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Posted by South Florida Realtor at 11:38 PM | TrackBack

May 28, 2005

Biscayne Landing / 800-819-5466 / Biscayne Landings North Miami New Construction

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Biscayne Landing
800-819-5466

Pre-construction Pricing for North Miami Condos and Townhouses
More Than a Home, A Lifestyle
Biscayne Landing is a 2,000-acre preserve currently being developed into a master-planned community. It will be the most extraordinary residential area ever created in South Florida history.

Located in North Miami, between Aventura, Bal Harbour and the beach, Biscayne Landing will adjoin the Oleta River State Park and the Florida International University campus.
It stretches from 137th Street to 151st Street and will be comprised of high-rise condominium towers and townhomes in a lush tropical environment. Much more than a simple place to hang your hat, Biscayne Landing represents a lifestyle.
Never before has so much planning and thinking gone into developing a community. The result will be a spectacular "new world."

What will Biscayne Landing offer? EVERYTHING!

Biscayne Landing

Variety of homes-lakeside townhouses, mid-rise condos and high-rise towers

Total of 6,000 residences

230-acre nature preserve with waterways

35-acre park featuring miles of jogging trails

100,000 sq. ft. town center with shops, restaurants, convenience stores and offices

Gated community entrances

Aventura-Homes.Com

Private clubhouses

Swimming and tennis centers

Children's playgrounds

Neighborhood schools from kindergarten through high school

Connecting trails to Oleta River State Park, Florida's largest urban park at 1,043 acres

Luxury hotel conference center
Biscayne Landing Is One-of-a-Kind
Ground was broken on Biscayne Landing in January 2003, and construction will continue through 2015.
From a value perspective, Biscayne Landing is the last opportunity to purchase at pre-construction prices in a community setting that, by virtue of limited land availability, will never be duplicated.
Be a part of South Florida’s newest, most prestigious residential community. Reserve your Biscayne Landing condo or townhome now at pre-construction prices.
Contact us today for a detailed data sheet on Biscayne Landing (no charge, no obligation) or to arrange a site tour of Biscayne Landing.

For more information regarding the above property, please call Dean or Bonnie Isenberg at 305-936-2489 / 800-819-5466 or visit us on-line at A-Realtor.Com

Click Here To Request More Information About The Above Property

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Posted by South Florida Realtor at 04:38 PM | TrackBack

May 24, 2005

Regalia Pre Construction Condos Sunny Isles Beach / 800-819-5466 Regalia Condos

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Regalia Condos will be located in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida. Regalia will be the most luxurious building in fast growing landscape of Sunny Isles real estate. With only one unit per floor, Regalia will offer the most private living you will find anywhere.

With Regalia, we are creating a one-of-a-kind collection of residences for a one-in-a-million type of clientele. While exciting in its modernity, Regalia also celebrates a classic and traditional approach to elegance and comfort within its inspired concept.

To the north, the Regalia site currently enjoys Golden Beach views unhindered by other High-rise structures: a vista of Terra Cotta roofs, swaying Palms and the warm South Atlantic is our legacy, as we are "The Gatekeepers to Golden Beach".

To the west, anchored by Porto Vita and the Turnberry properties, the urban oasis of Aventura reflects a heritage of cultural achievement, civic progress and commercial prosperity - symbols of how far our community and families have come in a relatively short time.

With its superior design and construction, brilliant array of architectural attributes and lifestyle amenities, and unique emphasis on privacy and comfort, Regalia represents the ultimate in South Florida residential choices

1 Unit per floor
Prices start in the $4.7 Million to $9.2 Million
4 or 5 bedroom units (6,072 a/c sqft + 1400 square feet of terraces).

Regalia Building Amenities

38 private residences (one per floor)
Ocean front property, with spectacular 360 degree ocean views
Classical inspired lobby with imported marble floor
Infinity edge pool set among lush gardens
Residents' lunge with bars and game room with billiard and card playing room
Beachside and poolside cabanas
Business Center
Concierge services and 24 hour security
Full service European design spa and fitness center
Regalia Unit Amenities

Ten foot ceilings
360 degree views
Top of the line kitchen
High security residence entry system
Multiple private elevators
Central vacuum cleaner
Central water purification

