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Category Archives: Sunny Isles

Tips for Surviving Spring Breakers in South Florida

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Group of young adults on vacation.

Once again, spring break season is upon us.

If you’re a seasoned local, you know the drill. South Florida is about to become a hot spot for college students across the country looking to have the time of their lives! However, this means a few things for us year-round South Florida residents.

New to the area? Here are four tips for surviving the spring breakers that will soon be invading our beloved beaches, brunch spots, and bars in South Florida.

Prepare Yourself for Traffic

Download a few new albums or a podcast to listen to on your commute, because traffic is about to get a little nuts.

If possible, see if there’s another route you can take to get to your favorite destinations! This happens every year, so it’s good to plan ahead as much as you can.

Pick a Less Popular Beach

A deserted Florida beach with footprints in the sand.

If you’re absolutely dying to go to the beach, stay away from the more popular ones. For example, stay far, far away from Ocean Drive because this is one of the most popular spots for spring breakers.

Instead, visit Oleta River State Park. Located in North Miami Beach, this is a great place to sunbathe and get a workout in as you bike, kayak, or fish onsite!

Or, Try Some “Off-Beat” Local Attractions

Every spring break without fail, South Beach is the biggest destination for tourists and college students. That’s why we recommend staying north of all the madness, by spending time in North Miami Beach.

Although a little quieter than its southern counterpart, North Miami Beach is still bursting with fun things to do and eclectic attractions.

Visit the Ancient Spanish Monastery for a quiet afternoon marveling at historic wonders in the shade. As one of the oldest buildings in America, it’s a fantastic trip through the past.

Are museums more your thing? Take a quick trip over to Dania Beach to see the Wiener Museum of Decorative Arts.

Head Indoors

A woman holding large shopping bags and a cell phone as she browses a store.

After all, the spring breakers are here to hit the beach. You won’t find many of them indoors!

If you’re a big fan of shopping, check out Bal Harbour Shops in nearby Bal Harbour for fantastic upscale shopping and dining! You could also see a hip art film at a theater like O Cinema or the Tower Theater (we guarantee that no spring breakers will be there).

Even With the Tourists, South Florida is Still the Community of Your Dreams

Sure, spring break season can get a little hectic, but that’s just something you go through when you live in an area as amazing as South Florida. If you’re ready to explore the South Florida real estate market, we’re here to help.

If you’re ready to buy your South Florida dream home, please give us a call. We’d love to help you find the home that’s right for you, whether it’s in a destination city like Miami or a calmer seaside community like Sunny Isles.

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

South Florida Developers Are Proposing Dozens of New Condominiums

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South Florida luxury real estateDevelopers are feeling so confident with the South Florida real estate market lately that they’re planning on constructing dozens of new condominiums in the upcoming months and years.

According to a recent article I read, developers are proposing almost 55 new condominium projects totaling more than 10,000 units in the communities of Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach.

This signals that the South Florida housing market is becoming increasingly robust and attractive for real estate transactions!

South Florida Luxury Condominiums for Sale

Miami-Dade County has been leading the area with new condominium projects in the works.

Evidently, there are nearly 40 proposed projects in the county, all of which total more than 7,900 units.

These condominiums are expected to be built in Aventura, Bal Harbour, Miami, Key Biscayne, Miami Beach, Sunny Isles including the development The Village at Island Estates that I am representing.

Broward County has the second most proposed projects with 11. These condominiums will bring an additional 1,600 units to the area and will be constructed in Fort Lauderdale, Hallandale Beach and Hollywood.

In third place is Palm Beach County with at least 5 proposed condominium projects totaling 700 units. These condominiums are expected to be constructed in Juno Beach and West Palm Beach as well as Gulf Stream.

Experts are saying many domestic and international prospective developers are sweeping South Florida searching for previously approved projects that were put on hold after the housing market bubble burst in 2007.

Leading the way in this latest condominium development blitz is the 23 Biscayne Bay condominium in Greater Downtown Miami.

One tower has already been constructed and an additional 11 are expected to be completed as soon as 2014.

