Palm Beach County offers holiday celebrations to delight all your friends and family.

We may not have a snowy white Christmas in South Florida but we have an abundance of white sand and bright sunlight. Celebrate the Holidays in Paradise!

Welcome Sandi back to West Palm Beach

Check out the events around the holiday tradition

Visit this beloved holiday tradition in West Palm Beach, Sandi is back from her around-the-world beach tour with a new friend!

For the animal lovers

Holidays at the Palm Beach Zoo

Take photos with Santa at Palm Beach Zoo! Bring your camera, and meet and snap pics with jolly old Saint Nick. Photos will also be available for purchase in the gift store. Plus, decorate holiday cookies and enjoy a complimentary ride on the Wildlife Carousel. Included with regular Zoo admission.

Tour Holiday Light Displays

Palm Beach Post has rounded up the best

From professional lights to popular neighborhoods, the folks at Palm Beach Post found stunning ones in Greenacres, West Palm Beach, Lake Worth and Jupiter.

Looking for a way to ring in the New Year?

Boca Life’s got some great suggestions

Revelers looking for what to do and where to go during the biggest nocturnal celebration of them all have a lot of options in Palm Beach County. These fêtes include everything from face painting, to fine dining, to fireworks, making the momentous move to 2018 a memorable one.

Check out Jupiter Magazine’s 8 kid-friendly events

Looking to spend New Year’s Eve with the entire family? Check out our top picks for kid-friendly events happening in the Palm Beaches

 

… it needs a new roof? … or the kitchen needs updating? … or it won’t pass inspection?

In Jupiter, there are a lot of beautiful desirable neighborhoods with older homes that are sorely in need of updating.  If you have found a home the right neighborhood for you and your family but it needs to be renovated, there is no reason to shy away from it. If you cannot come up with the cash for needed renovations in addition to a down payment, closing costs, and moving expenses there are a couple of loan options that will help you get the home you want in the area you desire and turn it into your dream home.

Federal Housing Administration’s 203k Rehabilitation Mortgage Insurance Program

With this the FHA 203k program you can combine purchasing and renovation expenses to extend your payments for the renovation over the life of the loan rather than paying a lump sum.

Unlike standard mortgage loans, this loan – officially known as the Federal Housing Administration’s 203k Rehabilitation Mortgage Insurance Program – wraps renovation and purchase or renovation and refinancing costs into one mortgage.

Borrowers with lower FICO scores and higher debt-to-income ratios can qualify for a 203k loan.  However because of the greater risk, FHA comes with an upfront fee of 1.75 percent of the loan amount, wrapped into the total mortgage. That’s $1,750 for every $100,000 borrowed. These loans are more lenient than conventional loans when it comes to qualifying income ad credit scores but the property must be a primary residence, and luxury improvements such as pools cannot be financed.

See more about 203k loans here

Another option is the Fannie Mae Homestyle^® Renovation Mortgage

For borrowers with higher credit scores there is a less costly program called the Fannie Mae Homestyle Renovation Mortgage. It too allows you to wrap the cost of renovation into the loan used to purchase a home. One of the main cost savings is the upfront mortgage insurance premium. The HomeStyle Renovation Mortgage does not require one.

You can put as little as five percent down with this loan. However, any downpayment below 20 percent will require private mortgage insurance (PMI) which may be less than the FHA mortgage insurance premium (MIP). PMI varies based on downpayment and credit score. FHA MIP though, does not get cheaper with higher credit scores and must be paid for the duration of the loan whereas HomeStyle PMI is dropped once you’ve reached 22 percent equity.

Another advantage of a HomeStyle Mortgage over the FHA 203k is there are no restrictions on property occupancy status. You can finance a primary residence, rental property, or vacation home.

See more about the Homestyle Renovation Mortgage.

Advantages of these programs

• BUY a home that doesn’t meet the health and safety standards for an FHA loan for example: needs a new roof or updated electric to meet code.
• REHAB a property and bring it up to current Florida building code such as new impact windows
• REFINANCE an existing loan and rehabilitate a property
• UPDATE a home for putting on the market

What if you are the seller?

If you are an owner of a home that isn’t selling because it needs updating one of these programs can also help. Many buyers are looking for move-in-ready homes and will pay a premium for one. Before you charge ahead and start renovating see this article for the updates that will get you the best return on investment.

Which option is best for your needs?

Your lender can help you choose which program will best suit your needs.

FHA 203k vs Fannie Mae Homestyle

Check out Lending Tree’s Complete Guide

See what Capital Partners offers home buyers and owner.

