Bart Reines is one of the worlds most impressive modern architects living, and he has just released one of his creations on the Miami Beach marketplace. 1435 W 27^th St on Sunset Island 2 is listed at $16.5 million and is scheduled for completion in September. This home sits on a 20,000 square foot waterfront lot and will have incredible amenities including infinity pool, stunning central courtyard, and koi pond. The entire home will be state of the art and is a rarity on the market in Miami Beach. A new home in this market is nearly impossible to come by.  The land value alone is worth millions and there is no doubt that this home was sold as a tear down. Permitting is also no easy task in Miami, so having a home that is new and ready for an owner, is a rare thing indeed.

Sunset Island 2 is a member of the Sunset Islands of Miami Beach. They are just to the west of the main island of Miami Beach and there are 3. Each island is gated and guarded 24 hours a day. Once inside the gates you will immediately be struck by the neighborhood feel of the islands. Small lanes and lots of jogging make you feel like you are in a small town, rather that in the heart of South Beach. South Beach is literally outside the gates. Sunset Harbor is directly outside and is considered the best neighborhood for dining and shopping in South Beach. Downtown Miami and the commercial district of Brickell are just a 15 minute drive and the airport is a 25 minute drive. For more information on this home and others on the islands, contact us today!

98 La Gorce Court has just been listed for sale. This over 7800 square foot home with 8 beds and 7.5 baths is listed on the market for $16.9 million. It is waterfront and can accommodate a yacht of over 160 ft. It has a separate guest house with a 3D home theatre among a number of other incredible amenities including indoor and outdoor kitchens, smart technology, and stunning custom lighting and fixtures. This home is in the classic modern style that has been featured continually in Miami and it is likely to please the most discerning tastes. It is located on La Gorce Island which only has a handful of listings currently, so if this listing interests you, we suggest you contact us as soon as possible to view.

While La Gorce Island may not have many homes, the La Gorce subdivision surrounding has more to choose from. La Gorce is popular since it is a quiet end of the bustling Miami Beach. There is plenty of room to walk and enjoy the tropical foliage without the noise of South Beach. South Beach and the incredible shopping of Bal Harbour are equidistant at 10 minutes. 195, which is widely held as the most convenient way on and off of Miami Beach is also the closest way to leave the beach and get to the Miami International Airport or downtown. For more information on homes in this area, contact us today.

The National Association of Realtor’s released its statistics last week on how home buyers were finding their homes. Overwhelmingly, they found them online and also with the help of a realtor. 90% of homebuyers used the internet at some point in their home search, and 52% began their search online. 87% learned of their home through their realtor. 42% of buyers reported to finding their ultimate purchase online as well. These are all remarkable numbers and as agents, it is our duty to make sure our sellers are accurately represented online. There are a number of ways that we promote our homes online and we would like to share some of our tips for online marketing for sellers. If you are looking to sell your home, it is a wonderful market and we are pleased to give you a comparative market analysis.

1. Blog Spot. If you are a realtor, you would be very well served to use a blog. Blogs generate lots of web traffic and can give details on the home that are missing from the MLS listing, since MLS listing limit characters.
2. Social Outreach. In any occupation, word of mouth is the best way of getting information across. Think of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest as an excellent way of transmitting information, then consider that each time you use a term or address this gets transmitted through search engines, amplifying your listing. It is true that you will likely not find a buyer through these channels, however you will generate klout.
3. MLS Listing. This is the first step in the selling process. Once the home is entered into the MLS, it will also appear in high ranking sites such as Zillow, Trulia, and Realtor.com.

According to a recent survey by FreeRateUpdate.com mortgage rates have stabilized at 3.750% for 30 year fixed mortgages, and for 15 year  they are 2.75%. Of course borrowers must have good credit in order to qualify for these rates. The National Association of Realtors also released June numbers citing that existing home sales were down by 1.2% from last month, however they were up by 15.2% from last year. Nationally, this is an incredible increase. Since mortgage rates have stabilized, purchases are expected to continue, while potentially at a slower rate given price increases.

The current national inventory is at 4.9 months, which is incredibly slim. A healthy market is usually at a 6 month supply. Given the shortage in inventory, and the continued demand for homes, economists expect the prices of homes to continue to rise. In Miami, we are seeing the prices of homes sky rocket as a result of a drastically reduced supply of homes. Homes are being sold at list price or above in many cases as bidding wars insue. The luxury home market is witnessing increases in list prices of nearly 20% from last year and the supply is in many cases at 3 months or below. If you are looking to sell your home, now really is the time. Contact us today.

Our featured property this week is simply breathtaking and is located in one of the most prestigious neighborhoods in Miami. Bal Harbour Village has world class shopping and dining and is located minutes from South Beach and Downtown Miami. Shoppes at Bal Harbour include designer boutiques including Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Tory Burch, Hermes, and many more in a European style open air mall. The dining in Bal Harbour is similarly grande with national top chefs opening bistros and restaurants including Makato, La Goulue, and Carpaccio. It is the shopping destination to shop and be seen in Miami.

Bal Harbour is chiefly known for its’ oceanfront condominiums including, One Bal Harbour and The St. Regis to name just a few, however it also has a handful of incredible luxury waterfront single family homes. Single family home is hardly a description for the estate we are featuring, since it could easily house two familys and staff. 88 Bal Bay Drive is a 12,341 square foot home with 7 bedrooms and 8 baths with 2 half baths. Located on a double lot of over 40,000 square feet, this Mediterranean masterpiece is breathtaking. It has 200 feet of water frontage, it is within walking distance of the silky sand beaches, and is also walking distance to the shops at Bal Harbour. The master suite is enormous with over 2,700 square feet of space and the home has game rooms, outdoor entertaining, and chef equipped kitchens indoors and out. This residence is listed at $19.9 million. For more information on showing, contact us today.

Miami Beach condos are some of the hottest selling properties in the country. Our inventory is incredibly reduced and even properties that have not sold yet are being sold in presale. If your home is not selling there could be a number of items at play. One reason, is the price is too high. Another reason, is that there may be too many personal effects and buyers cannot see themselves living in the condo. If the later is something you would consider, we recommend employing a staging expert. Staging a home has a number of benefits. If done correctly it will help the home sell, and as a seller, you would already have your effects moved out and the transaction breaks up the headache of moving. Here are three staging tips and if you are looking to sell your condo in Miami Beach, contact us today!

1. Limit Effects, not Affects. In terms of effects, we recommend that you remove family photographs, personal trinkets, and all small items that can clutter a home and open areas. Instead, make a statement with pops of color in areas, such as with decorative pillows and area rugs. Small splashes of color add character, without adding clutter.
2. Comfort is King. When staging furnishings, stay away from harsh lines and too stiff furnishings. Comfortable easy styles, in plush fabrics will always appeal to buyers of all tastes. It is exceedingly rare that a buyer will want an uncomfortable sofa, a fact worth considering.
3. Life and Style, not your Lifestyle. Wall hangings are probably the most contentious item in staging. While you do want to have pictures and imagery, it must be widely popular. One tip we suggest are photographs. Not photographs of modern lifestyle, but nostalgic photographs relating to old Miami are surprisingly effective.