Recently Broward County, Florida has experienced an increase in the confidence in the real estate market, with a strong buyers market and the prices trending downwards. Currently, the average price of a single family home is approximately $300,000, while condominium units and town homes start at below $100,000. There are many foreclosed properties that tend to sell at very reasonable prices.
Broward County is experiencing sales cycles that are more active in transactions that involve single family properties being purchased mostly by first time home buyers. On the other hand, the condo market seems to be moving to second home and buyers purchasing for investment purposes. Also, there are many low end rehab projects being purchased and resold. On the down side, there is a lower level of distressed inventory than Broward County has experienced in recent years, mostly as a result of the moratorium some lenders have placed on the foreclosure process. Therefore, re-habbers are able to turn properties fairly quickly at this time. The overall movement of the current inventory seems to have slowed dramatically.
Prices on ocean access and waterfront homes in Broward County have seen decreases and are now much more affordable, and there are plenty of options which include golf and tennis as amenities. Broward County offers the best of South Florida and is also known as the “Venice of America,” due to the extensive network of waterways and channels. The area features top schools, theater and cultural attractions and quick access to area sporting events.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Top Broward County, Florida Restaurants
Broward County in Florida has many choices and dining styles to satisfy diners who appreciate all cuisines and environments. For a truly unique experience, check out Truluk's, at 351 Plaza Real in Boca Raton, Florida. The atmosphere is magnificent, the food is delicious, the customer service is second to none, and the prices are reasonable. Many diners opt for the house specialty, the locally caught and brought in fresh daily Salmon Bernaise or Grouper Ponchartraine. However, all seafood options are excellent seafood dinner and the wine flights make for a truly enjoyable experience for dinner. The service staff is extremely informative, attentive and know the menu intimately. The restaurant atmosphere is relaxed and the bar area is very warm and comforting.
For a more casual meal, many Broward County residents recommend Charm City Burgers Company, at 1136 East Hillsboro Boulevard in Deerfield Beach, Florida. A house favorite is the Cowboy burger, with thick slices of bacon cooked until perfectly crisp. For the daring, try the Volcano Style burger, with jalapeños, pepper jack, & Volcano Sauce - a homemade wing sauce that is truly on fire. ON the side, Charm City has excellent onion rings, and their milkshakes are not to be missed. Other menu offerings include craft microbrew beers, ice cream sundaes, shakes, fried Oreos, and even Twinkie Fritters.
Pop's Fish Market, at 131 West Hillsboro Boulevard in Deerfield Beach, Florida is another top spot in Broward County, Florida. Though most well known for being a fish market for purchasing fresh seafood for take home consumption, it is also offers an amazing rotating lunch menu. Daily choices include catch of the day fish and chips, fish sandwich, shrimp and chips, or scallops and chips. There is also a list of soups of the day available. After lunch, grab some of the fresh fish to take home, and don’t forget to sample some of the dips, fresh produce and baked breads.
For a more casual meal, many Broward County residents recommend Charm City Burgers Company, at 1136 East Hillsboro Boulevard in Deerfield Beach, Florida. A house favorite is the Cowboy burger, with thick slices of bacon cooked until perfectly crisp. For the daring, try the Volcano Style burger, with jalapeños, pepper jack, & Volcano Sauce - a homemade wing sauce that is truly on fire. ON the side, Charm City has excellent onion rings, and their milkshakes are not to be missed. Other menu offerings include craft microbrew beers, ice cream sundaes, shakes, fried Oreos, and even Twinkie Fritters.
Pop's Fish Market, at 131 West Hillsboro Boulevard in Deerfield Beach, Florida is another top spot in Broward County, Florida. Though most well known for being a fish market for purchasing fresh seafood for take home consumption, it is also offers an amazing rotating lunch menu. Daily choices include catch of the day fish and chips, fish sandwich, shrimp and chips, or scallops and chips. There is also a list of soups of the day available. After lunch, grab some of the fresh fish to take home, and don’t forget to sample some of the dips, fresh produce and baked breads.
Fun Activities and Historic Landmarks of Broward County, Florida
Broward County in Florida boasts some pleasurable and exciting attractions for residents and visitors. The Museum of Discovery and Science is located in Ft. Lauderdale, as is the International Swimming Hall of Fame, which is located near the Atlantic Ocean. For anglers, The International Game Fish Association owns and maintains the Hall of Fame for Sport Fishing in nearby Dania Beach.
Another attraction for animal lovers is Flamingo Gardens, which is a botanical garden and wildlife sanctuary, and Butterfly World is located in Coconut Creek in Broward County. Those who love to shop til they drop can spend time at Sawgrass Mills, an enormous shopping mall located in Sunrise. Sports enthusiasts can catch an NHL hockey game and watch the Florida Panthers at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise. The region offers visitors access through multiple entrances to the various Everglades National Park facilities and trails.
