AOL Real Estate - Blog http://realestate.aol.com/blog AOL Real Estate - Blog http://realestate.aol.com/blog/media/feedlogo.gif AOL Real Estate - Blog http://realestate.aol.com/blog en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Super Bowl No Touchdown for Miami Realtorshttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/02/04/super-bowl-no-touchdown-for-miami-realtors/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/02/04/super-bowl-no-touchdown-for-miami-realtors/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/02/04/super-bowl-no-touchdown-for-miami-realtors/#commentsFiled under:

Super Bowl week is a boon for South Florida businesses, but a bust for its real estate market.

But that's not necessarily a sign of bad times.

"Other than weekly rentals, the Super Bowl is not big for us," said Miami Real Estate broker and blogger Riley Smith. "But it doesn't matter because this is our biggest time of the year anyway."

With three blogs - The Real Estate Coconut, South Miami Real Estate Blog, and Coral Gables Real Estate Vault - Smith knows the housing market and he knows a lot about Super Bowl games. He's been to about six, and not all in Miami.

Out-of-town Super Bowl visitors are focused on good food, getting in some beach time, and checking out the shopping and the clubs. Looking for a winter escape isn't on their minds.

"They're enjoying the city," Smith says, "They might be saying 'what a great place I might want to spend more time here.'"

But shelling out a few grand for a down payment isn't part of the game plan for most visitors.

"The best thing about going to a Super Bowl is visiting another city," says Smith, a huge sports fan himself. "It's a celebration and everybody is in a good mood and having a good time. It gets you thinking 'maybe I want to come back.'"

So, odds are this week's visiting football fans from Indianapolis and New Orleans might be back. But don't gamble on a housing sale.

 

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]]>blogblogsCoral GablesfootballhousingIndianapolisMiamiNew Orleansreal estaterentalsSouth Miamisportssuper bowl miamiPatricia Maldonado2010-02-04T13:00:00 00:00Take a Ride on Miami's Highways to Hellhttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/02/01/take-a-ride-on-miamis-highways-to-hell/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/02/01/take-a-ride-on-miamis-highways-to-hell/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/02/01/take-a-ride-on-miamis-highways-to-hell/#commentsFiled under:

Traffic is murder in Miami. As a result, homeowners and renters often pick their neighborhood based on commute times. You just don't want to be stuck on those roads more that you have to.

An aging population, tourists and immigrants all add frustrating cluelessness to the roads in the area. The Daily Beast rated State Road 112 - the stretch of highway from Miami Beach to the airport - as the 10th worst in the country. But that's far from the only bad commute in Miami.
Miami residents agree that the traffic on the 112 is atrocious. Try getting to the airport, one of the key stops off the 112. Chances are you'll miss your flight.

But some might counter with their own opinion as to the worst stretch of road in South Florida.

Take the Palmetto Expressway, a north/south highway that links drivers from the suburbs of Kendall, through the booming western municipality of Doral, past Cuban-centric Hialeah and north to the manicured lawns of Miami Lakes. Brutal. So bad in fact, a blog was created about it called Stuck on the Palmetto.

Despite the five to six lanes of traffic in each direction, State Road 826 (it's official name) is bumper to bumper. That said, the traffic hasn't kept the neighborhoods alongside it from booming.

Doral, just west of Miami International Airport, is far from the beach, but close to tons of amenities like the Dolphin Mall, an enormous outlet shopping center. Doral's walled communities make it the perfect destination for young families and someone looking for lots of space without the price tag that generally comes with it.

And the truth is, despite the traffic, the Palmetto links to the Dolphin Expressway, I-95 and I-75. Those connections take you east, west, north and south.

There's U.S. 1 south to Kendall. Get stuck heading north to downtown Miami in the morning or diving home after 4 p.m., and you're better off pulling over for a colada to boost your energy. The road stretches south through some of the area's wealthiest neighborhoods - Coconut Grove, Coral Gables and Pinecrest - to the Florida Keys.

Smart drivers take the scenic route. Smart real estate buyers figure out that no matter where you live you're bound to get stuck in traffic.

 

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]]>driversexpresswayflorida real estatehighwaymallmiami commutesmiami highwaysmiami neighborhoodsmiami real estatemiami trafficshopping centersuburbstrafficPatricia Maldonado2010-02-01T10:30:00 00:00Burger King Soups Up for South Beachhttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/01/29/burger-king-soups-up-for-south-beach/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/01/29/burger-king-soups-up-for-south-beach/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/01/29/burger-king-soups-up-for-south-beach/#commentsFiled under:

Tourists visit South Beach to indulge and others move there because the real estate is all about living large. So why shouldn't fast food burger joints in the area follow suit with extra perks? We'd all like to think that fast food only thrives in strip malls and suburbia, but the fact is, where there are tourists, there will be fast food.

