Miami Real Estate

The Miami Herald reported November 5th that Coconut Grove is soon slated to have 3 snazzy new waterfront eateries (with soaring glass walls and views of Biscayne Bay …  in glass and steel bay front structures designed by Arquitectonica).  There are plans to create an pedestrian promenade as well as a new park…. turning the Grove into something Miami desperately needs:  waterfront land that the public can access and enjoy.

The Grove Bay Investment Group is apparently ready to sign a 50 year lease  with the city for the site just north of Miami City Hall all along the water, paying a minimum of $1.4 million a year for that …  and spending an additional $18 million to refurbish the marina,  add three new waterfront eateries, and create a pedestrian promenade extending from South Bayshore Drive all the way up to the new public pier over Biscayne Bay.  This, combined with creating a 3 story parking garage with retail shopping at ground level, and green open spaces for the public to enjoy, will transform the Grove and the historic village bay front. Read the rest of this entry »

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While the rest of the world is bundled up, stuck indoors, shivering, shovelling snow,  South Florida is enjoying t-shirt weather, deep sea fishing, golf, sailing, tennis … and this time of year is still prime outdoor cafe weather.  The Miami lifestyle is yours if you want it … We specialize in South Florida Real Estate, and we look forward to helping  you make Miami your home.   Call us today …  Alexandra Hechtman 305 632-0164 and Vicki Restivo 305 793-1365 …. The Restivo Hechtman Team at EWM Realty Int’l   [email protected]

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Tomorrow  (Wednesday  October 23, 2013)  a  multi agency training exercise  is scheduled  for in and around the Old Miami Herald Building. 

Emergency vehicles and officers from multiple police departments will be involved.  This is just a training exercise. 

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Bidding wars are back … and with property in Miami becoming scarce,  bidding wars can be tough to win.

There’s not much inventory to choose from,  and buyers  are finding themselves competing against one other  for the good stuff …

Offering full list price isn’t necessarily enough  …

More often than not,  I find that personal connections tend to sway decisions.   If you want the house be personable, and take whatever steps you can to connect with the seller.

We asked this family to write a note, that we’d submit along with their offer … and we asked that they Read the rest of this entry »

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After a 16 day federal government shutdown (which caused National Parks to close, passports not be issued, and real estate closings to be postponed … to name but a few of the repercussions) as of  late last night the shutdown is apparently over. 

The National Association of Realtors reported today that yesterday’s resolution calls for funding  government operations through January 15, 2014  and  it raises the debt ceiling to a projected date of  February 7, 2014.

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Occasionally we get offers that are barely more than just a waste of time and energy …  real messes.

I’m looking at 2,  right now.

On one,  there are four typos in the property address alone.  On the other, the wrong seller is named as the owner. On both  there are missing pages, missing addendums,  contradictory terms,  timeframes that don’t work …  One doesn’t allow the buyer time to get financing … It’s unsigned, undated…  There is no price…  And on the other, the mortgage terms indicate a 30 year loan with an interest rate  of 60%.   Really?   And the agent says “Oops … sorry …  I’ll text you the price in a minute … I don’t know.”

As massacred and  hodgepodged as these two contracts are,  we will meet with our sellers and go over them.

Offers like these are so easy to reject – especially in today’s real estate market, where multiple offers are the norm …

And, each of these homes are receiving multiple offers.

Buyer’s agents who are hands-on and competent  are the ones who get their clients to the closing table.

I feel so badly for these buyers.  Both families love these homes ….   Neither has any idea they are working with someone so incompetent.

Good listing agents oversee both sides of the transaction.  On either of these, we will do that (and more!).   If our sellers wish to counter, we’ll make alterations, corrections, add what’s missing,  and then re-submit these offers to the buyer’s agents …  We will be ultra hands-on throughout ( the loan application process,  inspections,  insurance, title, survey, appraisal)    to make sure that no one drops the ball … and see to it that each of these actually get to the closing table.

