Record Sales activity for last 3 years....

Miami, FL – Following record breaking sales activity for nearly three years, the Miami real estate market saw unprecedented growth in the third quarter of 2013 as demand for local real estate and limited supply continue to fuel double-digit growth in prices, according to the 30,000-member MIAMI Association of REALTORS and the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS) systems. Sales, Listings of Homes and Condos Grew There were 8,027 homes and condos sold in Miami-Dade County during the third quarter of 2013. This represented a significant 21.2% and 8.7% increase in the sales of homes and condos, respectively, compared with the same period in 2012. The growth in home sales was driven by a remarkable 89.5% increase in home sales $250,000 to $299,999 and a 67.7% growth in sales $600,000 to $999,999 when compared to the same time in 2012. Meanwhile, condo sales were driven by the 50.8% growth in condo sales $250,000 to $299,999 and a similar surge of 46.9% in condos $400,000 - $599,999 relative to the third quarter of last year. “The surge in sales of Miami homes and condos is driven by a robust demand for real estate from international buyers from worldwide markets – and large numbers of U. S. buyers from other states,” said 2013 Chairman of the Board of the MIAMI Association of REALTORS Natascha Tello. “The third quarter statistics reflect a significant strengthening of our local real estate market with more homes being sold faster than last year.” Nationally, total existing-home sales, including single-family and condos, rose 5.9 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.36 million in the third quarter from 5.06 million in the second quarter, and were 13 percent above the 4.74 million pace during the third quarter of 2012, according to the National Association of Realtors. Statewide closed sales of existing single-family homes totaled 60,661 in the third quarter, up 17.3 percent compared to the year-ago figure, according to the latest housing data release by Florida Realtors. Closed sales of condominiums totaled 27,200, up 11.3 percent compared to 2012. The Miami Association’s initiatives to increase inventory and focus on assisting members to get more listings has made progress along with some additional distressed properties coming on the market. Home and condo listings also grew by double digits in the third quarter. There were 5,937 new single-family home listings during Q3, a growth of 15.3% relative to the same period last year. Meanwhile, new condo listings were stronger with an increase of 20.5% from 6,872 in Q3 2012 to 8,282 this year. Median and Average Sales Prices Continue to Rise In the third quarter, the median sales price for homes in Miami-Dade County was $230,000, an increase of 21.3% compared to last year and 12% relative to the previous quarter. The median sales price for condos rose 26.6% to $183,600 in the third quarter compared to the second quarter of 2013. Third quarter price increases mark seven (7) quarters of increases for both single-family homes and condominiums. In addition, compared to last year, the average sales prices for single-family homes and condominiums increased 8.1% to $381,517 and 19.3% to $329,418, respectively. “Despite more new listings coming on the market, supply remains tight, particularly for properties in lower price points, for current level of demand for Miami properties,” said 2013 MIAMI Association of REALTORS Residential President Fernando I. Martinez. “Robust sales will continue to drive price appreciation in the Miami market.” Nationally, the median sales price of existing single-family homes was $207,300 in the third quarter, up 12.5 percent from the third quarter of 2012. The national median sales price for condominiums was $205,400, a 15.1 percent increase over the previous year. The statewide median sales price for single-family existing homes in the third quarter was $175,000, up 18.6 percent from the same quarter a year ago. The median sales price for condominiums in Florida was up 23.8 percent compared to the same quarter last year at $130,000. Percentage of Cash Sales Declines In the third quarter, 59.3 percent of closed sales were all cash compared to 63.3 percent a year ago. All cash sales were 45 percent of single-family home closings and 71 percent of all condominium sales. Since nearly 90 percent of foreign buyers pay cash, this reflects Miami’s position as a top market for foreign buyers. Miami has a significant percentage of international buyers, generating many more cash transactions than the national average. Home Inventory Moving Rapidly Despite More New Listings Homes were sold much faster during the third quarter of 2013 compared to the previous year. The median duration of a home listing during the last quarter was 37 days compared to 43 days during the same period last year, a significant decrease of 14%. Meanwhile, condo listing durations were comparable to 2012 figures at a median of 46 days compared to 43 last year. Total third quarter active listings in Miami-Dade County totaled 14,273, representing an increase of 14.2 percent. At the current sales pace, this reflects 4.9 months of inventory for single-family homes and 6.3 for condominiums. Months supply of inventory declined 12.5 percent for single-family homes and increased 11 percent for condominiums compared to the third quarter of 2012. 3Q Miami-Dade Statistical Reports Single-Family Homes: http://goo.gl/b5bAI9 Condominiums: http://goo.gl/9ptrbt Note: Statistics in this news release may vary depending on reporting dates. MIAMI reports exact statistics directly from its MLS system. Note: The MIAMI Association of REALTORS and the Southeast Florida Multiple Listing Service are the sources for statistics reported by the National Association of Realtors and Florida Realtors. About the MIAMI Association of REALTORS The MIAMI Association of REALTORS was chartered by the National Association of Realtors in 1920 and is celebrating 93 years of service to Realtors, the buying and selling public, and the communities in South Florida. Comprised of four organizations, the Residential Association, the Realtors Commercial Alliance, the Broward County Board of Governors, and the International Council, it represents more than 30,000 real estate professionals in all aspects of real estate sales, marketing, and brokerage. It is the largest local association in the National Association of Realtors, and has partnerships with more than 100 international organizations worldwide. MIAMI’s official website is www.miamire.com.