Are they worth the cost?

• Florida’s stronger building codes may seem costly at first but in the long run, they save money according to this study
• Structures built to the newer stronger codes suffer 64 percent less hurricane damage
• Because stronger impact codes add costs to new construction, communities that want to protect affordability sometimes push back  on implementing the new codes
• Statewide benefit-to-cost ratio of $6 in reduced damage for every $1 in increased cost

Read more

See the report

Check out how a home built to the stronger building code faired during Hurricane Michael

It’s getting more difficult to find starter homes in Jupiter

Homes first-time homebuyers can afford are often referred to as starter homes. It is certainly a challenge to find affordable housing in the Town of Jupiter. Do not despair, you can find a home to make your own in Jupiter. However, you will most likely have to trim your must have list.  You can find 2, 3 and 4 bedroom starter homes in Jupiter ranging from the mid $200k to the high $300k depending on condition, size, location, view and whether or not there is a pool.

Check out these neighborhoods for affordable Jupiter homes.

Abysinnia Park

Abyssinia Park is located conveniently off Central Blvd just north of Indiantown Rd in Jupiter. Most of the homes were built in the 1990s and are CBS. There are some homes that were built more recently and even some new construction in Abyssinia Park. This community is adjacent to A-rated Limestone Creek Elementary School, within walking distance of Jupiter Community Park, home to JTAA. Abyssinia Park is bordered by The Limestone Creek Natural Area where you can hike along a fork of the Loxahatchee River.

Eastview Manor

Eastview Manor is conveniently located in the heart of Jupiter. This neighborhood is perfect for the first-time homebuyer looking for the Old Florida charm. These are ranch homes with 2-3 bedrooms just over 1,000 square feet of living space and spacious backyards.

Indian Creek

Indian Creek is an umbrella community in Jupiter. It is comprised of 14 smaller neighborhoods with a total of 1,417 condominiums, townhomes, villas and single-family home perfect for first time homebuyers, individuals, small families and retirees.

Jupiter Village

Just north of Indian Creek is Jupiter Village.

Jupiter Landings

Jupiter Landing was developed in the 1980s. The community consists of 2, 3 or 4 bedroom on 1/4 acre lots. Homes are woodframe with 1,000+ square feet  of  living space and one or 2 car garages. This is an attractive neighborhood for people who have a budget in the $200-350k price range such as retirees and first time homebuyers.

Jupiter River Estates

Jupiter River Estates is conveniently located in the heart of Jupiter. The 2 to 4 bedroom homes in this community range in size from just under 1,000 s ft of living space to almost 2,000 sq. ft. Some homes have been updated and some border a navigable canal with fixed bridge. Most homes are CBS construction and a few have in-ground pools.

North Palm Beach Heights

Popular with young families, North Palm Beach Heights a.k.a. “The Heights” or “The Heights of Jupiter” is just east of 95 and west of Abacoa. Most homes in North Palm Beach are ranch-style single-family houses but there are some two-story homes and are CBS or woodframe construction.

Pine Gardens Estates

Pine Gardens is conveniently located just west of Dixie Highway to the to the north and south of Indiantown. There you can find some unique 2, 3 and 4 bedroom homes. Choose from lovely old Florida cottage and small ranches. Most are CBS. Many have been tastefully updated or find one to remodel. There is some new construction available in Pine Gardens Estates. Check out the listings.

Sims Creek

You can find affordable starter and retirement homes in this boating community. There is an HOA with fees around $120 per month. Amenities include a community dock and clubhouse with pool. Townhomes were built in the 1980’s and are two stories with two bedrooms and 2.5 baths. The single family homes were built in the 1990’s and offer 3 bedrooms, 2 bath and a 2 car garage, great for buyers in the market for starter home and empty-nesters seeking to downsize or looking for a second home.

Riverside Drive Park

Riverside Drive Park is a friendly affordable neighborhood just North of the Alt A1A bridge and South of the Village of Tequesta. It’s a wonderful spot for a first time homebuyer that want to be close to the beach and the Loxahatchee River. You can walk your kayak or paddleboard down to the river for a day of paddling fun.

Just north of Riverside Drive Park you will find Jupiter in the Pines which is lies on the Jupiter/Tequesta border. Most homes were built in the 60s and 70s of CBS construction. Homes are within walking distance of Tequesta’s Gallery Square North and South, the Lighthouse Center for the Arts, and charming restaurants in Tequesta Village.