· Ocean front property with spectacular 360 degree views
· Classical inspired lobby with imported marble flooring & architect-designed, articulated ceilings
· Magnificently detailed ornamental iron entry gates
· Infinity edge pool set among lush gardens and fountains
· Exquisite tropical landscaping
· Beachside and poolside cabanas
· Hotel style Concierge services
· Media room & theatre
· Infinity-edge pool set among lush gardens & fountains
· Oceanfront gazebo with poolside showers & spas
· Poolside and beach-side bar & barbeque grill
· Billiard lounge with cigar salon, wine bar & card-playing room Residents' lounge with ocean, garden & pool views
· Library with lavish wood cabinetry & paneling, custom furnishings; a full selection of books, newspapers & periodicals**
· Business center with private boardroom & teleconferencing, Secretarial services*
· State-of-the-art automated security system, 24 hour security attendants
· His and hers European-design spas with changing rooms, saunas, steam rooms, body massage rooms, relaxation, lounge, & juice bars
· Aerobic / fitness center with ocean views, including cardio, spinning, & free-weights rooms; daily classes available**
· Large, beautifully-designed 4th-floor dining & entertainment space accommodating over 350 persons, serviced by a full kosher commercial kitchen; available for holiday bookings, private functions, events & happy family gatherings.
· Expert private catering services of all types*
· Central sound system providing music throughout; poolside & beach-side will be wired for DJ equipment
· All public areas wired for cable & internet access, making Regalia a completely "smart" building**
· Automobile valet service
· Car-wash services available*

*Included with Condominium Association fees / **Available on a fee basis

For more information regarding the above property, please call Dean or Bonnie Isenberg at 305-936-2489 / 800-819-5466 or visit us on-line at A-Realtor.Com

Click Here To Request More Information About The Above Property

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Posted by South Florida Realtor at 11:51 PM | TrackBack

Florida home sales up 3 percent, median price rises 26 percent in April

ORLANDO, Fla. -- May 24, 2005 -- Different month, same story for sales of existing single-family homes in Florida in April: high demand, still-low mortgage rates and a short supply of homes available for sale, bringing the statewide median sales price to $218,600 -- a 26 percent increase over the April 2004 figure, according to the Florida Association of Realtors® (FAR).

In 2000, the statewide median sales price was $115,900, which represents a dramatic 88.6 percent increase over the five-year-period, according to FAR records. The median is a typical market price where half the homes sold for more, half sold for less.

Last month, a total of 23,537 existing single-family homes changed hands statewide for a 3 percent increase over the 22,746 homes sold the previous April, according to FAR.

Nationally, the median sales price for existing single-family homes was $193,600 in March, up 11.3 percent from a year earlier, according to the National Association of Realtors® (NAR). In California, the statewide median resales price was $495,400 in March; in New York, it was $278,050; in Maryland, it was $258,736; in North Carolina, the average resales price was $199,750; and in Illinois, the median price was $184,500.

The interest rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage in April averaged 5.86 percent, only slightly higher than the 5.83 percent averaged during the same month a year ago. FAR's sales figures reflect closings, which typically occur 30 to 90 days after sales contracts are written.

Among the state's larger markets, the Fort Myers-Cape Coral metropolitan statistical area (MSA) showed higher sales last month, with a total of 1,266 homes changing hands for a 19 percent gain over the 1,064 homes sold in April 2004. The market's median home price rose 43 percent to $262,900; a year ago, it was $184,100.

Gary Atkinson, GRI, president of the Realtor Association of Greater Fort Myers & the Beach and a sales associate with RE/MAX Realty Group in Fort Myers, cites still-low mortgage rates as a factor in the market's strong resales activity.

"We're not strictly a retirement community anymore. Our sales are year-round," he says. "We've got baby boomers still looking for retirement property. People are realizing that prices are heading up and they want to get into the market while they can. Inventory is becoming much more scarce. And if a home is priced where it should be, it's gone in a week."

Other larger Florida MSAs reporting strong resales activity last month compared to a year ago include: Tampa-Clearwater-St. Petersburg, where 5,105 homes sold for a 19 percent increase; and Jacksonville, where 1,553 homes changed hands for a 7 percent gain. The median sales price in those markets also rose over the same period: in Tampa-Clearwater-St. Petersburg, 23 percent to $183,000; and in Jacksonville, 13 percent to $174,100.

Of the state's smaller markets, the Lakeland-Winter Haven MSA reported a 13 percent boost in home sales in April, with a total of 592 homes changing hands compared to 524 homes sold last year. The area's median sales price rose 25 percent to $126,600; a year ago, it was $101,000.

Vera Tungate, president of the Lakeland Association of Realtors and a sales associate with Exit Realty of Lakeland, says the Lakeland area offers a range of housing options at attractive prices, which helps to drive demand. "We have multiple offers on the table," she says. "We don't have enough properties for the buyers we have, and it's helping to create a sellers' market. Our area is very attractive to a lot of buyers, they want to move into the Lakeland area, but we just don't have the inventory."

