All Blog Entries by Vicki Flyth

It’s that time of the year again! School starts Aug. 12 in Palm Beach County, Aug 14 in Broward County and Aug. 19 in Miami-Dade County. Now is the time for parents to start to prepare their kids for a successful first day! The DuPree Team knows how stressful this time of the year can be, so we have provided some key information below to make things easier. We also found this great article with 101 helpful hints and tips to make your and your child’s transition back to school a little less painless.

Back to School Shopping

Sales tax holiday for clothing, personal computers, and school supplies: Florida lawmakers have created two sales tax holidays per year. During these tax holidays consumer can purchase certain categories of goods from

Buying a home is exciting and The DuPree Team is here to help walk you through the process! But it can also feel overwhelming at times—especially when you see median listings priced at $345,000 and available homes flying off the market in as little as 39 days on average. With real estate trends like these, you might be tempted to make an impulsive purchase that could hurt your financial goals and keep you paying a mortgage well into retirement. No one wants that! Buying a home is worth taking the time to do the right way. That means buying a home that you love that doesn’t hurt your future goals. We’ve put together 10 tips for home buyers as they tackle the home-buying process. Put these into practice today so your next home is a blessing not a burden.

We all want to reduce our bills, pay less per month and save more money for us. Refinancing your mortgage could be one way for you to free up some money. There are many reasons why homeowners refinance: to obtain a lower interest rate; to shorten the term of their mortgage; to convert from an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) to a fixed-rate mortgage, or vice versa; to tap into home equity to finance a large purchase, or to consolidate debt.

Refinancing can cost between 3% and 5% of a loan's principal since it requires an appraisal, title search, and application fees, just like a mortgage would. Because of this it is important for a homeowner to determine whether refinancing is a wise financial decision before starting the process.

Refinancing to

It’s spring in South Florida and The DuPree Team know that mean the weather is beginning to change. With the wet and humid weather returning, there’s several things you should keep in mind to keep your home pest free. After a winter of not worrying about most bugs and pests, we often forget that spring brings many pests back to your home.Whether you do your own pest control or hire a professional in the business there are still a handful of things you can do to aid in preventing bugs from moving in with you this spring. Continue reading below for a few tips.

Trim Nearby Plants and Shrubs

Trimming all shrubs and trees branches away from your house serves a handful of pest control needs. Rodents like squirrels often use overhanging tree branches

Whether you are new to town or a 40+ year veteran like The DuPree Team, hurricane preparedness is nothing to take lightly. In the event of an impending storm it is important to tune to your local new stations for updates on the storm’s track and intensity. Heed all warnings and follow all orders to evacuate. Putting your life or the life of a first responder in jeopardy is just not worth it. The Atlantic hurricane season officially starts on June 1, and The DuPree Team recommends all residents prepare for possible severe weather now. Determine any risks to your home, property or business, and update your emergency plans and supplies before Florida is threatened by a storm. It’s important to stay prepared before and after a storm. 

Have A Plan

The DuPree Team knows that with all the HGTV shows on these days showing how “easy” it is to renovate and remodel a home it is no wonder that so many homeowners these days are choosing to dive into their own projects. Renovating or adding on may sound promising financially but there are many factors to consider before getting started. First consider the value and features inside other homes in your neighborhood. You do not want to over improve the home or make it look like it does not belong in the neighborhood. Study the architecture of your home and make sure any improvements are in line with the structural aspects of the house. Think about how long you plan on living in the home after completing the remodel. It is smart to live in your home at least 3