But this time, a The King has gone South Beach. The Miami-based Burger King opened it's second "Whopper Bar" store on trendy Washington Avenue with a few new perks to set itself apart - home delivery and beer. That's right: beer!
So if you live on the beach there's no reason to fork over $15 for a burger and another $10 for a brew at one of the pricey and trendy burger joints that have popped up within the last year. Burgers are having their moment right now (along with hot dogs) as Americans embrace comfort food.

At this new BK, you can get a flame-broiled burger and beer (Busch and Miller Coors brands only) with fries for $7.99 at the Burger King Whopper Bar on Washington Avenue and 11th Street.

Sure you can go through the drive-thru at the McDonald's on Alton Road or walk up to the window at the other Micky D's on Washington and order a Quarter Pounder with cheese. But the real treat for South Beach residents is the home delivery.

If they don't want to leave their living room, dodge tourists and worry about finding parking, they can just call 305-531-FIRE. A BK burger and fries will be delivered to their door by a guy or girl driving a scooter. How South Beach.

And if Miamians are out clubbing with friends and need to soak up some of the libations they've indulged in, the Whopper Bar stays open until 5 a.m., another convenience for locals.

However, if for those who shun fast food, shell out a few more bucks for a juicy slab of prime beef between two buns (referring to hamburgers people!) and skinny fries at these local joints.

Top South Beach Burger Joints
8oz Burger Bar
Burger & Beer Joint (B&B)
Bliss Burger & Bistro Lounge
Cheeseburger Baby
Fatburger

On the Mainland (over the bridge and through the city)
Five Guys Burger & Fries
One Burger
Bijan's Burger Joint

Mobile Burger
Latin Burger

 

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]]>beerburgerBurger KingBurgerKingfood-wineSouth Beachsouth beach burgersouth beach real estateSouthBeachPatricia Maldonado2010-01-29T15:45:00 00:00Miami Neighbor: Restauranteur Bond Trisransrihttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/01/25/miami-neighbor-restauranteur-bond-trisransri/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/01/25/miami-neighbor-restauranteur-bond-trisransri/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/01/25/miami-neighbor-restauranteur-bond-trisransri/#commentsFiled under:

Bond Trisransri is a restaurateur in La Pequeña Habana (Little Havana), Miami's predominantly Latino community. A native of Bangkok, Thailand, Trisransri opened a Thai and sushi restaurant in the middle of a community where Cuban coffee and rice and blacks beans are way more common than curry and tofu. Surprisingly, his restaurant, Mr Yum, 1945 SW 8th St., opened in 2009 to crowds and enthusiastic support from the neighbors. We asked Trisransri what he likes about his neighborhood.

Name: Bond Trisransri, 36

Born: Bangkok, Thailand

Moved to Miami: Trisransri moved to Miami 15 years ago to work with his uncle at Sushi Rock on Collins Avenue in Miami Beach after graduating from Boston University.

Occupation: Restaurateur

Neighborhood: Little Havana, Miami (Bond Lives on Brickell Avenue, a five-minute walk from his restaurant)

What made you decide to open a Thai restaurant in the heart of Little Havana?
i became a partner in Sushi Rock. I was there for 15 years and I wanted to own my own business. I planned to open something in London, but my partner, who is a real estate agent, told me to look around [Miami]. I drove through Little Havana. I had never been there in 15 years. I saw the energy on Eighth Street (Calle Ocho).

I felt good about this area. I knew it was all Spanish and that it would be tough to offer sushi, but there was something calling me there to take a look. There's something good about this [building]. I have a long-term lease but I plan to buy it in a couple months. Everybody told me I was crazy and that "you're not going to make it." But I feel very positively about the neighborhood.

What do you love most about Little Havana?
I like the energy. I was touched by that. The neighbors are very friendly. I think Little Havana will be the next Lincoln Road. I want to take Little Havana to the next level. I would like to open a french restaurant, a bar, a book store.

So you do talk to your neighbors on Calle Ocho?
Yes. The neighbors are very nice. The owners of the Mexican restaurant next door would bring me food when we were working on the restaurant. The neighbors appreciate my being in the neighborhood. They think I bring good things to the neighborhood. I have good clients that come from everywhere. Most of them have never been to Calle Ocho.

Everyone calls me Mr. Yum.

What's the best-kept secret in Little Havana?
When you sit down outside and watch the traffic, you feel like you are in a different country. It's like being in a Spanish city but you're five minutes from Brickell and ten minutes from Coconut Grove.

