We just listed a great home … Villa Paradiso, in Tuscany, Italy- between Florence and Pisa. The home features 12+ bedrooms and 10 baths sitting on an almost 2.5 acre lot. There are 360 degree views of the Tuscan hills, vineyards, olive groves and even the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Among the 13,228 square feet are beautiful affrescos on walls and ceilings, painted by Ademollo. The Villa was built in the 1600s and has been given a historical designation by the “Belle Arte” in Italy. It has been restored and is absolutely stunning with gardens and a beautiful pool. Contact the Restivo Team for more information.

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.

Come see this new North Pinecrest Listing and enjoy some lunch.

This 4/2 features a bonus room and bathroom, great garden views, lots of yard space and a beautiful pool and covered patio area. Great location. PINECREST SCHOOLS! Near Royal Palm Tennis Club and Coral Pine Park on a tranquil tree-lined street.

Located at 9800 SW 71 Ave, listed for $690,000.

Hope to see you there!

9800 SW 71 Avenue in North Pinecrest was just listed for sale by the Restivo Team for $690,000.  If you’re looking to buy, this home is one of only a handful of properties  in Pinecrest Florida  currently listed for sale below the $1 million mark…  within the DESIGNATED SCHOOL BOUNDARY of  PINECREST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.  

Located immediately to the south of Royal Palm Tennis Club, on a tranquil street within minutes of  both Coral Pine Park and Pinecrest Gardens, this Pinecrest location offers easy access to  Highway 826 (a 20 minute commute to Miami International  Airport via the highway, and  less than a 1/2 an hour to the historic Biltmore Hotel  and Downtown Coral Gables, Miami Beach or Key Biscayne).  The house is 15-20  minutes from UM (University of Miami)  by surface roads… and within a few minutes of shopping, dining, and a newly updated Publix  Supermarket  by Downtown Dadeland  & the MetroRail.   (By the way, that particular Publix is generator equipped - in the case of a power outage).

The home has a new roof and new A/C  units installed in 2008,  impact glass on the front of the house - as well as hurricane shutters – living room – family room – dining – granite kitchen – tile floors.   Along with that are four top-selling features:   Location,  School District,  Price  …  and Value.

Location:  Corner property.  Canal Front.  Pinecrest School District.

16,310 square foot lot.  4 bedrooms. 2 baths.  Bonus office/den… plus storage room… and indoor laundry.  Coral Rock Deck. Covered Patio  (Nice for outdoor entertaining and dining).  2,864 square feet of living area indoors.

Price/Value:   $690,000 .   The house will be OPEN on Wednesday November 2nd, 2011 from (noon) 12pm- 2pm and you are more than welcome to come by then, or call us for a private showing.   Our direct number is 305 793-1365 (text or phone any time) …  Email  for the Restivo Team is restivo.v@ewm.com .

 I still don’t have keys (as the tenant inadvertantly left with them), but the handyperson will be available to open for us to show it on Monday. 

I apologize in advance but I do expect that,  from the number of calls we’ve gotten,  it may well  be open house style .   The unit will be open from noon until 12:30pm.   Listed for lease at $1,250.00  and for sale at $232,000.00 it’s a 2 bedroom 2 bath unit with a large terrace overlooking the tree canopy:  Villa Capri, right across from the main campus of  UM.

While it can be hard on anyone looking to rent (ie. tenants) …  it is welcome news to anyone  looking to lease their property out (ie  landlords).  Anyone considering purchasing  investment property …  ought to take a look at Miami.

We just  picked up keys for  clients of ours who are driving across country as I’m posting this … relocating to Miami.  The keys are for a rental property that we stumbled across in April.  The landlord  purchased the house earlier that month as an investment property (to be eventually ‘gifted’ to her young child) … and she was in the process of gutting the house when Alexandra and I  happened across it.   (It was not  listed for lease…  It was literally gutted …  with workers there, updating  altering and renovating it).  There were no bathrooms/ no floors/ no airconditioning …  but it had potential .  We submitted our client’s offer to lease ….  And then I periodically stopped by to see how the renovations were coming.  

Upshot?  That Palmetto Bay house turned out beautifully!   Our clients will be arriving by car in a few hours… arriving from halfway across the country …  and settling in.    Everything in that house is new :   from the  flooring…  facade … AC … appliances …. bathrooms … fans  … landscaping … fencing … painting… crown molding … window treatments … asphalted driveway … BEAUTIFUL!  

Unquestionably, it takes vision on the part of a prospective tenant  (and  and equal amount of  TRUST … or faith) to lease something that is still in the throws of being gutted and renovated … and I have to hand it to these tenants!    But with properties being leased out so quickly in Miami right now,  leasing out homes that are in the throws of being renovated CAN work.   We have another client who was here in Miami  this past weekend  -  looking to do exactly that …  lease out a property that is undergoing renovations …  then  relocate to Miami this summer .