Want to be Extremely, Wildly, Radically Successful?

"Whichever adjective you select for the success you’re seeking – extreme, wild, radical – is it really possible that a few tweaks could be all you need to reach these new heights? Last week I read a popular LinkedIn post in which the author, Alex Banayan, promised to disclose “The 5 Traits of Wildly Successful People”. This sounded like a bargain: just 5 steps to wild success. With such straightforward tips – be persistent, ignore convention, be a problem-solver, cut back on sleep, build good relationships – taking life to the next level sounded downright easy. Indeed, countless blog posts list success-ensuring traits, the kinds of virtues or habits everyone should cultivate. Some recipes for success include as few as five ingredients, as did Mr. Banayan’s, or as many as 50. (See the list at the end of this post if you need a “quick success” reading list.). But here’s the thing: Fun as it may be to peruse these lists, simply reading through grab bags of traits and attitudes won’t ensure success in work and life. The very reason success is elusive is that it still requires a lot of hard and often tedious work. Not just daily work at the office, but the constant work of making ourselves into more effective, more adaptable, more thoughtful people. That’s what it means to build character. No secrets here. Just hours, days, months, and years of persistence in doing what matters most, honoring commitments, and working well with others. For over twenty years, I worked closely with Stephen R. Covey, author of “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” – one of the best-selling business books of all time, with 15 million copies sold in 38 languages. Many of today’s list-like blog headlines are derivative of his famous title and insightful suggestions for building a principle-centered life. Stephen – who passed away last year – might have been distressed at how his approach to building habits for successful living has morphed into a cottage industry of those peddling lists of secrets to wild financial windfalls and potent influence. Stephen was not about these ‘ends.’ Instead, he was about being mindful of the person you become on the way there. He celebrated the idea of finding one’s “true north,” the guiding set of ethics and habits through which people develop character. He liked to quote Aristotle on the subject: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act – but a habit.” Covey wasn’t talking low-level habits like brushing your teeth, washing the dishes or showing up early for meetings. His “habits” were ones of character – the kind that take time and repetition to build. Some were about thinking, some were about doing, some were about treating others with respect – but they were all about building character, about doing the right things over and over until they become ingrained -- what Aristotle called the “stable equilibrium of the soul.” Aristotle's notion – the one Covey also espoused – is a profound one. Success in life is rooted in aligning our actions with our values, until our choices flow naturally, and without calculation, from our character. Like everything else worth doing, this is a matter of consistent, determined practice – as unromantic, familiar, and headline-unfriendly a secret as that may be. So, nothing against lists, and nothing against anything that can inspire or help you become more successful. But, in my experience, there are no shortcuts to success." By Joel Peterson Chairman, JetBlue Airways. Stanford Business School! (Article published in LinkedIn.)

