Archive for the ‘Miami Condos’ Category

Take Precautions on Miami Real Estate Foreclosure Scams

Friday, June 6th, 2008

If you drive past Miami this recent few weeks you might see the signs that are obvious in the streets. Clearly their message are heard, bold letters that saying: Stop Foreclosures or Done Lose Your Homes, and if you find yourself on the short end of a Miami-Dade county foreclosure proceeding, you might stop and listen. It is a critical part of our market nowadays, and we can’t really just complain about it at least we have to do something about it. There are a lot of scam artists out there. It sickens me to think that people whose homes are being foreclosed on are easy prey for these scams. Why don’t we kick them while they’re down, right? It’s wrong! It’s unscrupulous. And it’s being done all over the country not just here in Palmetto Bay and the Redland. And the worst thing it is happening face to face.

If you caught yourself in the midst of a foreclosure preceding it is almost certain that you’ve received letters from individuals and firms letting you know that they can help you avoid foreclosure, that is just the way it is, because a foreclosure proceeding begins with a Lis Pendens, which is recorded by the Miami-Dade Clerk of Courts and makes your name and address a matter of public record, so you know people will know it most likely. As if that were not enough, there are signs posted all over Miami that claim they can help you save your home. Before you call anyone, please arm yourself with some information. Be informed that there are people who will help you and some that will just help themselves.

To sum this people up, there will be some of these people will tell you that they will work with the bank on your behalf. Some will ask you to mail them whatever payments you can afford as they work out a payment plan to get you back on track. Some may even convince you to sign over the deed to your home under the pretense that it’s required in order for them to be able to help you. Well, my advise, don’t do it. It is just a part of a process and you might be in the lines of scamming. If you’ve fallen behind on your mortgage payments but the bank has not yet started the foreclosure process, the worst thing you can do is avoid the bank’s phone calls and ignore their letters. Banks are more likely to try to work out a mutual arrangement today more than ever before. It’s just a way to make things easier for you.

However, if you find yourself in an adjustable rate mortgage that is about to reset it’s quite possible that the bank will work with you to get you a rate that is fixed and works for you. What have you got to lose by trying? If you don’t speak with your lender, they can’t help you. So when you pick up the phone in an attempt to get some help for your mortgage woes, make sure you’re calling your lender instead of some scam artist just out to rip you off. So although the Miami real estate foreclosure market is getting such significant rise, it’ll be the best if you can at least be knowledgeable on these issues to further learn more.

Jron Magcale
Miami Real Estate

Miami Beach Condo

Monday, June 2nd, 2008

Miami Condos
Miami Beach has always been a favorite pass spot for many of the locals and external individuals. The tropical status is perfect for those who wish to enjoy the white, sandy beach the Algonquin is known for. The sights and sounds around the area, as well as the advertizement and recreation areas also add to its popularity.

This is one of the reasons ground Algonquin Beach home is a bounteous hit, and is till is despite the current status of its real realty market. Ever since 2006, the mart declined as the number of foreclosed units increased. This is practically cod to the devaluation of the U.S. currency, as well as the soaring welfare rates during the mortgage assail that hit the nation.

The Popularity Of Condominiums

As expected from being a municipality of tourists, the condos in Algonquin Beach can only be described as luxurious. Each suite has its possess balcony that overlooks the beauty of Algonquin Beach, Florida.

The interior of the condos are fully furnished, ranging from beds to kitchen utensils and from recreation systems to laundry – everything is provided for the convenience and richness of its occupant. Also, the building itself is never without its additional services for their tenants. Swimming pools, 24-hour service desk, security, fitness and recreation lounges, restaurant, and so on, are pronto available for use.

The South Beach regularise of the municipality holds high-rise condos, which is quite famous for expatriates and corporate individuals. The Atlantic around these high-rise, expensive condos offers recreational areas and advertizement facilities, such as boutiques, fine-dining restaurants, recreation complex, and, of course, the awful Art Deco district.

The Mortgage Bust

It is genuine that there has been a major decline in home acquisition in Algonquin Beach, different the time during mart boom in 2005. Foreign investors are now attractive the advance in home acquisition, as the locals are backing out cod to the rising prices and the high welfare rates of many financial loans in the city.

Ever since the mortgage bust, many financial lenders are become stricter in their mortgage policies, and coupled with high welfare rates, made it almost impracticable for the locals to get their hands on a decent loan for home acquisition. The devaluation of the U.S. nowness is not serving the matter out either.

