9800 SW 71 Avenue SOLD  (within about 4% of list price …).

The house sits directly across from Royal Palm Tennis Club  … and sold for $604,000.00 …  (Four bedrooms… pool… canal in the back…).

We really enjoyed helping the Strauss family relocate … and it’s a pleasure to welcome our  new neighbors, the Paz family, to Pinecrest.  Congratulations to both buyers and sellers!

Alexandra and Vicki Restivo   … EWM Realtors

“Dear Optimist, Pessimist and Realist  - 

While you guys were busy arguing over the right price for the house, I bought it.  

Sincerely yours, 

The Opportunist”

The  battle these days centers aroung  home values … where they are … and who has their finger on the pulse.  Bottom line ?    The people getting deals … they are the opportunists.  

This current real estate market is one for opportunists  …  both buyers and sellers …  Contact the Restivo Team  at EWM Realtors if you’d like to take advantage of the market.  305 793-1365 - direct line.   – Or you’re welcome to send us a note here:  restivo.v@ewm.com   We are local real estate professionals and we not only know the Miami real estate market, but we can help you make the most of it.

And we just listed a LOVELY HOME FOR SALE there … and hope  it’s exactly what you’ve been hoping might come on the market!  This is a tropical Miami home with Mediterranean elegance … priced well… and ready to move-in!

It happens to be on one of our favorite streets in north Palmetto Bay …   a great neighborhood …  a really good place to raise a family.

16601 SW 78 Ct  is  on a quiet street with very little traffic …  and with a lush tree canopy  … The house has a circular paved drive …  is on a corner lot  …  in an area of North Palmetto Bay known for it’s top rated schools.

This home is warm and welcoming.

You have a formal living room with vaulted ceilings  that opens onto the pool and  patio area, and so many amenities and pluses: Spacious, open feel…  plenty of sunlight… And a lot of the living areas  (your eat-in chef’s kitchen with granite counters, your breakfast area, your family room, as well as the living room and your master suite)  all  open onto the pool and gardens.   The formal dining room is an area you’ll actually use … with it’s soaring, floor to ceiling windows and filtered sunlight….  ”Inviting” is probably the best word to describe it.   And… there’s a fireplace… a split floor plan … and a comfortable layout and design.

There’s a screened-in patio, gardens and covered terrace  (each of which extend across much of the back patio):  And you have plenty of indoor and outdoor spaces for entertaining and relaxing …   year-round …  This is a tropical Miami home with Mediterranean elegance … priced well… and ready to move-in!

The reason so many of us move to Florida… (what attracts us to South Florida in the first place…other than just the weather!)…  and why you may want to see this house:

Sparkling pool, relaxing waterfall spa,  charming gazebo with a built-in bar-b-que….   16601 SW 78 Ct has what’s on the  “WHAT I WOULD REALLY, REALLY, REALLY LIKE TO HAVE!” of so many buyer’s wish-lists …   THIS is a home that offers you  a definite South Florida lifestyle.  5 bedrooms … 3 baths …  3911 sq ft … listed for $630,000.00 … which is below what any of the three homes we sold on that street sold for… and this one has SO MUCH  to offer!  It’s  well-kept,  immaculately and lovingly maintained, and ready-to-move-in.

If you’re looking for a home  in the Coral Gables, South Miami, Pinecrest or Palmetto Bay areas … or know of someone who does …  we invite you (or anyone you  know  is looking to buy a great pool home that’s newly listed and  priced right !)  to come take a look at this one. We would be  pleased to show it to you.  Call us on our direct line 305 793-1365 (Vicki)  or 305 632-0164 (Alexandra) … anytime … or contact us at restivo.v@ewm.com

This home is on municipal water and municiple sewer – which isn’t all that easy  to find in much of South Florida.   Septic tanks and well-water are common  in many parts of South Florida, but this particular Palmetto Bay street offers both city water and city sewer!  A nice plus!  We sold homes to several of your neighbors … 3 wonderful families on this same block!  We would love to show this home to you, and introduce you to the neighborhood .