Other smaller MSAs reporting strong gains in home sales last month include: Gainesville, where 386 homes sold for a 27 percent increase; and Ocala, where 594 homes sold, also for a 27 percent increase. The median sales price in those markets increased as well: in Ocala, 10 percent to $131,800; and in Gainesville, 5 percent to $168,100.

For more information regarding the above, please contact Dean or Bonnie Isenberg at 305-936-2489 / 800-819-5466 or visit us on-line at A-Realtor.Com

Posted by South Florida Realtor at 05:45 PM | TrackBack

Young buyers set trends in new-home marketplace, says study

WASHINGTON -- May 24, 2005 -- Households headed by Generation Xers and members of the so-called echo-boom purchased 55 percent of all newly built homes sold in 2003 and are fast becoming the trendsetters in U.S. housing markets, according to reports from the U.S. Census and newly analyzed buyer preferences data from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

"A new generation is viewing the housing market from an entirely different perspective than the baby boomers who've traditionally dominated industry trends," says NAHB Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Jerry Howard. "They're techno-savvy and are more likely to be house-shopping on the Internet. They have a strong awareness of all their options."

Gen-Xers in particular are wielding their buying power to shape today's new-home characteristics and market trends. "They and younger buyers were responsible for more than half of all new-home purchases in 2003 and are twice as likely to purchase new homes in the immediate future as baby boomers and seniors," Howard says.

American Housing Survey data from the U.S. Commerce Department shows that, while households headed by those aged 27 to 40 (the Gen-Xers) accounted for 28 percent of all U.S. households in 2003, they were responsible for fully 49 percent of new-home purchases that year. Another 6 percent of newly built homes were purchased by echo-boomers (born after 1979), 33 percent were purchased by baby boomers and 12 percent were purchased by seniors aged 60 and up.

Meanwhile, NAHB research on consumer preferences indicates that 37 percent of Gen-Xers and 27 percent of echo boomers intend to buy homes in the next two years, compared to just 13 percent of baby boomers and 6 percent of seniors.

What does this mean for the next generation of home building? "Previously there was speculation that younger buyers would be more thrifty than their parents with respect to their housing choices, but our research shows just the opposite is true," says NAHB Director of Research Gopal Ahluwalia.

In fact, many preferred options support the idea of a "move-up mentality" for younger buyers. For example, both echo boomers and Gen-Xers say they would like to have a home that is about 50 percent larger than their current residence. This compares to seniors and baby boomers, who want only 17 percent and 22 percent more space, respectively.

Similarly, 91 percent of echo-boomers say they would like their next home purchase to be a single-family detached home, versus the 46 percent who currently live in that kind of house. Seniors, on the other hand, are more likely than any other group to want to buy a townhouse rather than a single-family home -- though most still prefer the detached option.

Other housing preferences of younger buyers also show the inclination for a more luxurious lifestyle. For example, 61 percent of echo-boomers and 67 percent of Gen-Xers say they would prefer to have four or more bedrooms in their next house, compared to 40 percent of baby boomers and 26 percent of seniors. Similarly, younger buyers show a much greater preference for high ceilings that lend a greater sense of volume and spaciousness to a home.

Fully 73 percent and 77 percent of echo-boomers and Gen-Xers, respectively, say they want nine-foot or higher ceilings on the first floor, compared to 65 percent of baby boomers and just 54 percent of seniors. In terms of high-tech amenities, echo-boomers are more likely than any others to want a home theater, automated lighting controls and a built-in security system.

For more information regarding the above, please contact Dean or Bonnie Isenberg at 305-936-2489 / 800-819-5466 or visit us on-line at A-Realtor.Com

Posted by South Florida Realtor at 04:28 PM | TrackBack

May 22, 2005

Apogee South Beach - Preconstruction South Beach Luxury Condominiums

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Located on the last great waterfront site at the southern tip of South Beach Apogee will be the very pinnacle of modern luxury living...It is more than you need and all that you desire...Residences from 3,000 to 6,000 sq. ft. with prices ranging from $2.5 to $9 million.

Apogee South Beach will be located on the last great waterfront site at the southern tip of South Beach, Apogee will be the very pinnacle of modern luxury living...It is more than you need and all that you desire...

Residences from 3,000 to 6,000 square feet with prices ranging from $2.5 to $9 million. Apogee will be designed by Sieger Suarez Architectural Partnership. Maintenance cost will be approximately $0.85 per square foot and taxes will be approximately 2% of purchase Price.

Units will range in size from 3,200 to over 4,200 square feet. As you can imagine this will be the most luxurious project to ever come to South Beach. Only a select few will have the rare opportunity to obtain a unit a this fabulous location.

With only 68 total residences, (4 residence per floor, with 17 floors) Apogee will be the crowing jewel of South Beach. The Apogee Preconstruction Condo is the brain child of Jorge Perez and the Related Group of Florida who have build such projects as, Icon South Beach, Murano Grande, Ocean I, II and III, Trump Towers I, II and III and many more.