In a market where things are picking up … which is an apt description of Miami …  sometimes we have reach beyond  the confines of the ’box’.    

There is a shortage of property available right now in South Florida for lease and for purchase,  and  if you happen to be at all considering moving,   we have clients looking  … and we would love the opportunity to chat with you about leasing or selling yours!   You are welcome to contact me or my team here, or at 305 793-1365 …  Vicki and Alexandra Restivo -  EWM Realtors.

Dock space (whether deeded or cooperative)  in Coral Gables typically  costs anywhere from the high $100,000′s upward of $500,000 depending on the marina, the specific location within that marina,  and the size of yacht that can be accommodated. 

Application fees run as high as $15,000  (if you are looking at  slips in Cocoplum).  

Deering Bay application fees run considerably less .. $1,500 …  although Deering Bay does require marina  applicants to own property within Deering Bay ( whether a condo, townhouse, estate home or patio home)  before  they are eligible to purchasing a slip.

For more information,  contact us here or at 305 793-1365.

There are so many variables.  In part, it boils down to  location and perceived value.   The calibre of  home,  accuracy of  pricing, marketing finesse, curb appeal, availability to access and show the home, and expertise of the listing agent  … all of that factors in.  

There have been dozens of properties in the Gables and in Coconut Grove listed,  over the span of the past couple of weeks.   My top pick:  4161 Raynolds Avenue in Coconut Grove.   This house  was  just “one of  those homes” … (the kind you know, without any shadow of a doubt whatsoever,  will  get scooped up in a heartbeat).   It was …   It was scooped up within days!

Listed by my colleague at EWM,  J0-Ann Forster (who made this house available … repeatedly… until it was under contract within what seemed like minutes!)  this two-story,  4/3 in  South Grove

was a fabulous listing to begin with!   With a private  gated courtyard entry …   terraces and balconies … a two-story wall of windows in the family room, and a fabulously redone kitchen…  this house had charm, warmth, and intrigue … all rolled into one. 

And truly, apart from the house itself (which was upgraded and  absolutely delightful) and apart from the fact that it could double as both a fabulous retreat AND simultaneously an amazing home to  entertainment in …  it had a  peaceful serenity to it from the moment you opened the gates … and a walkability factor that made it appealing….  the ‘village’ (heart of Coconut Grove … with outdoor cafes, bike paths, shops) within about a mile of the house … via shaded meandering streets and backroads where neighbors with dogs, strollers, bikes smiled and waived to passers by.

The house was listed at $795,000  … all 2512 square feet of it .   Congrats to those fortunate buyers!   Beautiful … beautiful home!    SO very, very, very Miami !!!

Looking to buy or sell real estate in South Florida?     We invite you to preview  properties currently available throughout Miami Dade County on our website  MiamiRealEstateCafe.com  …  You can insert search criteria and customize your search to what is most important to you and your family.   Through our website, we post information daily on the Miami real estate market that we hope you’ll find helpful… and as always, your questions and comments are always welcome.    My team and I are available to you for any and all of your real estate needs….   305 793-1365  … the Restivo Team at EWM Realtors.   We look forward to helping you with your next move !   Contact us here

7340 SW 131 St … Pinecrest, Florida…   

This home is certainly move-in ready. 

 At $619,000  I can tell you that this one is a find! 

There isn’t much in Pincrest at the moment that comes close to this house, in terms of upgrades and renovations… and value.

I can’t think of  a single house in the Pinecrest school district, with anywhere near the 4 bedrooms and 4 baths that this one has, or that is as updated as this one, for under $750,000.The vast majority of updated, move-in ready homes in Pinecrest are listed for  $900,000 …  to well  upwards of a million.

Newly renovated,  this house at 7340 SW 131 Street  is on a great block, with good curb appeal, impact windows,  marble flooring,  a pool,  a generator  …  2855 square feet … 

And it lies within one of the top school districts: with Palmetto Elementary, Middle and High Schools … (Pinecrest ”A+”  schools)…  which is a big selling factor for families moving to South Florida. 

There’s  one catch with this house …. (?) …  the downside is that it lacks a garage. 

Given that,  and especially with a price tag of $619,000 … in Pinecrest,  with all it’s charm… this is a buyer’s dream. 

The listing agent is Jose Rodriguez of Coldwell Banker … and  if I understand  correctly, there’s an offer that will put this in PENDING STATUS pretty quickly.

Looking for an experienced agent to work with?  The Restivo Team at EWM would love to help you with your next move …   Call us at 305 793-1365.  We look forward to working with you!