Residents of Miami-Dade County, be on the look-out for your new blue recycling containers.  The 65-gallon blue containers with an attached lid and on wheels look similar to our green garbage containers.  Miami-Dade County began distribution last week.

From the Miami-Dade County press release:

“The new recycling carts make it easier for every resident in our community to recycle, which in turn helps the environment.  Miami-Dade County government is leading the way in protecting our environment from hybrid vehicle fleets and Home Chemical Collection Centers to the Artificial Reef Program and the New Park and Open Space System Master Plan. Recycling is one of the easiest ways of preserving and protecting our natural resources,”   said Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez.

I tend to attempt to paint a positive picture about our real estate situation that seems counterintuitive or even hype to some. 

My goal however, is to persuade buyers to get off the fence by bolsting about the positive strides we're making in our Miami real estate market, to ensure they take advantage of what is available NOW, but which will not last too much longer. 

Remember, we've been at this for arguably about 3 years and in my opinion, we may have 6 months to a year more to go, if that long at all.

You see, overall, and although inventories have continued to rise over the last 6 months, we have also seen a steady increase in the number of sold properties as well as those pending (under contract). 

Katy Sorenson, District 8 Commissioner, will be hosting a FREE Hurricane Preparedness Workshop this weekend.  In partnerships with the Village of Palmetto Bay and Town of Cutler Bay, this workshop will include safety tips and free giveaways to all attendees.  Max Mayfield, former Director of the National Hurricane Center, will be the featured speaker.  For more information, see the Press Release or call Commisioner Sorenson's office at 305-378-6677.

There will also be a supply of high-efficiency showerheads at the event, so bring your old showerheads to trade.

See you there!

So how many caught the June 4th launch of Discovery Channel's Planet Green - a 24 hour "eco-lifestyle" television network?  One of the programs, Greenovate, has actually been around for a while; first on Discovery Channel then on TLC.  It is similar in format to "This Old House" or other home improvement/remodeling shows, but with a "green" twist.  I particular like the emphasis on increased re-sale value, in addition to environmental sustainability and utility savings.

I had a great time today at the Miami Herald building in Pembroke Pines with Coldwell Banker's Jay Chernoff and Duff Rubin.  I know I learned a great deal from them and enjoyed asking them questions.  As promised I have included my presentation with links to local commercial organizations as well as websites for commercial properties listing services.

Our Senior VP of Member Relations Maureen Levine always does an excellent job with these FREE events.

It follows you everywhere and can make or break your career. It can be your most valuable asset or your costliest liability. It can take years to build and only a few moments to destroy. As a real estate professional, guarding and protecting your reputation is likely the smartest business decision you'll ever make.

In addition to your personal integrity and principles, the business partnerships you form also reflect on your reputation. That's why it is important to carefully choose the people, businesses and service providers with whom you network. Their goals, values and business philosophies should closely mirror your own so that these associations work to enhance your valuable reputation, not diminish it.

The bottom line is that the service providers you choose for your clients should guard their reputations as zealously as you guard your own. To best protect your reputation, choose business partners who have excellent reputations themselves.

Staying on track during listing presentationscan be tough when sellers have so many things on their mind.  They are worried about how long the sale will take, what kind of a price their property will command, what direction the market is moving, how much will the sale cost, what is the net profit or loss figure and lots more. 

I usually report on local events, but the news that Global Green USA’s first green house in hurricane ravaged New Orleans has been completed is cause for celebration. 

From the May 15 press release:

With interest rates beginning to climb we are now seeing a reduction in inventory levels and an increase of multiple offers on properties.  You may ask why is this important?  It means that buyers are beginning to recognize that even if prices were to decline a small percentage over the next few months, their monthly mortgage payments could increase -which in turn means they can afford less when selecting their new home.  I just completed my monthly market update for selected areas of the county.  Go to my newsletter to read the local market conditions on www.FergusonMovesRealty.com  or send me an email for a specific neighborhood and I will be happy to provide a free analysis.  From what I am seeing it is occuring mostly around West Miami and North Miami.  However, I've had a couple of multiple offer situations on South Beach. Is anyone else experiencing multiple offers?

According to NuWire Investor, Miami is named #6 in the Top 10 places to buy vacation rental homes in the United States. We all know the combination of sun, sand, and ocean create the perfect location for a second home or investment property; especially if it is on Miami Beach.  I read that in 2007 we posted record numbers for tourism in Miami-Dade County and are up by 3.3% over 2006 and I am seeing an increase of buyers for second home or investment purposes for condos that are either beach or bay front - 2  to 3 bedroom units.  Is anyone else seeing an increase in a particular area of the county for second homes?