If you’re looking to buy, sell or lease … and need an experienced Realtor to work with … please call us:  The Restivo Hechtman Team at EWM Realty International   Vicki Restivo 305 793-1365 [email protected]   …  Alexandra Hechtman 305 632-0164 [email protected]

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Lease-purchase agreeements normally benefit  the buyer… rather than the seller. 

A buyer can choose to exercise his/her option to buy … or he/she can walk away.

Price and terms are typically negotiated upfront - and put in writing … (time frames, lease terms, any portion of the lease that is to go toward the purchase price, dates by which the tenant must exercise his/her right to convert,  any financing contingencies, cash requirements,  downpayments,  whether subject to appraisal – or not,  inspection requirements, etc).

If the real estate market drops , the buyer can renegotiate the terms … or bow out.  If home prices soar, the seller is locked in. 

It’s the buyer who decides whether to move forward …  while the seller is obligated to sell.

Looking to buy, sell or lease property in South Florida?  …  Contact Vicki Restivo or Alexandra Hechtman at EWM Realty Int’l  305 793-1365 [email protected]

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Amazing sunset …  beautiful lakefront home … breathtaking views.  CORPORATE RELOCATION just listed today .  GATED COMMUNITY.

We invite you to our first OPEN HOUSE  (open to Realtors/Brokers … as well as to the public):   Wednesday October 1 from 12:30-2:30pm

Waterfront …  2 story… Milan model… on Cutler Lake…  Quiet cul-de-sac.  Wide views of the lake.   Oversized backyard with wrought iron fence  …. Hurricane shutters… 5 bedrooms… 4 baths.  Vaulted ceilings. Updated kitchen. Crown moldings. New window treatments & light fixtures.  Freshly painted. Granite. Stainless steel appliances.  Formal dining room. Breakfast area. Snack bar. Dual staircases.  Master plus 3 other bedrooms upstairs.  (Master bath includes roman tub, separate shower, bidet and additional WC. ) Walk in closets.  Fifth bedroom is downstairs. Laundry room.  2 car garage.

RESORT-STYLE LIVING in EXCLUSIVE GUARD-GATED COMMUNITY of CUTLER CAY:   Clubhouse.  “4″ Lit Tennis Courts. “2″ Gyms. Full size Basketball Court. Heated Junior Olympic pool. Sauna. 24/7 Security Patrol. Full Amenities.

18862 SW 77 Ct, Cutler Bay Florida  …  List price: $550,000.00

NOT A SHORT SALE…NOT A FORECLOSURE!

For private showings or  any additional information contact us  at  either 305  793-1365 or 305 632-0164. The Restivo Hechtman Team at EWM Realty International.

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“Can you put a price on experience? In real estate, you can. It is about $25,000 for the average house” according to one Wall Street Journal article.

The price of real estate experience  … and  the difference between a rookie and a seasoned real estate professional …  can mean a 12% higher home sales price on average.  

If you’re contemplating moving or relocating, we would be delighted to assist you … The Restivo Hechtman team will help you sell for the best terms possible … and we can refer you to other  top real estate experts elsewhere throughout  the world … whether you’re moving across country or internationally.

The Restivo Hechtman Team at EWM Realty, International

Vicki Restivo 305 793-1365 [email protected]

Alexandra Hechtman 305 632-0164 [email protected]

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BASED ON CURRENT INVENTORY and CLOSED SALES IN PINECREST,   WE ARE IN LIMBO.  WE ARE NOT IN A BUYER’S  MARKET … NOR ARE WE IN  A SELLER’S MARKET )… We in what’s called a ”NEUTRAL REAL ESTATE MARKET” … meaning that we  now have between 3-6 months of available inventory for sale:

Less than 3 months of inventory would put us in a seller’s market.

More than 6 months of inventory would move us into a buyer’s market.

And having 3-6 months of inventory places us in a neutral market.

PINECREST LISTINGS FOR SALE - PRICED UNDER $1 MILLION:

In January 2013:    There were 6.3 months of available single family homes listed

By mid-August 2013:    Inventory was down to 2 months worth. Read the rest of this entry »

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