What Is Happening in Tamarac Right Now? Tamarac is in the middle of a citywide redevelopment push backed by real projects, real dollars, and a long-term city plan stretching all the way to 2050. This isn't speculation — it's construction you can see happening right now along Commercial Boulevard, University Drive, and deep into the Woodlands. According to Mayor Michelle J. Gomez's 2025 State of the City address, property values in Tamarac have risen nearly 178% over the past decade — an average of 11% per year. The redevelopment activity underway today is a key reason that number will likely keep climbing. The Biggest Projects Reshaping Tamarac 🏘️ The Woodlands — 335 Luxury Homes on 270 Acres This is the headline development. A former golf course at 4600 Woodlands Blvd has been transformed into a master-planned luxury community with 335 new homes priced from the $700,000s to over $1 million . Developer 13th Floor Homes is delivering a midcentury-modern aesthetic, a resort-style pool and spa, a five-mile recreation trail, paddleball and tennis courts, over 160 acres of open space, and controlled-access gated entry. First homes began delivering in late 2025. This is the largest single-family residential development Tamarac has seen in years — and it's changing the city's price ceiling. 🏙️ Tamarac Village — Mixed-Use at the Heart of the City At 9190 W. Commercial Blvd, Tamarac Village is a fully approved, actively under-construction mixed-use development featuring 401 multi-family residential units , 3,500 sq. ft. of retail space, and a public park. All 12 buildings have received certificates of occupancy. This development is doing exactly what city leaders envisioned: creating a walkable, livable center in a city that has historically been car-dependent. 🛍️ University Drive & Shopping Plaza Revitalization University Drive is getting a visible makeover. The former Winn-Dixie Plaza at 7015–7023 N. University Drive is being completely renovated to bring in three new tenants. Meanwhile, several major plazas across the city are undergoing multi-million-dollar facelifts: McNab Plaza — $3.9 million renovation Three Lakes Plaza — $2 million renovation University Shops — $450,000 upgrade Trapeze Plaza (3650 W. Commercial Blvd.) — converting to a new mixed-use development with a $2.7 million investment ☕ New Commercial Arrivals Commercial growth signals residential confidence. Cali Coffee is opening a brand-new drive-thru on W. McNab Road. A new Dunkin' Donuts is under construction on NW 88th Ave. These may seem small, but new commercial arrivals follow rooftop counts — and Tamarac's are growing. 🏥 Infrastructure & Healthcare Investment HCA Florida Woodmont Hospital has invested nearly $60 million in upgrades, including a new progressive care unit, upgraded MRI suite, and a new cardiac catheterization lab. The city is also investing in a $25 million state-of-the-art water treatment plant and a $9 million smart metering system . Infrastructure investment of this scale signals a city positioning itself for long-term population growth. 🌳 Parks, Green Space & Quality of Life Sable Palm Park — an 8-acre development — is coming with a 6,000 sq. ft. covered playground, splash pad, multi-purpose trails, and a dog park. Colony West Golf Club's executive Blades Course is undergoing a multimillion-dollar renovation scheduled for spring 2026. A new Westside Dog Park is also in development on NW 108th Terrace. What Does This Mean for Home Values? When cities invest in infrastructure, mixed-use development, commercial corridors, and parks, the research is clear: surrounding home values rise . Tamarac is checking every one of those boxes simultaneously. As of early 2026, the median home price in Tamarac ranges from approximately $325,000–$332,000 overall, but that average is heavily pulled down by the large 55+ condo inventory. Single-family homes in updated subdivisions are commanding $415,000–$460,000 , with Woodmont-area homes reaching $550,000+ . New luxury construction in the Woodlands is pushing the ceiling past $1 million . For sellers: you are listing into a market with rising comps, new luxury anchors setting higher price points, and a city story that's easy to tell to buyers. For buyers: inventory is up about 15% year-over-year, homes are averaging 90–113 days on market, and sellers are negotiating. You still have pricing power — but the window of opportunity narrows as development delivers and comps rise. The Tamarac 2050 Plan — This Is the Long Game The City of Tamarac has launched its 2050 Comprehensive Plan, a forward-looking blueprint that focuses on mixed-use corridors, smart city infrastructure, sustainable design, and economic diversification. The plan aims to revitalize underutilized