I always see something different. I walk down the street and go to Domino Park and see the old men playing dominoes. When people come to my restaurant they see things they've never seen before. They have the same experiences I first did.

South Beach used to be like that. Lincoln Road was like that and now it's one of the most famous streets in the world. I see the same thing for Calle Ocho.

Favorite way to spend a Saturday night in your neighborhood?
I pretty much spend most of my time at the restaurant. But when I'm home, I cook, I read magazines and I run.

Do you speak Spanish?
I'm learning some Spanish from the dishwasher. He teaches me some good words and some bad words.

How did you settle on your hair style?
I've been doing this for ten years. I did some modeling and this European magazine decided to make my hair look like this. I thought this was cool and kept it. Now I can't change it; it's become my thing. People know me because of the hair. On Sunday mornings I wear it down. You wouldn't recognize me.

Have you adapted to the neighborhood or has the neighborhood adapted to you?
I adapted to the neighborhood. I really respect Calle Ocho. I want to be respectful of the people and respect the area.

I'm trying to speak Spanish. I guess a Spanish girlfriend would help. But maybe they have adopted to me too. When I stand outside, people drive by and honk their horns. I feel like they're cheering me. They are happy that I'm here. They make me feel so welcome.

 

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]]>calle ochoCalleOchoinsiderlittle havanaspsnotreqdmiamimiami insidermiami realspsnotreqdestateMr. YumMr.YumPatricia Maldonado2010-01-25T12:05:00 00:00Lux Condo Owners Face Eviction In Window Disputehttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/01/20/lux-condo-owners-face-eviction-in-window-dispute/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/01/20/lux-condo-owners-face-eviction-in-window-dispute/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/01/20/lux-condo-owners-face-eviction-in-window-dispute/#commentsFiled under:


Residents of Palm Bay Tower in Miami are the types to have several silver spoons, a Rolls or two and mega millions.

Alas, in every life-and in this case, in every worn out condo, some rain must fall.

Here's the story: South Florida's rain has brought a deluge of problems for the residents of this swanky and exclusive, but old and outdated condo overlooking Biscayne Bay.

A court order has given the board until mid-February to begin assessing residents and replacing the building's weather-beaten windows. If the board doesn't move forward the city will condemn the tower, cut the electricity and force residents out.
Miami City Commissioner Marc Sarnoff pleaded with his colleagues on the commission to halt the process. The commission voted in support but have no legal say in what happens next.

Not everyone in town is sympathetic with the residents' plight. "This is a caricature of real problems. It's scandalous when you think of the real tragedy of real evictions and people suffering and having to leave their home," Mitchell Wolfson, Jr., a Palm Bay resident and founder of the Wolfsonian Museum, told The Miami Herald earlier this month.

Residents have been at war with each other since 2006 when the city was hit by hurricanes Wilma and Katrina. Fed up with water leaking in through their panes, a group of residents lobbied the board for the windows to be replaced. Another group said the aluminum-framed windows in the building, which was constructed in 1972, were just fine.

Big deal? Cheap owners? Big bucks!

Replacing the 1,875 floor-to-ceiling pains of glass and sliding glass doors throughout the building will cost about $5 million, a paltry sum when most residents are worth much more.

But with only 72 units, the cost of the repairs per condo is about $50,000 to $60,000, and several residents own more than one unit. The economic slowdown and Wall Street's tumbles have taken a bite of out of some residents' net worth, provoking many to wonder if the expense is really needed right now.

What will happen next could be determined on Tuesday, January. 26, when Sarnoff and building officials host a town-hall meeting with residents to resolve the dispute and begin repairs-maybe.



 

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]]>biscayne baycondocondo boarddisputeleaky windowsmiamitenants disputewindowsPatricia Maldonado2010-01-20T17:10:00 00:00Miami Condo Owners Brave the Cold—Insidehttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/01/19/miami-condo-owners-brave-the-cold-inside/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/01/19/miami-condo-owners-brave-the-cold-inside/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/01/19/miami-condo-owners-brave-the-cold-inside/#commentsFiled under: ,

In Miami, fancy high rises with bay views come with all the amenities - Jacuzzi tubs, sleek European appliances, gyms, and movie theaters. But there's one basic amenity that many don't have: heat.