About Credit Scores.....

"Your credit score is the single most important factor in determining your mortgage interest rate and monthly payment," said Erin Lantz, director of mortgages at Zillow. "To avoid any surprises when buying a home, check your credit score and report at least six months before you intend to buy to see if there are any costly inaccuracies, pay down high-balance lines of credit and make sure your bills are always paid on time." After doing, all that, try to save more every month to make a bigger down payment. The smaller your loan compared with the home's value, the better your chances of approval. Of course, you can look for a less expensive home as well. But what if you can get approval, but for now would be stuck with a higher rate? Would it make sense to postpone your purchase or refinance until you can nudge your credit score higher? That could be risky. It would be annoying to pay 5% instead of 4.5%, but if you wait six months or a year you might find that those bottom-level rates have gone up. You might end up paying 5% or more even with a score over 740. No one knows for sure, but most experts agree rates will drift up. They're already up quite substantially since spring, when you could get a 30-year fixed loan for 3.5%. Also, home prices will probably continue to rise, though perhaps not as fast as during the past year or so. So even if waiting did get you a lower rate than you'd pay today, that saving might be wiped out by a higher purchase price". Ready to Sell or Purchase? Contact a Real Estate Professional ! Call US ! We are Selling Miami Estates 305-283-5868 Espie Franky

2-5-million-homes-gained-positive-equity-Q2

The number of mortgaged homes where homeowners owed more on their loan than the home was worth dropped by 2.5 million in the second quarter from the the first quarter, to 7.1 million, according to a second-quarter home equity report from CoreLogic. As of the second quarter, 14.5 percent of all residential properties with a loan were underwater — the homeowners owed more on it than it’s worth – down from 19.7 percent in the first quarter. Negative equity nationwide also dropped $148 billion from the first quarter to $428 billion. Of the 41.5 million properties that now have positive equity at the end of the second quarter, 10.3 million were “under-equitied” — had less than 20 percent equity. Some 1.7 million homes had less than 5 percent equity. “Price appreciation obviously had a positive impact on home equity over the first half of 2013, especially the second quarter,” said Anand Nallathambi, president and CEO of CoreLogic, in a statement. The states that had the highest percentage of homes with negative equity in the second quarter were: Nevada (36.4 percent), Florida (31.5 percent), Arizona (24.7 percent), Michigan (22.5 percent) and Georgia (20.7 percent). **Source: CoreLogic Thinking on Buying or Selling Real Estate in South Florida? Contact us, we are Your Best source with confidentiality and professionalism at your service!

How to rebuild loyalty ...in Business!

