By: Ines Hegedus-Garcia on November 20, 2009
Mr. Clucky is legendary for stirring up the pot (no pun intended), and this photo not only shows us the icon in action but also serves to set the tone for the coming King Mango Strut Parade in Coconut Grove. The photo was taken by Diego Quiros who does an amazing job capturing the feeling, energy and colors of the event – make sure you check out his website as well as Flickr Page. I’m sure you will agree that his photography is ardent and transcends time .
….another Miamism !!
** Here at Miamism we love to post your Miami Photos. If you have a shot you want to share please join the Miamism Group at Flickr.com – or you can e-mail the photos directly to us at info@miamism.com *
SPECIAL INVITATION:
Diego Quiros would like to invite you to join him at Books and Books in the Gables on Friday, December 4th at 8:00 PM to experience “Spain: Beauty and Sadness”.
This photography exhibit explores the symbolism of the Yin-Yang using seemingly unrelated or opposing photographs to persuade the viewer that everything is interconnected and dependent on the opposite. By the mere simplicity of two photographs; one in color, one in black and white, each frame extends an invitation to the observer to explore how complementary opposites join together to form a greater whole.
Books and Books is located at:
265 Aragon Ave, Coral Gables, FL 33134, Phone: (305) 442-4408
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By: Ines Hegedus-Garcia on November 18, 2009
When you think of exclusive real estate and luxury living in Miami, Bal Harbour always comes up….and that undoubtedly leads to One Bal Harbour Resort & Spa. The site was home to The Old Harbor House that many of us remember from years ago because of the incredible boardwalk that leads to one of the most beautiful and secluded shores in Miami Beach. The building is nothing short of fantastic and takes advantage of endless views of the Haulover Inlet and The Atlantic Ocean.
Anyone that knows me KNOWS that I’m all about the views and that’s why One Bal Harbour Condo is one of my faves. The lobby and common areas are not overstated and I assume done modestly as not to appear pretentious but instead classy and low-key, very similar to the profile of the European and South American buyers the condo attracts.
Of course I have to mention the architects – NBWW, or Nichols Brosch Wurst Wolf and Associates, formerly (Nichols Brosch Sandoval and Associates) – known mostly for their hotel architecture and done local projects like Fontainebleau II and III, The “W” Hotel in South Beach and The Loews Hotel, to mention a few. The truth is that the floor plans work – although not as clean and simple as I prefer, I was taken aback by the framing of the views (which is major brownie points in my book). The building is a bit labyrinthian in nature, but I love the location and also the location (now you know why my kids think I exaggerate).
So here’s the 411:
Out of 124 total condo-hotel units at One Bal Harbour Resort & Spa, there are 40 units left in inventory. What’s amazing here is that the prices start at $700/per square foot and the units are totally furnished and decorated with mahogany wood floors, stone counters, leather accents, custom artwork by Jay McCafferty and Darren Waterston, plasma TV’s as well as fully equipped kitchens. The residences are either 550 square foot studios or 1100 square foot one-bedroom suites (or combo of both). They all come fully furnished and equipped and hotel rental program is optional.
Many of you will call to discuss cap rates and rental income, but as I have explained before with condo-hotels, we are only allowed to sell the real estate and prohibited from discussing economic tax benefits from rental arrangement or projections on rental income – we can, on the other hand, arrange a meeting with the party in charge of the rental aspect of the condo-hotel.
So you can own a spectacular studio starting in the $350,000’s or a one bedroom in the $750,000’s – not bad when you compare to prices in other “exclusive Miami Beach Condos”.
I love when I can share distributions with our readers – here are some rendered floor plans for you to see the flow of the residences.
One Bedroom Suite
2 Bedroom Suite
Studio
One Bal Harbour was built in 2007 and the Interior Designers were Culpepper, McAuliffe and Meaders. Building amenities include restaurant (One Blue Restaurant) • 10,000 square foot L’Institute de Guerlain Spa • Oceanview pool and beachfront cabanas • Beachside service
The Developer description reads as follows:
The ultra-chic oceanfront ONE Bal Harbour Hotel & Spa is located on teh northeastern end of Bal Harbour Village, bordered by Baker’s Haulover Inlet and the Atlantic Ocean. Almost 750 feet of pristine beachfront and world-class amenities on a spectacular five-acre site only 15 minutes away from renowned South Beach and right next the exclusive Bal Harbour Shops. Our Bal Harbour hotel offers easy access from both Miami and Fort Lauderdale International airports.
