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Life in Miami Beach

According to a recent survey conducted by the City of Miami Beach, 89% of residents stated that the quality of life in Miami Beach is either excellent or very good with 3/4 of them recommending our city as a place to live and work to others. Over the previous decade crimes have been decreasing year on year with added police officers and a population growth of 41% Miami Beach is growing in diversity. Spend any time here and you will hear not only the obligatory South American accents, but Italian, French, German, American, English, Israeli, Russian… Miami Beach is one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world and it is ready to welcome you too! If you are interested in moving to Miami check out some currently available properties for sale or rent, or contact me directly for help.

Protecting the Environment in Miami Beach

As a resident of Miami Beach and someone who has travelled significantly I have a great concern for our environment. We should protect what we have and work together to sustain plantlife, protect beaches and waterways and all of the beautiful nature that surrounds us. Just yesterday I painfully watched one of my Miami Beach neighbors cut down all the beautiful trees in his garden. Currently Miami Dade does not require any permits for home owners to remove trees in their own backyards that are under 18″ DBH. A new ordinance is being worked on to bring this down to 9″ DBH. The GTAG (Greenspace/Tree Advocacy Group) is this week battling to save 6 calophyllum trees in the public right of way in front of the Wolfsonian that the museum wants removed in order “to show off their $1 mil facade renovation and $1 mil lighting project. I may be a Realtor and hence Miami Beach Real Estate and Development is my business but we all should have a part in responsibly looking after and being considerate of our environment and the beautiful world we live in. So let’s all keep aware. If you see destructive environmental behavior report it, the more support we have the better we can preserve our world.

British Buying in Miami

British property buyers are on the rise in Miami. Miami Real Estate has hit the media in the UK and with Miami’s year round sunshine, attractive property prices for the British buyer, and Miami’s International airport offering 10 direct flights to London daily, Miami Beach has all the appeal for a British winter vacation home. 80% of the buyers I work with are international and a growing number of these are from the UK, largely due to my connection with the UK’s leading Real Estate company, Savills. So who are these British buyers and what exactly is it that they are looking for? PROFILE OF THE BRITISH BUYER *Typical Budget: $600K – $1,000,000*Location: South Beach*Requirements: Low (reasonable) maintenance*Building Type: Condominium*Terms: Cash Luckily for me, I find the Brits, like to work with a fellow Brit! You can’t blame us – we have the same sense of humo(u)r! But more than that, it is just a commonality of understanding the backgrounds of the buyer and the differences in purchasing real estate in the UK compared to in the US. So if you have a property to sell, especially one that fits the criteria above, please contact me – I may already have someone lined up for you!

Tenants with Service Animals and No Pet Policies.

Everyday as a Realtor in Miami Beach I come across a new situation and learn something new. I was recently working with a landlord, listing her Miami Beach apartment for rent in search of a great tenant. The landlord was adamant that she did not want any pets. Additionally the condominium rules and regulations also stated no pets. The prospective tenant who was interested in leasing the apartment did have a pet. She had a small dog registered as a service animal. The landlord agreed to the animal with an additional security deposit. After discussing with Real Estate attorneys and doing some research I had to educate my client, the landlord, that The Federal Fair Housing Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act (Section 504) states that service animals are not classified as pets and therefore cannot be denied nor can any additional pet deposits be charged.

New and Pre-Construction Condos in Miami

The Real Estate market in Miami and Miami Beach is on a huge rebound since its crash a few years ago. Having made a remarkable recovery South Florida is seeing numerous new developments with 89 pre-construction condos slated for delivery in South Florida from later this year through to 2016. The Edgewater/Biscayne Corridor area of Miami is the newest prime development opportunity with waterfront condo buildings such as Bay House and Icon Bay amongst others, whilst Miami Beach continues to be the prime location for holiday makers with new super luxury developments in the South of Fifth area including Marea and ONE Ocean. Setting a new level of luxury and the highest price per square foot is The Edition Residences, a hotel to rival The Setai and The W with only 26 luxury residences transforming the area north of Collins Park to be the new ‘South of Fifth’. A comprehensive list of new condo developments and pre-construction condos in Miami can be found (and is continuously updated) on my website page: http://www.britishmiamirealtor.com/new-developments/

