Martha Chamberlain

When we think of the word pioneer, we most likely think of the wild west -- the first settlers with horse drawn-covered wagons. But there are many different pioneers. The dictionary defines "Pioneer" as early, experimental, adventurous. Explorer of new territory. Many things that we do in our life time could be considered pioneering.

When moving to the Weston area back in 1989, I never anticipating being an early settler and watching a city evolve. Weston was a multi-use Real Estate development of Arvida Corporation. Arvida's name came from its founder ARthur VIning DAvis. The company was a subsidiary of the Disney Corporation, and when it came time for the holidays, it looked like the entrance to one of their parks -- so many lights you could see it from a far distance.

Weston was unincorporated Ft. Lauderdale before the residents voted to become the "City of Weston" in 1996. Soon after, the community invited Bonaventure to join our city. Weston was what they call a "Planned Urban Development (PUD)". With that in mind the communities are planted around the city.

The Weston Town Center is nestled in the core of the city. Before the Town Center was built, it was a mass of open space. It was used for the parking lot for the Honda Classic. Weston previously sponsored that event which was a "big deal," but because of the growth in Weston, the city could no longer accommodate the event. As a huge parking lot, it was the perfect setting to shoot the Fourth of July fireworks. My family could just sit in our driveway and enjoy the show. Boy, I miss those days of simplicity. Subsequently, the fireworks were held in the Regional Park.

The Weston Town Center has incredible boutique shops and exciting restaurants:

• The Cheese Course is a one-of-a-kind cheese shop where incredible gourmet sandwiches and delicacies are created.
• Another favorite place to have lunch and a great night spot is the East City Grill. The happy hour includes such events as Monday Night Football, 2-4-1, and network 2-4-1 socializing.
• For an Asian flair with "Hibachih" tables, get to know your own personal chef at the Japan Inn.
• Del Vecchio's Pizzeria gives you "a taste of the olde neighborhood." In fact, when you visit its website, you get to hear Sinatra sing his famous "New York, New York!"
• Brasero's is an amazing steakhouse!

Some of the residences are walking distance to this amazing town center. Publix is also planted here as well which makes grocery shopping a breeze.

Another amenity of Weston is its amazing regional park which also houses the newly built YMCA.

Just like I have enjoyed watching my children grow, it has been a privilege to be a pioneer and to watch this city grow from its infancy to maturation. Of course, I have visited other places -- very few communities hold a candle to Weston, Florida. I am blessed to be among one of its residents!

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Other resources:

Weston Regional Park and YMCA

Visiting our favorite getaway, my son fishes from sun up to sun down. Sometimes he comes back and says, "Mom, caught three big ones." Big could mean five inches or twenty-five inches. My son finally caught "the big one."

People want the facts or to see evidence first hand. While the public listens to the radio, watches the nightly news, scans the local newspaper or glances at a passing headline, I, on the other hand, have the advantage of proprietary information that I must share to combat all the negativity.

One year ago Weston had an eighteen-month supply of inventory. Currently, Weston is experiencing a decrease of inventory and has only an eleven-month supply. What does that really mean? If not another listings was added to the MLS today, it would take eleven months to sell every home currently on the MLS. One year ago, it would have taken us eighteen months. Because Weston has an eleven-month's supply of inventory, it has experienced a twelve-percent decrease in inventory from last year. Amazingly sales have increased forty-two percent over last year.

However, when homeowners listen to all the media hype, they get a fish story. Luckily, homeowners in our market can check out their own statistics and compare local areas by accessing Neighborhood Facts & Trends on the EWM.COM website.

Not everything we read is necessarily negative. Our government knows that to stimulate the economy, something has to be done with regards to the housing market as its first order of business.

CBS News has reported that the Treasury is being urged to lower mortage rates to assist homeowners.

"The National Association of Realtors has been pushing a plan under which the federal government would spend $50 billion to lower mortgage rates. It says doing so would yield about 500,000 more home sales."

That would be "the big one."