Innovatively modern in design with a curved shape and glass exteriors, our 18-story Hotel elegantly combines state of the art technology, refined and peaceful contemporary interiors, unique custom made artwork and an exquisite ambiance for those expecting nothing but perfection.”
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By: Ines Hegedus-Garcia on November 15, 2009
There is nothing better than waking up any given Sunday Miami morning and going to one of the best known brunches around. It can get a bit pricey, but we are in Miami, you will enjoy atmosphere, good food and may even share the room with a celebrity or two.
Located at the Biltmore Hotel – 1200 Anastasia Avenue in Coral Gables – (305) 913-3202. The atmosphere is elegant and the spread is magnificent, from French Champagne to lobster and caviar. Reservations are recommended. The price is $65/person and it is open from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
At the Delano Hotel’s Blue Door Restaurant – 1685 Collins Avenue in Miami Beach – (305) 674-6400. Here’s the best place to sit alongside a celebrity, could be J-Lo or even Madonna. Reservations are required and the price is $62/person. Served from 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM
Located at Nemo’s – 100 Collins Avenue in South Beach (area known as SoFi) – (305) 532-4550. This one is my favorite – the food is outrageous (I am salivating as I type) and the atmosphere does not get any better. The price is $29/person. Served from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM
In Bizcaya Restaurant at 3300 SW 27th Avenue in Coconut Grove – (305) 644-4680. Surrounded by gorgeous views and opulence, includes free flowing champagne and everything you can imagine. The price is $68/person. Served from 11:30 AM to 3:00 PM
Located on Key Biscayne at 3201 Rickenbacker Causeway – (305) 361-3818. The Rusty Pelican is not a fancy place but the views are breathtaking – enjoy your champagne and Mimosa brunch overlooking the Miami Skyline with a fabulous spread. The price is $27.95/person, you need reservations and it is served from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Located at Emeril’s Miami Beach – Loews Miami Beach Hotel – 1601 Collins Avenue – (305) 695-4550. Start it of with a BAM! What I love about this place is the attention to detail, from the time the server takes your order to the time the dish is delivered to the table. The menu is a-la-carte and although reservations are recommended, walk-ins are welcome. Served from 11:00 AM to 2:30 PM
There you have them – my favorite Sunday brunch spots in Miami. One thing they all have in common…. bring an appetite!! Feel free to comment on your experiences and let me know if you have a favorite Sunday Brunch that I did not include.
**photo courtesy of The biltmorehotel.com **
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By: Ines Hegedus-Garcia on November 13, 2009
Sleepless Night in Miami Beach is an all night cultural/arts event where we get to really “experience” art. Luckily for us My Little Photo Album captured an amazing shot of Graffiti Art is progress. The photo of the art becomes art itself….love it!
….another Miamism !!
** Here at Miamism we love to post your Miami Photos. If you have a shot you want to share please join the Miamism Group at Flickr.com – or you can e-mail the photos directly to us at info@miamism.com *
Here are some articles about Sleepless Nights in Miami Beach:
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By: Ines Hegedus-Garcia on November 11, 2009
I’m on my way to The National Association of Realtor’s Annual Convention in San Diego and usually have to plan ahead for articles while I’m gone. While looking for things to post, I found this article written by Mariana Wagner as a guest blogger on July 2007. Mariana and I are speaking on a panel about “Expanding Your Sphere of Influence: Real World Networking” together with Teresa Boardman and Jeff Turner. Great to know that through the years, Mariana has only gotten better at what she does.
So here it is…..
We have the priviledge this week in Miamism, to have as guest writer, a talented Colorado Springs Real Estate Broker by the name of Mariana Wagner. Mariana is the author of The Springs Real Estate Scoop , which in her own words brings, “Real estate topics, trends, issues, data and general information to YOU, in a digestable, fun to read, please-leave-a-comment way”.
We invited Mariana to write this article so you can get a different perspective of today’s Miami Beach real estate market. We know you will find these tips to be very helpful and we thank Mariana for taking the time to enlighten us with her expertise.