The city is known for its steamy lifestyle-sex, crime, and body baring outfits are the norm. Heck, even it's basketball team is called the Heat. But when the temperature dipped into the 30s last week, people in their luxury condos felt a distinct chill, even indoors.
"When it was 30 outside, it was 40 inside," said Asha Loring, 25, whose apartment building along Biscayne Bay comes with pricey hurricane impact windows to protect her from mother nature's fury. When those windows couldn't keep out the cold, Loring resorted to wearing everything she owned. "I wore layers. I pulled out my winter clothes. Luckily, I still fit in them," she said. "I ran out of clothes."

Hardware stores sold out of space heaters, and residents ran out of patience.

The problem is that most buildings are equipped with cooling towers designed to keep units chilled in the hot weather, says a building maintenance director named Julio, who preferred not to use his last name for fear of the condo board's wrath. The water is already cool when it enters the system and is further cooled so apartments stay at crisp as a frosted mojito.

However, if the water entering the system is too cold (under 60 degrees) the system doesn't have the capacity to warm it enough to keep 100 units-or even a single one- warm. A boiler would solve the problem but most buildings don't have them.

"It's about a $1 million for a boiler that you use once a year," said Julio, who works at a luxury condo on Brickell Avenue.

Most people would rather buy a Snuggie than give their condo board more money.

 

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]]>cold weatherenergy costsflorida realspsnotreqdestateheating costsmiamimiami condospace heatersPatricia Maldonado2010-01-19T12:10:00 00:00Nixon's Miami Helipad Is Groundedhttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/01/14/nixons-miami-helipad-is-grounded/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/01/14/nixons-miami-helipad-is-grounded/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/01/14/nixons-miami-helipad-is-grounded/#commentsFiled under:

Just because you buy a former president's home doesn't mean you'll live like one. That's what happened to the owners of 500 Bay Lane on Key Biscayne, Fla.

Dubbed the Florida White House, Nixon visited the home overlooking Biscayne Bay and the city of Miami about 50 times during his presidency from 1969 to 1974. The former world leader traveled by helicopter, landing on a helipad built and sanctioned by the U.S. Department of Defense for presidential use only.

Once Nixon vacated office and the Florida White House was sold, use of the helipad became a leftover luxury for who ever bought the house, until recently. Since Nixon, the home has had numerous owners. The 1983 Al Pacino film "Scarface" was even filmed there.

Current owner and South Florida real estate giant Edgardo Defortuna of Fortune International knocked down the former presidential vacation home in 2004 to build his own mansion, keeping only the helipad. Known as the "Greek House," Defortuna's home has domes, archways, fountains, an elevator and balconies on the second and third floors.

Local leaders on the Village of Key Biscayne grounded Defortuna's efforts to use the helipad, which some of well-to-do neighbors found irksome. Plus, city codes adopted after Key Biscayne incorporated in 1991 simply don't permit the use of a helipad.

An appeal's court recently agreed with village leaders, saying, "The federal use of the helipad by President Nixon's administration was immune from enforcement by reason of the supremacy clause of the United States Constitution and was not conformed into a legal non-conforming use for private individuals when the federal government ceased to use the helipad and conveyed the property to a private third party."

 

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]]>flying highhelipadkey biscaynenixonscarfacePatricia Maldonado2010-01-14T08:00:00 00:00Going to Market in Miamihttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/01/06/going-to-market-in-miami/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/01/06/going-to-market-in-miami/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/01/06/going-to-market-in-miami/#comments There was a time when grocery shoppers only had two options around Miami or anywhere else from the Florida Keys to Palm Beach: Publix and Winn Dixie.

South Florida as gotten more sophisticated in the past few years, making it more desirable to the big chains. Now almost every area of Miami-Dade County has a handful of markets that target the choosier customer: foodies, organic food shoppers and ethnic communities.

It's a food lovers paradise. Just check out Miami Beach -- or merely South Beach (For those who don't know, South Beach is the southern tip of Miami Beach, just 23 blocks from the southern tip of the island to 23rd Street. It's where all the clubs and fancy hotels are.)

On South Beach, there are three Publix (yes three) Supermarkets, a Whole Foods, Epicure Market (a gourmet food store that's been around for 65 years) and countless bodegas, natural food shops and convenience stores.

Just last year, Publix opened one of its specialized stores featuring Greenwise or organic products. The store aims to take bite out of the popularity of stores like Whole Foods, which sells organic products and items that are environmentally friendly. It also features a few extras like a Chinese food counter, where people can order a dish and wait for their take out - much like Whole Foods.

Coming soon: The Fresh Market, a chain of specialty based in North Carolina with a butcher shop, fish market, bakery, produce and floral stands, and delicatessen. The 22,000-square-foot store will be on West Avenue, around the corner from another beach Publix. It will feature a 133-space parking garage (yay!) and a 20-seat outdoor cafe facing 18th Street.

