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Category Archives: Golden Beach

This Weeks Featured Listing : 325 Layne Blvd

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325 Layne Blvd_02Golden Isles – Hallandale Beach, Florida new Listing. Golden Isles is a private gated waterfront community with deep water and no fixed bridges. 325 Layne Blvd is all about luxury and has raised the bar once again in Golden Isles. Five bedrooms and five bathrooms under six thousand square feet of extraordinary luxury and custom finishes. This home is situated on a 92′ x 150′ foot lot with ample boat dockage, a 25K boat lift,325 Layne Blvd_15 new dock and batter pile seawall. The home is fully equipped with top of the line appliances, office, wet bar, smart home automation, two car garage, marble driveway, electronic gates, and of course a custom heated pool, this is a must see. Call me today to schedule a private showing.

-Scott

 

The Aventura Mall Expansion Is Underway

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Aventura, FL – The beautiful city of Aventura is not only a great place to live in the many communities such as Porto Vita, Island Estates, Aventura Estates and also play golf at The Turnberry Isle Resort & Golf Club but the city is known for one of the nations largest and highest grossing luxury shopping malls in the US., “The Aventura Mall”. To many of us, it has become not only a convenience but staple of our Lifestyle.

The Aventura Mall not only has some of the best shopping around, its also has great restaurants, a movie theater, and an Equinox Gym. Well, if anyone is wondering what all the construction is on the east side of the mall, you can bet it’s going to be big. The new expansion of the mall includes a 315,000 sq. ft. retail wing and parking garage along with a host of destination restaurants and a new state of the art food court.QE5oWH2 Starting to sound good to you isn’t it? To top it all off, renderings have revealed plans for a new Tesla store to be included in the expansion. Let me know what stores you would want to see be included in the expansion in your comments below!

– Scott

Marina Palms Luxury High-Tech Marina

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thumbnail_Marina Palms Marina

 

Marina Palms, North Miami Beaches’ newest addition to the city’s rapidly growing construction boom has opened its marina for business this week. The condo towers feature 468 unit ranging from 1-3 bedrooms. The Marina features 112 boat slips able to cater to boats up to 100 feet. Another key component to the marina’s unparalleled service is a full sundry store open to the public, and of course a high speed fuel point. Residents may enjoy the membership to a private boating club right from the marina ( pricing and availability may vary).

North Miami Beach, A city at the northeast point of Miami-Dade county Florida, is proud to be the home to the new Marina Palms Luxury Residences and Marina. The project will be fully completed by mid 2017 with only now the completion of the south tower which has just topped off.  The history behind the location and the way that they incorporated it into the project really sets it apart from some of the other new construction in the area. An amazing article can be found here that gives you a detailed historical background on the area and the specific location of the project itself. Welcome to the new Miami everyone!

New Condo Proposals Abound Right Now in South Florida

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South Florida condosAn interesting trend has happened recently on the South Florida real estate market. Evidently, condo developers have been enthusiastically proposing new projects lately, proposing an average of almost 1,000 new units monthly for the tri-county coastal region since October 2012.

This is not only a sign that developers are feeling optimistic about the economy but also a sign that there’s about to be some incredible new real estate available in South Florida!

Real Estate for Sale in South Florida

According to the recent article I was reading in The Miami Herald, it has only taken roughly 10 months for developers to propose 20,000 new units in Miami Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.

Here’s what else the recent article revealed:

  • Since the fourth quarter of 2012, developers announced nearly 90 new buildings with a combined 9,500 units in South Florida.
  • At least three additional condo high rises with an estimated 1,200 units in the planning stages.
  • All put together, South Florida could ave at least 145 towers and nearly 20,700 units proposed for Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties.
  • The last South Florida condo boom of this magnitude started in 2003 and ultimately resulted in 245 towers and almost 49,000 units in the region.
  • Miami-Dade County has the largest concentration of proposed projects with more than 90 towers and nearly 15,285 units planned.
  • Broward County has 26 towers and less than 2,125 units proposed.
  • Palm Beach County is a third with 23 towers and nearly 2,100 units proposed.
  • Broken down further, the Hollywood and Hallandale Beach market in Southeast Broward County has proposed 11 towers with nearly 1,450 condo units.
  • Sunny Isles Beach on the barrier island in Northeast Miami-Dade County has proposed 10 towers and nearly 1,200 units slated to be developed.
  •  West Palm Beach has proposed seven towers and nearly 1,170 units
  • The city of Miami Beach has proposed with 17 towers and nearly 1,100 units.
  • And Bal Harbour, Surfside, and Bay Harbor Islands market in Northeast Miami-Dade County have proposed 14 condo towers with nearly 1,000 units.

