Royal Wedding Fever in the Miami Heat!

Everyone loves an excuse for a party in Miami! And what better one could there be than the society event of the decade – the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton on April 29!

Typical of Miami, you can choose the perfect party to meet your Royalist needs!

If classic Miami glam with a British twist sounds like your thing, The National Hotel is hosting a breakfast viewing party complete with Full English at its oceanfront location right in the heart of the Art Deco district in South Beach. With live BBC and BBC America coverage, from 6 to 11 am, you can be sure that in the luxurious surroundings of their Blues Bar, you'll be rubbing shoulders with true Miami royalty. Dress up well to be in for a chance of the Best Kate Hat spot prize! If you’re not an early riser, don’t despair - they’ll loop the coverage through the day so you can sip your Kir Royale and get your fill of glam at any time! Contact The National Hotel to reserve tickets at $24 each.

If you want to celebrate the pomp and circumstance with an old-fashioned Afternoon High Tea, complete with proper British brew, pastries and champagne, check out The Biltmore in Coral Gables. Starting at the civilised time of 1pm, the screening will be accompanied by an informal fashion show of Nordstrom wedding attire. During the event, The Bilmore will be launching their nationwide contest, “Marry me in Miami!”, the winners getting their very own Royal Wedding – a $150,000 dream do at The Biltmore. Contact pr@biltmorehotel.com to reserve your ticket at $30 each.

If you want to want to make your whole family more Royal, then Veronica’s Dollshouse Boutique in South Miami is offering High Tea and etiquette training, along with a screening of the wedding and all sorts of traditional English frivolities for all the family. Perfect for budding Princes and Princesses of all ages! Purchase your tickets online – tickets are limited!

After a right Royal knees-up, remember that Kelly is the Best of British for all your real luxury estate requirements in Miami. Click here to search for a Miami pad fit for a Princess!

Whatever you end up doing, be sure to raise a glass to toast the happiness of good ol’ Wills n’ Kate on April 29!

A Dream Walk on Ocean Drive

It’s hard to walk along Ocean Drive without being accosted by glamorous hostesses, trying to tempt passing tourists with drinks and food offers. All sorts of entertainment can be found on the strip, ranging from table top dancing by nubile dancers ( both male and female) at Mango’s, or checking out the bikini body contests at the MTV-famous, Clevelander or upping it in the class stakes with a smart cocktail at The Tides and much more besides. This weekend the Miami Beach Gay Pride Festival dominated the strip, with classic 50s cars and a celebration that in Miami Beach you can live your life and be the person you truly are!

A strange thing about Ocean Drive is that although all the events and madness go on, it is pretty easy to escape. If you aren’t in the mood for the bar life, then just cross the street and you find yourself strolling the promenade amongst the palm trees, watching the beautiful people weave between pedestrians skilfully on their rollerblades. Or the inept tourist riders doing their best on segway scooters. From this side of the street, it is easier to appreciate the beautiful architecture of the Art Deco buildings that line the strip.

After your gentle stroll, imagine being able to just walk in off a quiet part of Ocean Drive, into one of its classic Art Deco buildings, and call it your home. With a rarely available apartment for sale in the 1931 Van Ness building – your Ocean Drive dreams could come true! Contact Kelly today to arrange your viewing!

www.BritishMiamiRealtor.com

Maple Leaves and Palm Trees – Canada Comes to Miami!

Are you a Canadian thinking of buying property in the USA? Or even moving from Canada to the USA?

South Florida, and Miami, in particular has long been a favourite of Canadian snowbirds and full time immigrants.

“I love it here in Miami,” says Leon, a banker from Montreal, who has lived in Miami for the last ten years, “People here are so healthy, laid back and happy. My friends from home love visiting me here, especially when it’s winter back home. It’s so sunny and tropical here, and it’s exotic too. I even get to speak French with the Haitians who live here. I love it!”

Recently with the weakening of the US dollar and the decline in the US property market, Canadians have been finding fantastic deals on condos, apartments and single family residences in the Miami real estate market. There are some truly fabulous pieces of sunshine to be found at the moment! Check out The Mirador on the chic West Avenue in South Beach, or it's swanky neighbor The Mondrian!

However, there are signs that the real estate market is changing...
“Now, with the American economy and employment gaining strength, home sales should pick up and put a floor under soft prices,” said Sal Guatieri, senior economist, BMO Bank of Montreal, speaking in a recent interview published in the Vancouver Sun. “We expect prices to rise over time as the overhang of unsold homes eases.” He also expects the US dollar to strengthen, which would add to the investment potential for Canadians who buy real estate now.

So now’s the time to swap the maple leaves for palm trees and the white snow for white sand!

Contact Kelly to see what Miami has to offer you!

Or search for Miami Beach properties on www.BritishMiamiRealtor.com

Miami Beach Property Market Report for Quarter 1, January 1st-March 31st 2011

Currently there are a total of 2732 active listings in the MLS (multiple listings service) in the Miami Beach region. This includes condominiums and single family homes.

Of these 14% (380) are listed as short sales and 2.4% (66) are ‘REO’ or bank owned.
There have been 730 reported closed sales in the MLS for the first quarter of 2011. This is a 20% increase over the 608 reported sales for the same period last year.

Comparison of Number of Homes and Condominiums sold during Quarter 1 of 2011 v 2010, By Location

Comparison of Median Selling Price per Square Foot ($) during Quarter 1 of 2011 v 2010, By Location


*All numbers and data in this report are pulled from the MLS (multiple listing service) and do not include sales directly by owner.

For further information on the property market or if you are interested in buying or selling, contact Kelly for assistance.