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Buying Selling

Latest Real Estate Scam Hits E-Mail Accounts – Buyers Beware

As if the real estate market in South Florida doesn’t have enough going on with all of the new construction and tight inventory in high demand locations, there is now a new scam to watch out for. Hackers are using the hot real estate markets throughout the country and are targeting Realtors® and their client’s. They hack into a Realtor’s e-mail account, learn about transactions they are working on and then e-mail the client requesting a deposit be wired to an account. It all looks legitimate to the client, who wires the money to a fraudulent account.
To protect yourself:
• Always verify any request to transfer funds with your REALTOR® and closing agent, either a title company or attorney.
• Call using a number you have used before, NOT the number on the e-mail directing you to wire the deposit.
• Be on the lookout for responses to e-mails that you have not sent. This may be a sign that your e-mail account has been hacked.
• Be especially careful of e-mails from gmail and Hotmail accounts.
• Please share this information with any one you know who is currently buying or selling real estate

 

 

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Neighborhood News Pinecrest Restaurants Things To Do

Great Happy Hour At Anacapri In Pinecrest

Anacapri's Eggplant Parm

 

Anacapri's Eggplant Parm
Anacapri’s Eggplant Parm

I love Anacapri and go there for dinner and their Wednesday wine tastings, but have never been there for happy hour.  Last night I went out with friends and suggested we go there and try it out.  I am so glad we did and I will definitely be back.  They have a wide selection of wine and appetizers to choose from.   We had meatballs, eggplant rolatini, and a bottle of Carnivore, all three of which where delicious!

Categories
Restaurants

Tongue & Cheek Restaurant In SoFi District of Miami Beach

Chilled Oysters With Carbonated Cucumber Mignonette
Chilled Oysters With Carbonated Cucumber Mignonette
Chilled Oysters With Carbonated Cucumber Mignonette

Unlike Wikipedia’s definition for Tongue-in-cheek, “a figure of speech used to imply that a statement or other production is humorously or otherwise not seriously intended, and it should not be taken at face value”, Tongue & Cheek‘s food and service is seriously good.  Some friends and I popped in for happy hour and worked our way through most of the happy hour menu.  We had the Beef Cheek sliders, Braised Short Rib Quesadilla, Korean Chicken Wings, and the Chilled Oysters, pictured above with a mini Tabasco Sauce.  Everything was delicious we went back for thirds (!) on the sliders and oysters.  Their drinks were also very good and so reasonably priced, by South Beach standards.  I am looking forward to going back and trying their other menus.

Categories
Buying Coconut Grove Market Summary Selling

Miami Real Estate Market Continues With Tight Inventories In Many Neighborhoods

Light & Bright Living in Coconut Grove

 

Light & Bright Living in Coconut Grove
Light & Bright Living in Coconut Grove

Although today’s Miami Herald article “Housing market shows signs of cooling” may send some buyers back to the sidelines, it should be emphasized that they are referring to the condo market.  Here is a snapshot of what EWM’s Coral Gables office saw in activity this week:

  • New Sales Listings: 15, 6 condos and 9 single family homes, 6 listings above $1 million.
  • New Rental Listings: 12, 7 condos and 5 single family homes
  • Residential Sales: 34, 7 condos and 27 single family homes, 3 were above $1 million.

To break what is going on with our sales into percentages, we saw 44% more sales than new listings.  Of the 7 condos that sold, one was sold above asking price and another was sold at asking price.  The numbers were even more impressive for the single family homes with over 38% of them selling at or above list price (26.47% selling at and almost 12% over).

So what does this mean if you are a seller?  If your house or condo is priced right and is in a location with tight inventory,  such as the house pictured above listed by EWM’s Carole Smith, it will sell.  Now is a great time to list, before inventory in your neighborhood rises.

What does it mean if you are a buyer?  If you are looking for a home in a neighborhood with a tight inventory, make sure you are aware of the most recent sales so you know what to offer.  If you are interested in a home with a lot of inventory, or with a significant increase in inventory projected, do the numbers to get a good price.

