Categories
Coconut Grove Neighborhood News

Ransom Everglades Middle School – Answer to “Where’s J Wo”

Since schools start today, I thought it only appropriate that my answer to my August 10 “Where’s JWo” was school related. This pirate is located on Ransom Everglades’ Middle School Campus, one of the top private schools in Miami-Dade County.  In addition to high educational standards, the middle school campus boasts some of the most amazing waterfront property in Coconut Grove.

According to the school’s website, the middle school campus also houses two buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places:  The Pagoda, built in 1903, and the Paul Ransom Cottage, built in 1909.

Categories
Coconut Grove Neighborhood News

Ransom Everglades Middle School – Answer to "Where's J Wo"

Since schools start today, I thought it only appropriate that my answer to my August 10 “Where’s JWo” was school related. This pirate is located on Ransom Everglades’ Middle School Campus, one of the top private schools in Miami-Dade County.  In addition to high educational standards, the middle school campus boasts some of the most amazing waterfront property in Coconut Grove.

According to the school’s website, the middle school campus also houses two buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places:  The Pagoda, built in 1903, and the Paul Ransom Cottage, built in 1909.

Categories
Florida Life Neighborhood News

School Starts Monday – Please Drive Carefully

Traffic around Miami was heavier this week since some private schools  started classes and public school employees were reporting to work.  Miami-Dade Public Schools and local universities will start classes on Monday, so please be patient and considerate, allow more travel time to get to and from where ever you are going, remember school speed zones, and please stop for pedestrians; it is state law.

Categories
Buying Foreclosures Market Summary Neighborhood News Pinecrest Selling

Pinecrest Real Estate – Market Summary for Single Family Homes

How does the housing market look in Pinecrest half way through 2011?  Below are the numbers for single family homes.  Note that all of these are going to change a little due to status changes that happen at the end of the month, but are not updated in the MLS until the following month.  As of 6/30/2011:

  • Closed sales: 90.  Low of $270,000, high of $4,000,000. 7 were bankowned (REO), 10 are short sales or approximately 19% distressed sales.  57 closed in the second quarter.
  • Pending sales: 48.  Low of  $265,000, high of $2,150,000. 3 are REO, 17 are short sales.  Almost 42% are distressed sales.
  • Active sales:  160.  Low of $269,900, high of $5,000,000 ($4,999,999 to be exact!).  3 are REOs. 14 are short sales.  Only 11% distressed listings.  64 were listed in the second quarter.

What does this mean if you are a seller?  If you want to sell your home during the end of the summer buying season, drop your price now.  Homes are selling and people are still looking to buy in Pinecrest because of the quality of the public and private schools, parks, and good size lots.  If your home needs a lot of work, you are going to have to drop the price even further.  Buyers are looking for homes that need minimal updates.  If you don’t drop your price now, you are going to have to drop it even further come the beginning of the school year.

If you are a buyer, the numbers mean there aren’t as many “deals” in terms of short sales and foreclosures.  Those that are on the market, are priced well, and in reasonably good shape are going to have multiple offers, because there are fewer of them.  If you are financing your purchase, you are better off using the numbers to make an offer on a well priced, non-distressed listing.

Categories
Neighborhood News Pinecrest

Miami Palmetto Senior High School To Add Environmental and Science Masters Academy

Miami Palmetto Senior High School will be adding an Environmental and Science Masters Academy to their curriculum this Fall.

The proposed curriculum is as follows:

  • 9th grade – Honors or Gifted Biology, Honors Geometry or Honors Algebra II
  • 10th grade – Honors or Gifted Chemistry, AP Environmental Science, Honors Algebra II or Pre-calculus or Analysis of Functions
  • 11th grade – Two of the following science courses – AP Chemistry, AP Biology, AP Physics, Honors Marine Biology, Honors Anatomy/Phisiology or Honors Solar Energy and Pre-Calculus, AP Calculus AB or BC or AP Statistics
  • 12th grade – Research 4 or Honors Solar Energy and AP Chemistry, AP Biology, AP Physics, Honors Marine Biology, or Honors Anatomy/Physiology; AP Calculus AB or BC, AP Statistics or Multivariable Calculus/Differential Equations.

Considering that MPSH’s  AP Environmental Science passing rate last year was 90%, compared to about a 40% national average, and that MPSH won the  Lexus Eco Challenge and moves on to the Final Challenge, the new Masters Academy should prove to be a challenging yet fun program for students who want to excel in the environmental science field.

No wonder MPSH is one of the top rated schools in Miami-Dade County.

Categories
Buying Neighborhood News Pinecrest Selling

Pinecrest FL Rated the 10th Most Expensive Suburb to Live In 2009

The Village of Pinecrest was just rated the 10th most expensive suburb to live by Business Week.

The most expensive suburb in each of the 52 states were chosen based on:

  • cost of living
  • median home price
  • property taxes
  • mortgage and utilities

The article acknowledges that what contributes to the popularity and expense of these areas are:

  1. excellent public schools
  2. low crime rate
  3. gorgeous neighborhoods
  4. parks and recreational facilites.

Pinecrest has all 4 of the above and additional benefits that were not mentioned such as:

  • large lot sizes
  • small local government
  • tree canopy
  • proximity to marinas
  • variety of homes and sizes
  • international population

For more information on Pinecrest read:

Pinecrest FL Real Estate  – Market Trends First Quarter 2009

7645 SW 117 Pinecrest FL Is In A Great Location

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

Food Tasting and Entertainment at 7th Annual Taste of Pinecrest at Pinecrest Gardens

Looking for Something to Do? Head to Pinecrest!