Just when the store will make its grand entrance into the South Beach market is still unknown. Construction has yet to begin.

The market rush is visible in other parts of greater Miami too.

Brickell: This Miami neighborhood has three Publix Supermarkets within a few blocks of each other. Epicure planned a store in the area in one of the new high rise condos but pulled out in 2009 when the real estate market tanked.

Coconut Grove: Another Miami neighborhood with a The Fresh Market, a new and improved Milam's Market, a small chain of supermarkets in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, and Gardner's Market, a small chain of gourmet stores in the southern part of Miami-Dade County.

Coral Gables: Just south of Miami, the Gables is home to Whole Foods, Publix (several but the Gables is pretty big spanning both sides of U.S. 1), Graziano's (an Argentine butcher and grocery), La Estancia (another Argentine specialty food store) and Gardner's.

Aventura: North of Miami, this upscale city features the same selection of markets as Coral Gables except for Gardner's.

Other Notable Markets:
Sedano's: A chain of nearly 30 supermarkets in greater Miami that caters to the Hispanic community.
Laurenzo's Market: An Italian market in North Miami
Presidente Supermarket: A Miami chain of 19 supermarkets that caters to the Hispanic community.

 

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]]>Patricia Maldonado2010-01-06T10:00:00 00:00I Want This House! Miami Beach Modern for $19.5Mhttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/01/05/i-want-this-house-miami-beach-modern-for-19-5m/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/01/05/i-want-this-house-miami-beach-modern-for-19-5m/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/01/05/i-want-this-house-miami-beach-modern-for-19-5m/#comments Now here's the perfect party house on Miami Beach.

It's got plenty of what the Beach doesn't have much of: parking. Of course, there are plenty of bells and whistles to keep your guests entertained. And if you're lucky, you might just develop a minor case of agoraphobia. (A rich man's problem -- if ever there was one.)
With 20,000 square feet, 10 bedrooms, a five-car parking garage and bay views, who could pass up 88 Lagorce Circl. on Miami Beach? Take a virtual tour.

Check out the clean lines and even cleaner spaces. This contemporary house employs a minimalist look, which is ideal for entertaining and for the person who doesn't like clutter or "stuff."

No muss, no fuss.

Imagine sipping a cocktail by the pool or gliding down the stark white staircase to greet your yoga instructor. Layout our mat in the Zen-like garden off the living room. Retreat to the his and hers (or his and his, or, hers and hers -- whatever your preference) bathroom spa overlooking the Intracoastal.

You may never want to leave or really have a reason to.

88 Lagorce Circle | Maps & Directions

 

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]]>featured propertyfloridai want this housemiamimiami beachMiamiBeachPatricia Maldonado2010-01-05T15:00:00 00:00Community Gardens Take Root in North Miamihttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/01/04/community-gardens-take-root-in-north-miami/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/01/04/community-gardens-take-root-in-north-miami/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/01/04/community-gardens-take-root-in-north-miami/#commentsAlice Billman wants residents in North Miami to watch their gardens grow -- even if they live in an apartment.

Billman's organization Heroes Unite created a community garden in Griffing Park where locals can plant fruits and vegetables based on what's in season.

"We need to make our city more sustainable and more progressive, and provide an environment of wellness for our residents," Billman said. "Right now if you want wholesome organic fresh food, you better be making a good salary. People who are lower income should have the same access to wholesome food."
Through the organization's Giving Back Green program, 17 small plots of land were created in the area of the park called Enchanted Forest. It's there where residents can plant vegetables -- up to 20 -- four times a year. All they have to do is buy the seeds, commit to watching over the produce and donate 10 percent of what they grow to a green market that's planned for the park.

Even people lacking the know-how or a green thumb are encouraged to sign up for the free project. The community gardeners will work with students and professors from FIU to maintain the garden. They can also sit in on free gardening lectures and even some cooking classes.

Some of the plots are reserved for area schools, allowing students to test their skills and learn about Mother Earth as part of their studies. They might even be able to incorporate the foods they grow into their meals during the school day.

"This project is multifaceted. It's not just about growing vegetables," Billman said.

The Heroes Unite garden is the second such project in South Florida. Roots in the City, another nonprofit, has several community gardens in Overtown, a neighborhood just north of downtown Miami. The organization relies on volunteers from area businesses and a group of inner city residents in the Roots Landscape and Horticultural Training Institute to help its gardens grow.

"What we are doing here is creating jobs for the inner city,'' said Tony Ellis, Miami marketing vice president for Coca-Cola, in an interview with the Miami Herald. "As well as creating jobs, it's a function of our corporate responsibility.''

