Be Safe and Buckle up!

A little heads up from the Florida Keys Real Estate Guys.
When you are out and about, looking at homes.
From the MCSO.
Time for Click it or Ticket – Make sure you are wearing your seat belt!
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office is giving fair warning to the motoring public. The agency will be participating in the state wide “Click it or Ticket” campaign beginning this week through November 25th. During this time period, there will be extra enforcement throughout the Florida keys for this violation.

At any time of the year, the Sheriff’s Office has a zero tolerance policy for not wearing a seat belt and particularly for not properly buckling up children. Florida law requires drivers and passengers in the front seat of a vehicle to fasten their safety belts. Passengers under the age of 18, regardless of where they sit in a vehicle, also must buckle up.
Failure to buckle up is a primary offense, which means deputies can pull you over for not wearing a seat belt and cite you for a non-moving violation that carries a $114 ticket.
So, stay safe and buckle up. It makes sense, and it is the law.
Stay safe on the roads as the holidays approach Folks,
and for all your Real Estate needs
call
Mykael @ 305 439-7730
Or
Mark @ 305-587-3105
The Florida Keys Real Estate Guys.

Ok Guys, Break Out Your Eyeliner, Dandy Clothes, Bad @#$ Attitude, and Get Your Inner Pirate On, Because It's Pirate Fest in the Keys!

Black Caesar

Ok Guys, break out your eyeliner, dandy clothes, bad ass attitude, and get your inner Pirate on because its Pirate Fest in the Keys!!!

Time to channel your inner Black Beard, Black Caesar, Captain Morgan or even Jack Sparrow.

Always one of the coolest events in the Keys, and the ramp up to Fantasy Fest that debauched bacchanal in Key West, Pirates Fest is a lot more PG and a whole lot of fun!  4 Days of fun and mayhem.

This year we celebrate my favorite Pirate and local homeboy Black Caesar, who actually roamed our waters in the 18^th century and was buddies with Black Beard.

So Avast Ye and steer your cutter to our thieves market and visit KeyLargoPiratesFest.com for more info and this weekend's schedule of events.

Presented by The Upper Keys Business Group.

Work with Swashbuckling Agents!!
For more info on Florida Keys Real Estate
call on the The Florida Keys Real Estate Guys.
Mykael @ 305 439-7730
Or
Mark @ 305-587-3105

High End Listings Get a Boost

The number of $1 million-plus properties in New York City with asking prices that were boosted over the previous 12 months rose to 436 in August from 266 during the same period in 2010,A Real Estate source reports.

Water's Edge offered by American Caribbean Real Estate $3,299,000

The number of these properties climbed to 5 percent from 2.3 percent of high-end listings in Miami-Fort Lauderdale over the same time span.

Experts say high-end sellers are feeling more confident these days due to record sales prices paid by affluent overseas buyers, but brokers say pricing at this end of the market is often subjective due to the lack of comparable sales. Moreover, the listings generally take longer to sell, and rarely does hiking the asking price boost the final sales price.

But in the Keys...
“Unless it’s a unique property, it signals to the market the seller is not serious,” says New York-based broker Donna Olshan, who adds that homes whose prices have been increased either languish on the market or see significant price reductions.

Still, some real estate pros believe the strategy can attract international buyers searching for trophy properties; and it could prompt a perception among some buyers of increased demand for the property.

For more info on Florida Keys Real Estate
con the The Florida Keys Real Estate Guys.
Mykael @ 305 439-7730
Or
Mark @ 305-587-3105

It's Fall...And It's Time to Fish!!

Fall is the time to fish, if you aren’t watching football.

Finally, the hot and humid days of summer are behind us and, for the first time in a while, you can get out on the water in perfect comfort. For me, fall brings to mind big smoker kings, grouper on the shallow reefs and reds that are way, way over the slot limit. I also think about the smell of smoked mullet and the taste of that first Florida stone crab claw of the season, which opens on Oct. 15 each year.

As the water temperatures drop, gag grouper move back to the shallow water ledges and reefs. When this happens, they are generally hungry, and nothing tugs better than a grouper on a short string. With the reality that gag season will be closing in the Gulf on Nov. 1, for many of us, this will be the last opportunity to see a fresh one hit the plate for quite a while.