But despite these hindrances in the real realty market, home acquisition is ease on the rise cod to external customers. The Europeans are enjoying the inflation of their nowness value, thusly finding these Algonquin Beach condos quite affordable for the taking. And since they hit their possess financial assistance in their specific countries, they are not strained by the soaring welfare rates that gripped Algonquin Beach.

It is genuine that the condominium mart in Algonquin Beach is not as good as what the Atlantic experience in 2005, but the rising popularity and the increasing, yet low, real realty mart is a sign of recovery in the next some months.

Vanessa Arellano Doctor
Downtown Miami Condos
Miami Condos

Miami Pre-Construction Market Shows Promise

Wednesday, May 28th, 2008

Miami’s high end real estate market has been stepping up in its game trying to be more productive as they can try to be ready for the bust or boom state of their market. Right now they are holding pre-construction market for potential buyers so that they can easily made some sure shots on building their projects. It is believed that investing on pre-construction properties have a guarantee that you can earn as much as 10%-30% of your money invested in the property, it is a strategy that most investors are trying to incorporate right now, because as we all know the market overall is a sketchy state so strategizing is significant. If you drive in Miami you’ll get to witness the pre-construction phase of some buildings and some ads on where to contact them or whatnot.

Actually it is clever to try to invest on these high-end properties/condos that are in the pre-construction phase. On high-end markets, you can spend as low as $150-250K as initial investment and double it once the building is done and finished. It is wise to use your business instinct. There are a lot of sexy and attractive condo buildings that are proposed and have a potential to be sold on a high price. Just keep in mind that you have to be good on decision making because investing in these markets are different on normal investing. There are factors which are to be considered and the options here are also important it is significant to keep an eye on it and try to make some difference as well.

Gunning on the real estate side also plays significant role as we have to be aware on what market to target, for years there are a lot of buildings that are constructed and have been tagged as investment hot spots. So you have to know your area and its potential before you release those checks up. The pre-construction market is really risky but it is one of those high-risk, high-rewards markets that you can find out there. In some more ways than we consider it is important to rely on the marketing strategy that works. Doing extra research on potential investment is critical so you know what you’re getting your money’s worth.

So far the evolution of the market is having some stopovers that are being present to our eyes and having the benefit of having time to know about the market’s structure. In Miami’s pre-construction market there are a lot to be excited for, mainly because in 2-3 years the progress of the market will be known and I project that it’ll be a good forecast. Not being biased butt I think nothing lasts forever so whatever drought, decline or bust that we are facing it’ll be just a matter of time till we can recover again and exceed expectations in positive way.

Jron Magcale
Miami Real Estate

Miami Condo Real Estate Trying to Make Some Difference

Wednesday, May 21st, 2008

Is it a national phenomenon that the South Florida has become the poster child for the condo craze; other markets are experiencing plenty of construction activity. It is heavily favored that the market is having a down time. Jack McCabe has a sure-fire way to make a killing in Florida real estate. No, he’s not joining the throng of speculators in downtown Miami who are snapping up blocks of condominiums in hopes of flipping the properties quickly. And no, the real estate analyst from Deerfield Beach, Fla., isn’t acquiring apartments in order to convert them to condos for a handsome profit. Instead McCabe has other things in mind.

He wants to raise several hundred million dollars for what they all call a “vulture” fund that plans to snap up distressed condos in Florida within 12 to 15 months maybe sooner. If the numbers are good, of course, much depends on when the high-octane condo investment market begins to run out of gas. It is a good plan and probably has a high chance of being a positive note in the future. Like everybody else, McCabe just wants to be positive when almost everyone else is in a negative thinking. Right now, the highly anticipated plan is on the process. The real estate market right now, especially the condo market is facing the bust side of the cycle and is not faring up well.

McCabe, who has encountered everyone from taxi drivers to dentists jumping into the condo investment arena, said that “It’s clearly a problem waiting to happen when you see these unsophisticated people get into this risky business.” It is notoriously known that Miami is the kingpin when it comes to new condo construction. Developers plan to add more than 70,000 new condo units to the area over the next three years, and don’t be mistaken it is a fact. That’s nearly three times the number of condo units that have been built in Miami over the last three years.

Well as everybody knows, Florida is certainly no stranger to condo booms and subsequent busts. In the mid-1980s, for example, offshore investors ditched their condo deposits after an economic downturn swept through Latin America. The banks that inherited these condos through foreclosure were forced to significantly discount the properties prior to sale. Developers typically use the proceeds from the sale of each condo unit to repay their construction loans. It is safe to say that Miami condo real estate is trying to make strides in order to make a difference, everybody is trying something else to have at least a little development and progress. Sure it is a cycle but the question is how long will the bust stay before the boom comes back once again?