Nature lovers should check out the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, at 1801 North Ocean Boulevard,
Boca Raton, Florida. Gumbo Limbo Nature Center is a distinctive and historical part of the South Florida and Boca Raton parks system. The Center is surrounded by a rare remnant of coastal hammock, located on a barrier island that is adjacent to the Atlantic. A boardwalk provides access for guests to enjoy this unique tropical forest. From a 40-foot observation tower, visitors can view Gumbo Limbo trees, migrating birds, Indian middens, the ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway.
The Center has numerous outdoor seawater tanks that house sea turtles, sharks and other marine life, and the Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Facility provides treatment and care for sick and injured sea turtles. An informal garden attracts various species of butterflies throughout the year. Indoors, there are exhibits and displays which feature wildlife indigenous to South Florida and a panorama of stained glass windows depicting the coastal island as it may have appeared in the 1500’s. Florida Atlantic University maintains an on-site marine biology research laboratory with a gallery above the lab, which offers visitors a chance to see ongoing current projects conducted by university scientists.
Another attraction for animal lovers is Flamingo Gardens, which is a botanical garden and wildlife sanctuary, and Butterfly World is located in Coconut Creek in Broward County. Those who love to shop til they drop can spend time at Sawgrass Mills, an enormous shopping mall located in Sunrise. Sports enthusiasts can catch an NHL hockey game and watch the Florida Panthers at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise. The region offers visitors access through multiple entrances to the various Everglades National Park facilities and trails.
Nature lovers should check out the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, at 1801 North Ocean Boulevard,
Boca Raton, Florida. Gumbo Limbo Nature Center is a distinctive and historical part of the South Florida and Boca Raton parks system. The Center is surrounded by a rare remnant of coastal hammock, located on a barrier island that is adjacent to the Atlantic. A boardwalk provides access for guests to enjoy this unique tropical forest. From a 40-foot observation tower, visitors can view Gumbo Limbo trees, migrating birds, Indian middens, the ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway.
The Center has numerous outdoor seawater tanks that house sea turtles, sharks and other marine life, and the Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Facility provides treatment and care for sick and injured sea turtles. An informal garden attracts various species of butterflies throughout the year. Indoors, there are exhibits and displays which feature wildlife indigenous to South Florida and a panorama of stained glass windows depicting the coastal island as it may have appeared in the 1500’s. Florida Atlantic University maintains an on-site marine biology research laboratory with a gallery above the lab, which offers visitors a chance to see ongoing current projects conducted by university scientists.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Climate and Storm History of Broward County, Florida
Broward County, Florida, like much of the southern Atlantic Coast of the state, has a tropical monsoon climate. Characteristics include hot, humid summers and short, warm winters. The winters are also markedly drier than the summer months. It has a sea-level elevation, coastal location, latitude just above the Tropic of Cancer, and proximity to the Gulf Stream, all of which shape its climate.
January temperatures average 67 degrees Fahrenheit, and all winter months feature mild to warm temperatures. Cooler air may settle in after a cold front passes through the county, and it this phenomenon is what produces much of the very little winter rainfall. Lows may fall below 50 degrees, but very rarely below 35 degree. In winter, highs generally range between 70–77. The wet season begins in mid-May and typically ends in mid-October. During this period, temperatures range from the mid 80s to low 90s, and are accompanied by high humidity. The heat and humidity are often relieved by a passing afternoon thunderstorm or sea breeze developing off the Atlantic. This will lower temperatures, but conditions usually remain quite muggy. Most of the year's average of approximately 55 inches of rainfall occurs during the wet season.
A cold temperature extreme was recorded on February 3, 1917, at 27 degrees. On the high end, a temperature reading of 100 degrees was recorded on July 21, 1940. Broward County has rarely experienced any snowfall, certainly not measurable, and even snow flurries are scarce.
The official hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30, although it is not unusual for a hurricane to develop outside those dates. The most likely time for Broward County to be affected by hurricanes is mid-August through the end of September. Tornadoes are uncommon in the Broward County area, though tornadoes may spin off of the hurricanes that strike the region.
January temperatures average 67 degrees Fahrenheit, and all winter months feature mild to warm temperatures. Cooler air may settle in after a cold front passes through the county, and it this phenomenon is what produces much of the very little winter rainfall. Lows may fall below 50 degrees, but very rarely below 35 degree. In winter, highs generally range between 70–77. The wet season begins in mid-May and typically ends in mid-October. During this period, temperatures range from the mid 80s to low 90s, and are accompanied by high humidity. The heat and humidity are often relieved by a passing afternoon thunderstorm or sea breeze developing off the Atlantic. This will lower temperatures, but conditions usually remain quite muggy. Most of the year's average of approximately 55 inches of rainfall occurs during the wet season.
A cold temperature extreme was recorded on February 3, 1917, at 27 degrees. On the high end, a temperature reading of 100 degrees was recorded on July 21, 1940. Broward County has rarely experienced any snowfall, certainly not measurable, and even snow flurries are scarce.
