Miami Real Estate - Sales Looking Up!

Once again we have the latest market stats for real state in Miami-Dade County.  I thought I'd share with you this graph showing a few things...

A FEW NOTES ON THE STATS:

• Inventory in the county has dropped,  we have a 6 month supply "normal market conditions" of homes for sale (light green bars).
• Pending sales are up to 1,515 for June 2011, the highest we've seen in over 7 years...
• Short sale inventory equals 33.1% of our total home inventory for sale.
• Pricing remains steady overall for Miami-Dade... average single family home up to $341,000 from $338,000.
• Lack of inventory and increase in buyer activity w/low mortgage interest rates is what's keeping our prices stable now, rather than declining.
• This statistic is for Miami-Dade county as as whole.  Contact me for specific information about Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, Pinecrest, Miami Beach, Palmetto Bay, South Miami, or your specific neighborhood in Miami Dade or Broward County.

For more detail or market discussion, contact me directly at 305-345-8153, or at Lisa@FoxProductions.com.

Country Style - Large Yard and Room for the Boat!

Here's a new listing I just posted last week in the Metro Zoo area.  This is just west of 137th Avenue off 152 ST in the Southwest part of town.  The great thing about this property is its lush builder's half acre lot full of fruit and palm trees in the back.  Also there is plenty of space with double gates to park a large boat or extra cars.

Front View - 14711 SW 152 STREET

The house itself is nice, well kept and very clean.  There are 3 bedrooms / 2 baths in a split plan.  Vaulted ceilings add to the spacial dimension in the living room, especially with the flanked french doors opening up to the patio.

The kitchen is newly remodeled and includes a nice eat-in kitchen area with a huge double door pantry area.  The master bedroom also has an addition with a huge walk-in closet.  You can definitely say it's "walk-in" but it's actually more like an extra room... the closet is huge and would be considered a dressing area.  A new or expectant mother could probably turn the closet into a nursery room with a crib... that's how large it is.

I find the neighborhood to be quiet, and most of the homes around appear to be  in good condition... meaning not a lot of distressed looking properties around this house.  That's a good thing if you care about eye soars and your neighbors.  The house is conveniently located, right off 152 ST and close to shopping - there are both Publix and Sedanos supermarkets nearby, and the turnpike entrance is not far away.

Call me for more details or to arrange a showing.  This is not a distressed sale, and the property is only for sale, NOT for rent.  List price is $237,000.

Pleasant Surprise in Coral Gables - Single Family Home for $368,500.

If you are looking for the bottom of the pricing market, here is a great opportunity in the north Coral Gables area.  This home has been completely renovated and is perfect for either a new family or someone wanting to downsize.

1260 VENETIA AVENUE, CORAL GABLES, 33143

Here are some great pictures below of the kitchen and dining area. The kitchen is spacious and open to the kitchen, and the cabinets are real wood with granite countertops and stainless appliances.





Kitchen Open to Dining Room

Although this is a smaller home with about 1500 SF, the property has a good layout and has a large bedrooms with plenty of closet space through the hallway and in the master bedroom.

If you are interested, catch it while it's still available as it will be gone soon.





Wow, What a Condo! ... in the Brickell area.

I just rented a unit over at the new 500 Brickell Av. condo.  This is a beautiful property designed by the renown "Architectonica" firm in Miami, and with interior design by Michael Wolk.  Here is a link to the 500 Brickell photos on Michael Wolk's web page.  Wolk's motto is "Making Design Matter", and he sure did with this project.

The 500 Brickell is classy and contemporary.  There are two towers (east and west), and the buildings are joined up to the 11th floor with a very SOBE patio area and large round infinity swimming pool.   There are cabanas, lounge chairs, and entertainment areas, as well as "his and hers" spa areas. 


Rooftop Pool

The common area decor has a zen feel, using all the correct Feng Shui elements and a nice color scheme in the hallways.  On the top of the East tower is a surprising small round dipping pool and rooftop entertaining area... nice.

Lobby

 The rooms are spacious with modern kitchens, high ceilings and floor to ceiling windows.  The bathrooms are large and spacious.  Most of the units have 1 or 2 bedrooms although the NE Corner of the East tower has 3 bedroom units, directly facing the bay.    There are currently 19 units for sale in the complex, ranging from $285,000 to $595,000 in listing price.  Call me for more info!