"If you aspire to be successful as an entrepreneur, manager, business owner, or any kind of leader, others must feel loyal to you. Although money is often seen as a prime motivator, ultimately the bonds that hold an enterprise together are psychological. Important data gathered by the indicate that loyalty is one of the top three things that make workers feel satisfied. Loyalty balances self-interest. It is the willingness to look out for "us" and not just "me." It's no secret that the bond of loyalty has frayed at a time of layoffs and the loss of pensions and benefits in the economy. A public image has been built of opposition between management and labor - there is nothing new here - where the advantage has shifted overwhelmingly to management. As long as profits continue to roll in, loyalty is ignored. The assumption is that workers are too desperate for a job to complain or protest. You have a choice to make in the face of this sad situation. Are you going to join the trend and forget loyalty or are you going to try and rebuild it? The question doesn't apply simply to managers. Companies develop an atmosphere and a culture. No one works in a vacuum, and your attitude affects the environment you work in, no matter where you fit into the overall scheme. If you choose to help rebuild loyalty, here are some suggestions: 1. Abstain from disloyalty, which shows up in small but telling ways. Office gossip, back-biting, and spreading rumors show disloyalty, because they degrade the sense of bonding and cooperation. 2. Work on bonding and cooperation. Be sympathetic and open to the people you work with. Support projects that are good for everyone, even if you don't gain immediate material rewards. 3. Honor the difference between rivals and competitors. The fact that you are competing against others at work doesn't make them your rivals. Rivalry is hostile; it implies that only one person can win. Competition raises the bar for everyone, so that the whole team can win. 4. Pay attention to personal details. Loyalty runs deep when a person feels cared for and understood. Be alert to these needs. Make an effort to include everyone. When ideas and suggestions are being discussed, make it clear that every suggestion is welcome. If someone's pet idea is rejected, take time to go to them afterwards and listen respectfully to what lies behind the idea. 5. Share your success. Include your team in the praise and appreciation that comes your way. If possible, make a tangible gesture, as appropriate - throw a party, or other form of celebration, offer bonuses, present a gift as a token of recognition. 6. Don't keep secrets. As much as possible, make the decision-making process transparent. Open up financial details. In the economic downturn of 2008, some small businesses shared their finances with their workers and thereby won real loyalty. Seeing that the company was strapped, the workers felt an incentive to be part of the solution. This is just one way to close the gap that makes management and workers adversaries, a stance that severely erodes loyalty. 7. Remind yourself every day that there is no "I" without "we." This allows you to be humble in your successes and provides a community to get through crises." **taken from Debak Chopra notes

Dream Big....start small!

"Your greatest fear is your biggest enemy. It keeps you small, blocks your progress and limits your achievement. Perhaps you picked it up along the way? Someone taught it you? The good news is, it’s not who you truly are. Here are some steps to put that beast out of its misery once and for all: Decide. Do something. Anything. Fear feeds on inaction Look for the truth. Look for the facts. Fear feeds on lies. What’s the worst that can happen? The biggest way to reduce risk is increase knowledge. Fear feeds on the unknown. ‘Get perfect later.’ Fear feeds on perfectionism. Don’t wait to run the marathon. Take the first step today. Fear feeds on waiting for the ‘right time’. “Fears are educated into us and can, if we wish, be educated out.” So “educate them out”. Beginning today. You’re smart. A go-getter. A person of excellence–and vision Inspire others by your bigness. Dream big but start small. Act now. Don’t stop. Change the world." - Rob Moore ** article from LinkedIn We are Here to help achieve your Real Estate Goal. Contact us for a confidential market analysis. Espie Franky