Cooling water also signals the kings to head back south for the winter. The first ones to come through are generally the big smokers, and nothing tops off a grouper trip like a 40-pound king on a spinning rod. If you’re out there, free-line live bait, cigar minnow or menhaden down-current and let him soak while you’re bottom fishing. If a king doesn’t see it first, you also stand a great chance of hooking into a cobia or an oversized red drum. Red drum travel offshore in large groups this time of year, and they aren’t picky about what’s for dinner.

On grass flats, trout fishing can also be phenomenal this time of year. If you prefer to fish artificial baits, trout can be caught on a fly, jig, spoon, top-water plug and just about any shallow-diving plug in your box. Live shrimp under a popping cork can also produce steady action, if the pinfish and grunts aren’t stealing every shrimp you put out there.

For the patient fisherman who would rather sit back and watch a cork, a live pinfish or grunt is probably the best way to land a “gator” trout (spotted seatrout) of 5 pounds or better. Just remember: one fish over the 15-20 inch slot is the limit, and it’s never a bad idea to put a big one back for next time.

It was 40 degrees in Minnesota this morning, Ohio, Pennsylvania,
Michigan, and New York.
WHAT ART YOU WAITING FOR?
For more info on Real Estate in The Florida Keys call

Mykael 305-439-7730
Or
Mark 305-587-3105

Just Closed on Adam's Cut - $850,000!! The Florida Keys Real Estate Guys' Deal of the Day - 10.15.12

One of my favorite places to be in Key Largo is Adam’s Cut. Just pull the throttle back to cruise at about 5 knots, crack open a beer, turn on some Jimmy Buffett and just sit back and chill for what seems to be about a half mile or so of  easy coasting. The “Cut”, as it is known by, was built back in the 50s as a swath of a passageway cut through incredibly hard-coral that has now left a basic canyon that is a thoroughfare from the Bayside the Oceanside.

Prior to the Cut’s construction, seafarers had to go either all the way up to Angelfish Creek just north of Ocean Reef Club, or all the way down to Tavernier Creek which made getting from side to side a rather difficult and lonnnnng passage. This now makes it a really easy passageway from Blackwater Sound on the Bayside to Largo Sound on the Oceanside.

As you cross Adams Cut you get to glimpse some really marvelous homes that reside right on the Cut and one of those homes just sold, and I have to congratulate my friends and colleagues Bill Belian and Joel Young represented the Buyer in this transaction.

Here are the Details:

457 Barracuda Blvd. Key Largo

List price: $989,500 / Sold Price $850,000 

4 Bedrooms / 3 Bathrooms

Mile Marker 104

Description: Own on Millionaire's Row in Key Largo!! Beautiful 4BR/3BA, CBS pool home w/marble flooring and screened in porch. Privacy wall w/Gate surrounds almost 1/2 acre of privacy. Easy access to Ocean or Bay. Catch Fish, Shrimp or Blue Crabs from your 100ft concrete dock w/davits. Ultimate living at it's finest!!

View Detailed Brochure with Photos and Mapped Location

View Available Largo Sound Area Properties

Just Closed in Largo Sound, Key Largo - $285,000 ...Small Admission Price to Live The Dream

Those of you who follow our blog know that we are a big Fans of the Largo Sound Area, in Key Largo.  Largo Sound is a fantastic little area only minutes from Miami, yet a world away.

With it's proximity to Adams Cut, the mid Key Largo opening between Florida Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, the Largo Sound Area is ideal for Boaters who want the best of Both Worlds!!  With its community park and boat ramp...the water is yours

This property is located in the Largo Sound Village neighborhood and has a homeowners park.  Homeowners parks are a staple in the upper keys and provide ramp access and  waterfront lounging for non waterfront homes in that particular community, usually for a nominal monthly or even yearly fee.

444 A Avenue
List Price: $310,000 / Sold Price: $285,000
2 Bedrooms / 2 Bathrooms
Mile Marker 104

Description: Lovely all concrete home on huge corner lot in Largo Sound Village. Beautifully landscaped lot and very private. Large living area with 2 bedrooms/2 baths upstairs and non-conforming apartment downstairs. Short Sale Circumstance: Listing price may not be sufficient to cover all encumbrances, closing costs, sale of property at full listing price may be conditioned upon third party approval.

