Categories
Buying Environmental Home Improvement

5 Ways To Tell If Your Home Has Chinese Drywall

drystatslargeChinese drywall could be present in your home if it was built or extensively remodeled between 2004 and 2008.  Due to the building boom and major hurricane damage during those years, drywall had to be imported for the first time.  Unfortunately, Chinese drywall has high levels of chemicals that we do not find in drywall made in the United States.

  1. Presence of sulfur smell or other strange odor
  2. Corrosion of copper pipes, especially on the air conditioning unit.  Instead of seeing a copper pipe, you will see one covered in a black, soot-like coating.
  3. The air conditioner evaporator coil located inside the air handling unit fails.
  4. Writing on the back of the drywall that says, “Made in China” or confirmed presence by builder.
  5. Confirmation by an outside expert.

BEWARE OF SCAMS!!!  This is Florida, after all.  DO NOT pay someone to come take an air test, as to date, there is no air test for Chinese drywall.  The easiest way to tell if it may be an issue are items 1-3 above.  If you are not sure, call your air conditioner technician.  DO NOT pay someone to spray anything on your walls.  There is no product currently being backed by anyone that can contain the dangerous substances found in the drywall

For important updates on Chinese drywall from, sign up at Florida’s State Department of Health

Categories
Environmental Freebies Home Improvement

Free Trees Help Beautify Your Yard and Conserve Energy

The right landscaping  can help you save money.  Properly positioned, plants will  shade your home and tree-resizedlower cooling costs.  Using plants that don’t require a lot of water can minimize water usage while still allowing you to have a beautiful yard.

Miami-Dade County wants to encourage tree planting and offers the popular “Adopt-a-Tree” program several times a year throughout the County.

Achieving and maintaining a Florida-friendly yard, one that requires minimum watering and maintenance, is a great way to improve your home.

Other home improvement articles:

Free High Efficiency Shower Heads

Categories
Coconut Grove Neighborhood News Restaurants

George's in the Grove

I know it is kind of strange to spend a 5 de Mayo at George’s in the Grove, but am I glad we did!  It was very fitting because George himself has a wild and strange energy and the whole evening was a bit surreal.

The service and food were both  exquisite.  From the fun George’s Gazette, which contains the wine list and menu along with amusing reads, to the ambiance of the open restaurant itself, I left a fan.  Our party of four started out with several appetizers, one more amazing than the other:  yellow and red tomatoes, Burrata mozzarella, Prosciutto and basil vinaigrette; country pate; and a spectacular smoked Salmon tartare.  We should have stopped there because we ate everything, but the menu wouldn’t let us.  We went on to order 3-hour braised lamb shank with homemade black truffle mashed potatoes, steamed fresh mussels in garlic and white wine broth, center cut filet mignon, and a veal special.

georges-in-the-groveThe staff was amazing.  The place was packed, yes packed to overflowing on a Tuesday night; a mariachi band and some very inebriated followers came by a couple of times, singing loudly and passing around tequila; and we were demanding, wanting more of everything (champagne, food, wine, dessert), yet our waiter never flustered.  He even allowed us to move outside to a lounge area on the sidewalk, and timed our last wine, dessert, and coffee perfectly.  We never felt rushed.  I can’t wait to rush back!

Categories
Coconut Grove Neighborhood News Restaurants

George’s in the Grove

I know it is kind of strange to spend a 5 de Mayo at George’s in the Grove, but am I glad we did!  It was very fitting because George himself has a wild and strange energy and the whole evening was a bit surreal.

The service and food were both  exquisite.  From the fun George’s Gazette, which contains the wine list and menu along with amusing reads, to the ambiance of the open restaurant itself, I left a fan.  Our party of four started out with several appetizers, one more amazing than the other:  yellow and red tomatoes, Burrata mozzarella, Prosciutto and basil vinaigrette; country pate; and a spectacular smoked Salmon tartare.  We should have stopped there because we ate everything, but the menu wouldn’t let us.  We went on to order 3-hour braised lamb shank with homemade black truffle mashed potatoes, steamed fresh mussels in garlic and white wine broth, center cut filet mignon, and a veal special.

georges-in-the-groveThe staff was amazing.  The place was packed, yes packed to overflowing on a Tuesday night; a mariachi band and some very inebriated followers came by a couple of times, singing loudly and passing around tequila; and we were demanding, wanting more of everything (champagne, food, wine, dessert), yet our waiter never flustered.  He even allowed us to move outside to a lounge area on the sidewalk, and timed our last wine, dessert, and coffee perfectly.  We never felt rushed.  I can’t wait to rush back!

Categories
Buying Market Summary Pinecrest Selling

Pinecrest FL Real Estate – Market Trends First Quarter 2009

During the first quarter of 2009 there has been very little change in the inventory of single family homes in Pinecrest listed on the MLS.  Sales also seem to be moving to closing slowly, but the trending increase in pending sales gives me hope that Pinecrest’s real estate market will start moving the way of Miami-Dade County, decreasing inventory and increased sales.  One of the reasons this market is going to turn more slowly than the County’s is due to the pricing.  The median sales price of all single family homes in the County at the end of April was $165,000 whereas in Pinecrest it was $475,000.  78% of  sales in the County were under $300,000.