Top 5 Tips for Selling Your Home in a Down Market
The past year has brought most of the country into what many are calling a Down Market. This market shift can (and usually does) make it harder to be a Home Seller, today.
However, there ARE ways to make sure that you are as successful as possible, when selling your home in a Down Market.
1. Understand exactly what a Down Market really IS. To effectively deal with anything, you must unders
and what you are dealing with. A Down Market is usually defined by:
- There are more homes on the market
- Homes are not appreciating at the rate that they did a few years ago
- Homes may actually be selling for less than they could have a year ago
- Homes are staying on the market longer
A local real estate agent will be your BEST friend when determining how a Down Market plays out in YOUR neighborhood.
2. Price it Right from the very beginning. This is said a lot in the real estate world, but is rarely explained to the home seller effectively. It is human nature to want to make sure that you are getting the MOST money possible for your home. Often, home sellers will say, ” Lets price it a bit high, and then we have room to negotiate.” That may work in a hot Sellers Market, but NOT in a Down Market. Why?
Lets look at this backwards : In a Sellers Market, when a new home pops up on the market, the whole pool of available Buyers rush to go see it. The most qualified, ready-to-buy buyer will get that home. The home is not going to wait around for the semi-qualified, partially motivated Buyer to get their act together a couple weeks later. That doesnt make sense, right?
In a Buyers Market/Down Market the same principals are at work:
When a new buyer pops up onto the market, they will look at all available homes that fit their needs. The best priced, best looking home will get the offer. The Buyer is not going to wait around for the over-priced home to lower their price, nor will they bother negotiating when they can get a perfectly-priced home with less hassle. So, now the over-priced home will have to sit on the market until another buyer pops up.
An experienced, local real estate agents JOB is to fully understand the local housing market. They can give you a great idea of HOW to effectively and competitively price your home in a Down Market.
3. Make sure your home shows like a model. (Okay, maybe not like a model, but close). Second ONLY to
pricing your home effectively from the start, is making sure that your home looks fabulous. Home Buyers will not make excuses for how your home looks, They will just move on to the next home for sale. Here are 3 tips for making your home look wonderful:
- Do NOT put your home on the market until you have FINISHED any remodeling and/or repairs that you plan on making. Nothing worse than showing a “project house.”
- Clear out the clutter. Make your home look as LARGE and CLEAN as possible. And don’t shove it into your garage. Rent a storage unit.
- Hire a stager. A professional stager can look at your home with a fresh eye giving you tips and tricks on making your home look spectacular! People LOVE spectacular looking homes, and the cost of hiring a stager will be less than the first price drop you may need to make if your house does not show well.
When interviewing Listing Agents, ask if they have information on handymen, storage facilities and professional stagers that they would recommend in your area.
4. Find a Listing Agent who tells you the TRUTH about the current market. Painting a pretty picture of the current market may be easy to digest, as a Seller, but this is dangerous. Like in battle, you need to be PREPARED for what to expect in the specific market that you are in. And honestly? An agent who does not offer a REAL look into the current market is probably not prepared, themselves, to deal with it. (What works in a Sellers Market does NOT necessarily work in a Down Market.) That is NOT the kind of representation you need in a Down Market.
You need a competent agent who not only understands the current market, but has a armory of marketing and negotiating tools to use to make your home SHINE even in a Down Market.
5.
Make sure your home is getting comprehensive exposure on the internet. When interviewing listing agents, ask them about their internet marketing campaign. Your home NEEDS to be on the internet¦ All over the internet, in fact. Consider these points:
- Over 80% of all home searches start on the internet.* Your home needs to be online when all these people start their search.
- Over 25% of all Home Buyers FIRST saw the home that they purchased on the internet.* If your home is not heavily marketed on the internet, you are missing thousands of potential buyers.
- Multiple photosare the #1 thing that home buyers look for when searching on the internet for their next home.* Your listing agent MUST advertise your home with as many good-quality pictures as possible. Demand this.
Down Market may take more effort, but it is not impossible especially when you arm yourself with a competent real estate agent who understands the market and knows exactly how to get your home SOLD.
(*National Association of Realtors data)
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