View Detailed Brochure with Photos and Mapped Location

View Available Largo Sound Properties

No doubt you have heard a Realtor say the time to buy is NOW.

No doubt you have heard a Realtor say the time to buy is NOW.
Well what are you waiting for?

Oct. 10, 2012- Property prices are currently low in Florida, making it the best time to buy in years, but could soon be on the rise.

“Now is the time to buy in Florida. We’re starting to see the beginning of the shift from a buyer’s to a seller’s market,” says Dr. John Tuccillo, chief economist for Florida Realtors®. “Sales numbers and home prices have both been rising, and we expect the trend to continue as more international buyers take note of the opportunities here, and the market’s recovery gains traction. There are some real residential bargains to be found for British buyers.”

For United Kingdom buyers, bargain prices look even better thanks to the best dollar-pound exchange rate in six months.

Florida appeals to international buyers for its subtropical weather, beaches and attractions, but many of these buyers also see investment potential, particularly within the rental market. Some would-be landlords enter the market even when they don’t plan to vacation in their house, seeking out Florida property that already has tenants.

Florida sales to international buyers accounted for over a quarter of all U.S. international property market sales last year, according to the National Association of Realtors®, and Florida’s popularity is still rising among international investors. Florida Realtors recent research revealed buyers from Canada, Brazil and Venezuela are now joining British buyers in taking advantage of Florida’s property bargains.

Florida Realtors research finds that the median price for a single-family Florida home is £91,000, with Orlando the most popular destination for Brits. In Orlando a four-bedroom home with private pool and garden can be snapped up for around £125,000 – 75 percent of a similar-sized home in the U.K.

“Buyers who have been waiting on the sidelines should see this as a sign to jump in before the market escapes them again,” says Florida Realtors® President Summer Greene, regional manager of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Florida 1st in Fort Lauderdale. “We understand this is a big step, so to help international buyers understand Florida’s potential, we’ve put together a few tips and tricks for Brits looking to buy.”

Tips and facts on buying Florida property

• Visit fl.living.net to contact a Realtor in Florida and get more information.

• Florida’s property purchase system is different than the U.K.’s and can be confusing. Appropriate professional guidance is essential.

• There are no restrictions on foreign purchases of U.S. real estate, and international buyers can apply for conventional mortgage financing.

• When calculating how to buy a Florida home, include escrow fees and closing costs – part of the purchase costs – in calculations.

• Do your homework and consult several currency exchange companies in the U.S. for the best exchange rate, which can save thousands.

• If you choose to rent the property, note that Florida is one of the few U.S. states with no state income tax.

• Understand the homeowner taxes and U.S. tax process, which can be complex and may involve payments to at least four different levels of government: local, regional, state and federal. A Realtor can help explain this.

• U.K./U.S. visa regulations allow international visitors to stay up to three months at one time without getting an alternative visa. Arrange passports, visa and residency status before travelling to the U.S.

Representatives from Florida Realtors, including Chief Economist Dr. John Tuccillo, will be speaking at the Property Investor Show in London on Oct. 11-12, 2012, at the ExCeL London Exhibition and Convention Centre.

Holy @#$% !! Look What's Happening in Our Market! The Latest Numbers Are Out.

Holy @#$% !!

Water's Edge - One of Our Estates Currently for Sale

Look what's happening in our Market.  The latest numbers are certainly eye opening that is for sure. In a comparison of transactions in September 2011 and September 2012, we see a dramatic surge in Sales Prices of 34.7%, Days on The Market decrease of 25% while the quantity of sales remained pretty much constant. Our Average List Price has, as well, leaped a staggering 53%!!!  Open up your wallets ...Momma needs a new pair of Shoes!!
Now some of these numbers are a bit skewed by a run of High Priced $2M Sales, but even with that taken into account, our Market is Smoking!!!

