Categories
Commercial Real Estate Florida Life Investment Real Estate Luxury Real Estate Miami Design District Neighborhood News Things To Do

5 Reasons To Visit The Miami Design District

If you haven’t been to the Miami Design District lately and still need a 2018 New Year’s resolution, here is an easy one.  Go visit the Miami Design District.  It is so Miami!  In case you need more reasons than that, here are 5:

  1. Interesting architecture – Okay, between Miami Beach’s art deco district and an abundance of starchitect buildings Miami is full of interesting architecture.  However, in the Miami Design District just about every single building is interesting.  Some have textured exteriors, others vivid colors or geometric designs.  No two buildings are alike and unlike some areas of South Florida that crave and even demand uniformity, the Miami Design District is definitely outside of that box.
    Christian Louboutin– Miami Design District
  2. Plenty of public art – If the architecture isn’t enough to keep you entertained as you explore, there are public art installations sprinkled throughout the district.
    Carole Feuerman Sculpture – photo credit: House & Hive
  3. Unique stores, shops, and restaurants in addition to the luxury brand names.  If small, local, independent shops appeal to you, don’t let the concentration of luxury, brand name designer shops fool you.  There are plenty of small delightful stores and restaurants with a variety of products that you won’t find elsewhere.  The spaces themselves are inviting and the people that I met manning them were helpful, charming and friendly.
    Roses et Pivoines
  4. Institute of Contemporary Art It is free! A generous gift to Miami’s entire community by Miami Design District Associates, who donated the majority of the land, and Norman and Irma Braman, ICA is a bright, open space with installations sure to get you thinking and an outside sculpture garden perfect for selfies.
    The art starts on the outside of ICA MIAMI
  5. Great public spaces to sit and chat, people watch, or enjoy our beautiful weather – the sculpture garden at ICA, the walls around the various planters and water fountains and the meeting bowls are just a few places to grab a seat.  If sitting around is not active enough for you, come up with creative videos to post on #MeetingBowls.  For inspiration, click on the link below.
    Meeting Bowls – A Public Art Project (and meeting space!) by mmmm

Categories
Florida Life Things To Do Where's JWo?

Bike Ride Over A Chinese Bridge – Where’s JWo Answer

Chinese Bridge At Deering Estate
Chinese Bridge At Deering Estate

Look closely at the bridge.  Recognize any of it from the “Where’s JWo” picture posted last Sunday?

Part of the Deering Estate, the Chinese Bridge was constructed in 1918 by Charles Deering to cross Cutler Creek.  He chose the Chinese theme to remind him of his travels through Asia when he was a Navy Officer.

This is a great pathway to walk, bike or jog as the main portion of it is closed to traffic.  If you start on 152 Avenue, ride all the way down through native rock Pinelands and end at the People’s Dock for a great a peak at the nature that abounds in South Florida.

Categories
Florida Life Things To Do Where's JWo?

Bike Ride Over A Chinese Bridge – Where's JWo Answer

Chinese Bridge At Deering Estate
Chinese Bridge At Deering Estate

Look closely at the bridge.  Recognize any of it from the “Where’s JWo” picture posted last Sunday?

Part of the Deering Estate, the Chinese Bridge was constructed in 1918 by Charles Deering to cross Cutler Creek.  He chose the Chinese theme to remind him of his travels through Asia when he was a Navy Officer.

This is a great pathway to walk, bike or jog as the main portion of it is closed to traffic.  If you start on 152 Avenue, ride all the way down through native rock Pinelands and end at the People’s Dock for a great a peak at the nature that abounds in South Florida.

Categories
Buying Luxury Real Estate Selling

Which Florida Cities Will Rank As Most Expensive in 2009?

Last year, Forbes’ 500 most expensive zip codes list included 11 in Florida, including the number 1 most expensive zip, 33109 in Miami Beach, with a median sales price of $3,850,000!  Miami Beach also ranked #369 with zip code 33154 which had a median home price of $745,900.  The list was based on sales between July of 2007 and June 2008, so it will be interesting to see what changes this year’s list holds for Florida cities.  Stay tuned, the list should be out in the next couple of months and I will post the results with a more detailed analysis.

Categories
Buying Market Summary Selling

Miami Real Estate Market May Be Turning

moving-on-upCould it be?  While it is too early to say for sure, there are definitely signs that real estate market in Miami-Dade County may be turning.   As I have said before, this recovery is going to be location and building specific, meaning some are going to recover faster and with less overall price decreases than others.

On a county-wide level, there are a number of positive signs, including:

  • Inventory is starting to move.  For single family homes it has decreased 30% over same time last year and for condos it is down 18%
  • Median prices are significantly lower.  Single family homes have plunged from their peak  of $381,000 in July, 2007 to $177,000 at the end of April, 2009.  Condos are down from their peak of $269,000 in April of 2008 to $139,000 in April of 2009.
  • Sales are up.  Single family sales increased 77%  and condo sales increased 60% over same time last year.

Related articles:

Pinecrest, FL Real Estate – Market Trends First Quarter 2009

Categories
Buying Investment Real Estate Market Summary Selling

Miami Real Estate – Quarterly Update For Miami-Dade County

Wow, EWM’s Coral Gables office alone had over $24,000,000 worth of transactions this week!  Does this mean the market has finally reached bottom?  Not necessarily, but if we are not there yet in terms of prices,  I think we are in terms of the decrease in sales.  Put in perspective, the lowest level of inventory for all single homes in Miami-Dade County listed on the MLS was in April of 2005:  2,973.  Based on the number of sales for the first quarter of 2009, our inventory peaked in July of 2008 with 17,070 single family homes.  The  inventory at the end of April stands at 11,936.  As you can see the from the graph below, inventory is starting to move.  Summer is the peak of purchasing season, especially for single family homes, so we should see significantly more movement over the nMiami Real Estate Market Trends ext several months.

Categories
Miami Beach Neighborhood News

South Florida is a Boater’s Paradise

South Florida is a boater’s paradise.  Whether you prefer to sail or motor boat, the ocean, Intracoastal, or Bboatingay, boater’s are bound to find plenty to do.  Be warned, Biscayne Bay has many flats that can pop up literally out of the blue, so read your charts to avoid running aground and damaging our fragile sea grass.  Here is a partial list of both public and private marinas in Miami-Dade County.

North Miami Dade Marinas

Mystic Point Marina

Turnberry Isle Marina up to 180 feet

Waterways Marina up to 120′

Sunny Isles Marina

Bill Bird Marina at Haulover Park up to 90 feet

Pelican Harbor Marina up to 50 feet

Sunset Harbor Marina up to 150 feet

Marinas throughout Florida
throughout US

Categories
Miami Beach Neighborhood News

South Florida is a Boater's Paradise

South Florida is a boater’s paradise.  Whether you prefer to sail or motor boat, the ocean, Intracoastal, or Bboatingay, boater’s are bound to find plenty to do.  Be warned, Biscayne Bay has many flats that can pop up literally out of the blue, so read your charts to avoid running aground and damaging our fragile sea grass.  Here is a partial list of both public and private marinas in Miami-Dade County.

North Miami Dade Marinas

Mystic Point Marina

Turnberry Isle Marina up to 180 feet

Waterways Marina up to 120′

Sunny Isles Marina

Bill Bird Marina at Haulover Park up to 90 feet

Pelican Harbor Marina up to 50 feet

Sunset Harbor Marina up to 150 feet

Marinas throughout Florida
throughout US

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
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.