speak, to explore whether this destination is retirement-worthy. Here are five places you might someday call home. Austin, Texas Austin isn’t just for the young at heart. The Lone Star state’s capital was ranked No. […]

Easy way to rack-up travel awards

Travel is one of the activities many people look forward to enjoying in retirement. If you’ve already created your wish list of must-see spots, now is the perfect time to help set yourself up for big savings by choosing the right travel rewards programs. From credit cards and loyalty points to online deals, following a […]

Closing Costs

Closing costs are fees paid at the time you close on the purchase or sale of your property. Closing costs are incurred by either the buyer or seller, and is done when the title is transferred to the buyer. This information below represents a list of the normal fees associated with closing costs, but all […]

Get Your Home Ready to Sell

With the current inventory of homes being at its lowest, this might be the time for you to consider selling your current home and upgrading to a new home. Getting your current home ready to sell can be complicated, but it doesn’t have to be. This article gives you some common sense ideas to get […]

Bathroom Design A to Z

  Updating a bathroom can provide joy to your life, but also bring value to your home. Here are some ideas to help you with your choices from floor to ceiling. Accessories: Accessories include decoration, wall hangings, art and sink essentials such as cups, toothbrush holders and the like. It’s a good idea to begin […]

Real Estate Trends

Palm Beach County Inventory Surges as More Supply Arrives for High-Demand Market Palm Beach County total active listings rose year-over-year in June 2022, according to the MIAMI Association of Realtors (MIAMI) and the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) system. MIAMI, July 20, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Palm Beach County total active listings rose year-over-year in June 2022, […]