Miamism

This is a Miami Real Estate Market Report for the months of January, February, March and April 2008. It is obvious that some real estate markets are seeing more movement but others remain quiet. If you are thinking of buying Miami real estate, make sure you work with a Miami Realtor that knows the area and the market fluctuations. If you are selling, May should be a great month right before the slow Summer months.

Miami Shores Real Estate Market Report

There are currently 239 listings in Miami Shores: (6 more from last month)

• Highest priced listing is $2,999,000
  
• Lowest priced listing is $199,900
  
• Pending Sales (Properties under contract):12
  
• Closed sales in 2008: 25 (5 of these in April as opposed to 12 in March)

14 of those 25 sales were under $500,000 and the highest sale was $860,000 at 490 NE 96th Street. And as I said last month, 'this particular house was purchased for $1,508,000 in September 2005¦.talk about a big OUCH for those sellers!!

Bay Harbor Islands Real Estate Market Report

There are currently 19 single-family home listings in Bay Harbor Islands: (one more from last month)

• Highest priced listing is $5,200,000
  
• Lowest priced listing is $575,000
  
• Pending Sales (properties under contract):1
  
• Closed sales in 2008: 0
  

No sales this year in Bay Harbor Islands. That has to be tough for those people that HAVE to move.

Surfside Real Estate Market Report

There are currently 87 single-family home listings in Surfside:(1 less than last month)

• Highest priced listing is $8,000,000
  
• Lowest priced listing is $349,000
  
• Pending Sales (properties under contract): 4 (3 more than last month)
  
• Closed sales in 2008: 8 (1 of them in April)
  

7 of those sales were under $600,000 and the highest at $3.2 million of a bayfront home (1356 Biscaya Drive) purchased in 2002 for $2.2 million.

There are currently 239 condo listings in Surfside: (as compared to 231 last month)

• Highest priced listing: $2,600,000 a 3/3 at Azure
  
• Lowest priced listing: $153,000 a 1/1 at Seaside Terrace Condo
  
• Pending Sales (properties under contract):10 (1 less than last month)
  
• Closed sales in 2008: 12 ( 6 closed sales in the month of April with highest sale at $1,250,000 for a 3/2 at Champlain Towers East and the lowest sale at $173,000 for a 1/1 at 9140 Collins Ave Condo)
  

I love Surfsides density and the 12 story max allowed on the oceanfront condos. If you dont like high-rises, Surfside may be for you. It also has a great close community with shopping and restaurants as well as Bal Harbour Shops within walking distance.

Fisher Island Real Estate Market Report

There are currently 138 listings in Fisher Island: (4 more than last month)

• Highest priced listing: $30,000,000 for an exclusive Oceanside 5/5.5 home with artwork and all!
  
• Lowest priced listing: $275,000 for a 1/1 at Marina Village
  
• Pending Sales: 1 (as compared to 2 last month)
  
• Closed sales in 2008: 4 (1 closing in April - $750,000 for a 1/1 at Seaside Villas)
  

Fisher Island is Fisher Island…no explanation needed.

Aventura Real Estate Market Report

There are currently 2237 condo listings in Aventura: (88 less than last month)

• Highest priced listing: $6,000,000 for a 4/6 at Porto Vita
  
• Lowest priced listing: $81,888 for a 1/1 at Biscayne Lake Gardens
  
• Pending sales: 182 (compared to 134 last month)
  
• Closed sales in 2008: 195 (55 closings in April alone)
  

The highest closed sale this year in Aventura was at Porto Vita for $3,600,000 and the lowest was $59,000 at Commodore Plaza which is a 55 and over community.

Biscayne Park Real Estate Market Report

There are currently 54 single-family listings in Biscayne Park: (4 less than last month)

• Highest priced listing $975,000
  
• Lowest priced listing $190,000
  
• Pending sales (properties under contract):2
  
• Closed sales in 2008: 4 (3 sales in April)
  

The closed sales in Biscayne Park have been $275,000, $300,000, $310,000, $353,000

El Portal Real Estate Market Report

There are 62 listings in El Portal: (1 more than last month)

• Highest priced listing is $925,000
  
• Lowest priced listing $215,000
  
• Pending sales (properties under contract):0 (compared to 2 last month)
  
• Closed sales in 2008: 1
  

The only closed sale this year in El Portal was for $259,000 for a 2 bedroom / 2 bathroom house located at 465 NE 89th Street.

**all information obtained from the SouthEast Florida Multiple Listing Service**

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It is that time of the year again to tell you about Miami Summer Camps. We received a couple of phone calls last month asking why our article wasnt up and the truth is that most summer camps are organized at the very last minute and the information was not available. (maybe its a Miami Thing...could it be a "Miamism?")

Planning for summer camps for the kids can be very stressful because you dont even know where to begin. Hopefully this list will make it easier for you and will serve as a guide. If I miss any camps, feel free to add them to the comment section for others to see.

Most of you know that I have 3 kids of different ages, and not only have we done a lot of research on summer camps, we have also visited a lot of these in person as well as have sent our kids and have first hand experience. Hopefully this information will be helpful to local families to find activities for their kids as well as those families that are in Miami for the summer.

***MIAMI SHORES SUMMER CAMPS - (organized by The Miami Shores Recreation Department). These include a series of camps offered throughout the summer for different ages including:

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I truly believe that it is very important to give back and to volunteer.  We lead busy lives with our families, jobs and friends and sometimes we don't realize that helping one another is part of the equation.  This past year I was lucky to be part of an incredible organization in Miami Shores which is a chapter of the Woman's Cancer Association of the University of Miami.