Part of the reason that developers are moving so fast to develop new condos is because the inventory of available condo buildings is dwindling fast.

Experts predict that the current supply of existing condos for sale could be exhausted by the second half of 2014.

Some of the projects that developers are proposing include:

  • A 713-foot-tall tower with at least 60 stories at 600 Biscayne Blvd.
  • A 710-foot-tall tower with at least 60 stories at 700 Biscayne Blvd
  • A 610-foot-tall tower with 55 stories at 24 SW 4th St. on the north bank of the Miami River.

Still, despite all this talk about new South Florida developments, these companies have a large hurdle to overcome first: getting loans from the banks, which have tightened their lending policies in recent years.

That’s why experts believe that it is those developers who can drum up sufficient support from would-be condo buyers that will ultimately find success on the South Florida real estate market.

South Florida Condos for Sale

What do you think of the recent flurry of activity on the South Florida condo market? I would love to hear your thoughts!

In the meantime, if you’re thinking about investing in a South Florida condo, please contact me, Scott Patterson.

I’ll be happy to assist you by letting you know about available condos for sale, answering any questions you may have as well as telling you about nearby condo communities in such communities as:

  • Aventura, Florida
  • Hallandale, Florida
  • Davie, Florida

Until next time,

Scott

 

Property Insurance Reform to Affect South Florida Waterfront Real Estate Owners

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South Florida insurance ratesThe Business Journal recently had an interesting article about how the state’s reforms to Citizens Property Insurance Corp. will ultimately have a huge effect on those living on South Florida’s coasts.

For those of you who aren’t aware, Citizens Property Insurance Corp is a state-run insurer.

According to the recent legislation that the state government approved, protocol for Citizens Property has changed to help reduce enrollment, which officials say will make it less vulnerable during a storm.

This is sure to have a large impact on waterfront property owners all of South Florida!

What South Florida Home Owners Should Know About the Law Change

Under the recent change, residents will be limited to 10 percent annual premium hikes, although new enrollees would have to pass through a number of other insurers before choosing Citizens.

Experts are saying that because of this change, rates will increase overtime since homeowners would need to select private coverage within 15 percent of that offered by Citizens.

Eventually, more insurance providers will be attracted to the area, experts say.

As soon as the Citizens reform was passed, shares from the Fort Lauderdale-based Unviersity Insurance Holdings increased to its highest level in a year.

Universal Insurance Holdings is the largest private insurer in Florida.

Here’s how else the reform will affect circumstances in Florida: Some experts believe Citizens’ policy limit reductions will cause the maximum coverage to decrease from $2 million to $1 million, eventually falling to $700,000.

Some experts think the changes are coming at a bad time and may curb the housing market recovery in South Florida.

After all, investors may think twice if they’re forced to choose private insurance with higher premiums, experts say.

That could in turn call the housing market recovery to slow down or stop altogether.

What’s more, the reform forbids Citizens from covering new coastal construction after July 1, 2014. This may have a direct impact on such South Florida coastal communities.

Still, some experts say the changes to coastal construction coverage may actually end up benefiting the less expensive condominiums in Brickell and Downtown Miami.

South Florida Luxury Real Estate For Sale

What do you make of the recent legislative changes concerning Citizens Property Insurance Corp?

I am always happy to offer straight-forward advice and providing you with such useful home-selling resources as:

Until next time,

Scott

 

South Florida Real Estate Market Showing Signs of Rebound and Growth

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South Florida real estateThere’s reason to celebrate a little for the South Florida real estate market – especially if you’re a home seller with a list price under 1 million.

From a decreasing supply of available homes for sale to rising sales prices – now is a great time to be a Seller  especially if your property is listed under 1 million today. It’s all about “Supply & Demand” which is very price sensitive and it’s very important to understand the market depends on the “List Price” of your property,  the higher the “List Price” the more inventory there is.

Below, I’m going to tell you some of the recent findings from a national index on the health of the South Florida housing market.

Selling South Florida Real Estate

According to a recent market report, South Florida home prices increased by more than 5 percent in July when compared to July 2011 (depending on price range).

That’s not all that has South Florida home sellers excited!

