Where Have All The Properties Gone?

Before our eyes, the market is shifting again.  Literally there are few good homes available on the market these days.  We're talking "non-short sales", as most people don't want to fuss with short sales. 

The graph above shows "single family" home data for the City of Coral Gables, properties listed under $1 Million. Year to date, there was a 31.2% decline in single family home listings while sales were up 52% since Nov. '08.

This lack of  good "single family home" inventory makes it a unique time for those sellers who really want to sell to put their property for sale now.  My last two listings / sales to go under contract each went in a bidding war with multiple offers: Old Spanish on Sarria in the Gables and South Miami property sale on 42 ST.

We are seeing similar data in South Miami and surrounding neighborhoods of Coral Gables. In the past 90 days of active listings, 50% of the inventory has either sold or gone under contract! 

If you are considering buying a property, I can't stress enough - now is the time. Carpe Diem!

Three Miami Schools Make "America's Best High Schools Top 100" List

USNews.com has published their "America's Top 100 High Schools" list for the third year in a row, and it is no surprise that three of our best Miami-Dade County Magnet Schools have made the list again. 

Early on the list as #15 is DART, which is the Design and Art Academy located in the Design District.  Also on the top 100 is the New World School of the Arts, ranked #82 as well as Coral Reef Senior High School, #95.  All three of these schools are magnet schools and all focus on the Arts.  This is one more demonstration of how students involved in art and music programs out perform their peers. 

Many of the schools on the top 100 list in general are magnet or advanced placement schools, and gain their ranking partially on the number of students enrolled in AP courses as well as their assessment of the school's perentage of "college readiness". 

There are several other fine high schools in Dade County that are not on this list, but receive accolades and A grades on a local and state level.