View from our Listing at 4 North Drive in Key Largo

What does this mean?  Well, a couple of things.  First it's a great time for Sellers as properties are selling and at the highest prices and at a pace that we have not seen since the real estate bubble burst several years ago. So an ideal time to put your home on the Market. Paradoxically, this is as well still a great time for Buyers!!  Yes prices have gone up from last year....but money is so damn cheap right now, that if you are borrowing, a good deal of these increases are offset, AND you are still getting homes at a dramatic discount from the Hey Day.
The key, regardless of what side of the transaction that you are on is being armed with the best information regarding today's volatile market.  Work with a LOCAL real estate professional who really knows the market, work with a LOCAL lender if you are financing, INSIST on LOCAL appraisers.  Get to know the Numbers and look at the Comparables.  As Clothier. Sy Syms used to say in his commercials, "An Educated Consumer is Our Best Customer".
Below is our Monthly Market Recap:

Click on image for larger view

Work with an Agents who KNOW the numbers.  Put the experience and expertise of The Keys Real Estate Guys to work for you!

Tropical Chic 

Ahhh God I Love the Keys!!  There is just something about the ambience down here that makes our little chain so damn appealing. The Water, The Breezes, the people, the lack of time and disdain for watches. I can't put my finger on it ...just an inescapable essence that permeates the place.  From Duval to Ocean Reef and all Ports O' Call between. It's no wonder why so may heavy hitters have been beckoned to our shiny shores, hypnotized by the Siren's call of an eternal 5 O'clock Somewhere. Hemingway heard it....Zane Grey wrote about it, Jimmy  Buffett sang about it.  Hell, even Jay Z and Beyonce delight in our Oasis. Well now you have a great opportunity to grab your own slice of our Key Lime Pie. Check out the details on my latest waterfront listing:

4 North Drive, Key Largo

List Price $ 960,000
2 Bedrooms + Studio  / 3 Bathrooms
Description: Tropical Chic! Everything you could want in a Florida Keys Home! Wide Water Views, Exceptional Finishes, Superb Dockage, and Caribbean Elegance.  Come home to comfortable living spaces accentuated with Stone-worked bathrooms and a Granite and stainless Kitchen. Kick back and relax or Entertain, this turnkey 2 bedroom plus Studio home is perfectly suited for both. World Class Fishing and Diving are mere minutes from your custom built Dock.  A quick drive from the Mainland but an entire World Away!!

* Wide Water Views

* Ample Deep Water Dockage and Electrical Hookups

* Updated Throughout

* Impact Glass

* Gourmet Kitchen with Granite and Stainless

* Boathouse

*Offered Partially Furnished

*Gated Entry with Pavers and 2-Car Garage

* Minutes From Your Dock to World Class Fishing and Diving

* Barefoot Elegance

VISIT THE VIRTUAL TOUR HERE!!!

Put the experience and expertise of The Florida Keys Real Estate Guys to work for you! For more information on the outstanding real estate opportunities that exist in the Keys, call  us today!

Another Keys Estate Pops for $2 Million....Seeing A Trend Here!

Two Million has become the magic number in the Upper Keys lately when it comes to estate sized parcels!  As you will note in several of my previous entries, we have had a recent run on lovely waterfront estates as of late, and they all seem to hover right around  the $2 Million mark. Add to that, the recent sale of an Islamorada Hotel at that same range and we are really seeing a benchmark number.   The interesting factor is that we are noticing an interesting mix of Buyers.  International and Domestic.
This latest Sale, listed by and sold by, my friends Joy Martin and Joel Young respectively is another of those breath taking...I want it now..I could live here forever...When can I become a squatter until the Sheriff physically removes me, kind of locations!!!! Over 4 Acres of  Private Bayfront. Stunning vistas and lovely Sunsets that signify all that is great about our unique oasis.  A Separate super cool boathouse and custom cut boat slip, Chickee, and dock are some of the extras that await.

4-Acre Estate

The existing home is in need of updates, but hey, you have 4 Frigging Acres for just $2 Mill.  Build Xanadu if you want to!  Put this very same package in Miami and you have a $15 Mill price tag. Trust me I know.  I spent 15 years selling in Coral Gables and Coconut Grove. I keep evangelizing because it is so very true, The Keys are an awesome place to put your money and more and more wise buyers, both foreign and domestic are heeding the call.  So, Pony up your $2 Mill and let me help you grab your own slice of paradise!! $2 Mill too steep?? How about navigable waterfront homes in the upper $200s and even 300s?? In the Keys, we have something for everyone!

Work with  agents who KNOWS the numbers. 

Put the experience and expertise of The Florida Keys Real Estate Guys to work for you! For more information on the outstanding real estate opportunities that exist in the Keys, call  us today!