News & Resources
Blog & Event Archives
Browse through news you can use about South Florida and our amazing Real Estate market.
Staging a Home Paints a Picture & Invites Buyers to Fall in Love
The difference between a staged versus an empty house, can make the difference between a buyer (or his/or her Realtor!) scrolling right past your listing, or visiting the property, and potentially buying it. Not everyone has vision. Many of us don't. And even those who are pros at "seeing the potential" are more drawn to/ and attracted to property listings which are beautifully appointed/ staged and beautifully photographed. Staging can make the difference between a buyer visiting a property ... or not. Staging makes emotional impact ... It...
Top Hospitals in Miami – Appeal to Patients and Medical Personnel
Fortune Magazine considers Baptist Health South Florida to be one the 100 Best Employers in the United States - for the past 10 years. Baptist Health treats a million (plus!) patients each year ... a magnet enticing medical personnel and patients to Miami from around the globe... and a...
Feels like Coconut Grove … in Pinecrest
6830 SW 104 Street in Pinecrest FEELS LIKE BEING IN THE GROVE! In previewing homes at Broker's Open Houses, I occasionally stumble across something that makes me feel like I'm somewhere else ... This is one: The house is on just under an acre, like most homes in Pinecrest. It's priced at...
Leasing a Home or Condo for Six Months? ADD A DAY and SAVE!
Looking to lease a house or condo for six months? ADD A DAY! Why? "Transient Taxes" run 13% in Miami Dade (above and beyond your lease amount... just like with HOTELS)... but there's no transient tax if you add a day! In Miami a 13% TAX applies to leases that are 6 months OR LESS (...cottages,...
PENDING DISASTER? MIAMI CONDO BUILDINGS ON VERGE OF FORECLOSURE
We are working with a buyer who wants to buy a Miami Condo in a building that is on the verge of foreclosure! So,as a Realtor, I have to ask "With prices to die for, when does PRICE warrant the RISK?" The potential pitfalls of buying in an unstable building are numerable. Downfalls vary from...
4/5 Nepal – Ambush
4/5 - Contributing Author and Photographer, Michael Restivo - Mike in Nepal Namaste everybody! Coming to you from Pokhara, at least for the moment. I was hoping to get into a canyoning trip, canyoning is a new sport, which involves roping down waterfalls, sliding, jumping, and swimming off...
Pinecrest Home – Someone has a FRONT YARD POOL
WITH A SUN-DRENCHED HEATED POOL IN THE FRONT YARD and CURB APPEAL that whispers "SWEET!" - 9637 SW 69 Court is unique for Pinecrest... The four bedroom home is listed for sale at $849,000.00 No, it's not unheard of in The Village of Pinecrest for a homeowner to have a pool in the front of the...
Mother’s Day Weekend Activities
Mother's Day is Sunday May 9, show her how important she is. Here are some ideas on how to celebrate... Deering Estate's Annual Mother's Day Brunch: Brunch and desserts provided by Bill Hansen Catering. Tour the Historic Richmond Cottage and tour the grand Stone House. Brunch is from 10:30 to...
Spring Cleaning
Spring has arrived...now it's time for the famous Spring Cleaning! Here are some preventative maintenance tips from HGTV to help you get going. Keeping your home in shape will save you the cost of emergency repairs later. OUTDOOR MAINTENANCE Divert Water: Check your gutters for build up of leaves,...
Rants and Raves Again – Shoddy Work Ethic in Miami: THAT’S WHY WE DO HOME INSPECTIONS!
Shoddy workmanship! Think you won't get caught? To replace the AC ducts on a 4 bedroom house, you ask the homeowner for $6,000.00. You then replace only the readily accessible portion ... leaving the rusted, deteriorated ducts in the entire east wing of the home just as they are? Perhaps...
Does Real Estate Have You RUNNING SCARED?
Not sure whether to HOLD ON ... or RUN? The real estate market has many of us wondering which direction to go. If you're wondering whether to hold on, or bail, I may be able to shed some light. Ask me your questions. I'll answer ... and give you my expert opinion. I take what I do very...
3/15 – Mike in Nepal – Special Edition
Contributing Author and Photographer Michael Restivo - "Mike in Nepal" 3/15 Hi everybody. I wanted to write a very special blog over an event that happened yesterday that's shaken our entire community here. We have a little girl named Ashoka who comes to tutor with us every morning. She's 10...
3/13 Nepal – Safari Adventure
By contributing author and photographer Michael Restivo - "Mike In Nepal"News:3/13 Namaste everyone! Just returned from Chitwan park and an incredible 2 days of safaris and adventures. It started with a bumpy open jeep ride into the jungle to the Eden resort, very Indiana Jones. The resort was...
The questions buyers and sellers have are typically the same … So are the answers.
Typically the questions that buyers and sellers have are "pretty much" the same ... and so are the answers. While each municipality has it's own guidelines, questions and answers about zoning, easements, set-backs are fairly straightforward: What is Zoning? Zoning is the government 'entity'...
WHAT I HATE ABOUT MOVING
I had a remarkable 8-year-old in tow the other day, house-hunting. We chatted about what she was looking forward to...now that they (she and her parents) will be moving to Miami: No more snow to shovel. Getting to have a pool. Her new school. All the plusses about moving to Miami...
Village of Pinecrest Homebuyers: Obligatory Municipal Water Hook-Up
WATER HOOK UPS in PINECREST, FLORIDA ... who pays... who benefits... What are the costs and what is the grace period? I just confirmed with the Village of Pinecrest as to the OBLIGATORY MUNICIPAL WATER HOOK-UP GUIDELINES: 1) Current homeowners in the Village of Pinecrest have 10 years...