commercial areas, attract small businesses and startups, and expand mobility networks. Tamarac also holds federally designated Opportunity Zones in portions of the city, including the Four Corners Shopping District Redevelopment Area — offering investors significant tax advantages on capital gains through December 2026. Is Now a Good Time to Buy or Sell in Tamarac? If you're selling: Yes. The redevelopment story gives your listing context and narrative that buyers respond to. Price it correctly — the market won't absorb overpricing — but a well-prepared home with a skilled negotiator on your side should move. If you're buying: Yes, with strategy. The smart move is getting in before the Woodlands community fully delivers and before University Drive revitalization is complete. Once those comps are established, the comparable pricing baseline for all of Tamarac shifts upward. Ready to Talk About Your Next Move in Tamarac? Whether you're thinking about buying your first home, upsizing into a newer community, or ready to sell and move on, I'd love to help you navigate this market. I specialize in Tamarac, Coral Springs, Sunrise, Plantation, and all of Broward County. 📞 Call or text me directly 🌐 www.bibi.realtor 📧 bibihaniff723@gmail.com Get Your Free Home Valuation → Sources: City of Tamarac Economic Development Office (tamaracedo.com), Tamarac Talk, Mayor Gomez 2025 State of the City Address, South Florida Agent Magazine, City of Tamarac Official Website (tamarac.gov) Bibi Haniff is a licensed South Florida Realtor serving Tamarac, Coral Springs, Sunrise, Plantation, Weston, Parkland, Fort Lauderdale, and all of Broward County. Brokered by Lokation Real Estate.
Fort Lauderdale Real Estate Guide 2026
Always feel confident it's your dream home. By: Lynn Ettinger You can make a successful offer on a home even in a competitive market — with the right information and help. When you’re house hunting, the pressure of competition can move you from “Hmm, I like that, but it’s too pricey,” to “I have to have that!” You think, so what if paying for this house will put me way over budget? I can cut back somewhere else, right? But that kind of thinking can get you into trouble. Trouble that’s totally avoidable. Whether you’re in the middle of a home bidding war or facing down a list of must-haves, don’t lose sight of your budget and the risks. That way, you can own a house without home buyer’s remorse. And you’ll have money left to enjoy things like new furniture, entertainment, and just plain having fun. Who Has Home Buyer’s Remorse and Why? A competitive real estate market can set buyers up to purchase a home that’s either beyond their budgets —sometimes hugely beyond — or doesn’t meet their needs, according to a 2021 survey by Bankrate and YouGov. The survey found that recent home buyers, including 64% of millennials, had regrets about their home purchase. The top reason? They were unprepared for maintenance and other home ownership-related costs. On top of that, 13% percent of millennials said they think they paid a higher sales price than they should have. “Things in homes always break down, so people should put aside a budget for anything that will need fixing,” says Lawrence Yun, chief economist at the National Association of REALTORS®. “A rule of thumb is to anticipate 1% or 2% of the home price for potential maintenance,” he explains. “So, for a $300,000 home, that means setting aside $3,000.” One reason home buyers may be tempted to go over budget is they’ve been influenced by the beautiful homes on TV, according to an NAR report on home staging. “The shows can create unrealistic expectations for the home buying process and how homes should look,” says Brandi Snowden, NAR director of member and consumer survey research. In time, buyers can view features that used to be luxuries as necessities. They believe everyone has them and they should too. One solution: Work with a REALTOR as early as possible in the process. “Make sure your agent knows your budget, so they can help you set expectations and stick to them,” she advises. How to Navigate House Hunting in a Competitive Market In addition to pressure to exceed their budgets, buyers are facing hurdles like these five: 1. Requests to Waive Contingencies Tamara Suminski, a real estate agent at Beach Real Estate Group in Manhattan Beach, Calif., is seeing not only bidding wars but also sellers wanting buyers to waive contingencies. “With an appraisal contingency, if the appraisal comes in low, the buyer has choices. They can choose to try to renegotiate with the seller, bring in the difference, or cancel. When they remove that contingency and its protection, and if the home doesn’t appraise at the right level, the seller is