What Every 1st-Time Homebuyer Needs to know

"If you're a first-time home buyer, you're probably thrilled to take the plunge into the real estate market. After all, you've probably been envisioning this moment for many years. It's a time when you should be ecstatic for what's coming. However, there's a caveat. Buying a house is a massive decision, particularly if you've never embarked on the process before. There are certain things you must consider as a prospective buyer in order to have a successful purchasing journey. These ideas are listed below for your benefit. 1. Properly assess your credit standing Credit is one of the main issues you need to focus on before buying a one-way ticket to the real estate world. For one, it can really help you financially if you have solid credit. Secondly, if you have a less than ideal credit report, buying a property may be a decision to re-think or put aside for several months. Every situation is relative to the individual person directly involved, but the principle is the same: credit matters and it will continue to matter. You need credit to qualify for a loan. While the exact influence could vary greatly between a Native American applying for a HUD 184 home loan and a recent college graduate applying to take over a condominium, the numbers need to add up. If you have three credit cards and most of the allowance is used up on all three, you may not receive a very pretty score. Take this advice and run with it: Good credit standing often translates to lower interest rates for your mortgage agreement. This benefits you. Also, if your credit isn't ideal, think about considering a six month hiatus from the housing search to try and raise it. You can do this with consistent payments on whatever you've committed to within your life. 2. Gauge monthly cash flow Part of owning a home is being extremely stable financially. This doesn't mean having an abundance of extra money to throw around, but rather the concept of understanding how much money you do have and how you spend it. If you're considering buying a house, you want to specifically focus on your monthly cash flow. Some questions to ask: How much do you earn? How much are you able to put aside each month? How's your individual job security? What about your employer's stability within the market? Can you reasonably cut back on spending without compromising your way of life? Your monthly flow needs to be understood for the simple reason that you need to know exactly how a mortgage agreement will affect you financially. For instance, the commitment is more than simply paying the monthly portion of the loan. You will have homeowner obligations that you didn't have before. You will have property taxes, maintenance and many other situations to consider. Take this advice and run with it: You're going to be fine owning your own property, but it can really help to properly assess your monthly cash flow. There needs to be more coming in than going out. You're the only one that can truly understand where your balance is at and if there's ever a time to think about it, it's now. 3. Carefully consider the location Oftentimes, those people buying real estate for the first time underestimate the commitment that ensues after the closing date. While you can surely sell your house before it's paid off, it's a bigger commitment than it seems to be looking at what is often a loan of 25-30 years. Due to the inherent longevity of these agreements, it's imperative that you analyze not only the property you're deciding on but the location it's in. Some questions to ask: Do you really, really like the city or town? What school district zone does your property fall within? This could shape your child's or children's education Is it close enough to your job? What about your spouse's, if you have one? Is it near hobbies you enjoy? Take this advice and run with it: The location that your house sits within will make or break your general happiness with the situation. This seems obvious, but it still needs to be carefully analyzed with a long-term focus. Do you see yourself feeling the same about it in a few years? What about 20? These are thoughts to toss around your inner circle of family and friends before settling on a decision. Part of enjoying your first home buying experience is being prepared. Properly assessing your credit standing, gauging monthly cash flow and carefully considering the location of your proposed investment are strong starting points. From there, it's up to you." ** info from REALITY TIMES Magazine Thinking on Buying Your First Home in South Florida? Give me a call, I'm ready to parter up with you In search of the place to call your New Home! Espie