 

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]]>Patricia Maldonado2010-01-04T08:00:00 00:00Moving to Miami's Mainlandhttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2009/12/28/moving-to-miamis-mainland/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2009/12/28/moving-to-miamis-mainland/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2009/12/28/moving-to-miamis-mainland/#comments It used to be that people moved to South Beach and really never left unless they needed to hop on a plane at Miami International Airport.

Why leave the beach with its nearby ocean, bars, restaurants, music, shops and really hot bods?
But dropping real estate prices breeds competition and now SoBe is passé. Miami's new hot spot is Midtown in Wynwood, just north along Biscayne Boulevard. The neighborhood takes up a swath of the boulevard to the east and I-95 to the west, with the Design District on the north and Northeast 20th Street to the south.

Part of the working class Wynwood neighborhood, Midtown has lured artists and young professionals to the a huge residential and retail development appropriately called Midtown.

This $2.3 billion development features 1000 residential units -- including lofts and penthouses -- for both rent and purchase. Street level space is reserved for stores and restaurants. The development has some 650,000-square-feet of retail space, and already there's a Target, Ross, Marshalls, West Elm among others, and a few restaurants. The latest addition is the 2.5 acres Miami Art Park in the middle of the 56-acre complex, which launched earlier this month with a nine garden exhibit on the football-sized field.

"It's the next big thing," says Skip Van Cel, a local artist, real estate prospector and a pioneer of sorts in this area of Miami. He moved to the Wynwood and Design District area in the 90s when South Beach was just hitting it's boom.

Much of the allure is Midtown's convenience factor: five minutes from downtown Miami, seven minutes from South Beach and 10 minutes from the airport. The ability to get around quickly in Miami is a definite advantage seeing that the city ranks among the top five most congested cities in the country along with Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta and Dallas.

"It's the strongest the draw for anybody in traffic soaked Miami," Van Cel says.

The rents are also on par or a little less than the going price on the beach, and the properties are brand new and come with parking, something that's a premium across the bay. A one-bedroom goes for $1300 to $1450 a month; a two bedroom is between $1800 to $2500 a month; three bedroom lists for $2500; lofts for $2100; and penthouses (often with a view of the bay a few blocks away) list for $3,300 to $6,000 a month.

The Midtown real estate office says occupancy is finally up -- with some buidlings 98 percent occupied. The problem, says one agent, is that some people didn't know where the development was.

"What was happening is that we didn't show up on Mapquest. People didn't realize we were open," said a Midtown agent who didn't want to give his name.

Midtown is a lot more visible now.

 

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]]>floridamainlandmiamimidtownsobePatricia Maldonado2009-12-28T14:00:00 00:00Miami Condo Sales a Notch Above Dismalhttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2009/12/22/miami-condo-sales-a-notch-above-dismal/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2009/12/22/miami-condo-sales-a-notch-above-dismal/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2009/12/22/miami-condo-sales-a-notch-above-dismal/#commentsFiled under:

Could Miami's condo canyon be filled with people at last?

The Miami Herald reported Sunday that there were some bright lights in the once darkened multimillion-dollar condos that line Biscayne Boulevard in downtown Miami. In fact, real estate agents are reporting that units are finally moving thanks to the recent price chops in condo prices, some by nearly half.

Newer buildings in the area have started selling units for $200 to $230 per square foot, when sellers were hoping to make nearly $100 more per square foot a year ago. Older units or resales go for about $180 per square foot.
Brickell on the River South, 41 SE Fifth St., dropped it's prices from $310 a square foot to $220 a square foot early this year. By May, the prices dropped another $10 a square foot. A 981-square-foot unit that was listed at $304,000 went for $206,000. The drop in prices helped the project sell out, according to Miami Real Estate Group, which represented the building.

Sales are definitely up throughout the greater downtown Miami area. In the fall, developer-held inventory dropped to 8,486 units when the start of the year there were 10,126 on their list. Closings on developer held properties topped out at 300 a month in the fall. Earlier this year, 82 closings were the average, according to Condo Vultures, a real estate marketing intelligence company.

But not everything is a bargain. Condo Vultures reports that buyers have bought 11 developer-held units at $771 per square foot in the Four Seasons building at 1435 Brickell Ave., for a total of $21 million.

 

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]]>biscayne boulevardcondocondominiumfloridamiamirecoveryPatricia Maldonado2009-12-22T08:00:00 00:00Hard Times on the Hard Courthttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2009/12/18/hard-times-on-the-hard-court/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2009/12/18/hard-times-on-the-hard-court/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2009/12/18/hard-times-on-the-hard-court/#commentsFiled under:

Miami and its high-profile neighboring communities along the Atlantic Ocean have been popular with celebrity athletes for decades. Lately, though, they seem eager to sell.