Apogee sets the bar higher than any other condominium residences in South Beach history.

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A few of Apogee South Beach's Exceptional Features:

Buyers will be able to have units built to their specifications, subject to certain limitations
Four residences per floor, each with flow-through design to give each unit both a water view and a city view

Only two floor plans available: 3,149 sq .ft. and 4,227 sq. ft.

Pricing is expected to average around $1000 per square foot

Window glass is of the highest grade with unsurpassed clarity available anywhere
Double-slabs are built between floors to ensure no noise transmission
11-foot deep balconies
Balconies will be built with outdoor gas cooking for entertaining
Gas appliances in the Kitchens
Kitchens will be built with multiple ovens, multiple dishwashers, 100-bottle wine coolers

Apogee South Beach

After years of false starts and fierce fights about how the southern tip of Miami Beach should be developed, a decade of high-rise condominium construction on South Pointe is set to culminate with two final towers.

Before the end of the year, the New York developer Ian Bruce Eichner plans to break ground on the 38-story Continuum North Tower and Jorge Perez's Related Group will begin marketing its planned luxury condo, Apogee.

Construction of the two buildings effectively ends years of debate about how the Miami Beach neighborhood south of Fifth Street should be developed.

The two new towers will leave nine high-rise condos dotting a South Pointe waterfront that had virtually no tall buildings 10 years ago.

Zoning restrictions snuff out any more high-rise development in the neighborhood, which, before the recent spate of development, was known as home to the world famous Joe's Stone Crab restaurant.

City leaders, meanwhile, are finishing plans to redevelop South Pointe Park, a 17-acre green space overlooking Government Cut that is slated to grow by two acres under a recent deal with Perez's Related Group.

Rising 22 stories, Apogee will have 68 units ranging from 3,100 to 6,900 square feet in space. Ceilings will run 10 feet high. Balconies will extend 11 feet, complete with a built-in outdoor grill.

Located at the very southern tip of South Beach, between the Portofino Tower and the Murano at Portofino

Master bathrooms will have an in-ground tub with Rainshower showerhead, giving you the feeling of a relaxation pool in your own bathroom

Master closets will be finished with the ultimate in closet systems, including a "midnight" kitchen with appliances...in your closet!

Each owner will have a private two-car enclosed space within the main garage for the condos at 800 South Pointe Dr. The Cuban artist José Bedia has been commissioned to do three paintings for the building.

''It is far and away the most expensive building we have constructed,'' said Perez, who plans to complete the building in late 2006. ``This will be the last of the high-rises in this area.''

Continuum North Tower, at the eastern end of South Pointe Drive, is also promising to deliver luxury condos, la its first tower. It is to have 199 units, seven town houses and seven lofts ranging from 1,500 to 4,000 square feet. Penthouses will be 7,000 square feet. It is also set to be finished in late 2006.

In February, The New York Times wrote about how a 270-square-foot beachfront cabana at the already built Continuum South Tower sold for $850,000.

''That's $3,148 a square foot -- four and a half times the average for Manhattan apartments,'' The Times marveled.

Prices ranging from $2.5 to $9 million.

For more information regarding Apogee South Beach, please contact Dean or Bonnie Isenberg at 305-936-2489 / 800-819-5466 or visit us on-line at A-Realtor.Com

Posted by South Florida Realtor at 09:13 AM | TrackBack

The City of Aventura New and Growing / 800-819-5466

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Aventura, one of Miami-Dade's newest communities, was incorporated in 1995 and is a young, vibrant, full-service municipality with a diverse demographic base and is recognized internationally as a premier location in which to live, shop and play. Aventura is 3.2 square miles located on the Intracoastal Waterway in northeast Miami-Dade County and is conveniently located between two major South Florida airports and two of the largest and most popular seaports in the world.

Aventura is an upscale condo community with some of South Florida's best-known large-scale condominium projects and apartment buildings. Restaurants, movie theaters and the Aventura Mall are convenient nearby and downtown Fort Lauderdale and Miami are just 20 minutes away. Since the City's incorporation millions of dollars have been spent on infrastructure improvements including streets, sidewalks, lighting, park development, beautification projects, drainage, pedestrian and safety improvements. The state-of-the-art Government Center provides a one-stop-shop for its' residents and houses all governmental operations, including Commission Chambers, Police Station and administrative offices.

The new $4 million Community/Recreation Center is situated on 2.8 acres of land in a park like setting on the waterfront. This 25,000 square foot facility includes a gym, meeting rooms, computer lab, exercise and aerobic facilities.

