Miami Real Estate Blog

The Marshmallow Drop is an event every kid in Miami Shores looks forward to, no matter the age (I am so glad that I have the perfect excuse to be a part of it since I have kids).   Every year, the Saturday before Easter, a helicopter will drop over 10,000 marshmallows over the Miami Shores Recreation fields.  This year the event will take place on Saturday April 7th at 9:30 AM. 

Children run to the fields and gather up the marshmallows and can exchange them for a bag full of goodies.  There is one "GOLDEN MARSHMALLOW" and the kid that finds it wins a special surprise.

This is one of those events that makes Miami Shores such a special place to live.  The anticipation on the children's faces is priceless while they wait for the helicopter hovering above to drop the loot.  A white cloud falls unto the fields and children rush to pick the marshmallows up and exchange them for their goodie bag.  This is one of my favorite events in this great community.

(I will add photos after the event.)

For other Miami Shores events, please click on the following links:

• Halloween Howl in Miami Shores
• Miami Shores FL - 2006 Holiday Happenings
• HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS 15th annual walking tour
• Saint Rose of Lima Carnival
• Unity Day in Miami Shores, Florida

For more information about Miami Shores, please contact RICK & INES and visit our website at http://www.yourpropertypros.com/ www.miamism.com

For Part II of this article, with videos and photos of the event, please visit Miami Shores annual Marshmallow Drop ......continued

A lot of us may not agree with the war, others are very enthusiastic (I have not met the first).  But the truth is that whether or not we agree, it doesn't change the fact that our military, our friends, our neighbors...... are risking their lives for our country.  We need to show our support in every way we can and I wanted to share with you what some dear friends have done.

This year we thought we were receiving the customary "girl scout cookie plea" from some Miami Shores real estate clients and friends, but it was very different.  This was the e-mail:

Hello everybody,

It is that time again GIRL SCOUT cookies. JM is selling Girl Scout cookies this year.  I know everybody has a couple of boxes still frozen in their freezer from last year. A fellow mother told me that she is sending cookies to the soldiers in Iraq. What a great idea!

She gave me a name of a solider who is on walking patrol in Baghdad.  He is the son in law of the Andersons.  If anyone would like to buy their boxes for Maj Buzzard and company fwd me an email.  I will order the cookies and mail them out. So the hard part is taken care of. 

Thanks for your consideration.  Hope all is well with everybody.

Needless to say, I could not pass this opportunity and sent her money right away.  I have been thinking of ways to show my appreciation but GIRL SCOUT COOKIES was perfect.  A little piece of "home" for our soldiers! 

Here are some photos of the kids with the cookies before they were shipped out (the cookies, not the kids : ) )

We want to thank our Miami Shores Real Estate friends for their creativity and for including us in their generous plan to put a smile on our loved ones overseas.  Hopefully our military will not be there next year, but if they are, count on us again.

**WE JUST RECEIVED PHOTOS FROM THE TROOPS - PLEASE CHECK THEM OUT AT US Troops receive Girl Scout Cookies **

Can we discuss the power we have within our reach? 

This incredible tool way surpasses any expectations I might have had.  Not long ago I wrote a blog for LOCALISM about DownTown Miami Shores.  The post included names of businesses and photos of the area.

To my surprise, while visiting our pediatrician, Dr. Laura Fernandez-Ortiz - who happens to be a Miami Shores resident as well as a good friend - she told me that a patient had found her through my post!  This patient was not aware of her move, went on line and found my post with her information.   HOW COOL IS THAT!!

So for all of you that blog about small local businesses - you are doing them a ton of service.  We are helping other businesses and it should feel great!  Not only are we showing that we are experts in our markets, but the power transcends to be able to help others.  So keep up the good work and keep pumping out great LOCAL CONTENT!  You don't know who may read about your local repair shop, or the local park; not only will the consumer find what they are looking for, but they will remember who provided the information.   BLOG ON! 

The Pink House is one of the best known and most photographed residences in Miami. It is a symbol of modern design. It is located in Miami Shores, on Biscayne Bay and occupies a double lot with over 100' of open bay water frontage.

Many factors make this house interesting, but its controversy has always intrigued me.  Designed by Laurinda Spear and Bernardo Fort-Bescia of Arquitectonica for Spear's parents in 1976, it's a series of planes and framed views together with clever climate-minded design which maximizes East/West breezes.

Its color statement received plenty of attention in the late 1970's when it was built.  Neighbors were disturbed by the 5 hues of pink (which were picked not only to reflect the tropical climate, but because those colors were rarely used at the time).  The house had to undergo scrutiny from The Village of Miami Shores' zoning review board to get colors approved. (how does that NOT surprise me!)  The board finally demanded that a grove of trees be planted to shield the house from the street.

Its obvious horizontal lines and planes are broken up by Royal Palms mathematically aligned along the front facade.  There's a pool porthole visible also from the front facade.  It was designed to be an urban home with a suburban context - conceived as an object in the landscape.  The approach is calculated and you follow a sequence from the facade, to a courtyard to the rooms - each room frames the view beyond in a different way.