As of the second quarter of 2012, buyers have purchased about 93 percent of the nearly 49,000 new condos created in the largest coastal markets during the most recent South Florida real estate boom that began in 2003.

At the current sales pace of nearly 150 units per month, the 3,400 unsold new condos could be acquired in the first half of 2014.

Many of these newly proposed condominiums appear to cater to niche markets, such as the high-end luxury condominium market.

These new developments plan to attract high-end buyers with such features as incredibly spacious balconies, automobile elevators and personal swimming pools.

Your South Florida Real Estate Expert

This is an exciting time to be a South Florida home buyer – especially given all of the new luxury condominiums that are expected to be constructed soon!

If you’re thinking about relocating to South Florida anytime soon and investing in your own condominium, please contact me, Scott Patterson.

I’ll be happy to walk you through the condo-buying process with helpful advice and user-friendly resources such as:

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

Sunny Isles Taxes Still Low, Despite Increase in Amenities

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Home owners living in Sunny Isles, Florida are enjoying the best of both worlds lately: low property taxes and a growing list of local amenities!

According to a recent article that I read, Sunny Isles Beach’s proposed budget may increase as much as 45 percent in the next year, and yet the property tax rate is expected to be 3 percent lower than the current one.

This is great news for those living in Sunny Isles or considering relocating to this beautiful South Florida community!

Sunny Isles, Florida Real Estate for Sale

Sunny Isles Beach city administrators recently proposed a $62.5 million budget for the upcoming fiscal year, which is about 45.3 percent greater than this year.

The increase in spending is related to 19 capital improvement projects that the city wants to pursue in the next year.

These projects total about $19 million and include the construction of the Gateway Park, which will be located west of Collins Avenue between the east- and westbound lanes of Sunny Isles Boulevard.

The park and the accompanying garage for visitors will be about $16 million.

Additional projects mentioned in the proposed budget include:

  • $1 million for an emergency bridge
  • $4 million for more classrooms at Norman S. Edelcup Sunny Isles Beach K-8 school
  • Various park restoration projects
  • Installation of security cameras at the Government Center and city parks

There are also several other additions in the budget, such as hiring more lifeguards for about $500,000.

Meanwhile, property taxes are not expected to increase as a result of the numerous capital improvement projects. In fact, they’re expected to drop!

Officials are proposing a tax rate of $2.80 for every $1,000 of taxable property, which is 3 percent less than the current rate of $2.8860.

City officials are getting the extra money for the budget mostly from such one-time revenue sources as land scales and transfers of development rights.

Your Sunny Isles, Florida Real Estate Expert

I hope you found the above information insightful as a current or future Sunny Isles Beach home owner.

For more information on how this proposed budget may affect you specifically as either a home owner or home buyer, please contact me, Scott Patterson.

And if you’re considering investing in Sunny Isles Beach real estate anytime soon, please be sure to check out my various home-buying resources online. These include:

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

Conditions Are Ideal to Purchase a Broward or Miami Dade County Home for Sale

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The president of our company EWM Realty International recently released the latest housing market data for Broward and Miami-Dade counties.

The outlook is fantastic for interested South Florida home buyers, said Ron Shuffield.

Home sales have increased and the median home sales price is on the rise.

Continue reading to learn more about recent South Florida housing market activity to see how it compares to recent years.

Properties for Sale in Broward and Miami Dade Counties, Florida

Here’s a brief overview of what Mr. Shuffield reported about recent South Florida housing market activity:

  • In Miami-Dade County, the median price for a single-family home so far in 2012 is $200,000, up 12 percent when compared to the year before.
  • In 2011, the median price was about $150,000.
  • Also in Miami-Dade County, the median price for a condominium so far in 2012 is $150,000, up 21 percent when compared to the year before.
  • In Broward County, the median price for a single-family home in 2012 is $216,000, up 14 percent from 2011.
  • And the median price for a Broward County condominium in 2012 is $85,000, up 9 percent from 2011.