In order to address the growing number of families with school age children, the City Commission chose to take an aggressive approach to meet its changing demographics. Doors opened Fall of 2003 to the City's first Charter Elementary School built adjacent to the new Community/Recreation Center. The 45,000 square foot state-of-the-art school serves 600 Aventura schoolchildren from kindergarten to 5th grade and is the first municipal-run charter school in Miami-Dade County.

For more information regarding the above, please contact Dean or Bonnie Isenberg at 305-936-2489 / 800-819-5466 or visit us on-line at A-Realtor.Com

Aventura, Florida The City Of Excellence!

Posted by South Florida Realtor at 08:48 AM | TrackBack

Porto Vita Condo / Aventura Florida 800-819-5466

Porto-Vita.Com

The Ultimate Limited Edition Lifestyle
Located on the Intracoastal, Porto Vita is rising majestically on the last and choicest site immediately north of Turnberry Isle in northern Dade County, a meticulously designed and impeccably crafted luxury community the likes of which South Florida never before has seen. A world apart from the everyday, Porto Vita offers a world of grace, tranquility and good taste where discriminating residents may indulge their appetite for life.

On prime South Florida waterfront property considered the 18-acre jewel of Aventura, the ultimate limited edition lifestyle is being created. Porto Vita is earning its reputation as an exclusive residential retreat of supreme privacy, security and serenity for an elite group of 375 homeowners. Amenities include state-of-the-art security, private pools for each building and townhome, private concierge and valet for each building, a tennis center and a 21-slip marina.
Porto Vita is an exclusive community of less than 400 select residences in Aventura, where an indulgent residential retreat is being created on the Intracoastal. The community’s classic architecture, meticulous attention to detail and lush, artistic landscaping, coupled with an atmosphere of seclusion and serenity, have redefined the concept of luxury living and set Porto Vita a world apart from the rest of South Florida.

At the heart of Porto Vita stands the opulent Villa Grande, inspired by classic Italian renaissance architecture and meticulously crafted by old world master artisans to stand as a testament to those who can, and do, live life on a grand scale.

Within a short walk of every residence is the exclusive Villa Grande Club, a treasured jewel that is removed from the rest of South Florida and the world

Broad, sweeping terraces open to the tranquil paradise that is Porto Vita, inviting the lush outdoors into Villa Grande’s epicurean formal dining room and enchanting casual dining area. Members may relax in the impeccably appointed rooms, enjoy their meals outside under clear, deep blue and starlit skies, or create an intimate gourmet experience in the Club’s private dining room. The nearby cozy piano bar, sports lounge and card room, with rich walnut wall paneling and wood-beamed ceilings invoke the sense of warm well-being found in traditional old world pubs.

Residents may refresh body and spirit with state-of-the-art cardiovascular and Cybex weight equipment and fitness amenities in tastefully appointed exercise and aerobics rooms. Ornate men’s and women’s saunas, steam rooms, whirlpool grottos accented by Italian tiles and adorned with delicate frescos, and social rooms invite members to linger in their private paradise that includes amenities such as massage and personal training. Those who choose the outdoors are welcomed into a superb tennis complex, or may simply relax poolside, serenaded by the sounds of lightly cascading water from a charming, Atlantean fountain.

A very personal domain, the 35,000 square-foot Villa Grande Club is the most exclusive club of its kind in the world, reflecting the stature and good taste of every Porto Vita homeowner. The centerpiece of a grand and varied social life, Villa Grande’s luxury and gracious amenities are owned by its resident members, preserving for all time the standards of excellence that have earned Porto Vita acclaim as The Ultimate Limited Edition Lifestyle.

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For more information regarding Porto Vita, please contact Dean or Bonnie Isenberg at 305-936-2489 / 800-819-5466 or visit us on-line at A-Realtor.Com

Click Here To Request More Information

Current Porto Vita Resale's On The MLS

Porto Vita, Aventura New Construction

Posted by South Florida Realtor at 12:48 AM | TrackBack

May 21, 2005

Miami Trump Towers / 800-819-5466 / Sunny Isles New Construction

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Miami Trump Towers
Trump Towers is Gil Dezer's latest addition to an already impressive portfolio. On this deal, the Dezers have teamed up with not only Trump, but with Jorge Perez’ Related Group to build three high rises at 45-stories each on 158th and Collins Avenue in Sunny Isles Beach. The project, in its planning stages, will have between 830-930 units and prices will range from $650,000 to $4 million.

Trump Towers caters to the most discriminating tastes of a select buyer who is appreciative of those extra touches of luxury. 250-foot stretch of beachfront with cabanas for personal convenience all as your backyard.