not very likely to renegotiate with them. And the buyer has waived their right to cancel. If they cancel anyway, they’re risking their deposit.” Some buyers are also waiving contingencies related to home inspections. These investigations are an opportunity to have a home inspector view the home based on disclosures and for the buyer to use findings as a bargaining tool, Suminski says. Eliminating these protections can end up costing money for buyers. And the more offers the buyer writes and loses, the more risk they will tolerate. So, they may waive contingencies and regret it later, says Suminski. Talk to a buyer’s agent who will guide you through this and explain the risks of removing protections and unknown variables, she advises. 2. Speed Showings and Decisions Bryan Yap recently bought a home in an expensive and highly competitive market — Orange County, Calif. He found that with the pandemic, each showing lasted only 15 minutes. That was one of the biggest hurdles. “We’d see three, four, or five homes in one day. It’s hard to keep track of what you like and don’t like with each house. What I would do differently is take notes immediately after viewing a home. If you’re able to prepare beforehand, create a list of wants and requirements in priority order. Immediately after seeing each home, rank it based on the list.” 3. Focusing on the Top of Your Price Range “If you’re looking in a micromarket where listings are achieving multiple offers and homes are going above asking price, don’t set your on the houses at the top of your price range,” Suminski says. If $300,000 is your upper limit, look at houses priced at $250,000 or $275,000. Otherwise, you’re going to be outbid from the gate every time.” That was the process Yap used when he was looking. “I would look for homes $25,000 under my max budget. I went on Zillow and looked at homes that were sold recently and tried to calculate the average over-listing price those homes were being sold for and factor that into my offer price.” 4. The Need to Compromise Yap’s must-haves were three bedrooms, two baths, and being closer to the city center of Anaheim. “I was able to get three beds, two baths, but I did have to compromise on location. I also had to compromise on price, which was doable because I could still afford it. To compete with all the potential buyers, I knew that we had to either offer an over-list price or remove some contingencies.” Suminski advises adjusting your search outward geographically, even if it means a longer commute. Buyers might also have to compromise on property types and features. In addition, they should consider doing some DIY projects instead of wanting everything to be move-in ready. “They may have to be willing to look at townhouses instead of single-family homes or install carpet and paint on weekends.” 5. Information Overload In the two years before he started searching for a home, Yap did a lot of reading. “It was a massive plan I had to come up with and stick to so that I’d be able to afford buying a home.” Because of how hot the Orange County market is, agents scheduled showings as soon as a house was listed or showed “coming soon” status. Yap treated the home search as “almost a second job,” using lunch breaks and evenings to check emails, do online searches, and text his real estate agent about what he wanted to see. “I had to make a lot of sacrifices. People wanted to set plans with me for the weekend, but I said, ‘Sorry, I have to go view homes that day.’” He primarily credits his real estate agents, including Sumiski, for keeping him informed. “They made all this possible. I learned a lot from them.” Some agents, like Suminski, hold an accredited buyer’s representative designation but usually work with sellers as well as buyers. “An [agent with an] ABR has taken extensive buyer’s representation training,” Suminski says. “They’ll provide education to buyers so that they’re learning as much as they can about the market, including the risks involved with different negotiations. If buyers are going to shorten terms or remove protections, they need to be well informed about the pitfalls.” Learn from Experiences That access to information and guidance will help buyers making an offer on a home especially in a competitive market. “Today’s buyer has seen and written offers on many properties before they get their offer accepted,” Suminski says. “That’s common across the country. Each is a learning opportunity for buyers about what information they might need to be researching so they can move more quickly.” When you act on advice from recent buyers and agents, you can stay well informed and get good results even in a tough market. And that’s the best way to prevent home buyer’s remorse.