Miami Home Sales, Prices Continue to Surge

Miami, FL (PRWEB) August 21, 2013 In July, number of sales and prices of Miami properties continued to surge amid tight supply, generating rapid sales and offers close to asking price, according to the 29,000-member MIAMI Association of REALTORS and the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS) system. Single-family home sales again surged in July, up 27.3 percent from 964 a year earlier to 1,227 this July. This is the highest monthly number of sales for single-family homes in Miami-Dade since the height of the boom in 2005. Condominium sales increased 13.4 percent, up from 1,356 in July 2012 compared to 1,538 last month. “The Miami real estate market continues to thrive as demand for housing intensifies and increasing inventory remains insufficient,” said 2013 Chairman of the Board of the MIAMI Association of REALTORS Natascha Tello. “Miami is a global city that is not surprisingly attracting worldwide attention on many fronts. Residents, visitors, tourists and business enterprises want to be in Miami and experience all that our unique and vibrant city and market offer. This attention is driving our real estate market and our economy.” Nationally, sales of existing single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums, and co-ops increased 6.5 percent from June and were 17.2 percent higher than they were in July 2012, according to the National Association of Realtors. Statewide closed sales of existing single-family homes totaled 20,632 in July, up 17.5 percent compared to the year-ago figure, according to data from Florida Realtors Industry Data and Analysis department in partnership with local Realtor boards/associations. Miami Double-Digit Price Appreciation July’s figures mark 20 consecutive months of appreciation for both single-family homes and condominiums in Miami. The median sales price of single-family homes spiked 25.7 percent to $230,000 year-over-year and remained the same compared to the previous month. The median sales price of condominiums, which has significantly increased each of the last 25 months, jumped 33.3 percent to $180,500 compared to a year earlier but declined 2.7 percent compared to the previous month. Compared to July 2012, the average sales price for single-family homes in Miami-Dade County increased 24.9 percent to $406,532, while the average sales price for condominiums increased 20.9 percent to $323,338. U.S., Florida Median Sales Prices The national median existing-home price for all housing types was $213,500 in July, a 13.7 percent increase from July 2013, according to NAR. The statewide median sales price for single-family existing homes last month was $179,500, up 20 percent from the previous year, while that of townhouse-condo properties was $129,000, up 22.9 percent over the previous year. Properties Selling Fast, Close to Asking Price Miami properties that are priced right are selling very quickly and yielding very high percentage of asking price. In July, the median days on the market for single-family homes and condominiums were 35 and 45 respectively, reflecting sales at a very rapid pace. The average percent of original list price received was 96.1 percent for single-family homes and 97.1 percent for condominiums. “It’s an exciting time for Miami real estate,” said 2013 MIAMI Association of REALTORS Residential President Fernando I. Martinez. “Miami has matured into a global, urban city that offers a very attractive lifestyle with endless opportunities for work, leisure, and cultural activities, adding great value to our market. Buyers and investors realize Miami will continue to generate housing demand and are taking advantage of the local affordability and the potential for profitability.” Inventory Remains Tight Active listings at the end of July increased 0.8 percent, from 12,547 to 13,583, compared to July 2012. Despite the slight increase in inventory, current active inventory remains insufficient to satisfy intense demand for Miami properties. Inventory of single-family homes increased 0.6 percent to 5,125 active listings, while that of condominiums increased 13.5 percent to 8,458 active listings. At the current sales pace, there is 4.9 months of supply of single-family homes and 6.0 months of supply of condominiums in Miami-Dade, representing a decrease of 14.2 percent and an increase of 5.6 percent respectively compared to year-ago levels. Total housing inventory nationally increased 5.6 percent at the end of July but remains 5.0 percent below year-ago levels, representing a 5.1-month supply. Distressed Sales Continue to Decline while Prices Rise Sales of distressed properties continue to sharply decline in Miami-Dade County, particularly for short sales. In July, only 35.4 percent of all closed residential sales in Miami-Dade County were distressed, including REOs (bank-owned properties) and short sales, compared to 47.3 percent in June 2012. Nationally, distressed homes again accounted for 15 percent of July sales. The median sales price of single-family home and condominium foreclosures in Miami-Dade increased 9.3 percent to $147,000 and 27.8 percent to $115,000 respectively. Cash Sales Account for 60% of Transactions In Miami-Dade County, 60 percent of total closed sales in July were all-cash sales compared to 63.5 percent in July 2012. All-cash sales accounted for 43.3 percent of single-family home and 73.6 percent of condominium closings, compared to a year ago when cash sales were 44 percent and 77.4 percent of closed sales respectively. Since nearly 90 percent of foreign buyers in Florida purchase properties all cash, this reflects the much stronger presence of international buyers in the Miami real estate market. By comparison all-cash sales nationally accounted for 31 percent of transactions in July, down from 33 percent the previous month and 29 percent in July 2012. July 2013 - Miami-Dade Statistical Reports Single-Family Homes http://www.miamire.com/docs/monthly-market-reports/miami-dade-county_single-family-homes_2013-07_summary.pdf?sfvrsn=2 Condos http://www.miamire.com/docs/monthly-market-reports/miami-dade-county_townhouses-and-condos_2013-07_summary.pdf?sfvrsn=2 Note: Statistics in this news release may vary depending on reporting dates. Statistics reported by MIAMI are not impacted by NAR’s rebenchmarking efforts. MIAMI reports exact statistics directly from its MLS system. About the MIAMI Association of REALTORS The MIAMI Association of REALTORS was chartered by the National Association of Realtors in 1920 and is celebrating 93 years of service to Realtors, the buying and selling public, and the communities in South Florida. Comprised of four organizations, the Residential Association, the Realtors Commercial Alliance, the Broward County Board of Governors, and the International Council, it represents more than 29,000 real estate professionals in all aspects of real estate sales, marketing, and brokerage. It is the largest local Realtor association in the U.S., and has partnerships with more than 100 international organizations worldwide. MIAMI’s official website is http://www.miamire.com/. **** information from Miami Association of Realtors Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/1426303#ixzz2cjwV74nJ

A Quick note on Mortgages....