Each Tower boasting 45 stories high consisting of 813 residences. Floor to ceiling windows opening out to over-sized terraces Miele and Sub-Zero appliances. Designer fixtures and cutting-edge telecommunications.
Private elevator foyers. Elegant smooth ceilings rising 10 10' or 11'
Around the clock 24/7 full valet services, professional. Dramatic three-story lobby. Concierge and security services. Lavish heated swimming pool and spa. Stat-of-the-art health club and refreshing poolside bar. Fitness facilities by hospitality interior design firm Hirsch Bedner Associates responsible for the St. Regis Grande Hotel in Rome.

Trump Towers is surrounded by views of the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal waterways the exclusive Sunny Isles Beach, the most sophisticated restaurants and nightspots right outside your door.

Building Amenities- 250 feet of Ocean Frontage.
- Elegant porte-cochere entrance with 24 hour valet services.
- Exquisitely appointed three-story lobby.
- 24 hour security services.
- Three levels of covered and secure garage parking.
- 24 hours concierge.
- Mail and package receiving desk.
- Elevated, lushly landscape oceanfront terrace with heated swimming pool, spa.
- State of the Art fitness center and resident health spa.
- Multi-purpose clubroom.
- Beachfront cabanas.

Resident Features- Private elevators foyers.
- Panoramic ocean, Intracostal and city views.
- Expansive balconies with glass and aluminum railings.
- Elegant smooth ceilings rising to 10' or 11'.
- Pre-wiring for telephone and cable hook-up.
- Multiple telephone line capability.
- Floor-to-ceiling windows.
- Meile and Sub-Zero appliances.
- Italian designed kitchen.
- Italian cabinetry with granite or marble countertops in kitchens and bathrooms.
- Designer kitchen and bathroom fixtures.

Trump Towers is a three phase development on the beach, is located on the northern tip of Miami Beach in Sunny Isles Beach. Priced from the $700's to over $2 million, Trump Towers offers unparalleled luxury. Towers feature 10' high ceilings on floors 4-30, 11' on floors 31-42, and 12' on the penthouse level. This project is located just south of the ultra-luxurious Turnberry Ocean Colony where prices exceed $750 per square foot.

Some units are still available for sale in towers 1 & 2.
Tower 3 is going on sale soon (May 2005)

Click Here To Request More Information

For More Information, Please Call Dean Or Bonnie Isenberg Toll Free At 800-819-5466 Or Visit Us On Line At South-Florida-Realtor.Com

Posted by South Florida Realtor at 09:05 PM | TrackBack

May 20, 2005

Most insurers will stay in Florida

Aventura-Homes.Com

PALM BEACH, Fla. -- May 20, 2005 -- The good news for homeowners: Insurance companies aren't likely to follow Allstate Floridian's lead and drop customers by the thousands.
But how much more Florida homeowners will have to pay to insure their homes is an open question.

Allstate on Wednesday announced that it intends to shed 95,000 homeowner policies this year, while also dropping all of its commercial coverage. It also said it intends to raise homeowner premiums but did not say by how much or when it will seek to do so.

Other large carriers statewide said Thursday they have no plans to reduce their customer counts.

"We have not changed out market strategy or philosophy or our commitment to the Florida market since last year's four storms," said Tom Hagerty, a spokesman for State Farm, Florida's largest carrier, with 921,000 homeowner policies statewide.

Joe Case, a spokesman for Nationwide, the state's No. 4 carrier, said the Columbus, Ohio--based insurer also has no intention of dropping any of its 300,000 homeowner policies in Florida.

The company asked for a 28.3 percent rate hike this year that the state Office of Insurance Regulation says it intends to reject.

"We're trying to position ourselves to continue to offer our Florida customers the same quality of service as we have in the past," Case said.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew in 1992, insurance companies declined to renew the policies of 1 million customers statewide. Allstate was among them, ceding 137,000 policies to Clarendon Insurance Co.

So far, Allstate and Penn Charter Mutual Insurance Co. of Lititz, Pa., are the only companies to notify the state of their intention to jettison homeowner customers. Penn Charter, which has 6,386 customers in Florida, is leaving the state altogether.

Policy counts for Citizens Property Insurance Co., the state's insurer of last resort, confirm that the market has been relatively stable. In January, Citizens had 96,300 customers in Palm Beach County, for example. In April, it had 95,500.

"We expect that other than some rate increases the market will be pretty firm," said Sam Miller of the Florida Insurance Council, an industry group.

Miller said other insurers are doing the same thing that Allstate did, reviewing their risk exposure in Florida, their finances and costs and making adjustments if necessary. Sometimes, as in the case of Allstate, that means dropping policies; sometimes it means raising rates.

