Raquel Martin Real Estate Agent

09/19/2026

Fantastic idea! They can add services such as doctor’s offices, dentist, insurance companies, DMV, grocery stores. One stop shopping and living.

Across the country, empty shopping centers are being repurposed into housing projects, with some designs even transforming food courts into communal dining halls.

With millions of square feet of retail space sitting empty after the decline of big chains like Sears and Target, developers across Canada are reimagining these properties as housing solutions.

Why malls? They already have many of the things new neighborhoods need: roads, parking, transit access, utilities, and huge amounts of indoor space.

Projects in cities such as Calgary, Edmonton, and Ottawa are exploring or building new uses for underused mall properties, including senior housing and rental apartments.

With Canada facing a housing shortage while traditional malls struggle with vacancies, developers are looking at millions of square feet of retail space differently.

Less empty retail. More places to live. One old idea getting a completely new purpose.

09/17/2026

Here’s what I’m seeing in Palm Beach County right now… 🏡

The August numbers are out, and a few things stood out to me.

📈 The median single-family home price is $650,000, up 3.2% from last August.

💵 Cash is still a big part of our market. 465 of the 1,112 single-family homes that closed were cash purchases, which is about 42% of sales.

🏠 We’re at about 3.5 months of inventory, so buyers have more choices than they did during the really tight years, but we’re not seeing an overwhelming amount of supply either. More homes have sold this past August compared to August 2025.

To me, the biggest takeaway is that Palm Beach County is still an active market, but pricing matters. Buyers have more opportunities to negotiate, while sellers need to be realistic about where their home fits compared with the competition.

And of course, the numbers can look very different depending on the city, neighborhood and price range.

If you're thinking about buying or selling in Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach or anywhere in Palm Beach County, I'm happy to give you a more specific look at what's happening in your area.

09/16/2026

In Boca Raton, Carmines Italian Market and Trattoria is finally getting finished. This project was on hold for a while, but they hope to finish it by Spring 2027. Their Palm Beach Gardens location has been there since 1988 and is amazing. People in Boca are really excited to have them close by.

09/16/2026

Beach gatehouses are no longer accepting cash. Visitors can pay using a credit card, debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay instead. Residents with parking permits are not affected.

Beach park gatehouses in Boca Raton will stop accepting cash for parking payments starting Oct. 1, the city has announced. Details ➡️ https://bocadailynews.com/24dq

09/15/2026

Good information for people who inherit a property. 👉 If you inherit a home with a reverse mortgage, don't wait to address it.

The loan usually becomes due after the borrower dies in a relatively short amount of time, and the heirs will receive a notice from the loan servicer asking if they are going to sell the house, pay off the loan, or get financing to keep the house.

Each state has different probate laws and steps involved.

It's important to have a conversation with your family in advance, know how the reverse mortgage works and what to do with the home afterwards.

Heirs to homes with reverse mortgages can face a 30-day clock—and may need new financing to keep the family home.

07/25/2026

Palm Beach County continues to be a big draw for companies and developers and Boca Raton is right in the middle of it.

One of the biggest stories this week is that Related Ross, one of South Florida's largest real estate developers, says it's focusing more than $10 billion in future development right here in Palm Beach County.

One project to watch is the proposed transformation of the Boca Raton Innovation Campus (BRiC) into a mixed-use destination that could bring new office space, housing, restaurants, and gathering places to the area. This development will be a destination for people in Boca Raton and surrounding cities to come and enjoy.

What does this mean for homeowners and buyers?

✔️ More companies and jobs coming to the county�✔️ Continued demand for housing�✔️ Potential long-term property value growth�✔️ New amenities and walkable destinations

Of course, growth also means continued conversations about traffic, infrastructure, and preserving the character that makes Boca Raton such a desirable place to live. As more and more developments come up, traffic and infrastructure are top of mind for locals.

Whether you're thinking about buying, selling, or simply staying informed, keeping an eye on these developments helps you understand where our market may be headed.

What are your thoughts? Do you see this as a positive step for Boca Raton and Palm Beach County?

Palm Beach County presents a “tremendous amount of opportunity for growth,” says an executive vice president for Related Ross, a leading real estate firm with many high-profile projects across South Florida. The executive, Jordan Rathlev, recently discussed the firm’s generational, community-d...

05/15/2026

It took me some time to adjust to South Florida living.🌴It is so different from the small town in Connecticut I moved from.

Almost four years later, I have to say I absolutely love it! 🥰 The weather makes it all worth it, and the beaches help, too!

If you are thinking of moving 🚚 to South Florida, Palm Beach and Broward County area, DM me. I can help you navigate the move, provide a true understanding of the process and answer any questions you may have.

Raquel Martin
South Florida Realtor
United Realty Group
📲561.705.0706

04/23/2026

🎉Congratulations to my seller clients! They are off to new adventures, but will miss their beautiful home here in Boca Raton, FL.

They originally chose this home 🏠 over others because of the one-level layout, lake view from the backyard and the location of this beautiful community is one-of-a-kind.

Boca Falls sits as far west as you can go in Boca Raton which is close to the Everglades.

It’s a gated community with over 700 homes, several lakes, walking path🚶🏻‍♀️, clubhouse, fitness center, pool🏊🏼‍♀️, playground, tennis 🎾 courts and brand new pickleball courts all with a low HOA. Also, it’s walking and biking🚴🏼‍♀️ distance to the Waters Edge Elementary School, Loggers Run Middle School and West Boca Community High School. You can’t beat the location!!

When people move to Florida they think living close to the beach 🏝️ , shopping 🛍️ and entertainment is where they should be, but there is something really nice about living in West Boca and being away from the busyness of Boca Raton.

West Boca has less traffic, larger house lots, more trees 🌳 , close to South County Regional Park where there is an amphitheater, golf course 🏌️, baseball fields, water park, dog park, playground and more.

My clients lovingly ❤️cared for their home and thought this was it. They did not plan on moving again, but life had different plans for them.

So now it’s time for the new owners to make this home their own 🖌️and create memories 🎥 for years to come. The new family is very sweet and very excited to call Boca Falls their home!

If you’re looking for a great community and the perfect place to call home, contact me. I can help you!🏡

Raquel Martin
Real Estate Agent
561.705.0706
United Realty Group

03/30/2026

Congratulations 🎉 to lucky buyer who snatched up this very cute historic home 🏡 in Redding, CT! The new homeowners instantly feel in love with the charm of the home and its rustic style.

The sellers thoroughly enjoyed their time making this home their own ❤️ and now that their family has grown, it was time to pass it on to another great family.

✨It’s becoming so hard to find a home under $500k in lower Fairfield County, but when you do, it’s worth the wait!

👉If you need help with the home buying process or would like more information about Redding, CT and other towns in Fairfield County, CT, send me a DM and I can help you.

03/06/2026

Great info!

Florida lawmakers are discussing several proposals that could significantly change property taxes across the state.

Some ideas focus on reducing or eliminating certain property taxes, while others expand exemptions or change how home values are assessed.

A few proposals would benefit specific groups, like seniors or homeowners transferring their primary residence benefits.

Others would adjust assessment rules or cap how quickly property values can rise for tax purposes.

If any of these proposals move forward, they could mean:

• Lower property taxes for some homeowners
• New rules around exemptions and assessments
• Changes to how local governments are funded

For now, these are still proposals, and the details could change as legislation moves through the process.