Jron Magcale
Miami Condos

Miami Real Estate Relying to Foreigners to Make Progress

Friday, May 9th, 2008

We are in a state where our market is in a low state. Every state in the nation is having the crisis and it is important to rely to other methods for our market’s salvation. Real estate agents are increasingly courting foreigners to buy real estate properties in the USA that I heard. Hiring agents fluent in other languages, marketing to foreign buyers and in some cases, offering to pay the airfare and hotel bills of foreign shoppers who buy a home, if the going get tough of course. The agents are eager to win the business of foreign investors who are swooping in to buy property in the USA as home prices plummet and the dollar’s weak value produces eye-popping deals for international buyers.

The National Association of Realtors estimates Because of the sinking value of the U.S. dollar relative to other currencies, a home bought by a foreigner comes with a discount averaging 30%.. Between April 2006 and April 2007, about 30% of foreign buyers came from Europe, according to an NAR survey. Activity is especially busy in affluent cities such as New York and in warm-weather vacation destinations such as Miami and San Diego. Many of these investors, Realtors say, are buying homes as vacation retreats. Nearly one-third of Realtors reported in that survey is having had business with foreign buyers.

Monique Burger of Belgium, who’s buying a Miami Beach vacation condo for $270,000, “With these prices, you can’t say no.” she added “With the low dollar against the euro, it helps. And the low housing prices made us want to buy.” Miami is always the best place to have a home with, especially on vacations. It is quite important to know the basics of the market and Miami as most foreigners know, have the best location out there. People are thinking that places such as Miami are having the setback because the real estate has become awfully depleted in the past few months. 2 Years ago the market is in the boom stage but now that they are trying very hard to maintain.

Miami is always been known to be one of the best market in terms of vacation destination, the perfect weather, the nice beachfront properties and everything in the area that contributes on how good Miami is in terms of real estate. Furthermore I think that the majority of the market’s state relies entirely on the market’s movement and progress, if you look closely to it you will see that the market striving to make some progress but like everything else it is in a shallow status. But do not worry. Instead be optimistic on the things to come. Miami real estate will get up on its feet soon enough.

Jron Magcale
Miami Real Estate

All Eyes on the Miami Real Estate Condo Market

Thursday, May 8th, 2008

The ever rising situation out there are getting a bigger and bigger attention from the media, as we all know the market of real estate in Miami has dipped significant number that we all have to be aware on it as well. There are reports about the sharp drop that have lured bargain hunters from around the world, but experts warn prices could drop even further. Miami has a new vice: bottom-fishing for condo bargains. Yes, I think that there is really some potential on this. As I’ve learned there are a lot of things to consider and one of them is this growing trend.

Reports around the market have instructed us to see that home buyers from around the U.S. and abroad are descending on Florida to buy condominiums that have suffered sharp price drops amid the housing glut, sub-prime-mortgage crisis and credit crunch. Some are searching for investment properties, confident that home prices eventually will rebound. Others are hunting for vacation or retirement homes. Yet pitfalls abound, and experts warn that prices could dip even further. It is obvious and I think the majority of the belief in the nation is there will be continuous drop in prices as we move further.
For example, in hard-hit Miami-Dade County, condos originally costing as much as $1.4 million at the peak of the market now sell in some cases for $840,000, a 40% drop. Farther north, a coming auction at Solaire at the Plaza, a new condo tower in downtown Orlando, has set a minimum selling price of $170,000 on 24 one-bedroom units once priced as high as $296,000. The prices are getting cooler and that is luring some more potential home buyers and investors to the area. It is very much known and it’s growing every time.
Throughout the year, especially in the first quarter of this year, such price drops have people like Bruce and Suzanne Bowen of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and stalking deals. The Bowens have visited Miami three times since November to scout for properties, and recently bought a two-bedroom, 1,200-square-foot unit on a high floor with water views in Miami’s fashionable Brickell district. The Bowens made their move after prices in the building fell to $290 a square foot from nearly $400 in September. Now, the couple is looking for a second condo. It is such a normal thing considering the high possibility of this trend to be in the market for quite a few more months.
Jron Magcale
Miami Condos

Focusing on Miami Condo Market’s State

Wednesday, May 7th, 2008

We all know the growing trend that surrounds the Miami condo market and sometimes it picks us to the brain as we have to be aware on its rise and fall. The Miami condominium market has been good to real-estate investors. It has been reported that in 2004, the median sales price of an existing condominium surpassed that of a single-family home for the first time, according to the National Association of Realtors. Seriously it is just about time that we give it a look and get some necessary attention the Miami’s condo market.