State Farm is among the 12 insurers that have had rate hikes approved since October. It sought and got a 5 percent hike because of increased costs for repairs and higher reinsurance costs. In January, Citizens asked to raise homeowner rates by 23.2 percent.

That's the biggest hike state insurance regulators have approved in the past eight months.

Insurance companies are required to make a rate filing with the state at least once a year; many do that in the spring as hurricane season approaches.

Nationally, consumers are seeing only modest hikes in their property insurance bills. Rates on average are going up by 2.5 percent, the lowest increase in six years, according to the Insurance Information Institute.

But Florida, because of its vulnerability to hurricanes, is way above average.

"Certainly in Florida, rates are very high," said Loretta Worters of the insurance industry group.

Aventura-Homes.Com

Posted by South Florida Realtor at 06:23 PM | TrackBack

Mortgage rates at lowest level since February

Miami Real Estate Information

WASHINGTON -- May 20, 2005 -- Rates on 30-year and 15-year mortgages this week dropped to their lowest levels since late February, offering a bit of good news for people wanting to buy a home.
Mortgage giant Freddie Mac reported Thursday in its weekly survey that rates on 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages averaged 5.71 percent, down from 5.77 percent last week.

Analysts attributed the decline in mortgage rates to reduced fears on the part of investors that the economy might face an outbreak of inflation.

"As long as inflation is held in check, there is little or no pressure to push mortgage rates higher," said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac's chief economist. Despite high fuel prices, "core" inflation - which excludes food and energy costs - seems to be fairly tame, he said. The gauge of core inflation is watched closely by the Federal Reserve, economists and investors.

For 15-year, fixed-rate mortgages, a popular option for refinancing, rates dipped to 5.27 percent this week, down from 5.33 percent last week.

This week's rates for both 30-year and 15-year mortgages were the lowest since the week ending February 24, when they averaged 5.69 percent and 5.22 percent, respectively.

Rates on five-year hybrid adjustable rate mortgages also declined this week, falling to 5.07 percent, compared with 5.21 percent the week before. These hybrid mortgages have a fixed-rate for five years and then adjust each year after that.

"Continuing low rates will keep the housing industry abuzz," Nothaft said.

Rates on one-year adjustable-rate mortgages, however, rose to 4.26 percent this week, up from 4.23 percent last week.

The nationwide averages for mortgage rates do not include add-on fees known as points. Each mortgage type carried a nationwide average fee of 0.7 point.

A year ago, 30-year mortgages averaged 6.30 percent, 15-year mortgages were at 5.67 percent and one-year ARMs averaged 3.99 percent. Freddie Mac does not have historical data on the five-year ARM, which it began tracking this year.

On the Net:
Freddie Mac: http://www.freddiemac.com

Posted by South Florida Realtor at 05:14 PM | TrackBack

Donald Trump chooses Kendra Todd as 'The Apprentice'

Miami Real Estate

NEW YORK –- May 20, 2005 -- Donald Trump selected Kendra Todd as his first female "Apprentice," handing her a job with his organization and a $250,000 (euro197,754) salary at the close of the NBC reality show's live finale.
"I couldn't be happier," Todd told The Associated Press after her win Thursday night. "I was the girl who used to watch this on television and here I am. Dreams do come true. Just work hard and you'll get there."

Todd, the 26-year-old "book smarts" real estate broker from Boynton Beach, Florida, bested "street smarts" entrepreneur and mother of two Tana Goertz during the final boardroom battle.

Goertz, 37, of Des Moines, didn't go down without a fight. She assertively pointed out in front of the live audience that a winning idea for a round Pontiac brochure during one of the tasks was her idea although Todd was the task's project manager.

"I thought it was a little much," Trump said of Goertz's self-acknowledgment. "I don't mind aggression in men or women, but I found it to be a little obnoxious. I didn't love it."

Todd said she had been expecting Goertz to bring up the brochure.

"I was pretty sure that was going to happen," Todd said. "Believe me, I had my strategies in line. I knew everything that they might come at me with. I am a team player. I give credit where credit is due. ... (But) certainly there's more to a brochure than just the shape."

In episodes leading up to the live finale, Todd organized the Best Buy Video Game Championship during her final task, pleasing both corporate sponsors and her misfit team of firees. Todd, who was a member of "book smarts" Magna team, has an undergraduate degree in linguistics from the University of Florida.

Todd won't have to go too far from home for her new job. She chose developing a mansion in Palm Beach, Fla., over working on the Miss Universe pageant. Trump said he'd like Todd to train under his adviser Carolyn Kepcher at the Trump National Golf Club in Briarcliff Manor, New York, for a few months before tackling the Palm Beach mansion.

"I think she's going to be terrific," said Trump. "I like that she's a team player. That's how she ultimately won."