Here’s a look at some other good news that has recently come out about the market:

  • In August, Broward County had fewer than 5,000 single-family homes for sale.
  • When compared to a year ago, Miami-Dade & Broward County’s inventory has nearly been cut by 40-50%.
  • Meanwhile, Palm Beach County’s home inventory was about 6,648 in August, which is 43 percent less than it was a year ago.
  • In Miami, the average price per square foot of Miami area homes was $155, down 4.3 percent from the same period last year.
  • Between July and September, the median sales price for Miami homes was $155,000, up 6.9 percent from the year before.
  • Also during that period, the total number of Miami home sales decreased by 11.6 percent.
  • Broward County’s unemployment rate decreased from 8.1 percent to 7.8 percent between July and August. This is good news for home sellers because it means that more home buyers are in a position to purchase a home.
  • Broward County’s unemployment rate is now better than the national average, which is 8.1 percent.
  • Meanwhile, Palm Beach County’s unemployment rate also fell to 9.6 percent, albeit that’s still higher than state and national averages.
  • Interest rates have continued to fall, with the average 30-year fixed rate falling to a record-setting 3.4 percent recently. Such low rates are sure to attract additional home buyers.

Still, the recent article I read noted that there are some ways in which the housing market can improve even more.

For instance, inaccurate home appraisals have been blamed in recent years for delaying or costing real estate deals.

Experts are now calling for more accurate and consistent appraisals to aid in the housing market’s recovery.

Some are also saying that a slight increase in interest rates may increase home buyer demand since home buyers will feel a sense of urgency to invest before interest rates continue to climb.

Your Dedicated South Florida Real Estate Expert

The South Florida real estate market is a complicated industry with plenty of moving parts that may affect your experience as a home seller.

So for an optimal experience that results in you selling your home in a short amount of time and for a great price, please contact me, Scott Patterson.

I have years of experience working on the South Florida real estate market and I’ll be happy to provide you with invaluable advice, helpful home-selling resources and more!

Start today by requesting my free selling South Florida real estate eBook or a pre-listing package!

Until next time,

Scott

EWM International Realty is now Larger and Better than Ever!

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We have exciting news to share with you about our company’s parent company, Berkshire Hathaway.

Berkshire Hathaway has purchased the real estate franchise “Prudential” / Real Living and launch an entirely new brokerage brand for these agents: Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices.

Our South Florida real estate company EWM has been owned by Berkshire Hathaway for the last six years.

This new purchase, however, is guaranteed to make the company even stronger and more responsive to home buyer’s and home seller‘s needs.

Selling Real Estate in South Florida and Around the Country

Berkshire Hathaway has acquired Prudential’s agent network from Brookfield Asset Management.

Next year, Berkshire Hathaway and Brookfield will begin converting Home Services agents over to the new brand as well.

The new company will be based in Irvine, California and will be led by a team of Prudential Real Estate executives.

Here are some more facts of this recent deal:

  • Berkshire’s HomeServices of America (which already owns local brokerages with 16,000 agents in 21 states) will be the majority owner
  • The Prudential and Real Living brands will be eliminated over time.
  • Independent local brokers that HomeServices already owns will not have to switch affiliation but their branding will start to note that they’re owned by Berkshire Hathaway.

Your South Florida Real Estate Expert

By aligning ourselves with this new and improved super real estate company, EWM will have even greater access to real estate resources that will ultimately help you as the buyer or seller!

Thus, we’re quite thrilled about this newly formed real estate company!

If you’re considering entering the South Florida real estate market anytime soon, please contact me, Scott Patterson.

I’ll be happy to assist you as you navigate any one of the following South Florida markets:

Until next time,

Scott

Report: Fewer Homes for Sale Available on the South Florida Real Estate Market

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South Florida real estate for saleAvailable homes for sale on the South Florida real estate market have decreased significantly year-over-year, according to a recent article I read.

The Palm Beach Post reported that the available inventory of homes for sale was down 34 percent in September when compared to September 2011.

This is fantastic news for South Florida home sellers in such communities as Golden Beach and Sunny Isles who are hoping to get a great price on their property.

South Florida Homes for Sale

Here’s an overview of recent activity on the South Florida real estate market, according to the real estate analysis firm Zillow:

  • High-priced homes for sale in Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties were down 34.4 percent year-over-year.
  • Meanwhile, inventory of homes in the lower-priced tiers were down 33 percent.
  • In that same period, the national inventory of homes for sale has decreased by 19 percent.
  • In Palm Beach County, the inventory of single-family homes had fallen to less than five months in August.
  • When compared to August 2011, Palm Beach County’s home inventory has fallen 57 percent.