Adventures in moving...Rosemary and Arnie..or how the Grinch screwed things up

(True Story, as told by my customer's friend Jeanie Brosius, guest blog writer.)


......or, in the famous words of Ricky Ricardo..."Lucy, you got some 'splaining to do!!!"


"RIP" Olive Tree on Madrid ST, Coral Gables

My first mistake was calling Rosemary to see how their move to the new house on Lisbon went today.


Nearly hiccuping with laughter and hysteria, Rosemary informed me that I should probably get a glass of wine and sit down as I was "the first human person to know all that happened today."


Grabbing a glass of wine and settling on the couch I offered..."So what happened? Did you all get moved in?"


Reminiscent of Chevy Chase's "Funny Farm" movie where the furniture moving truck gets lost and the new owners have to sleep on the floor...(wife: When the real estate agent said these were real hardwood floors, she wasn't kidding!) - Rosemary and Arnie saw the 18 wheeler truck packed with all their worldly goods they left for the four block drive to the new house around three this afternoon.


Waiting...waiting .. waiting... one hour, two hours (hmmm... Miami time? Siesta? Long lunch?) finally Rosemary called her housekeeper who said 'Mz Rosemary, we've been trying to call you..the truck has been in an accident." An accident? In four blocks? Thinking we have moved this stuff 1800 miles with no accident...she asked what happened.


It seems that at the end of the block, a mere two houses from the old house, the driver tried to negotiate a turn and hit a tree limb...which in actuality was a dead and hollow tree that fell into the front of the truck, disabling it. Police and firemen were called...all the streets blocked off with no car traffic allowed. Rosemary called her driver Mike, who said "Oh yes, I've been leaving messages for you" .... on the phone that was packed in the truck! (that's helpful).


Rosemary then walks to the old house (can't drive due to closed streets...thank you God that it happened at the old neighborhood) talks to the driver and has to trust that their entire household goods load is not on its way to Havana on the next boat. After all, one of her biggest cases was a major cargo theft, but we don't want to discuss that right now.


Also, this is not a nationally recognized moving company, being Miami, where someone's cousin's brother's barber's priest knows someone who can do the job......so no telling what is going on. Again, we do NOT want to think about this. Shhhhhh.


Lisa, the real estate agent also checked in to be sure they were all settled in and was aghast at learning not only were they not moved in, they have no idea where their stuff is. (we do not want to think about this)


In the meantime, at the new Lisbon abode which was built in 1926, Rosemary discovered that there is no garbage disposal so her housekeeper's brother (or cousins' priest) ...now their new best friend, who is a garbage disposal wizard, arrives and begins a 9 hour process to install a garbage disposal. Fortunately, our Rosie has her wits about her and has grabbed the bare essentials for their foray into the new house...jewlery, pet food, two pillows, coffee press and coffee, wine bottle, one wine glass and a corkscrew.


She asks the Ecuadoran garbage disposal guru "I'm going to open this wine...would you like some?" "Oh, si, Senora. Perhaps just a leetle bit." With a wine glass and a coffee mug, she and he are getting down in the kitchen toasting and christening the new garbage disposal. Fiesta~~~ ay yi yi yi.


Fast forward to the call tonight...while Rosemary and I were talking (and laughing till we cried), her phone kept beeping in with another call which she took. It was Comcast with a recorded message "We will hook up your service tomorrow...please enter your Comcast membership number." Oh sure...I happen to have THAT on me at all times. Puh-Lease!! Don't worry Comcast, we don't even have anything for you to hook up right now.


In the end, Rosemary and Arnie determined they were not going to leave the three pets (Davis is in cat hospital with a little UI thing) and their valuables...so hardwood floors and pillows it is. Worst case scenario, there is a gated driveway and they will creep out to sleep in the Cayenne if too miserable.


Me...I'm wiping my eyes and gasping with laughter ... drinking my wine and sending this as a reminder that this season holds many blessings. So if you are sleeping in your cozy bed tonight and have all your STUFF with you... be happy and grateful.


Remember there are people in Coral Gables sleeping on a floor tonight... Bah Humbug!!!


"True Story" told by: Jeanie Brosius, Guest Writer

... and I had to add her poem she just sent me:

'Twas two nights before Christmas

and all through the new house,

Not a creature was stirring

Except the Grinch, that louse.

