Development returns to beachside

A labor of love, an economic boost and a local link to a world of travelers: the newly opened Royal Floridian South Tower is all of those. The first new beachside construction project since 2006, the 53-unit structure is the latest addition to Spinnaker Resorts, owned by Ken Thomas. His 10 resort properties include six …

Neighborhood profile: More than 1 in 8 homes in Canyon Isles, west of Boynton Beach, in foreclosure

You don’t have to be a dedicated Real Time reader to know that residential real estate in Palm Beach County has taken a historic tumble in recent years. But while most coverage focuses on a broad view of the market, every neighborhood’s real estate story is unique. Today we’re starting a series of posts focusing …

New real-estate sales tax is on the way Realty Q&A

Question: I am one of those anal-retentive people who starts working on his tax returns before the tax year even comes to an end. But forget about 2010. I have heard that there is a new real-estate sales tax for 2011. What do you know about that? —K.J.S., Laurel, Md. Answer: Not a lot, if …

The Best And Worst Cities For Home Values In 2011

Poor Florida. The state that is home to Disney World, key lime pie and the Daytona 500 hasn’t had much to crow about when it comes to real estate in recent years. Sorry to break it to Sunshine Staters, but they shouldn’t be expecting a rebound anytime soon either. That’s according to Local Market Monitor …

Property managers make money off condos’ insurance

Your property management company may be making money off your condo association’s insurance policy. Some say that’s a conflict of interest because management companies also help associations pick their insurance. "Referrals should be based on good service only and not financial incentives," wrote Jerri Franz, a spokeswoman for the Department of Financial Services. On Monday, …