WESTON, Fla. – With gorgeous homes, manicured landscaping and gated communities, the city of Weston looks good.
And now it has a new accolade: No. 1 best housing market in the country, according to online real estate marketplace Zillow.
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Weston realtor Rose Sklar said she is not surprised.
"Coupled with low rates, the amazing school districts?we're all A's across the board," she said.
Sklar and her husband, Dean, also a long-time real estate agent in Weston, cite safety as another reason people choose to live in the western suburb.
Weston also attracts a client base that has a higher income than in other Florida cities.
"People here make money, they make money?they have jobs. We've got a lot of cash buyers coming in from all over the country," Sklar said.
According to Zillow, the median home value over the past two years in Weston has shot up 15.1 percent.
In a state that's seen record foreclosures and high unemployment rates, Weston's a diamond in the rough.
But all isn't rosy everywhere in Florida. It turns out the worst-performing housing market is just 50 miles south of Weston, in Homestead.
Its median home value has dropped over the last two years, down a whopping 48.8 percent.
Sklar believes the Broward city's growing economy?and Homestead's lack thereof?that has something to do with its success.
"There's a lot of business here. So we've got a lot of jobs. And people I know, people are happy, the schools are great, people are working. I'm one of the lucky ones maybe. It's a pocket of good. And I'm so glad I live here in Weston," Sklar said.