In the previous two "Apprentice" finales, Trump chose cigar business owner Bill Rancic to oversee the Trump International Hotel and Tower in Chicago and software executive Kelly Perdew to work on the Trump Place real estate development and Trump Ice bottled water projects in New York.

Trump is already in search of another "Apprentice." The fourth season and a spin-off starring Martha Stewart are in production.

"It's not book smarts vs. street smarts," said executive producer Mark Burnett of the next season. "It's a very impressive cast. Donald's in a really, really good mood about it. It's been really tough each week about who to fire."

Got Palm Beach.Com

Posted by South Florida Realtor at 05:09 PM | TrackBack

May 19, 2005

Allstate drops insurance policies for Florida businesses

Miami Real Estate

TAMPA -- May 19, 2005 -- Allstate will stop writing property insurance for Florida businesses and will not renew 95,000 homeowner policies to protect against future losses.

Allstate, the state's third-largest insurer, will not renew policies for the 16,000 commercial properties it insures. It is not a major writer of business insurance in the state.

The publicly traded insurer will drop about 12.5 percent of its homeowner policies across the state, keeping about 663,000 customers.

Allstate has not written policies in the Tampa Bay area for years.

Universal Insurance Co. of North America has agreed to write policies for Allstate customers who are dropped as part of the reshuffling.

"Now, with the 2005 hurricane season starting in two weeks, we must be ready to handle future hurricane losses," said Phil Lawson, president of Allstate Floridian, a separate division of Allstate Corp.

Allstate paid about $2 billion in claims after last year's four hurricanes.

The company also said it would seek a rate increase from state regulators but didn't specify how much.

Allstate waged an unsuccessful bid in this year's legislative session to make it easier for insurers to tap the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund, which the state created to offset massive losses for insurance companies.

"There is still significant room for improvement to give Florida homeowners protection at a better price," Lawson said.

Posted by South Florida Realtor at 03:58 PM | TrackBack

Eastside Aventura - 800-819-5466 - East Side Aventura New Construction

East Side Aventura.jpg

Aventura Pre-Construction East Side Aventura

East Side at Aventura is scheduled to breakground on its 39 unit boutique property in the first quarter of 2004. Occupancy is tentatively scheduled in early 2005. East Side designed by renowned architect Kobi Karp, is being constructed by BBL Florida, a fully diversified construction management/general contracting firm that has been building quality projects in Florida for the past 15 years. To date, advance reservations have accounted for 60% of the buildings units as its unique design, style and location of the property has met great acceptance from the local community.

There is nothing like Eastside. Anywhere. And only 39 fortunate few will make their home here. No matter which residence you choose, you’ll come to see life in a whole new light. All feature a southern exposure, and the heated dockside pool captures the sun all year long. From lanai residences on the fourth level to penhouses with 19 feet of soaring glass vistas, each is designed for comfort, style and luxury.

Capture the soul-stirring spirit of waterfront living in the very heart of South Florida’s most vibrant city. The affluent mini-metropolis of Aventura abounds in world-class shopping, landmark restaurants and exciting nightlife and boasts an eclectic collection of sophisticates from around the world. The city’s rhythm radiates via the sights and sounds of Aventura Mall, world-famous Turnberry Isle Resort and Country Club, the Aventura Community Center, Charter School, Founders Park, nearby Bal Harbour, Ft. Lauderdale, South Beach and more. Unsurpassed in culture, recreation and education, Aventura remains at the top of the list of the world’s most desirable places to live.

Unit Amenities:
9’ to 19’ ceilings
Lanai units with expansive patios
8’ doors
Floor-to-ceiling windows
European kitchen cabinetry
Stainless steel kitchen appliances
Granite countertops
Designer faucet with spray
26 cu.ft. refrigerator
Multi-cycle dishwasher
Built-in microwave
Self-cleaning oven and range
Baths with European contemporary cabinetry
Baths with marble vanity tops
Roman tub in master bath
Oversized shower in master bath
Glass shower enclosure in master bath
Custom double vanities in master bath
Oversized mirrors
Full-capacity stackable washer and dryer
Pre-wired for telephone and cable tv
Building Amenities:
Porte cochere
Elegant designer lobby
Concierge and service desk
24-hour controlled lobby access
Mail and package receiving desk
Secured access garage
Mail room
Advanced hi-tech security
Extra-large wrap-around terraces
Glass balconies
Impact-resistant glass
Club room with kitchen
Fully-equipped gym and sauna
Heated pool and spa on landscaped waterfront pool deck
Guest and service parking

For more information about East Side Aventura call or e-mail Dean and Bonnie Isenberg at (305) 936-2489 or visit us online at Aventura-Homes.Com