Taking a breather from glob-trotting, Kevin Brass, reporter for the International Herald Tribune, shared his real estate insights with the attendees at the International Real Estate Congress at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, Florida.  Citing London and Spain as "Cold" spots, Brass also discussed his "Danger" and "Interesting" markets - Brass provided additional points of view to the international real estate markets.

Kevin Brass can be found in the International Herald Tribune's weekly properties section on Fridays.  Be  sure to visit the IHT's property blog"Raising the Roof" at:  http://blog.iht.com/tribtalk/properties/roof/

Attendee:  Attached is Kevin's presentation that willbe available until July 11th.

Opening day for the International Real Estate Congress at the Biltmore Hotel featured MichaelZellner, Editorial Director for Latin Trade- magazine and on-line publication.  Citing Miami's strengths and weakneses, Zellner concluded that Miami's connection to Venezuela, Ecuador and Argentina will continue to grow; Global slowdown will be offset by Latin American shoppers; and more trade willmean more business for Miami.

Attendees: Michael Zellner's presentation is attached and will be available until July 11th.

Speaking before Realtors attending The International Real Estate Congress at the Biltmore Hotel, Dr. Lawrence Yun said "Home prices in South Florida "easily" could be 20 to 30 percent higher by 2013.  Yun is the chief economist for the National Association of Realtors.  Yun called 2008 a "year of cleanup" and says the second half will be better than the first because mortgage markets are improving nationwide and across South Florida.

Attendees: Dr. Yun's presentation is attached and be available until July 11th.

Hi, this is Mary G. again. I was reading RAMB's blog about free wind inspection that may save Home Owners money on their insurance policies. I hope this will help me as well. I called this morning to make an appointment and I am patiently waiting for someone to call me back SOON! I have been insured with Liberty Mutual for at least 10 years and I recently received a letter saying that they will not renew my Homeowners Policy when it expires in a couple of months. Just the thought is soooo scary.

I will let you readers know what happens as soon as I know how this Wind Inspection will help me with my new policy with another company. Stay Dry! L8R.

Prices in the Miami area plunge every month. Short sale and foreclosure rise everyday. The overall economic has been greatly affected. Many Middle class and professional people have been affected by the market and economic downturn. Like one lawyer said he felt very poor these days. I met many doctors' homes were under foreclosure. How to survive this tidal wave? How to live lean and mean? What to spend and what to cut?

According to Trendgraphixs, 988 homes were for sale in the month of April in Coconut Grove, that represents a decline of 14 homes compared to March, 2008.  In April, 23 houses sold and 33 went under contract. The median price was $499,000 and median days on the market was 121.  Based on the number of houses that went under contract in April, the inventory in the "Grove" is 29.9 months, down from 33.4 months.  I have noticed that calls and showings are picking up and buyers are more determined to "make the move".

The Brookings Institution, a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, DC, has just issued a report (based on 2005 data) ranking the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale area at 28 out of the 100 largest metropolitan areas for best overall carbon footprint.  We ranked ahead of all other Florida cities included in the study.  The Tampa/St. Pete/ Clearwater area ranked 47th, while Sarasota/Bradenton/Venice and Jacksonville were towards the bottom with 81 and 80 respectively.  Cape Coral/Ft. Myers ranked 70, Palm Bay/Melbourne/Titusville scored a 59, and Orlando came in at 54.  Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, along with several other Florida cities, did even better in the portion of the study that examined only per capita carbon emissions from residential use.

Last month I had the opportunity to go to the Bank Atlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida to see Bruce Springstein in concert. The Bank Atlantic Center is a large, beautiful arena located in Southwest Florida. I have attended many shows there and have not been disappointed yet. Though I was not a big Bruce Springstein fan, I was a huge fan of The Sopranos. Imagine my surprise to find that Sylvio, Mafia hit man on the Sopranos, was actually a musician and a member of Bruce Springstein’s E-Street Band. It was such fun to watch him dueling guitars with Bruce, rather than dueling guns with Mafia targets on The Sopranos.

Many people think of New York and LA as cities with great entertainment, and they certainly are, but South Florida really holds it's own! My family recently went to see "Wicked" at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, a smaller, more upscale and intimate venue than the Bank Atlantic Center. We were blown away by the performance! Last weekend my mother and daughter went to see "Twelve Angry Men" at the Broward Center and loved that as well.

SAVE HUNDREDS ON YOUR HOMEOWNER'S INSURANCE

A new law, SB  2860, was signed today by Governor Crist requiring that beginning in 2010 houses insured by Citizens Property Insurance for more than $500,000 in the wind borne debris region MUST disclose the home's windstorm rating at the real estate closing.  This means these homeowners HAVE to complete the windstorm mitgation inspection prior to selling their homes.