This trend has held steady so far through 2005: The median sale price of a condo was $213,600 in September, compared with a median price of $212,200 for a single-family home, NAR reports. It is known that throughout the nation every condo in Miami has been something that people are looking at more than residential. Why not? Well for starters, it is the hottest thing out there in the market. The market for condos remains strong — condo-sales activity in September was 10.2% higher than the same month last year. But some question whether it will last.

Chip Brown, senior vice president and co-director of production of CWCapital, a national multifamily and commercial real-estate lender based in Needham, Mass. Speaking of his firm says, “There’s a lot of supply, and the demand has been significantly supported by speculative buyers rather than occupants,” says he says, “We’ve gone from being selective to extraordinarily selective in thinking about financing condo projects.” Right now, lenders are investing on it relentlessly and have been on its tail for quite sometime. Reality states that the majority of people are likely to invest on sexy picks such as the condo market than the residential.

For now I think that the market is condos hottest mark has been years back, but right now it is in the shaky stages, but have no fear because it will have progress sooner than you ever think it will be. It is more of a guessing game but the signs are positive in a way. It’ll not take long but what Miami condo real estate market has right now is definitely something we need to keep an eye into and consider as well. Let’s be honest we are all expecting a turn out and hoping for a better forecast maybe we’ll soon have that on a better state.

Jron Magcale
Miami Condos

Coral Gabbles Real Estate Boasts its Historical Front to Attract People

Tuesday, May 6th, 2008

City Beautiful, as they call it Coral Gables or most famous as The Gables, is known as one of the oldest planned communities in Miami, incorporated way back in 1925 and well known for its Mediterranean-styles architectural structures, The Gables is home to almost 43,000 residents who all share the same passion in making their city as beautiful as it can be. The great historical landmarks probably gets most of the people’s attention, but don’t count the nice elegant homes that are lined with the beautiful canopy tree coverings, also The Gables is known to be the home campus of University of Miami and probably that is one factor why Coral Gables is well known.

So what it is about the city’s Canopy trees? Well it makes most of the attractive of settings of The Gables, the excellent landscaping of the city is poured with Canopy trees that aligned with the city well. The 13.3 square miles that outlines the city has about 50,000 Canopy trees that shades the city. The Gables also have about 22 parks and approximately 33 Tennis Courts and its 2 public golf courses are another attraction for golf enthusiasts. The city’s great waterways has an advantage as well, because The Gables is known for its 36 miles of waterways they boasts a lot of boating facilities which people will have a great time having fun with.

The Gables have the European Old World thing going on in its setting which makes it very nice to live in, tourists loves the scenery and what it offers. They attract a lot of tourists and people who consider
The Gables to be called as home love the experience of being in the community. Coral Gables real estate is quickly becoming one of Florida’s main attractions. I love the way people appreciate the place, the residential, commercial areas, and business districts in the area are doing good despite the obvious crisis the nation is encountering. Investors are also focusing their eyes on potential properties that they can invest well. There are developers already that are making some marks when it comes to the city’s real estate side.

Truly Coral Gables is a place where we can be proud of its history, more to a fact that The Gables are one of Florida’s nicest places to spend vacations, visit or live with. One thing that we need to keep in mind when it comes to the real estate side of the city is that your investment here will not be wasted, in fact it’s a good investment, the way Coral Gables is painted in the canvass of Florida is exquisite the way they preserved their history and the establishments they have, well it’s safe to say that despite the bust The Gables are in good pace.

Jron Magcale
Miami Condos Miami Real Estate

Miami Real Estate Shows Positive Vibrations

Monday, May 5th, 2008

People are keen whether the market have made some significant moves in the past few months, well the truth is there has been some rumored increase of the buyers activity in the Miami-Dade County since the start of the year, We all noticed that progress is evident and potential is really high. You might ask where this confidence came from did. Well for the past 2 months, I can’t attribute it strictly to the amendment 1 voting. That took place at the end of January and we noticed the shift at the beginning. It is really alive and although some signs are pointing elsewhere I think the majority of the experts, my colleagues of course are seeing a different route for our market. It’s been really a not so bright market this year but potential is there.