What has been selling in Pinecrest in the first quarter are the single family homes listed for between $216 and $298 per square foot.  Based on the inventory and number of closed sales in April, there is currently 53 months worth of inventory in Pinecrest. However, based on current inventory and the number of pending sales there is an 11.5 month inventory.  This illustrates how rapidly the market can turn.  Since summer is the most active time for single family home sales, I am feeling cautiously optimistic that the market is starting to change and is at least stopping its downward free-fall.

pinecrest-market-1st-quarter-2009

Related Posts:

Miami Real Estate – Quarterly Update for Miami-Dade County

8 Reasons Why Now is the Perfect Time to Buy Real Estate

Unbelievable Value In Pinecrest

Pinecrest, FL Real Estate Update January, 2009

Categories
Buying Market Summary Selling

Miami Real Estate, Its All in the Numbers

numbersUnlike the television show, Numb3rs, I am not going to get into any fancy or complicated formulas.  I am just going to state the real estate numbers for Miami-Dade County as of the end of the first quarter of 2009.  You can use them to make your purchasing or selling decisions, to get a glimpse of what is going on in our market, or to fill in awkward silences at cocktail parties.

Overall Numbers

  • 35% of all listings on the MLS are either short sales or REO
  • 59% of all sales on the MLS are either short sales or REO
  • 82% of all residential sales are under $300,000

Single Family Home Numbers

  • 20% of single family home sales are under $100,000 (yes there are homes under $100k in Miami but hurry, they are only 6% of the inventory and going fast!)
  • 3% of single family home sales and 14% of the inventory are over $1,000,000.  Inventory in this price range is at 83 months, up from 55 months this time last year
  • 17 month supply of single family homes down from a 42 months supply 1 year ago (Wow, that was fast!)

Condo Numbers

  • 36% of all condo sales are under $100,000 and they make up 15% of the inventory
  • 3% of condo sales and 9% of inventory are over $1,000,000.  Inventory in this price range is at 88 months up from 41 months last year.
  • 24,835 condos at peak of inventory July 2008.  21,134 condos as of April 2009 (many more available that aren’t on the MLS)

Stay tuned for future episodes!

Other articles by the numbers:

Miami Real Estate – Quarterly Update for Miami-Dade County

Pinecrest, FL Real Estate – Market Trends First Quarter 2009

Key Biscayne, Florida Real Estate Update January 2009

Miami Beach, Florida Real Estate Update January 2009

Categories
Buying Neighborhood News Pinecrest

7645 SW 117 Street, Pinecrest, FL is in a Great Location

7645 SW 117 Street, Pinecrest, FLYou know what they say about real estate: location, location, location.  Well this house is walking distance to shops, restaurants, places of worship, parks and public transportation!

Located off of 77 Ave., a main North/South corridor in Pinecrest, 7645 SW 117 Street is a perfect place to call home.

  • 4 bedroom/2 bath
  • builder’s acre
  • accordian hurricane shutters
  • new hardwood floors
  • chickee hut

The Village of Pinecrest, known for its parks, schools, large lots and quiet life-style has always been popular with families, couples and individuals who enjoy their space and privacy yet want to live close to activities.

Categories
Environmental Freebies Home Improvement

Free High-Efficiency Shower Heads and Rebates to Conserve Water and Save $$

Water conservation is extremely important in Florida.  Even though we are surrounded by water, we are in the middle stop-signof a several-year drought and we all need to do our part to save water.  In addition to complying with current watering restrictions, there are steps you can take around your home to cut down water use.

Miami-Dade County has a program to exchange your old shower head and get a free, high-efficiency shower head.  They also offer rebates to homeowners who replace an old toilet with a high-efficiency one.

Categories
Renting in Miami

3 Reasons To Rent At 100 Edgewater Dr., #333, Coral Gables, FL

  1. Location, Location, Location:  I only counted this once even though this apartment is 5 minutes to downtown Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, University of Miami, and South Miami; 10 minutes to the University of Miami, Baptist and Mercy Hospitals, downtown Miami, 20 minutes to Key Biscayne and South Beach, Miami International Airport.
  2. Great layout.  There is no wasted space in this condo.  Good size living/dining area, large bedroom with walk-in closet and second closet.
  3. Relaxing.  Whether sitting on the balcony overlooking the garden or lounging in the huge pool or deck overlooking the Coral Gables Waterway, you feel like you are miles away from the mainland (even though, as mentioned in #1 above, you are close to everything).blog-pool-image

Categories
Buying Investment Real Estate Pinecrest

Unbelievable Land Value in Pinecrest, FL – 7935 SW 134 Street- Builder's Acre Under $550,000

This beautiful builder’s acre is located on a quiet, low-traffic street in South Pinecrest.  A house sits on the property, bucciero-land-resizedwaiting for you to continue the updates or tear it down and build new.  Take advantage of the current market; it has been a while since land value in Pinecrest was this low.   The Village of Pinecrest is a highly desirable neighborhood with may parks, great schools, a community center and library.