Miami Dade Real Estate Scoop

Hey all you Miamians!  Show proof of your Miami residency and get reduced entry to Jungle Island this holiday weekend.

The regular entry fee is $27.95 for adults.  This Saturday, Sunday and Monday all Miami residents can get in for only $10 each.  Cool Deal!

In addition to their regular attractions (and there's nothing ordinary about them!) they're having a Labor Day Weekend Brunch each of the three days as well.  Can you say sweet? (and yummy!)

Jungle Island is the new name for what we knew as Parrot Jungle.  Have you visited them at their new home yet?  Isn't it time you did?  This is a great opportunity!  I may just run into you there.

Looking for a great deal on a starter home in the Miami Homestead area? Look no further!

For $239,900 you get a Single Family 3 bedroom, 2 bath home on a 6,000 SF lot. No HOA fees. No CDD fees.

To sweeten the deal, the builder is contributing $10,000 for you to use at closing plus $10,000 in upgrades at no charge!

Upgrades include 18" x 18" tile throughout entire home, crown molding and stainless steel appliance package! Only 17 homes left! Call today.

$239,900 Pre-Construction, $10,000 Seller Contribution!
29131 SW 141 Court, Homestead, FL 33033 Click to View Show Nope! Not a typo! Brand New 3 Bedroom, 2 Bath home in beautiful Salma Lake subdivision. Builder is offering $10,000 Seller Contribution PLUS $10,000 in upgrades (full tiles, crown molding, stainless steel appliances) at no charge! Split Floor Plan, Living/Dining Room, Family Room, Indoor Utility Room, Kitchen Appliances, Ceiling Lights in all Bedrooms, Covered Porch, Patio, Hurricane Shutters. All new and ready to move in!
Details Asking Price: $239,900 MLS: M1155046 Sq. Feet: 1200 Lot Size: 6,000 SF Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 2 # of Floors: 1 HOA/Maintenance Fees: NONE! Garage Size: Driveway 4cr Subdivision: Salma Lake Year Built: 2007		Contact Info Maggie Dokic Main 305-666-8686 Dir 305-960-2455 Email | Website Other Shows

Riverside Villas is in the Southern Miami area. Almost Homestead, but not quite. You will not find a better deal in Riverside Villas!

3 Bedroom Valuebuster!
27540 SW 138 PA, Miami, FL 33032 Click to View Show Riverside Villas VALUEBUSTER!! This is absolutely the lowest priced unit in Riverside AND it's waterfront! Never lived in 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom, 1 car garage villa on the water with spacious back yard, fully fenced in. There is a spacious living/dining room as well as family room, kitchen and guest bath downstairs. All appliances are brand new. The family room has convenient access to the garage, yard, utility room and half bath. Upstairs, the Master Suite has distinctive tray ceiling with recessed lighting, an ample walk-in closet and spacious master Bath with double sinks, bathtub/shower combo with Italian tiles and linen closet. The relaxing water view is right outside your window. Bedrooms 2 & 3 are spacious and share 1 full bath between them. All the floors are lushly carpeted. For parking you have a 1-car garage and driveway for 4 additional cars. The driveway has beautiful brick pavers. The community clubhouse offers a large sparkling pool and play area as well as lushly landscaped grounds. Low, low maintenance fee! Call today and schedule a private tour before this one is GONE!
Details Asking Price: $218,000! MLS: M1167288 Sq. Feet: 1680 Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 2.5		Contact Info Maggie Dokic Main 305-666-8686 Dir 305-960-2455 Email | Website Other Shows

I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Ines and Nick yesterday.  Finally!  More about that later.  Right now I want to help Nick, who has a great big heart, spread the word about his fundraiser.

When we hear of impoverished families we think far away  But right here in our own back yard are people who need help too.  There's a program in Palm Beach County that strives to make lives better for children who might otherwise fall into the vicious cycle of child abuse and neglect.  I'm talking basics here.  No one's bemoaning not having an iPod.  It's simple stuff that's needed.  Things like diapers, formula, food and a safe place to live. 

The Healthy Families program is part of Hugs For Kids.  They have a mission.  It states "Mission: To prevent child abuse and neglect by providing support and educational services to families."  That's noble.  It simply rocks.  They service over 4,000 families a year!

This is straight from the HUGS For Kids site:  Child abuse and neglect occur in all segments of our society, but the risk factors are greater in families in which parents seem to be having economic, housing or personal problems; are isolated from their families or community; have difficulty controlling anger; abuse alcohol or drugs; have little to no education; and were abused or neglected as children (Prevent Child Abuse America, 2003). Prevention is the key to lowering both the maltreatment rate and reducing the need to place children in foster care (Children's Services Council of PBC).