"Here’s a quick note to let you know how I can help you—or anyone you feel comfortable introducing me to. Buyers who are shopping for a lender may wonder why initial estimates of their price range vary from lender to lender. The answer is two-fold. On one hand, exact figures are not possible until a lender sees a buyer’s documentation of debt, income, and credit. Even small issues can cause interest rate variations, so any figures given without documentation are estimates. On the other hand, interest rates fluctuate daily, so one lender can give one estimate today, and a different lender a different estimate tomorrow. The best thing a buyer can do is provide a qualified mortgage consultant with all relevant data and paperwork, to get an accurate figure based on real data, not guesswork. That lender can help them lock in a low rate and hold it." Thinking on Selling or Purchasing Real Estate in South Florida? ..... please contact me, Espie Franky Luxury Realtor, BBA Dir: 305-283-5868 Email: espiefranky@gmail.com One Premier International Realty

Staging...getting it Done !

Getting your house ready to Sell? As Important as Pricing it correctly, it must be "magazine ready" ! it's possible if you take it step by step! Just think that staging it correctly will give you a higher NET $$ to your pocket 😉 at Closing. Remember the important "C" of staging: Clean, Clutter, Color, Creativity & Commitment. A good practice is to take pictures as your house is before staging. Usually what the camera sees and what we see are different scenes 😳, so be ready to rearrange, put away, store, patch and paint walls, ...until what you see through the camera shots is what you would like to see when purchasing a house. There must be commitment to make it happen. In conclusion, try to see your house through the buyers eyes..As you have never seen it before ! Thinking on Selling or Buying RE in So Florida? Give us a call. Espie Franky Luxury Member, BBA Dir: 305.283.5868

They’re back… Sunken living rooms are on the rise Sunken Room Those who remember the “conversation pit” living areas of decades ago may be surprised that sunken indoor and outdoor rooms are on U.S. and Canadian designers’ lists of hot new housing trends – along with tented rooms...

Tented Room

and chevron patterened floors.

Thinking on Selling...or Buying your new Dream Home ? Let me be of assistance !! I am a "click away" ....ESPIE FRANKY, Luxury Realtor at Your Service ! espiefranky@gmail.com twitter @espiefranky or #sellingmiamiestates

Staging guidelines to follow when ready to SELL....

Hello again my dear friends, the following are 101 for "Ready, Stage & Sell" 1. Pack up before showing the house, even before doing marketing it and having the professional photography taken Its easier for the future to mentally move in. Be very organized in the process, boxes and containers should be piled up and in the corners of the rooms....and please don't pack the garage, buyers need to visualize this space as well ☺ 2. Maintain the house clean, specially the floors and mainly the kitchen and bathroom floors! Clean houses look better, and buyers assume a clean house is a well maintained house. Clean doors, windows, kitchen appliances & remember..."if you can Smell it, you can't sell it 😳 important, smell inspect your house; kitchen floor, bathrooms, bedrooms, carpets, curtains, the pool, the garden, etc. 3. Maintain the house Clutter free ! Cluttered rooms shows stressed, absolves All energy of the space. Clutter is al that stuff you just don't use everyday...and that can be packed before showing the house. Important, Reevaluate the clutter in the kitchen, in the walls, in the closets. In synthesis; buyers want light bright rooms, uncluttered & fresh rooms, clean spaces. Thinking on selling ? Give us a call, we are SellingMiamiEstates Espie Franky 305.283.5868

Make sure you Really want to sell !!