 

Categories
Buying

Miami’s Affordable New Construction Condos

Although it may seem like Miami is only building condos for the wealthy, not all of Miami’s new construction is aimed at millionaires.  Here are a few of the latest projects announced.

 

INTOWN conceptual floorplanINTOWN, located in the Little Havana neighborhood,  is in the reservation stage with prices starting at $200,000.  This 14-story, 320-unit condominium will feature 1, 2 & 3-bedroom condos and townhomes with six different floor plans to chose from.  These units will be move-in ready with an option of fully furnished units from Interiors by Steven G.

 

Artist's Conceptual Rendering of Living Area
Artist’s Conceptual Rendering of Living Area.

Head a little further North and East to the Arts & Entertainment District, to visit the location of CANVAS, a proposed 27 story  with 513-units comprised of studios, 1 and 2 bedrooms.  Prices start at $230,000.

aria on the bayAlso located in the Arts & Entertainment District and directly across from Margaret Pace Park,  is Aria on the Bay, with 647 units on 50 floors. Prices start in low $300,000’s and there are 1, 2, 3 and 4 bedroom units.

Categories
Florida Life Things To Do

Fairchild Mango Festival Is Next Weekend

Mango Madness at Fairchild
Mango Madness at Fairchild
Mango Madness at Fairchild

One of my favorite things about summer in South Florida is that it is mango season! The smell of ripe mangoes permeates the air and children set up mango stands throughout the Village of Pinecrest and other neighborhoods. There are so many different of mangoes that it is a bit difficult to know which stand will have your favorite. Some mangoes are large and stringy, others taste like ice cream. If you want to learn more about mangoes, head over Fairchild’s 22 Annual Mango Festival this weekend.

Categories
Buying Pinecrest Selling

12085 SW 65 Ave Is An Updated Entertainer’s Dream In Pinecrest

DSC_1174_5_6EnhancerThis tastefully updated 4 bedroom/4 bath home is an entertainer’s dream.  It has an extra office/den, a huge family room with a wetbar, a basketball court, an oversized swimming pool surrounded by a covered patio with remote-controlled screens, and sliding doors that open from all of the living areas directly onto the patio.  The extra large kitchen features two seating areas, a large breakfast/snack bar and an island, double ovens, a warmer, and granite counter tops.  This home is move-in ready.

Categories
Florida Life Hurricanes

Be Prepared…Hurricane Season Starts Today

IMG_0555[1]Although this is obviously a joke and not a real evacuation plan, everyone who lives in the State of Florida should have a real evacuation plan by now.  If you have been postponing making one because we have been lucky and haven’t had a hurricane strike in Florida for years, you should at least have a basic hurricane plan and some of the general supplies on hand .  The last thing you want to do when a warning is upon us is to be scrambling for supplies.

 

Categories
Restaurants Things To Do

Calling All Orchid Lovers: International Orchid Festival At Fairchild Garden Is This Weekend

SONY DSC

The 12th annual international orchid festival takes place at Fairchild Garden from March 7-9. Stroll through the gardens and browse the 10,000 plants that will be on sale from international vendors, stop by and have lunch at the Orchid Tea Room, Glasshouse Cafe, or Lakesaide Cafe, then continue enjoying all the garden has to offer including: interactive gardening workshops, Wings of the Tropics butterfly conservatory, Tropical Fruit Pavilion, and Rainforest. During your strolling, you are sure to see 16 intricate design pieces by Brazilian designer Hugo França, who uses reclaimed wood to make functional, natural pieces like chaise lounges and tall benches.

Categories
Buying Pinecrest

5995 SW 91 Street Located in North Pinecrest On Deep Builder’s Acre

5995 SW 91 St., Pinecrest, FL
5995 SW 91 St., Pinecrest, FL
5995 SW 91 St., Pinecrest, FL

Situated in the front portion of a deep, corner lot in Pinecrest, Florida, 5995 SW 91 Street is a 4 bedroom 3 and a half bath home with plenty of space both inside and out. The rooms are spacious and the pool and back yard are absolutely gorgeous for spending afternoons and weekends. Take a look at this virtual tour and imagine yourself home!