The movers had tucked in piano and bed

to the big old red truck,

where they surely would head

Four blocks round the corner

The driver did say

We will be there shortly,

Once we clear this driveway

When what to their wondering eyes didn't appear

Their big moving truck, filled with tables and chairs.

A tree was now trimming

The front of the cab

Policeman and firemen

were all keeping tabs

On neighborhood traffic

No you can't drive down there

Till the tree is removed

and the roads are then clear

Meanwhile, in the new casa

Rosemary and Manuel

Toast the garbage disposal

which had all gone to... well you know

Last night Arnie and Rosie tucked in their wee little bed

While visions of unpacking danced in their heads.

This sad Christmas story has an ending of cheer

With Rosemary and Arnie declaring so clear

We're done with the movers

We're done with the fear...

No more packing or moving

At least for ten years.

MERRY CHRISTMAS Y'ALL

Jeanie Brosius

Dallas Texas

214.394.0769

Coaching You to a Life that You Love!

Jeanie Brosius is a former Unity minister. She is a Life Coach with clients all over the

world. She is an author, speaker and international seminar leader. Her books include
Giving From an Empty Well and Filling Your Well, a calendar companion book.  . Jeanie also teaches The Artists Way classes inDallas, Texas. You may reach Jeanie Brosius at: jeanie0318@sbcglobal.net
or on her cell phone: 214-394-0769.

Live like you're on vacation! Brickell Key - Miami Waterfront Condo

Live like you're on vacation!  If you are looking for waterfront property in Miami, this is a well situated condo with a fantastic direct view of Biscayne Bay.  This is a fantastic 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom corner unit condo.  The unit is located on a 21st floor of the ST. Louis Condo, which is a newer building from 1995, and offers peace and tranquility on Brickell Key, which is part of the Brickell - Miami neighborhood.   This unit is currently listed for $395,000.

Bay View from Condo Unit

There are views to Key Biscayne, Miami Beach, and the Port of Miami. Enjoy a nice meal on the balcony. This unit is not only a corner, but it goes from front to back of the building, which means that there are windows on 3 sides of the unit.  The building is quiet and well located next to the Mandarin Oriental Hotel on Brickell Key, a minute off Brickell Avenue.

 Ammentities include a large swimming pool, gymnasium and walkways around Brickell Key.  There are 2 parking spaces included with this unit.

Outside View of Condo - Tall Building on Right Side

Below you will see some of the upgrades of bamboo wood flooring and a beautiful modern kitchen for today's cook with a eat-in countertop.  The kitchen and bathrooms are in great condition and are move-in ready.

Kitchen View - Nice Granite Countertops

See below picture of living room corner views.  It was a little hard to capture the light of the room with the window light coming in, but you get the picture "no pun intended".  This shows great in person... great size room with great unobstructed views.

Living Room

Brickell Key is a traingular shaped island located at the mouth of the Miami River. It is in Miami's Downtown Brickell neighborhood and is close to Miami's financial and art districts.  

Nicest Two Bedroom Condo Available in Kings Creek West! Listed for $165,000.

Here is a spacious new two bedroom / two bath condo for sale in Kings Creek West.    In my opinion, this is probably the best 2/2 for sale in the East Kendall area of Kings Creek, especially since it's in the Kings Creek West complex, made up of several two story condo buildings.  The property is surrounded by green space and has nice landscaping with a swimming pool, club house, and two tennis courts.

Kings Creek West Swimming Pool

This unit is a corner apartment, with plenty of natural light in every room.  The living room has double glass sliding doors looking out to a roomy balcony, and a built-in bar area of the finest cherry wood has recently been installed. 

Living Room with Built-In Cherry Wood Bar / Storage

The kitchen has nice updates with granite countertops and the bathtrooms have been completely remodeled. There also is a tankless hot water heater installed for efficiency, and the washer and dryer are conveniently located inside the unit.

Kings Creek West is in the process of a renovation.  There is a new roof on the building, and there will be new updates around the community within the next several months.  The maintenance fee includes basic cable + HBO.  Kings Creek is a planned unit development with condos, townhomes, and single family homes, and is close to shops and restuarants of Dadeland mall, US1, University of Miami, and Miami Dade College.

Kings Creek West - Tennis Courts

Perfect for your bicycle or luggage, a private storage closet is included in the building.  This is truly THE nicest two bedroom condo I have seen in Kings Creek and in all of East Kendall.