Weekends in Miami Beach aren’t always the safest for tourists and visitors exploring the city and checking out Miami Beach condos like the ultra popular W South Beach, for example.  During certain hours it can be a little dangerous trying to cross some of the busy intersections as people come and go.  In an effort to improve driving safely, the city is now doing something to address such a problem.

Starting next month drivers who run red lights in Miami Beach will be fined $125 for a first time violation thanks to the installation of cameras designed to catch those drivers coming in and out of Miami Beach condos and homes who aren’t stopping when they’re supposed to.  These cameras and the inevitable citations are not being met with open arms as some find the legality of the fines and/or citations questionable.

While the cameras may be alright, the city’s decision to enact fines has some raising eyebrows.  Florida governor Charlie Crist once said that only a police officer who has seen a driver run a red light can issue a citation, thus the city has no legal grounds to enact its own traffic laws that have not been passed by the state.  Assuming you live in Miami Beach condos or homes, do you think this is a good idea or a case of the city overstepping its boundaries?

Florida itself has long been a preferred state in which to retire, cities like Fort Myers are one of many in the state that are popular among those looking to spend their golden years.  If you’re not quite at that stage yet and are instead looking for a place to spend your vacations, Florida is still one of the best, especially South Florida and its Miami Beach condos.

There are a number of Miami Beach condos and hotels with a location right next to the beach but depending on the season and the events, these can get pricey so it’s important to be aware of what might be going on like last night’s Super Bowl for example.  You don’t necessarily need to stay in Miami Beach itself to check out popular places like Lincoln Road however.

For something a little less expensive than Miami Beach condos, Sunny Isles Beach to the north still offers many beachfront condos and some of the best hotels in South Florida like the various Trump buildings.  By traveling south through Bal Harbour you’ll be in Miami Beach in no time at all.

In today’s market, you’ve probably seen an increased number of dream house raffles, where buying a ticket for a small price could potentially allow you the luxury owning a multimillion dollar home.  Even Miami Beach real estate has been raffled off a few times in this manner.  Winning a home for “free” isn’t exactly a trouble free way of becoming a homeowner.

It’s important to read the fine print if you plan on participating in such raffles.  To win Miami Beach real estate and becoming its owner is often seen as winning a hefty sum of cash in the eyes of the Internal Revenue Service.  In other words, you could find yourself having to shell out a large figure now that you own a large and expensive new home.  In such situations, many winners often choose to sell the properties and take the money soon after they win it.

Like any raffles that seem too good to be true, make sure you’re completely aware of what you’re getting yourself into when participating in them and what the property itself is like.  The last thing you want is to have new Miami Beach real estate only to realize that the taxes are exorbitant or the property has liens that were not mentioned.

Yesterday we discussed Miami’s former reputation for lack of culture and its continuing developments into boosting its cultural appeal.  The sites mentioned yesterday are only a few of the many places you can visit to expand your horizons and indulge your taste for culture, even Miami Beach condos offer a little something you’re sure to enjoy.

To check out some fascinating Scandinavian design visit the curiously named Standard over in South Beach.  The interiors come courtesy of Shawn Hausman, a renowned artist who is well known for his work at Los Angeles’s posh Chateau Marmont hotel.  Explore near the Miami Beach condos within the South of Fifth area and you’ll come upon the Hotel St. Augustine which also features prevalent design, in this case Miami Beach’s own contemporary Art Deco style.

Head beyond Miami Beach and you’ll find numerous art galleries like Wynwood, Galerie Emmanuel Perrotin and more.  To end your day, check out of one of the newest Miami Beach condos known as Canyon Ranch which features one of the finest and largest spas in the entire country.  Do you have any favorite spots you frequent?

It’s interesting to know that at one point Miami had a reputation for offering little cultural substance, prompting some to jokingly say that spending too much time in the city could lead to possible brain damage.  Clearly, that’s no longer the case.  With great Miami Beach condos to call home and new developments, Miami now has culture to spare and it is only getting better.

Some of these new developments that will soon add to Miami’s cultural appeal include the newly revamped Miami Art Museum and as mentioned in a previous blog, the new home of the New World Symphony Orchestra.  Art lovers will also be happy to know that the classic Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) is getting a brand new addition.  Speaking of art, don’t forget about the Art Basel event that draws hundreds of aficionados to live in Miami Beach condos.

Part of Miami’s cultural renaissance has to do with its location as it sort of connects with the Caribbean, Latin America and also has heavy European influences.  Because of this, it’s not uncommon to see people from all backgrounds investing heavily in Miami Beach real estate.  Do you think Miami has evolved from its origins as a strictly party hotspot into a cultural metropolis?

The short sale process can be a huge relief and timesaver if you’re having trouble making those monthly mortgage payments and are facing the very real possibility of becoming the latest Miami Beach real estate foreclosure statistic.  Most homeowners who choose the short sale route already know what they’re getting themselves into and what to expect but some questions and concerns do still linger.

You may have been told that by selling Miami Beach real estate via a short sale, you’re essentially “shooting yourself in the foot” as no other bank will be willing to give you a new loan should you decide to purchase a new, less expensive home.  You’ll be pleased to know that this is not necessarily true.

As long as you’ve managed to keep up on mortgage payments when the time to short sell comes around, you can in fact obtain mortgage financing for Miami Beach real estate through the Federal Housing Association again provided that all of the guidelines and requirements are satisfied.