Former Miami Heat star Antoine Walker has hit on some hard times and is selling his home in the exclusive Ye Little Woods neighborhood of Coconut Grove for $3.5 million.The five-bedroom, five-bath house is nestled in a wooded neighborhood known for its lush landscaping and privacy. The sale of the 7,111-square-foot-home with a three-car garage home seems to part of the former baller's efforts to pay off a major debt. After 12 years in the NBA, Walker is said to owe more than $4 million to creditors and is facing felony check fraud charges in Las Vegas.

Walker scored big playing forward for the Boston Celtics, Memphis Grizzlies and with the Heat when it won the championship in 2006. Now he hopes to score enough to cover his debts.

Shaquille O'Neal, another former Heat player, sold his South Florida digs earlier this year. Shaq, who left Miami when he was traded to the Phoenix Suns in 2007 and now plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers, reportedly bought the house on Star Island for $35 million, sold it for about $19 million less. Talk about a drop in value. The buyer was Vladislav Doroniin, Naomi Campbell's boyfriend.

Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade put up his 9,000-square-foot, six-bedroom house in Pinecrest on the market. It's the home he shared with his young family - wife and two kids - before divorce proceedings set in two years ago. Wade bought the house for $4 million and it's selling for $3.4 million. In the interim, he did buy a four-story townhouse in his hometown of Chicago for $1.4 million.

 

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]]>floridamiamireal esateRealEsateshaquille onealPatricia Maldonado2009-12-18T14:00:00 00:00I Want This House! Miami Starter Home Stealhttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2009/12/16/i-want-this-house-a-miami-starter-home-steal/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2009/12/16/i-want-this-house-a-miami-starter-home-steal/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2009/12/16/i-want-this-house-a-miami-starter-home-steal/#commentsFiled under:

When you're looking for a real-estate steal in Miami, you have to keep an open mind and make fast friends with the staff at the local Home Depot. The quaint home at 2633 31st Ave. in Miami's Shedandoah neighborhood is perfect for someone who's looking for a starter home and willing to put her heart, soul and a ton of sweat into fixing it up. It's also ideally located: five minutes from Coconut Grove and Little Havana, 10 minutes from Coral Gables and 20 minutes from South Beach.
Shenandoah is home to hundreds of Spanish-style houses much like 2633 31st. Ave. The neighborhood is nestled between Coral Way and U.S. 1, from Southwest 17th Avenue to Southwest 32nd Avenue. Many houses have stucco walls and barreled roofs, front porches and quaint touches like built-in shelves, alcoves and wood floors.

These cement-walled homes were built to endure: generations, hurricanes and housing trends.

The 1-bedroom, 1-bathroom house is currently listed at $149,000.

2633 31st Ave | Map & Directions

 

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]]>featured propertymiamishedandoahstarter homeStarterHomePatricia Maldonado2009-12-16T15:00:00 00:00Murals in Miamihttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2009/12/14/murals-in-miami/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2009/12/14/murals-in-miami/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2009/12/14/murals-in-miami/#comments
Miami's Wynwood neighborhood was known for leaving visitors with more of an after taste.

This working class multi-ethnic and commercial neighborhood just north of downtown Miami was one you past at 70 mph driving north on Interstate 95.

Ah, but a city's grit is an artist's inspiration.Art Basel, an annual of contemporary art festival, lured dozens of graffiti artists eager to paint the sides of vacant warehouses that dot this neighborhood now on the rise. And while the art buyers, critics and artists have left town after the five-day event in early December, many of their murals remain.

Since 2007, more than a hundred street artists have been part of Primary Flight, a mural project that invites them to put their work on buildings in Wynwood. The murals have helped spark Miami's burgeoning art community, and transform many of Wynwood's empty warehouses into art galleries.

This year, about 30 local and international artists left their art on 25 Wynwood buildings (scroll down the page to see the map of the murals).

"We set out to make Wynwood an international destination for street art and graffiti, ' said Darin "Books'' Bischof, a Fort Lauderdale graffiti artist and founding member of Primary Flight, in an interview with the Miami Herald earlier this year.

Primary Flight has merely added to the neighborhoods colorful landscape. Over the years, Wynwood has lured the artist with a passion, but lacking visibility, to take to their inspiration to the streets.

Miami artist Daniel Fila let his passion go one step further, giving birth to new life on his public canvas.