Mr. Shuffield explained that low sales prices, record low interest rates and affordable housing inventory at the foreclosure stage have driven the recent sales South Florida has seen.

As a result, available and affordable South Florida housing inventory is dwindling quickly.

For instance, in 2011, sales of foreclosed homes made up 65 percent of all home sales in South Florida. Now they represent 50 percent of all sales.

Your South Florida Real Estate Expert

Watch the video above to learn even more about why South Florida home buyers stand to gain a lot on the Miami-Dade and Broward County real estate markets.

And if you’re thinking about entering the South Florida housing market anytime soon, be sure to contact me, Scott Patterson.

I have years of experience successfully helping buyers find a home that meets their wants and needs as well as lifestyle in such markets as:

Until next time,

Scott

South Florida Real Estate Market Has Finally Bottomed Out, Experts Say!

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I recently read an article in the Sun Sentinel that declared that the South Florida housing market has finally hit bottom.

According to Zillow.com, which is a Seattle-based real estate analysis site, home values in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties are now beginning to increase after six years of steady decline.

Continue reading to learn more about what Zillow said this means for the greater South Florida real estate market – as well as interested home buyers like you!

Properties for Sale in Aventura, Hallandale and other South Florida Communities

Here’s the most recent data that Zillow released about the local housing market:

  • The median value for homes in all three South Florida counties is $141,300, up 1 percent when compared to 2011.
  • Over all home prices are expected to increase by 6 percent during the next year, which would make South Florida a top-performing housing market in the nation.
  • Home sales prices are now beginning to resemble those prices seen in 2002 in South Florida.
  • Home values in 21 of 32 Broward Cities – including Fort Lauderdale – increased between 2011 and 2012.
  • Meanwhile, 17 communities in Palm Beach County saw higher home values, year-over-year.
  • Single-family home inventories in Broward County have decreased by 48 percent, year-over-year.
  • In Palm Beach County, inventories have decreased by 38 percent.
  • More and more homes are receiving multiple offers, many of which are above the original asking price.

All of this data suggests that home prices have fallen as much as they’re going to fall in South Florida before they begin to rise again.

And while some analysts are still skeptical that the South Florida housing market has truly bottomed out, nearly everybody agrees that the market will not likely see prices drop very much more if it hasn’t bottomed out yet.

Thus, for those who were interested in making an incredible investment on the South Florida real estate market, now is the ideal time to do so!

After all, once a market has bottomed out, the only direction home prices are going to go is up!

Your South Florida REALTOR!

If you’re interested in entering the South Florida housing market as a home buyer any time soon, please contact me, Scott Patterson.

As a trusted South Florida REALTOR, I have experience helping home buyers find their dream homes on a number of area housing markets, including:

Thus, I’d be happy to help you at every stage of the home buying process – from home showings to purchase offers to the final closing!

Until next time,

Scott

 

Search For Your Next South Florida Home for Sale With This Brand New Tool!

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Thinking about investing in South Florida real estate in Broward or Miami-Dade County anytime soon? Finding your next dream home has never been easier thanks to some new tools I recently added on my South Florida real estate website!

With my user-friendly search tools, you’ll be able to narrow down the list of all available listings in South Florida to specific neighborhoods that interest you.

Continue reading to find out more!

South Florida Properties for Sale

Here in South Florida, there are plenty of fabulous residential communities from which to choose, each of which offer their own unique residential living experience.

Now, you can search for available listings in specific condominium communities with the help of my easy-to-use search tools.

Here are some of the pre-defined searches I’m now offering to interested South Florida home buyers:

Once you’ve done these initial searches, you’ll be able to narrow down your options even more to fit your square footage, number of bedrooms and other home-buying preferences.

Your South Florida Real Estate Expert

As your South Florida REALTOR for life, I am always looking for ways in which to make the home buying process easier for interested home buyers like you.

Specifically, I help home buyers navigating the following markets:

For additional tips and tools on how to effectively navigate the South Florida real estate market, please don’t hesitate to contact me, Scott Patterson, today!

Until next time,

Scott