The official hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30, although it is not unusual for a hurricane to develop outside those dates. The most likely time for Broward County to be affected by hurricanes is mid-August through the end of September. Tornadoes are uncommon in the Broward County area, though tornadoes may spin off of the hurricanes that strike the region.
City of Broward County, Florida: General Information
Broward County, Florida is a county located along the Atlantic Coast toward the southern tip of the state. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population was 1,748,066 people, which makes it the second most populated county in the state. It is also the eighteenth most populous county in the United States. Broward County is one of three counties that comprise the South Florida metropolitan area, created for census purposes. As of the 2000 census, there were 1,623,018 people, 654,445 households, and 411,645 families residing in Broward County. The population density was 1,346 people residing in every square mile, and there were 741,043 housing units at an average density of 615 within each square mile.
Of the 654,445 households in Broward County counted in the 2000 Census, 29.30% had children under the age of 18 living in them, while 46.1% were married couples living together, and 12.5% had a female householder. The remaining 37.1% were non-family members. In all households, 29.6% were made up of individuals, and 12.4% were individuals residing along who were 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 people and the average family size was 3.07.
The age distribution in Broward County was 23.6% of residents who were under the age of 18, 7.2% were aged from 18 to 24 years, 31.4% were 25 to 44 years. In the older age brackets, 21.7% were ages 45 to 64, and 16.1% were residents that were 65 years of age or older. The median age in Broward County was 38 years. Out of every 100 females there were 93.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.8 males.
For a household in Broward County, the median income was $41,691, and the median income for a family was $50,531. Males out earned females, with median income of $36,741 versus $28,529. The per capita income for the county was $23,170. Approximately, 8.7% of families and 11.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.3% of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.
Of the 654,445 households in Broward County counted in the 2000 Census, 29.30% had children under the age of 18 living in them, while 46.1% were married couples living together, and 12.5% had a female householder. The remaining 37.1% were non-family members. In all households, 29.6% were made up of individuals, and 12.4% were individuals residing along who were 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 people and the average family size was 3.07.
The age distribution in Broward County was 23.6% of residents who were under the age of 18, 7.2% were aged from 18 to 24 years, 31.4% were 25 to 44 years. In the older age brackets, 21.7% were ages 45 to 64, and 16.1% were residents that were 65 years of age or older. The median age in Broward County was 38 years. Out of every 100 females there were 93.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.8 males.
For a household in Broward County, the median income was $41,691, and the median income for a family was $50,531. Males out earned females, with median income of $36,741 versus $28,529. The per capita income for the county was $23,170. Approximately, 8.7% of families and 11.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.3% of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.
History of the City of Broward County, Florida
Broward County, Florida is located along the state’s southward Atlantic Coast, and was created in 1915 when Palm Beach County and Dade County contributed nearly equal portions of land to create it. The name derives from Napoleon Bonaparte Broward, who was Governor of Florida from 1905 to 1909. In its early years, Broward County was a leader in agriculture products and services in the state, though the massive post-World War II buildup of South Florida transformed the region.
Broward County was one of the Florida counties involved in the 2000 U.S. Presidential election recount controversy. Since the 1960s, the county has gone from solidly Republican to solidly Democratic. In fact, in the 1972 U.S. presidential election, Broward County residents voted overwhelmingly for Richard Nixon over George McGovern. By the 1992 U.S. presidential election, however, Broward County voters backed the Democratic presidential nominee over the Republican nominee by strong majorities. The change in voting tendencies is most likely due to the continuous flow and large influx of “snowbirds” and transplanted people from the liberal Northeast and other blue states. There is also an expanding LGBT community, as well as naturalized U.S. citizens born in places such as Latin America, the Caribbean, Canada, Europe, and Asia.
In 2002, Broward County began a controversial and aggressive campaign of placing surveillance cameras along highways and traffic lights. Critics contend the cameras violate drivers’ due process rights. Two separate lawsuits have even been filed over their use, one in Aventura filed in February, and one in Temple Terrace near Tampa, filed at the end of July.
Broward County was one of the Florida counties involved in the 2000 U.S. Presidential election recount controversy. Since the 1960s, the county has gone from solidly Republican to solidly Democratic. In fact, in the 1972 U.S. presidential election, Broward County residents voted overwhelmingly for Richard Nixon over George McGovern. By the 1992 U.S. presidential election, however, Broward County voters backed the Democratic presidential nominee over the Republican nominee by strong majorities. The change in voting tendencies is most likely due to the continuous flow and large influx of “snowbirds” and transplanted people from the liberal Northeast and other blue states. There is also an expanding LGBT community, as well as naturalized U.S. citizens born in places such as Latin America, the Caribbean, Canada, Europe, and Asia.
In 2002, Broward County began a controversial and aggressive campaign of placing surveillance cameras along highways and traffic lights. Critics contend the cameras violate drivers’ due process rights. Two separate lawsuits have even been filed over their use, one in Aventura filed in February, and one in Temple Terrace near Tampa, filed at the end of July.
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