Fila, who also goes by Krave, covered a large white wall at Biscayne Boulevard and Northeast 37th Street in 2003 with a large mural called "Erin". He painted a beautiful naked woman and very buff man. Earlier this year, Fila's vision of love birthed a baby.

"The exposure level is great. It's not easy to get traffic into a gallery showing. The only way to get your art seen is to put it front of people's faces," Fila said. "It's amazing for me to drive by and see all this amazing artwork [in Wynwood].".

Want to see Fila's work in person? Visit his studio Bakhouse Art Complex.

 

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]]>floridamiamimuralswynwoodPatricia Maldonado2009-12-14T16:00:00 00:00Spotlight on Indian Creek Islandhttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2009/12/14/spotlight-on-indian-creek-island/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2009/12/14/spotlight-on-indian-creek-island/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2009/12/14/spotlight-on-indian-creek-island/#commentsFiled under:

Supermodel Adriana Lima and her basketball-playing husband Marko Jaric are moving into a $9 million home on Indian Creek in South Florida.

Who? He plays for the Memphis Grizzlies (Yes, there's a pro team in Memphis and they played the Miami Heat on Dec. 13) and she's with Victoria Secret and Maybelline, among others.

Where? This small island community is just north of Miami Beach near Bal Harbour, yet another ritzy South Florida locale. And you thought Fisher Island was the only place for the rich and famous in Miami.It's designed for the wealthy, whether their names are in bright lights or not. Others who live or have lived on the island include Julio Iglesias, Don Shula (retired Miami Dolphins head coach), South Florida car czar and philanthropist Norman Braman and a few members of the Saudi royal family.

The exclusive Indian Creek Golf Course takes up much of the 250 acre island. There are 40 homes - all waterfront properties - and just as many people. Well, maybe 43 now that the model and the jock moved in with their newborn daughter Valentina.

Indian Creek has it's own elected officials and police force, and the occasional the political scandal that comes with both. In the early 90s, the village's police chief was accused of nepotism, refusing to issue traffic tickets to residents, taking fishing trips during work and punishing officers who didn't tow the line.

The U.S. Census has ranked Indian Creek as one of the top 10 highest-income communities in the United States.
While the net worth of the residents may have changed in the past year, one thing remains constant - the homes are pricey even if values have dropped.

Lima and Jaric bought 22 Indian Creek Drive for $9 million. Built in 1958, the home is on the south side of the island overlooking Biscayne Bay. Iglesias' home was listed as one of the 10 most expensive homes in the country by Forbes in 2006. At the time it was priced at $26 million.

Take a look at this $12.9 million 7 bedroom home.

 

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]]>Adriana Limafloridaindian creek islandlifestyles of the rich and famousMarko JaricmiamiPatricia Maldonado2009-12-14T12:30:00 00:00Lower-Priced Home Sales Spark Optimismhttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2009/12/11/lower-priced-home-sales-spark-optimism/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2009/12/11/lower-priced-home-sales-spark-optimism/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2009/12/11/lower-priced-home-sales-spark-optimism/#commentsFiled under:

A single mom saddled with a hefty mortgage of $1200 a month, Susan Perry put her three-bedroom home on the real estate market in Miami knowing it was going to be a tough sell, or so she thought.

Perry and her ex initially listed the home in south Miami-Dade County at $315,000 earlier this year, but were forced to lower it to $250,000 when no one stopped to take a peek. When the price changed, so did buyer interest. After two failed contracts, Perry finally sold her home for the asking price to a couple that a bank was wiling to finance.
She even made a small profit since she bought the home for $160,000.

"I was skeptical the sale would go through. I was trying to be realistic knowing what I had read about the market," said Perry, an executive assistant. "Until I got to the closing, I still had that tiny thought in my mind that I wouldn't go through."

Perry's story is surprisingly common in South Florida.

While homes listed at more than $300,000 aren't moving, lower-priced homes are perfect for first-time homebuyers and investors looking for a deal. The Florida Association of Realtors reports a 26-percent increase in homes listed under $300,000 in Miami-Dade compared to last year.

"People are starting to feel that the market has leveled out. And even if it does go down, it isn't going to go down much more," said Richard Strell, a realtor with One Place Real Estate in Miami. "I'm seeing people who are looking to buy and move in. And there are lots of investors that see the real estate market as a good investment."

Homeowers like Perry are relieved that their homes are finally deemed attractive to buyers.

"I'm thrilled it went through because it allowed me to move on to a new chapter in my life," she said.

 

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]]>floridahome sale trendshome sales pricemiamiMiami DadePatricia Maldonado2009-12-11T16:00:00 00:00