Follow these links for some interesting articles about The Pink House and Arquitectonica:

• They've come a long way since flamingo-pink houses and 'Miami Vice'
• The Pink House
• Having a Wonderful Time in Miami

photos courtesy of:  http://www.arquitectonica.com• Copyright ©1997-2007 Arquitectonica International Corporation • All Rights Reserved

For another architecturally relevant house in Miami Shores, please read:  Famous Architect, Wahl Snyder's home in Miami Shores -SOLD

RICK AND INES specialize in Miami Shores Real Estate - please visit our website for more information about the area http://www.yourpropertypros.com/ www.miamism.com

758 NE 90 Street #514 - Miami, Florida 33138

THE PRESERVE TOWN HOUSES - A Cornerstone Community

FOR SALE $298,000

An upscale, quiet gated community within walking distance to bank and shopping. Bright and airy with open kitchen and eat-in counter space. Sliding doors from living area open to a quiet yard, a lovely place to enjoy South Florida living. Master bedroom has excellent closet space and beautiful bath with Roman tub and separate shower. Private garage for added storage. Centrally located for access to Miami Beach, both airports, Fort Lauderdale and Coconut Grove. Also has washer and dryer inside unit, community pool and 24 hour security.

This corner townhouse is perfect for the picky buyer looking for a new complex with no stairs. It has never been lived in and has many amenities. It is a pet friendly complex, surrounded by greenery and mature oaks. Please read more about the community in this LINK.

By clicking the above button, you will see a video of the interior as well as the exterior of the property and The Preserve's grounds and pool area.

PROPERTY INFORMATION:

• - 2 bedroom / 2 bathroom
• - 1045 square feet
• - $155 / month - maintenance fee
• - new / never lived in
• - new appliances
• - attached one car garage
• - plenty of guest parking
• - lots of closet space
• - corner location
• - pets welcome
• - hurricane shutters

For more information about this property, please visit our website at www.Miamism.com

This post is a continuation of another blog I wrote a couple of weeks ago; My people are big on permits.  It may make no sense if you don't read the first one, so take a look.

Here's the summary - we are working with a buyer who likes a property that has been completely remodeled, we later find out that only some permits were pulled for the work and these were not finalized (no final inspections).  We explain all the repercussions involved in buying a property in which no permits have been pulled and the buyer agrees to do very thorough inspections to make sure all the work was done to code.

Many of you may ask, why would you even consider buying a property where no permits were pulled?  And I have to tell you that as a buyer, you really need to think and rethink this issue.  Permits are created to protect the consumer, inspections required after pulling permits further protect the home owner making sure work is done to code.  After you purchase a property, if the building department finds out work was performed without permits, they may fine the home owner (even if it was the previous owner who did the work), they will make the new owner pull new permits and will have to go through all the inspections necessary.  In the worst case scenario, if the construction/remodeling does not follow zoning ordinances, they may even make you tear down the work.

Our buyer decides to go through with it but making sure we have complete inspections.  We place the offer, a price is agreed, we have an executed contract and go on with the inspections.  Here's where it turns ugly.

The house appears on the MLS as CBS (Concrete Block Structure).   The selling agent verified that it was indeed CBS, and the seller's disclosures even confirmed this.  For those non-Florida people reading this:  Concrete construction is preferable in South Florida because of many factors:  hurricanes, termites, insulation, etc.

We had inspections yesterday and after looking in the attic and poking around the house, the inspector informed us that the house is wood frame, not CBS. The metal lath is visibly corroded (looking from the attic space) and he recommends removing all the exterior Stucco, installing new wire mesh and re-plastering the whole house.  In addition there is evidence of subterranean termites in the attic with extensive damage.

OK, I admit it,  I was being an optimist- I wanted to give this seller the benefit of the doubt - but it did not fly.  From the beginning the wrong information was given to us, we had to go out of our way to research this property for our buyer, and we ultimately had to recommend that she does not buy the property.

Just because a house looks to be in immaculate condition, don't ever skip the inspection process. I am sad because our customer was excited about the house, but at least I know our customer is thankful that all steps were taken and that we are definitely looking out for her best interest.

OK guys, it's not very often we get to pat our fellow ACTIVE RAINERS in the back but this one deserves a big CONGRATULATIONS!!  We like this network because it's full of great encouraging people that make our business shine.  Maggie has a refreshing personality and it shows in her blogs, so it's time to thank her for it.

I can't believe she was even stressed about this....and I had sooo much confidence in her.  So what did Maggie do that deserves a HUGE HURRAY???

So if you see her around the rain, give her a hug, give her a shout, CONGRATULATE HER! 

Maggie, I know it's hard for us to meet, since we live in the same city and all, but consider this a lunch invitation.  Maybe we can meet somewhere in the middle.....where would that be, Coral Gables??  Maybe you can tell us what you plan to do with that Broker's License now.