The current owners of 16601 SW 78 Ct are ready to downsize …  having raised their family here  in this lovely Palmetto Bay neighborhood.

By the way, Palmetto Bay … dubbed “THE VILLAGE OF PARKS”… is well-known for it’s parks, bike paths, and verdant greenery.

SW 78th Ct …  It’s not only a beautiful area to live in  (the street itself and  the surrounding homes) …  but this Palmetto Bay address ( 16601 SW 78 Ct ) is also within the school boundaries of Pinecrest and Palmetto Bay’s highly sought-after and top A-Rated Schools … Coral Reef Elementary, Southwood Middle, and Miami Palmetto Senior High School.   It is worth seeing!

You’re within minutes of shopping, dining and entertainment …  with major transportation and highways easily accessible…. in a charming residential neighborhood !

16601 SW 78 Ct in the Village of  Palmetto Bay, Florida is  listed  for sale for $630,000.00  …  and is move-in ready.   5 bedrooms (including a spacious master suite and enormous  DOUBLE walk-in closet )….  three baths  …. 2 car garage … and  3911 sq ft of gracious living space.

In listing and selling your home, we never forget that you have a choice!    We are honored  …   Finding Homes for Families Like Yours!  The RESTIVO TEAM … Vicki & Alexandra Restivo  305 793-1365   Call us … or email us at restivo.v@ewm.com … whether you are buying, or selling   …  and looking for an experienced local real estate agent … or  if you are moving and relocating  and would like our referral of another top notch Realtor elsewhere, globally…  we are always happy to assist you.

South American Companies are again looking to relocate to Miami.   That’s good news for those selling condos as well as single family homes …  and beneficial as well to investors who need to lease there investments to stable, solid tenants.

If you are considering buying, selling, relocating, investing or renting out property you currently own … we would love the opportunity to assist you!   Restivo.v@ewm.com   You’re welcome to call anytime:  Our direct numbers are 305 793-1365   and    305 632-0164   Vicki and Alexandra Restivo EWM Realtors.

If bought a home at the height of the market, and think you can’t sell it again now, this may give you a broader perspective:

PROPERTY ADDRESS:      CLOSED:    SALES PRICE:    BACK ON MARKET NOW:
12800 SW 80 Ave               7/29/11    $710,000           $999,000

8145 SW 133 St                     6/15/11     $475,000           $789,000

12800 SW 80 Av                  4/15/11     $299,000           $445,000    

Each of these three homes closed within the past year, and are each again listed actively for sale at a higher price than their most recent sales price.   The owners have updated/renovated/staged …. and are reselling them. 

In Pinecrest there are currently 35 homes under contract.

If you are considering selling, we would love to talk with you about listing yours, because we have sold all our inventory…   and we need more listings!  We know the real estate market,  the South Florida neighborhoods, and are top real estate experts specializing  in Pinecrest, Coral Gables and Miami.  The Restivo Team at EWM Realtors  305 793-1365.  Contact us by phone or email (restivo.v@ewm.com).

7900 SW 132 Street in Pinecrest Florida just came on the market, listed for $475,000.  

It beats any other listing I’ve come across in recent months … for value… price… It’s an absolute  gem of an opportunity.   It’s a three bedroom home, updated BEAUTIFULLY  by owners who had absolutely no intention of leaving or moving … but who  now happen to find themselves  relocating unexpectedly.   The house has everything:  New aluminum roof, exquisite kitchen, hardwood floors,  new windows … charming street … curb appeal… one car garage … light, bright and welcoming … and beautifully maintained…. and a price tag that makes it a steal!

I have no doubt but that it will go very fast.  It is listed by Carrie Foote through  Lowell International Realty…. and I would love to show it to you …  if you want an incredible move-in ready home  (at an unheard of price!).  Feel free to contact Vicki or Alexandra Restivo on either of our direct numbers 305 793-1365  or 305 632-0164 …   The Restivo Team at EWM Realtors will be  more than happy to arrange to show it to you.  At this price. this home will get scooped up at warp speed.  I have NO doubts about that, whatsoever.   It’s fabulous!