On the same day that Zillow released its report, the company RealtyTrac reported that Florida saw the most foreclosure activity in September.

Although some are concerned this may cause a drop in home prices as these foreclosed homes are sold, experts say that it’s more likely that these homes will more than likely be short-sold, which will help preserve prices.

List Your South Florida Home for Sale Today!

As I noted earlier, a drop in available homes for sale is a great sign for interested South Florida home sellers.

That’s because the low supply of available homes will spur even greater home buyer demand, which will ultimately drive up prices.

Thus, if you’re thinking about listing your South Florida property anytime soon, now is a great time to do so!

For expert tips on navigating the market as a South Florida home seller, please contact me, Scott Patterson.

I have years of experiencing helping home owners sell their properties in a number of local communities, including:

Until next time,

Scott

South Florida’s Real Estate Market Is Rebounding

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South Florida is currently ranked Number 2 for fastest rising home values in the country, however values are 48 percent lower than compared to peak levels in 2006 according to the latest Case-Shiller report.

Evidently, Phoenix is the only housing market in the country with faster rising values!

The latest report signals that the housing market is indeed rebounding, which is excellent news for area home sellers!

South Florida Properties for Sale

Here’s the latest data on the South Florida real estate market (which includes Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties) from Case-Shriller as well as other data sources:

 

  • Currently, values are about 48 percent lower on the South Florida real estate market than compared to peak levels in 2006.
  • Since January, South Florida’s Case-Shiller real estate index increased by 5 percent.
  • Between May 2002 and May 2012, South Florida real estate values have grown about 12 percent.
  • Home prices in South Florida have steadily increased over the last six months
  • Since May 2011 to May 2012, home prices in South Florida have surged by 3.4 percent.
  •  After a 1.4 percent increase for the region in April, home prices were at their highest point on the index since November 2010.
  • In June, the single-family homes inventory in Palm Beach County dropped from 11.9 months to 5 months when compared year-over-year.
  • Nationally, the single-family homes inventory fell to less than seven months during that same period.
  • Meanwhile, completed foreclosures have fallen to 2007 levels nationwide.
  • Florida had the second highest number of completed foreclosures in a 12-month period, with 91,000.
  • Although Florida still has the highest foreclosures inventory in the country with 11.5 percent of all mortgages, it’s still down from one year ago.

Your South Florida Real Estate Expert

While the South Florida real estate market still has a ways to go before it is completely recovered from the bubble burst of a few years ago, it is certainly making great strides!

This is great news for home sellers who have been waiting for home prices and values to rise so that they can get a better price on their own home!

To learn more about the current state of the South Florida real estate market – or to inquire about navigating the market as a home seller – please contact me, Scott Patterson.

As a dedicated South Florida REALTOR, I have years of experience helping home sellers navigate such area market as:

And I’ll be happy to help you as well!

Until next time,

Scott

South Florida Home Owners to Learn Their Proposed Property Taxes for 2012 Soon

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South Florida home owners recently found out what their proposed property taxes will be for 2012, according to a recent article in the Miami Herald.

The Miami-Dade Property Appraiser sent out more than one million TRIM notices to property owners recently.

These notices lay out how much the county believes a South Florida property is worth, which is quite important to home owners, home buyers and home sellers.

South Florida Real Estate for Sale

No matter whether you’re buying or selling a piece of South Florida real estate – TRIM notices are important.

For home sellers, the county’s valuation of a piece of real estate is ultimately factored in to how much they will pay for taxes.

Property owners will have until September 18 to file an appeal of the valuation with the Value Adjustment Board.

Tax bills connected with the new valuation will be sent out by Nov. 1.

Here’s an overview of what the TRIM notices revealed:

  • In Miami-Dade, the tax roll increased by 1.98 percent, after 3 years of declines.
  • In Broward County, the tax roll increased by 1.5 percent on average.
  • Broken down further, about 24 cities saw increases and seven saw declines.

Buying and Selling South Florida Real Estate

Whether you’re thinking about buying or selling South Florida real estate, you’ll want to have the latest information about TRIM notices in the area.

So contact me, Scott Patterson, for expert advice and helpful information on any one of the following real estate markets in South Florida:

Until next time,

Scott