Okay, so I confess that I am not very green..... maybe do have a hint of Olive tone in my skin, but I know I can start making a difference, even in a town that does not care about "green issues".  I have to thank Dena Stevens for the inspiration.  Please keep in mind that this article is not coming from the expert Eco-broker, it's coming from a Realtor that is interested in making a difference.

As kids we get bombarded with information about helping the environment, recycling, caring for our earth.  So what happens when we are no longer kids?  Do we forget all those responsibilities?; do we forget we can make a difference?  Do we go on with our day to day life and don't take a little time to think that no matter how small, at least we are doing something?

The great thing about starting small is that you create awareness, influence others, and slowly become more and more "green conscious".   In architecture school we are taught to be true to the location, to use native materials, to work with existing resources.  If there's clay, use clay, if there's coral, use coral - the concept is simple, and OH so important.  Local materials don't have to be transported across the nation, saving fuel and precious resources.  This particular example applies to architecture and construction, but other simple concepts can be applied no matter the industry.

Although Miami is not known as an environmentally aware city, you do see the occasional solar panel (where the owner is regarded as "cheap", never "eco-friendly"); you do see native materials being used and energy efficient materials like bamboo flooring, granite counter tops and insulated windows;  good landscapers use Native plants like Gumbo Limbos (one of my favorite trees) - take a look at a book by Frederic Stresau called "Florida, My Eden"; and  most South Florida cities even have a great recycling system in place. 

So what can we do as Realtors to make a difference, even if you are not the EcoBroker,or even if you are not gung-ho green?  Start with your print advertising.  Find a printer that uses vegetable inks and recycled papers, if that's not possible or price prohibitive (like in Miami), at least use a digital printer which uses less waste.  Educate yourself about those energy efficient materials, chances are that a lot of homes you have sold are green in nature and you did not even know it.  Start saving paper and go paperless (I know you cannot go completely paperless, but A LOT of your paperwork can be eliminated with technology).  Pass on the information to your kids with the idea that they will apply the concepts always, no littering, recycling, planting trees.

THINK GREEN !- don't be intimidated, don't leave it for tomorrow, start small, you will make a difference.

My sister-in-law send me an e-mail that made me smile, so I decided to share it with you guys:

A HOUSE:

     AS SEEN BY THE SELLER

      AS SEEN BY THE BUYER

     AS SEEN BY THE LENDER

     AS SEEN BY THE APPRAISER

     AS SEEN BY THE TAX ASSESSOR

We are missing a couple of perspectives here, How about "as seen by the Realtor" or "as seen by the Stager"?

   AS SEEN BY THE REAL ESTATE AGENT (Nick Ondatje's Contribution)

Miami Shores is known mostly as a small residential area, but Downtown Miami Shores has great businesses to be proud of.  Located on Northeast 2^nd Avenue From 94^th Street to 101^st Street, you will find all kinds of shops and places to eat as well as medical and real estate offices.   Through the years Downtown Miami Shores has gone through changes and we expect it to get better and better, especially with the redevelopment plans taking place. 

Here are some of the places you can visit in Downtown Miami Shores:

• New Starbucks
• Park Shore Drugs has been a family owned pharmacy where the employees know your name and will give you one on one service. 
• Casa Chameleon recently opened a home gifts store.
• Village Café is the place to meet, with great food and service: from business meetings to kids' lunches after early dismissals.

• Several banks including Wachovia, Bank of America and Washington Mutual.
• Chevron gas station and convenience store. 
• Norberto's Deli has been there for over 20 years.
• Chi Tae Kwon Do school
• Miami Shores Auto Repair - don't forget to have JC wash your car - the best detailing in town!
• Tiki Boutique
• Greater Miami Shores Chamber of Commerce - stop by and say hi to Lew Soli who always has a helpful smile.

• Paul Miller Hair Studio
• Catholic Charities - Services for the Elderly
• Village Shoe Repair
• Monfred The Tailor
• Shoreview Building with professional offices and businesses like Nine's Café and Profiles Haircutting.
• Post office
• Miami Shores Fire station
• Miami Shores Police Department

• Miami Shores City Hall
• Brockway library
• The Playground Theater
• Real estate offices.
• Soon to come Shores Pediatrics with Dr. Laura Fernandez-Ortiz (she will relocate from Hollywood soon).  You can reach Dr. Laura's office at (954) 987-8740 for more information.

Miami Shores residents are proud of their local commerce, we support and recommend our businesses to everyone we know.   Read more about Miami Shores and its events:

• Unity Day in Miami Shores, Florida
• Tour Miami Shores, Florida
• Saint Rose of Lima Carnival
• HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS 15th annual walking tour
• Miami Shores - The Village Beautiful
• Halloween Howl in Miami Shores

For more information, please contact RICK & INES, who live, work and play in Miami Shores.