Nick's goal is not a lofty one.  I KNOW we can help him achieve it, if not pass it!  He wants to raise $5,000 for Hugs For Kids.  He wants to do this in 30 days.  He has offered to give up his hair as an incentive to get people to donate.  If you ever wanted to see the Nickster crop his locks, now's your chance!  Go check out the site he has set up for this charity.  Here's a link.

In an effort to help out I decided to donate something of my own.  I'm trying to sweeten the pot for anyone considering donating.  Here's the deal, if you donate $50 or more to Hugs For Kids up until Sept. 13, 2007, your name will be put into a drawing for a 3 night stay at Blissful Skies.  Blissful Skies is a cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains in the northwestern North Carolina region.  The cabin sleeps 8 so you can take the gang along or just use the prize for a quiet weekend away with your special honey.  I'd like to be fair to those who have already donated, so if you already sent Nick a check for $50 or more your name will be added to the drawing also.

All amounts are appreciated.  If you can only send $5, it is appreciated just as much!  Won't you please consider helping out these kids who need help in such a basic way?

Please mail your check today!
Make payable to: Hugs for Kids
in the MEMO section, put: Healthy Families - client's incentive (which is the program they are raising money for)

Mail to:
ATTN: Nick the Appraiser
Quantum One Realty
3307 Northlake Blvd, Suite #103
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33403

The children will thank you.  I thank you too.

It's been quite the day. I've put a lot of miles on my car today.

The morning started out innocuously enough. I took advantage of a few stops I had to make in a certain part of town to look around for possible rentals for a tenant. I had checked the MLS and knew what was listed but I sometimes find FRBO's willing to cooperate with an agent.

I found a property that seemed just right. It looked vacant and had an agent's For Rent sign in the window. It was odd that it also had another brokerage sign on the lawn but it would not be the first time a property switches from one broker to another and the first broker lags picking up his sign.

I called the agent on the rental sign (Agent B) and found out the details. I asked to preview it since I was there and he gave me the lockbox code. The place looked perfect for my tenant and since my office is so far away I decided to see if she could come right over. She did. She loved the place and we decided to go forth with our plans to put in an application to lease.

I got back to my office and looked the property up on the MLS. UH-OH. This home is not listed for rent. It's only listed for sale. With the other agent (Agent A). At the other brokerage. I called Agent B and left him a message. I called Agent A and left her a message. I needed to find out what was going on.

They both called me back just a little while ago. Agent B tells me to put in the rental application and he'll present it to the owner. I pointed out the little problem I had with the fact that the home was already listed with Agent A. He tells me the seller said it was OK for Agent B to rent it as she didn't have a listing agreement with Agent A. I suggested he have her contact the brokerage and pull the listing off the MLS. He insisted on the fact that there would be no problem. I told him I'd get back to him.

Agent A, meanwhile, tells me she knows about the owner's sign in the window. "Uh, no, you're not understanding me. It's not an owner's sign in the window. It's another agent's sign that's in the window. His sign is in the window and your sign is on the lawn." I even go as far as letting her know that I was given a lockbox code and toured the property already. She asked me what the code was. I told her. The silence on the other end of the phone line told me she was seriously thinking about doing damage to someone. She was able to summon up a few words "that's my code." I replied, "well then they're using your lockbox to show the listing for rent."

She thanked me for calling her and told me she would call me tomorrow with a reply as to whether her seller wants to rent to my tenant and that she would get to the bottom of this.

I sit her and wonder where the closest Happy Hour is. I need a stiff one and I don't even drink.

When was the last time you went up to an info tube (or an info box) and found it actually had a property flyer in it?  OK, let's suppose the agent or homeowner was on top of things and the tube/box was actually filled.  Did you call the number listed and ask for more information?  Hmmm, I didn't think so.

You see, most people pick up flyers at properties just to appease their curiosity.  Most people picking up those flyers are not serious buyers.  It could be the nosy neighbor down the street wanting to know what the house is listed for.  The young family around the corner who's thinking of selling is picking up comps in the area.  The "dreamer" who is always looking at homes they'll buy "one day" but "one day" never comes.  Someone selling in the neighborhood wondering how this home's features and price stack up against his. 

Info Tubes are a waste of time, money and trees!  You'll never see an Info Tube on my properties.  It won't do my seller any good for me to put one there.  So how do I better serve my seller's need to get his property info out there to someone who is standing outside the house and absolutely, positively needs to know all about it right now?  I use a toll-free hotline with recorded information about the house instead.  This information is available 24/7.  It's also free.  You won't have to set up a pin number or give me your first born to get it.  You just call the number and listen to the information.  Pretty simple.

Even though the caller doesn't have to provide anything to get the information, I do get something in return for the phonecall.  The caller's phone number.  You see, the hotline is set up to pick up the phone number making the call.  Then the system sends a text message to my cell letting me know the number and the house they're calling about!  Smart system. 

How is this helping my seller get his house sold?  Well, now that I have the phone number, I can call the party back and weed out the "lookers" from the interested buyers.  I now have the opportunity to tell them more about the house and quite possibly set up an appointment for them to view it.  It all about getting more qualified traffic to the home.