I was co-president, together with Tammy Austin and what we achieved as a group is nothing short of amazing.  Before I tell you about our achievements, let me tell you a little about The Miami Shores Heidi Hewes Chapter of the WCA.

We're a small group of men and women and meet the first Wednesday of every month at 7:30 PM at one of the members' homes.  We discuss upcoming events and fundraisers, have some hors d'oeuvres provided by the host of the meeting and share a nice time together.  There is also a junior membership for kids 12 and older. This past year, we raised over $120,000 which will go directly to cancer research!

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When buying real estate in Miami, especially in the older neighborhoods like Miami Shores, Coral Gables and Miami Beach, you will have to make a decision on style.  I know the first question you get asked as a buyer is how much you want to spend (obviously your budget will determine what kind of house you end up buying); but buying a house is so much more than just the number of bedrooms and baths, the size and the price - buying a house that you will live in, needs to fit your lifestyle and comfort level.

I decided to write about the major features of the 3 main architectural periods common in Miami so that you know what to expect when you walk in a home.   I can go into a property without knowing anything about it and tell you the period it was built and when it was remodeled by features and materials.

If you, as a real estate buyer, can define what's important to you, it will be so much easier to find the perfect property (especially because there are so many properties for sale right now).

The 1920's house (Spanish Mediterranean or Spanish influence) will usually have the most charm, although I cannot generalize that all 1920's properties will have the same features, this is what you can expect:

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Ines.Hegedus-Garcia 2 feedbacks »

This is a Miami Real Estate Market Report for the months of January, February and March 2008. The question of the day is, "Has the Miami real estate market picked up?". I'm glad to report that the answer is YES! Of course I'm not counting the eggs before they hatch. Spring is historically HOT for sales here in Miami and most closings occur right before the hot Summer months, but it definitely is a nice change seeing people in open houses and actually buying real estate.

Miami Shores Real Estate Market Report

There are currently 233 listings in Miami Shores:

• Highest priced listing is $3,250,000
  
• Lowest priced listing is $222,000
  
• Pending Sales (Properties under contract):11
  
• Closed sales in 2008: 20 (12 of these in March as opposed to 8 in both January and February combined)

13 of those 20 sales were under $500,000 and the highest sale was $860,000 at 490 NE 96th Street. This particular house was purchased for $1,508,000 in September 2005....talk about a big OUCH for those sellers!!

Bay Harbor Islands Real Estate Market Report

There are currently 18 single-family home listings in Bay Harbor Islands: (one more from last month)

• Highest priced listing is $5,200,000
  
• Lowest priced listing is $575,000
  
• Pending Sales (properties under contract):1
  
• Closed sales in 2008: 0
  

No sales this year at all.......let's see if this changes next month. Bay Harbor Islands remains a stable community with no transient traffic (now the lack of sales really reflects that).

Surfside Real Estate Market Report

There are currently 88 single-family home listings in Surfside:(6 more than last month)

• Highest priced listing is $8,000,000
  
• Lowest priced listing is $359,000
  
• Pending Sales (properties under contract): 1 (3 less than last month)
  
• Closed sales in 2008: 7 (4 of them in March)
  

6 of those sales were under $600,000 and the highest at $3.2 million of a bayfront home (1356 Biscaya Drive) purchased in 2002 for $2.2 million.

There are currently 231 condo listings in Surfside: (as compared to 237 last month)

• Highest priced listing: $2,600,000
  
• Lowest priced listing: $168,000
  
• Pending Sales (properties under contract):11 (1 more than last month)
  
• Closed sales in 2008: 6 ( 3 closed sales in the month of March with highest sale at $1,250,000 at Champlain Towers East - purchased for $470,000 in 1999)
  

Most of you know that my beachfront condo preference is Surfside because of the density (12 story buildings on the beach side). It's also close enough to South Beach to join in the action as needed. There are some great deals now like a 6th floor 3 bedroom beachfront condo at The Waverly for $749,000.

Fisher Island Real Estate Market Report

There are currently 134 listings in Fisher Island: (37 more than last month)

• Highest priced listing: $15,000,000
  
• Lowest priced listing: $299,000
  
• Pending Sales: 2 (as compared to 0 last month)
  
• Closed sales in 2008: 3 (2 closings in March - $12,360,000 at Villa del Mare and $7,200,000 at Palazzo del Mar)
  

Fisher Island is Fisher Island.....no explanation needed.

Aventura Real Estate Market Report

There are currently 2325 condo listings in Aventura: (37 less than last month)

• Highest priced listing: $6,000,000
  
• Lowest priced listing: $94,900
  
• Pending sales: 134 (compared to 136 last month)
  
• Closed sales in 2008: 140 (56 closings in March alone)
  

The highest closed sale this year in Aventura was at Porto Vita for $3,600,000 and the lowest was $59,000 at Commodore Plaza which is a 55 and over community.

Biscayne Park Real Estate Market Report

There are currently 58 single-family listings in Biscayne Park: (3 more than last month)

• Highest priced listing $975,000
  
• Lowest priced listing $249,000
  
• Pending sales (properties under contract):2
  
• Closed sales in 2008: 1 for $353,000 (no closings in February nor Mach)
  

The last 2 months we said "There has not been a lot of movement in Biscayne Park and the inventory is slowly increasing every month", exactly the same applies this month.

El Portal Real Estate Market Report

There are 62 listings in El Portal: (1 more than last month)

• Highest priced listing is $925,000
  
• Lowest priced listing $215,000
  
• Pending sales (properties under contract):0 (compared to 2 last month)
  
• Closed sales in 2008: 0
  

Still no closed sales this year in El Portal - it is a tough market for those selling there, but you can be sure to find some great deals as well as motivated sellers.

**all information obtained from the SouthEast Florida Multiple Listing Service**

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