Vicki Restivo, Realtor … Our Real Estate Website and Blog:  www.MiamiRealEstateCafe.com    Direct line:  305 793-1365  EWM Realtors   … restivo.v@ewm.com   ….   Emails went out last night to all  our buyers whose criteria would indicate that this house might be the RIGHT one …  Please let us know your specific criteria for a home, and we will  update you  as well … with new listings as they come on the market.

Currently the home is  listed in the MLS for $869,000.00   According to all indications, the house  will go to the top bidder who comes in at/or above $790,000.00  -  There will be a 10% buyers premium  added …   and the MLS does stipulate that the top bidder needs to be prepared to sign a contract on the spot …  and that it be an as-is, cash only sale…  It does allow for 3% commission to any selling agent. 

 The current owners bought the home  in ’05  for  $1,900,000.00.  The property shows in the MLS and in the Miami Dade tax rolls as being a 4824 sqaure foot  home consisting of  4 bedrooms and 4 baths … with a pool… and a fireplace …  on a  12,000 square foot lot .

The MLS indicates a suggested list price of $869,000.00  – stating too that it will go to the highest bidder coming it at or above $790,000.00.  The property will be sold as-is, and must close prior to January 16,2012.   Price and  value will hinge on the current property condition, so if you are considering bidding on it, we  strongly recommend you preview it beforehand.  That recommendation goes to any property you’re considering buying  - whether auctioned or otherwise.  

Showings can be arranged, anytime between now,  up to just prior to the auction date.  If you’d like to see the property or would like any additional information you are welcome to contact the Restivo Team here or at 305 793-1365.     And if you’re in the neighborhood that day,  we look forward to seeing you.  The Restivo Team at EWM Realtors.

That question about  ’When to move’ is certainly a personal one.  Spending the holidays in the home you’re in now …  or starting NEW  holiday tradition elsewhere …   it’s not an easy decision. 

That said,  what I can say is that the majority of homeowners who ARE selling now tend to be serious sellers (given the current real estate environment).  And… most of properties listed for sale right now (whether they are condos or single family homes)  that are priced-well  do tend to sell  quickly.   It is a good time to be a buyer…. especially if you can recognize the good deals when they come around …  and are in a position to take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves.   

Now through Thanksgiving, and then again starting January 1st, are prime times for listing and selling in South Florida.  The market will likely dip between mid November and the end of the year.   That’s normal in South Florida, and normal in much of the country.    And there will be another big opportunity once spring and summer roll around, once more buyers are out, because spring and summer are prime times for families to buy and move.

The housing inventory in Miami-Dade dipped from where it was even just a few months back.  Unless we see an increase of shadow inventory that the Wall Street Journal and New York Times are reporting on and forecasting,  we will have less in the way of homes to chose from.  There are fewer homes listed for sale now in Miami.  (Homeowners who aren’t serious about selling seem to have  fallen by the wayside).    International corporations and the University of Miami are actively  recruiting and hiring.   The number of buyers moving  to South Florida is on the rise …   and if you are thinking about selling,  there are buyers, and we would love to help you sell.  

Please feel free to contact the Restivo Team at EWM Realtors at 305 793-1365 anytime you’d like more information - whether you are considering selling, buying, leasing or relocating.  Alexandra and Vicki specialize in residential real estate in the Miami area, and we will be happy  to refer you to other top real estate agents globally as well,  if you are looking to relocate elsewhere.  Vicki and Alexandra Restivo restivo@ewm.com .

From the start, the Restivo Team helped negotiate with the developer and sat down with the architects and interior designers in an effort to help our client with his wants and needs.

The buyer who was looking for 4 bedrooms, gated community and close to the University of Miami. After taking him to look at many different options, he decided Oak Lane was a possibility, even though there are no more than 3 bedrooms available. He decided he wanted to combine 2 units and make one larger unit. 

The Restivo Team was there from the beginning and throughout the whole process, through closing. We spoke with the architects and the developers to get the process moving, finished and closed.

If you would like to buy or sell, please contact the Restivo Team.