Yes, I will still need to deal with the nosy neighbor, the young family, the "dreamer" and the other seller.  But I will also get to talk to the serious buyer who may never have seen your house because the last flyer he picked up that day was better than yours and he had already forgotten what was so pretty about yours anyway.

I won't let him forget.

I was tagged a month ago by Carmen Rivero and although I played the game before I was honored that Carmen would tag me and promised her I'd play again.  Sorry it took me so long Carmen!  And I still have to make time for Carole Cohen's book meme.  It's on my list Carole!

I'm hard pressed to come up with 5 unique things about me.  I'm so open with you guys you probably know everything already!  Let's give this the old college try......

1. I'm a closet singer.  I love to sing.  If I'm alone in the car, you can bet your bottom dollar that I am singing.  I think I mentioned once before how I sing at vacant homes as the acoustics are great.  I do that only at Open Houses or while waiting for a client.  Is the world ready for my singing debut?  I don't think so!  I've sung at church and look forward to making time for that again, but that's as far as I'll go.  =)
2. I think I am the only one of my siblings (or friends for that matter) who was given a big YES when I asked my parents if I could go to Mexico by myself at the age of 18.  I went to Club Med and had a blast.  (a clean blast)  My parents knew they had nothing to worry about when they agreed.  Does that tell you how square I am?
3. My husband died when I was 35 and it turned my world upside down.  I grieved and got back on my feet but it was one of the biggest challenges I have ever faced.  I've kept his memory alive for our daughters, who were only 2 and 5 when he passed away.  Our daughters said goodnight to him and awoke the next morning to a world without their father. Life is fleeting.  Please don't ever take anyone you love for granted.  Enjoy your blessings while they're still around.
4. I have over 50 boxes of books in the garage (this is part of the reason I can't get to Carole's meme!).  That does not include the bookcases I have in the house filled with books.  I realize it's time to go through them and hopefully find them a new home.  A book was meant to be read and re-read and shared with others so its legacy can continue.  Mine are being shortchanged in the garage.  If anyone out there has any ideas, I am open to suggestions.  But where to find the time?
5. I am the Crafting Queen!  Do not even try to compete with me as far as supplies.  I have a 1200SF garage that apart from the 50 boxes of books also stores a myriad of craft supplies.  Sewing, knitting, crocheting, beadwork, stained glass, millefiori, basketweaving, dollmaking, claywork, macrame, glue guns, staplers, scissors, oil paints, canvas, scrapbooking, papermaking, papier mache, pinatas, woodpainting, swarovski crystals, chocolate molds, rubber stamps, shrinky-dinks, scherenschnitte, paper quilling, silk ribbon embroidery, christmas ornaments, are you sick yet?  I know I am!  The very sad thing about this admission is that I cannot remember the last time I enjoyed any of it.  Surely real estate has me way too busy.  My very favorite thing I have ever created is the lovingly made Waldorf doll.  I've made 3 and given them away and have another 8 at different stages of creation packed away.  Poor babies!

So there you have it.  If you fell asleep (and understandably so.  I take no offense), please wipe the drool off the keyboard as it could cause a malfunction down the road.

In the on-going tradition of our beloved me-me's I am tagging Carol Housen just to get her to type more (she's quite the colorful character though), Tony Gallegos, and Kelan the Great. Tag, you're it!!

As I prepared to close up the Open House on Sunday a few teenagers showed up.  I welcomed them in and thought it was odd that they had no adults with them.  An Open House isn't the usual teenage draw.

The property is a builder's model and I invited them to look around.  The girls were all giggly and the boy just followed along as if he had no choice in the matter.

When they finished looking at the house they gravitated over to where I had my marketing materials and looked at them as one girl in particular asked me questions about becoming a Realtor.  I kept wondering where all this was going and then realized by her responses that she was genuinely interested!

She asked a ton of questions.  How long does it take to become a salesperson?  Where does one go for the classes?  How old does she have to be?  How much money can she make?  Who makes the pretty flyers?  Does my broker find the business for me? (I smiled)  What days do I have to work?  Who furnishes the homes?  As I answered her questions, my responses provided her with even more reasons to ask more questions.  We ended up talking a solid 30 minutes about real estate and how it works.

Her enthusiasm was contagious.  She had one of the other girls convinced she wanted to become a Realtor as soon as she is old enough to take the test.  They still have three years to go though so the interest may wane.

As I took my time to answer her questions genuinely, I found myself listening to my own words and remembering why I chose to go into real estate.  I'm not so sure that kid was the only one who needed to hear what I was telling her.  I needed to hear what I was telling her.  With the present market and the accompanying struggles, I'd be lying if I said I haven't second-guessed my choice to become a real estate agent.

I'm glad those kids showed up and provided a much needed reminder.