That took place at the end of January and we noticed the shift at the beginning. Were home buyers starting to gain confidence knowing that the vote was coming up and things might start picking up afterwards? Listen to me please, by the time this happens, it will be too late to have gotten the lowest price. By the time one realizes, “oh, we’ve hit the bottom,” it will be because we’re on the rebound again and prices have started to climb back up. I do think the buyers that are out there right now are fully aware that this is a great time to be buying a home in Miami. Home prices will not continue on a downward spiral forever. At some point the market will shift and the trend will be an upwards one.

In real estate, as in the stock market, you can analyze all you want, but the truth remains that the only way to tell the very peak of a market or the absolute lowest point is in hindsight. Miami will continue to draw people here with its vibrant joie de vivre, cultural events, melting pot diversity, ever-increasing high quality restaurants, and let’s face it, the jewel in Miami’s crown, the weather, which makes for a different way of life. I was raised in New York City. The fact remains that this is still Miami. And contrary to many of their beliefs, there are those who love living here.
Truly I believe in the saying that Miami real estate isn’t dead, Miami is still moving in a good pace and it will be on the rise soon enough, we don’t have to worry about the decline, we have the resources, the location, the weather and most importantly the potential. It is really a good thing that the Miami real estate market has some signs of positive movement because more or less we are in a drought nationally and with a little hope we can be on par with the forecast.

Jron Magcale
Miami Real Estate

Mexico’s Real Estate Market Stable and Doing Fine

Tuesday, April 29th, 2008

In this part of Mexico, real estate is big business. Beyond buildings are three recently completed 20-story buildings. Up the beach a few steps are more condos with magical names – Shangri-La, Grand Venetian, Portofino and Bay Grand. Construction goes far beyond the confines of Puerto Vallarta, it is everywhere along this beautiful coast. In the places where it is not yet completed, billboards – in English – announce the imminent arrival of another opportunity to live in unsurpassed luxury and elegance. Even distant Sayulita, the charming, funky surfing town celebrated by Barry Golson in his book Gringos in Paradise, is booming with building. The supply of condos and homes for sale exceeds demand. What that means for anyone who has contemplated a second home in Mexico or retirement in Mexico is simple: A buyer’s market is here or on its way.

In this part of Mexico, real estate is big business. Beyond buildings are three recently completed 20-story buildings. Up the beach a few steps are more condos with magical names – Shangri-La, Grand Venetian, Portofino and Bay Grand. Construction goes far beyond the confines of Puerto Vallarta, it is everywhere along this beautiful coast. In the places where it is not yet completed, billboards – in English – announce the imminent arrival of another opportunity to live in unsurpassed luxury and elegance. Even distant Sayulita, the charming, funky surfing town celebrated by Barry Golson in his book Gringos in Paradise, is booming with building. The supply of condos and homes for sale exceeds demand. What that means for anyone who has contemplated a second home in Mexico or retirement in Mexico is simple: A buyer’s market is here or on its way.

While the number of millionaire households in America has shown stunning growth in the last few years, millionaires are still in short supply relative to the number of luxury opportunities that have been created. It’s good to know, of course, that if a shortage of condos develops in Miami, there’s a backup supply in Puerto Vallarta. The market here isn’t likely to suffer the steep declines we’re seeing in places like San Diego, Las Vegas and Miami. Here’s why. Does this mean a crash is coming to Puerto Vallarta? The average condo resale price rose 79 percent from $196,000 to $351,000 between 2003 and 2007, according to Vallarta Lifestyles, whose current 265-page issue is bursting with real estate ads.

Mexican oceanfront real estate priced in dollars looks a lot less expensive to Europeans than it does to us. The appreciation isn’t so stiff if you pay in euros. The euro has appreciated about 25 percent against the dollar over the same period. Here, property owners are likely to hang tough, waiting for a better market. There will be fewer distress sales. Most homes are purchased for cash. So if speculators have bought houses and condos in Mexico, they’re probably well-financed compared with the folks who used liar loans to borrow their way to bankruptcy in America. Another thing to remember is that Mexico isn’t blessed with our creative financing. Indeed, home mortgages barely exist.

As a result, the supply of houses for sale in PV may increase significantly in the next year or so as Californians look for a source of cash and find it in Mexico. And the majority is from California. I would not be surprised if many of the condos sold in the last few years were purchased with cash from refinancing a house in California. But there’s a reason all those billboards are in English. Americans are the primary buyers in Puerto Vallarta.

Jron Magcale
Miami Condos