In today's hot market, know how to make sure you get the home of your dreams. By: HouseLogic You and your agent are going to use everything you’ve learned to seal the deal. Here’s the dream: Your offer is perfect, you don’t need to negotiate, and you can spend the next few weeks addressing more pressing home-ownership questions, like “Why is it called wainscoting?” and “Do I want a new couch in blush or emerald green?” And it could happen. Many sellers accept the best offer they receive, and for a variety of reasons. But sellers are also known to reject offers for a variety of reasons. Or make counteroffers. This is especially likely if you bid low, or when you’re up against multiple competing offers. If you do receive a counteroffer, it’s up to you to decide whether you want to accept the new contract, negotiate the terms, or walk away. In cases such as these, look to your agent. He or she is your spirit guide. If you decide you want to negotiate — that is, make a counteroffer to the seller’s counteroffer — your agent will use their negotiating skills to help get you the best deal. This is what agents do every day. But you’re not just going to sit there. If you understand what negotiating tactics your agent may deploy — they depend on the local market and your position — you can back them up. And cheer them on. Here are eight rules every buyer should know before they — and their agent — start negotiating: #1 Act Fast — Like, Now When you receive a counteroffer, you should respond quickly — ideally within 24 hours. The longer you wait, the more space you leave for another buyer to swoop in and nab the property. Also? If a seller senses hesitation, they may decide to withdraw their counteroffer before you even have a chance to respond. #2 Raise Your Price (Within Reason) While you obviously don’t want to overpay for a house, you may have to up the ante — especially if you initially made a lowball offer. Lean on your agent’s expertise to determine how much money you should add to the sales price to make it more enticing to the seller. Then, through their powers of persuasion, your agent can make the counteroffer look even more attractive by pointing out similarly priced “comps” — recently sold homes in your area that are comparable in terms of square footage and features. As your agent negotiates, it can feel like things are escalating quickly. It’s stressful. You may feel a sudden urge to do whatever it takes to win. Before you go overboard, there are two things you must keep in mind: You can’t exceed the monetary confines of the pre-approved mortgage you received from your lender. You shouldn’t overextend your budget. Because your counteroffer has to be an amount you’re comfortable spending on a home. You want that new house and to keep living your life. Plus: You’re not out of options yet. #3 Increase Your Earnest Money Deposit Increasing your earnest money deposit (EMD) — the sum of money you put down to prove to the seller you’re serious (i.e., “earnest”) about buying the house — is another way to show the seller you have more skin in the game. A standard EMD is typically 1% to 3% of the sales price of the home. Making a counteroffer with a 3% to 4% deposit could be what you need to persuade the seller to side with you. #4 Demonstrate Patience About Taking Possession Depending on the seller’s timetable, changing your proposed possession date — the date you take over the property — could butter them up, too. If the seller wants to stay in the home for a few days after closing, try offering a later possession date. You could also draw up a “rent-back” agreement, meaning the seller pays you rent for staying in the home for a set period of time after the closing date. #5 Let Go of a Few Contingencies — With Care Want to give your counteroffer an even bigger boost? Reduce the number of contingencies you’re asking for. It’s your way of saying, “Hey, look, I have fewer ways to back out,” which gives the seller more reassurance that the deal will close. But be selective: Some contingencies are too important to give up. A home-inspection contingency — the right to have a home inspection and request repairs — gives you an out if you spot major problems with the home (and protects you from buying a total money pit). You might waive a termite inspection if you’re in a state where the risk is lower. But ultimately, waiving contingencies depends on your market, your loan program requirements, your risk tolerance, and the circumstances of the house in question. And if you waive contingencies and then you find a problem, the seller isn’t responsible for fixing it. #6 Ask for Fewer Concessions At a mortgage settlement, home buyers have to pay closing costs for taxes, lender’s fees, and title company fees. Closing costs vary by location, but you can expect to shell out between 3% and 4% of the home’s sales price. The seller pays an additional 1% to 3%. (Smart Asset and Nerdwallet have simple calculators you can use to get a rough idea of what your closing costs might be.) When making an initial offer, you have the option to ask the seller for concessions — a settlement paid in cash to help you offset your share of the closing costs. (This move is less feasible if you’re going up against multiple offers.) Concessions effectively lower the seller’s net proceeds from the sale. Making a counteroffer that removes the concessions you would have otherwise received at settlement puts cash back in the seller’s pocket — and can improve your bid. #7 Pick Up the Cost of the Home Warranty Sometimes sellers offer prospective buyers a home warranty. This is a plan that covers the cost of repairing major home appliances and systems, like the air conditioner or hot water heater, if they break down within a certain period (typically a year after closing). A basic home warranty costs about $300 to $600 a year, according to Angie’s List. If it seems like waiving the home warranty can sweeten negotiations, but you still want the peace of mind of having one, tell the seller they don’t need to cover it — then buy it yourself. Just keep in mind, whether you or the seller buy the warranty, you’ll need to pay the service fee (typically between $50 and $100) if something does, indeed, need to be repaired while under warranty. Also, FYI: A home warranty is entirely separate from homeowners insurance. Homeowners insurance — the security blanket that covers your home’s structure and possessions in the event of a fire, storm, flood, or other accident — is required if you take out a mortgage. It can cost anywhere from $300 to $1,000 per year. #8 Know When to Walk When negotiating with a seller, trust your gut — and your agent. If he or she says a deal is bad for you: Listen. And if you don’t want to make any more trade-offs — and the seller won’t budge — it’s smart to walk. That can be a tough decision to make, and rightfully so! Negotiating is tough. It’s draining. And losing something you’ve worked hard to get can be disappointing. But don’t worry. There’s a better deal for you out there. And after those strong feelings of frustration pass, you’ll realize: Now I know how to do this.
