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.

Enjoy the Classic Miami Experience in the Van Ness Building!

Think Miami and you probably think Art Deco. Or if you don’t think Art Deco, you probably think Ocean Drive, or maybe even South Beach itself. But Art Deco, Ocean Drive and South Beach just yards away, this new condo listing is just pure Miami class!

One of just 33 apartments in the beautifully maintained Van Ness building on Ocean and 14th street is yours to buy!

There was a time when this classic apartment building stood alone on Ocean Drive, archives from the University of Miami show how it was once just beach, palm trees and the Van Ness Hotel on Ocean Drive. It was a true icon of luxury when it was built in 1931 and it definitely remains one now, with its beautifully preserved Art Deco character and large heated pool. Ocean Drive has evolved into a classy neighbourhood full of sophisticated bars and restaurants and Versace’s mansion is just a couple of blocks away. This really is the definition of glamorous living!

The apartment for sale is a cute fully furnished one bedroom unit, your prefect, ready-to-go beach pad! Listed at $229,000.

This truly is a special opportunity! Contact Kelly to arrange to see this rarely available piece of Miami glamour!

Celebrate next St. Patrick’s Day in County Miami!

If you are considering a move from Ireland to the US, why not come to County Miami? Miami may not be known for its Irish population, but it has everything that a self-respecting Irish person needs to enjoy St. Patrick’s Day and beyond! And it’s a million miles from the wet weather and economic gloom of the Emerald Isle.

You won’t need to abandon your jig practice to start with. The Breffni Academy of Irish Dancing in North Miami trains dancers of all ages and levels for feises all over the world.

If you enjoy the Cheltenham Festival, have no fear, there are plenty of dog and horse racing events at courses close to Miami, perfect for the cheeky flutter! Golfers are also exceptionally well catered for. There are 1,261 courses in Florida – that’s more than four times the number in the whole of Ireland (300).

Don’t worry about missing the soccer, 6 nations or the Gaelic Games either – subscription services can bring them right to your home. Or you can go to one of the Irish bars in South Beach – Waxy O’Connor’s, Finnegan’s and The Playwright regularly show European sports. There are occasional Irish Traditional music sessions at Waxy’s in Brickell also.

Just like any decent town back in Ireland, you’ll find a Catholic church not too far from the pub. There is a massive Latin population in Miami, so if you fancy something a bit different for St. Patrick’s Day, how about going to Mass in Spanish!

For a more traditional St. Patrick Day’s celebration, there is an annual Irish Festival in Coral Gables, which features Irish music, crafts, dancing and a drop of the black stuff. And of course, a few more Guinnesses can be found in Miami’s Irish Bars afterwards.

Property investment was one of the big pastimes in Ireland until a couple of years ago. If you invest here in Miami , you could come back after a few jigs to a fabulous condo looking back towards the Emerald Isle. You’ll find beautiful ocean views in The Blue Diamond or The Green Diamond. A couple of sea front condos. It’s only 4,014 miles to Mizen Head, Co Cork!

So, go on, go on, go on, go on, go on... Make your lucky leap in the capable hands of Kelly Charles, the specialist in Miami real estate for overseas investors. Spend next Paddy’s Day in the sunshine with a few more freckles! Sláinte!

Winter Music Conference 2011

It’s a great week to glam up and party hard in Miami! Winter Music Conference is here! The WMC was established in 1985, bringing together the best house and electronic music DJs. There are parties everywhere, on beaches, by pools, in normally vacant hotel lobbies. Even stores are hiring DJs to spin discs to cater for the massive influx of party people for the weekend. Last year 100,000 people attended the event.

The party people certainly go about town in style. Bentleys, Ferraris and Hummers liberally sprinkle the main drags of Washington Ave and Collins Ave and girls walk around town on skyscraper shoes so high they need planning permission.
Designer shoes are not the only glamorous skyscrapers in Miami right now, there are plenty of luxe pads with spectacular views for a superstar DJ or clubber to throw the perfect party either before or after a hard night in the club. It could be your very own private rooftop pool at The W or the more affordable, always fun Roney Palace.

Picking the coolest club is a tough challenge for a WMC attendee, with over 400 events going on. The biggest nights promise to be in Downtown Miami at Club Space, at the Pool Bar at the Shelbourne in the Art Deco District and at the now legendary Nikki Beach, right on the beach close to South Pointe. But with DJ delegates representing music from Industrial German Techno to Latino House and everything in between, if electronic music your thing, you’ll find your heaven at the Miami Winter Music Conference!

Miami Beach Market Report, November 2010

As of November 4, 2010 there are 1468 condominiums and 380 single family homes for sale in the Miami Beach, 33139, 33140 and 33141 zip codes.*

Of these 3% are bank owned properties and 14% are short sales.

The lowest priced property currently on the market is a 295 sq foot hotel unit at The All Seasons Hotel on 3621 Collins Avenue for $42,000.

The highest priced condominium unit for sale is a 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom, penthouse suite at The Setai, 101 20th Street, with 6,209 square feet listed for $27,000,000. A 7 bedroom, 8 bathroom single family home at 5800 North Bay Road is listed for sale at $29,000,000.

The year so far: January 2010 – November 2010; has seen the sale of 916 condominium units in the Miami Beach region. This is a 24% increase on the 740 condominium units that sold in Miami Beach during the same period last year. There has been a 13% increase in the number of single family homes sold this year over the same period last year, with 171 closed sales.

A bank owned studio at 818 Pennsylvania Avenue sold in September for $31,500. A 10 bedroom, 12 bathroom waterfront estate at 88 La Gorce Island sold for $16,000,000 after 287 days on the market and an original list price of $19,500,000. Of all condominium sales in Miami Beach, the median sales price is $269 per square foot with an average listing period of 84 days. For single family homes the median selling price this year is $284 per square foot with 120 days on the market.

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

Report produced by Kelly Charles of Gary Hennes Realtors.
786 469 9594. contact@kellycharles.com