Golden Isles.  Own a little piece of paradise on the water

 

 

If you are looking for a dream home on the water, you are on the right track.

Think of a small oasis halfway between Miami and Fort Lauderdale, where most homes are situated on oversized lots, bordered by navigable canals.

A "safe neighborhood "  in Broward County and the City of Hallandale Beach, Golden Isles is a calm, beautifully landscaped area, surrounded but all the amenities, shopping, and entertainment you could ask for, crisscrossed by deep water canals with ocean access.

I have been a resident of Golden Isles since 1986. 24 years later, I can say that it was a good choice. Peaceful and pleasant would be adequate words to define the quality of life here.  Throughout the years, just a few changes: the guardhouse has been rebuilt, and the new entrance to our neighborhood; the famous Golden Isles arch is still in the same place. The Park has been nicely redone and improved since the time my kids enjoyed the sandy playground. The Tennis courts are still available but the pros have expanded the reach of their trainings for kids and adults.

Many older homes have been replaced by new, well designed construction, all for the better.
On the corner, at the end of Layne Blvd, the shopping center has seen the Albertson supermarket move out years ago and many stores have come and gone, but the Publix is still very alive.   An upscale restaurant & night club caters to a Russian clientele; there is an outpatient medical center, a boat supply business and many other stores.  

Across Hallandale Beach Blvd. an attractive shopping center where the Diplomat Mall used to gather elderly patrons, was turned into a modern and pretty center of entertainment just across the street from Golden Isles: Burlington and Ross department stores, the Winn Dixie supermarket, a Panera bakery, many cafes and restaurants with outdoor seating,  Starbucks, Officemax, a Bank.  All this keeps adding convenience to life in Golden Isles, without taking away the sense of an enclosed community.

 

Conveniently located in Hallandale Beach, Golden Isles consists of about 304 single family homes, in a 24-hour guarded community. Most are waterfront lots with deep water docks, on wide canals, and easy access to the Ocean. Amenities include a park, a tennis center, and a playground.

 

 

If you like the water, Golden Isles has some of the best choices of waterfront homes for boaters.

 

A family-oriented neighborhood with superbly landscaped homes, many with stunning architectural designs, Golden Isles is one of the best options, a short distance from Haulover Cut, minutes from Hollywood Beach with easy access to both Fort Lauderdale and Miami International airports.  

 

 

The famous Aventura Mall is a five minutes drive, Hollywood Circle about the same distance, with many dining and entertainment choices.

The Gulfstream Racetrack and Casino, with its lovely Village at Gulfstream has become a wonderful  shopping and entertainment complex. Recently inaugurated, it is quickly turning into a major pole of attraction, and the place to go for the young and less young crowd.

A few blocks away,  the Greyhound  Track and its adjoining Mardi Gras Casino add another leisure option.

And there is much more to these Golden Isles in the midst of civilization and city life.
Of course... the beach!

Hallandale Beach is just some blocks away across the bridge, and you can't miss the famous Hollywood boardwalk on the sand, that you will reach driving past the superb Diplomat Hotel complex and a few waterfront cafes and restaurants on the Intracoastal Waterway.

Golden Isles attracts many boaters who dream of catching the big one. However, for the less adventurous, ownership of a boat or a yacht can still be a  relaxing and mundane affair, thanks to the wonderful network of canals, bays, and lakes connecting to the Intracoastal,  that bring excitement and enjoyment  in the gorgeous Florida outdoors without the exposure to rough waters.

 

It is not even mandatory to wear your Captain's cap while you cruise the Hollywood Lakes or eat breakfast at the Giorgio's Bakery, get some beer at a waterfront bar, a pizza at Capone's, or dock at Le Tub, winner of the "best US hamburger" award despite its modest appearance; savor some Billy's stone crabs, or just lazily follow the canal while admiring a spectacular Florida sunset.

 

 

 

 

GOLDEN ISLES REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

 

 

 

For information in French about Miami Real Estate, (Information en Français sur l'immobilier a Miami) please CLICK HERE.

 

GOLDEN ISLES REAL ESTATE

NEWS

The Consequence of Walking Away

An estimated 11 million home owners owe more on their mortgage than their property is currently worth. That’s made more home owners consider walking away from their mortgage and home ownership, even those who can still comfortably afford to make their payments (known as “strategic default”).

Walking away from a mortgage usually results in either a short sale or foreclosure. So what are the consequences of walking away? There may be far more consequences than what most home owners ever considered.

The consequences include everything from badly affected credit to potential tax consequences and deficiency risks. There are even possible professional implications, Justin McHood with Academy Mortgage in Chandler, Ariz., warns in an article at Zillow.com.

Home owners' credit scores will be badly hit regardless of whether they attempt a short sale or have their property foreclosed on. (See How Missed Mortgage Payments Hurt Credit Scores)

There also could be the potential for deficiency risks when walking away from a home, which largely varies from state to state. (View anti-deficiency laws by state.) In some states, lenders may sue you for the difference between what you owe and what your short-sale or foreclosure proceeds are, McHood notes.

Home owners considering walking away also should weigh the potential difficulty they may face from moving too. For example, if moving into a rental property, they’ll have to convince a landlord to rent to them after they have the red flag of missed mortgage payments on their credit record. And paying for moving expenses — which many walkaways fail to consider — can quickly add up too.

Plus, home owners may find professional consequences from walking away from a mortgage, as the number of employers eyeing employees’ credit profiles continues to grow.

From  Zillow.com (April 27, 2011)

 

Harbor Islands

Another great area of Luxury Homes in South Hollywood, Florida.

Waterfront Homes close to the beach, in a great location, close to Supermarkets, Shopping Areas, Entertainment, Casino, Race-track, Mall.

A very secure, gated neighborhood, ideal for boat lovers.