Foreign Ownership of Florida Property

Buying Real Estate in the US as a foreign national is no different than for someone who is a US resident or citizen. Being British, I work with many buyers from the UK, as well as elsewhere and am often asked about things such as visa requirements, obtaining mortgages as a foreigner, taxes and how to make an offer. Here is my step by step guide to finding and buying a vacation home in South Florida: Visa Requirements for US Property Ownership The law in the US means that any person, from any country may own property in the US. The only limitations one may face as a foreign national are the amounts of time each year that they may be permitted into the country to use the property. Visa requirements vary from one country to the next so best to check on the regulations for your country. In Great Britain and Europe it is common to travel to the US on a visa waiver program which permits visits of up to 3 months at one time. Various other visas are available including investment visas with certain criteria. Other options may be considered with the help of an immigration [...]

What does it mean to be a millionaire?

When i was a kid it seemed like an ambitious dream to be a millionaire. If any family friends were millionaires it was a big deal…they were big shots! But it almost seems today, to have anywhere near the same recognition one needs to be a billionaire. Lets take a look at my chosen home town of Miami. With average property prices in Miami Beach around $1,000,000 and each new development having entry level prices starting at a million and in most cases going well over $10m+ Miami will soon be on its way to reach the league’s of new York, London and Rio. But it has to raise the question, especially living in such an image conscious, status driven city…does having a few million dollars and a beautiful apartment with panoramic views make us feel content and happy? Well certainly it is something to strive for and being more than just comfortable has its perks but lets not lose focus on our inate and basic needs as human beings. Happiness is more than financial, image and social status. I recently watched a documentary called ‘Happy’ and research across different civilizations around the world showed that once a [...]

Miami is a Winner!

When it comes to Real Estate markets Miami is a winner, especially for international buyers looking for a stable environment to invest their dollars and have a winter getaway to escape to. Take Marc Peredis, MD of an upscale furniture design gallery in Soho London. Marc came to me two years ago in search of a little beach pad, in the heart of the action in South Beach..and we found him the perfect place. Two years later he has seen appreciation in the property value and couldn’t be happier! …just a word of warning if you choose to work with me as your Realtor…you may well end up in the local paper just as Marc did in the UK’s Evening Standard!

Miami Real Estate Market Report 2012

If real estate history does repeat and the economists are correct, 2012 was the new 2002. Last year was the return to normal for real estate. With annualized homes sales at 4.6 million nationally in 2012, we are close to 2002’s 5.5 million mark, which has now been defined as the normal level for sustainable real estate sales. Interestingly enough, a look back at 2002 in South Florida looks very similar to 2012. Ten years ago, combined numbers for Miami–Dade and Broward showed an overall inventory level of just over 20,000 residential properties for sale which at the rate of sales represented about 5 months of inventory, very similar to the numbers for 2012. It is when you start evaluating pricing that things really get interesting and the differences start to emerge. The average sales price in both counties combined has risen from $446,000 to $620,000 in the last 10 years, with many peaks and valleys along the way. The most significant growth trend has been in what is referred to as the “super” luxury market. Not a high end grocery store, the super luxury market are those properties that define the top tier of property sales in [...]

Local Miami Realtors get creative to gain appeal

Shelly Northern and Kelly Charles of ONE Sotheby’s International Realty want homeowners on Miami Beach’s Pinetree Drive to remember them. So the two (aka “The English Girls”) spent a day and a half blowing up, tying and delivering 300 balloons to 150 homes in the area for Valentine’s Day. “We like to do fun, creative things to show people we’re willing to go above and beyond,” explains Northern. We want to distinguish ourselves and get to know people in the neighborhood.” Both single and from England, Northern, 37, and Charles, 35, met in April 2011 at an early morning Royal Wedding viewing party at the National Hotel. The two became fast friends — and started working together last fall. They began “creative gifting” on Pinetree Drive in October, delivering pumpkins for Halloween, followed by scarecrows for Thanksgiving, and snowman heads for Christmas. For New Year’s, they mailed calendars. “They are outgoing, personable and smart,” said long-time Pinetree Drive resident Rose Gurfinkel. “If the opportunity arises, I would consider using their services and referring them.” The gals’ plan for Easter/Passover: “Maybe daffodils,” says Charles. The duo can be reached via phone/text at 786-525-1721 (Northern) or [...]

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