It is crucial you really want to sell, Before you put your house on the market! At this time your home will be a house, meaning a product for sale. The memories lived in it will always go/move with you, is the product (house) will be sold. With this said, it must be in its Best appearance, in its very best it can be. Buyers today make decisions based on what they see, and they do see "inch by inch....outside and inside" 😳 Lets make it Simple, staging is not decorating to sell.... It is Depersonalizing to sell at its highest net! The psychology of the real buyer, meaning the end user, is that the house must be turn key ready. A place that inspires them to relax, peace, a comfortable feel ! Think about this, if you are looking to purchase a used car, would you not prefer the one which is polished ? If you are ready to sell, first give us a call, together we will review how we can get the most net for you! Espie Franky Luxury Realtor 305.283.5868 espiefranky@gmail.com

Planning on selling your house? ....

Staging is all about presentation, about moving things around, staging works...staging helps sell !! Note you never get a 2nd chance to make a good impression ☺ The goal to do staging is not to offer furniture for sale; selling a house is what home staging is about! Think the following: Staging is about using accessories & furniture in new ways Staging is having less around for you Staging is about giving a fresh look to the properties curb appeal Staging is about the palet of colors chosen for inside & out Staging is about clearing your house so that the buyers can envision it as their new home !! If ready to list & sell give us a call, we are SellingMiamiestates, reach us at 305.283.5868, espiefranky@gmail.com

Wealthy homeowners brace for 'fiscal cliff'

Real-estate experts say that as more of the wealthy sell out of fear of a tax increase, they could drive up inventory and lower prices in the top of the real estate market. Realtors to the rich have started getting a strange new kind of phone call. Wealthy homeowners with properties for sale are suddenly demanding that the brokers get them a deal in the next five months. The reason, they say, is the fiscal cliff. If the Bush tax cuts expire and capital-gains tax rates go up on Jan. 1, sellers in the high-end real-estate market could owe millions more in taxes on their sales. As a result, many wealthy sellers are racing to close before 2013. Others who were thinking of putting their homes on the market next year or later are listing them this summer. Call it “The Mansion Cliff.” Real-estate experts say that as more of the wealthy sell out of fear of a tax increase, they could drive up inventory and lower prices in the top of the real estate market, which has been one of the few bright spots in the economy. Any softening at the high end, or a spike in inventory, could ripple through the housing market and add new pressure to prices, although it could also increase sales volume. “This has become a key issue for sellers,” said Stephen Games of Pacific Sotheby’s Realty in San Diego. “Sellers want to get a deal done before the election. They want to avoid the uncertainty.” Games said that one of his clients recently sold a $13 million ocean-view property in La Jolla, Calif. for less than the original asking price – in large part to avoid the possible increase in taxes next year. The tax savings from the deal was more than $600,000 compared to the potentially higher bill next year. One of the top luxury brokers in Miami, recently sold a mansion in the posh enclave of Indian Creek for $38 million. He said the owner accepted a price below his original goal for fear of the tax cliff. “It was certainly a factor in his decision,” Realtor said. “When you’re talking about $38 million, that’s a big difference in tax savings. The tax issue was definitely a motivator in his decision to take a little less than he wanted.” One New York broker said she got two new listings in the past week that were driven in part by tax fears. “The sellers were on the fence on whether to sell, but when they considered the cliff, they decided to list,” the broker said. “They want to do this quickly. The message to me is, 'Get this done now.'” Granted, the tax fears of the mansion-set may prove to be unfounded. Capital-gains rates could remain unchanged if a deal gets done in Washington. And the selling deliberations of the wealthy are a minor problem compared to the broader headwinds in the economy. What's more, the rich (especially foreigners) continue to buy real estate as an investment as stocks and other financial investments weaken. Yet the million-plus real-estate market experienced a similar spasm in 2010, when many of the wealthy feared Congress would raise capital-gains rates. Inventory popped up and prices slumped. Jonathan Miller, of Miller Samuel, the New York appraisal and consulting firm, said that in the fourth quarter of 2010, the supply of homes priced at $1 million or more increased in the New York area. In the affluent Hamptons, inventory increased 5 percent in the fourth quarter, a much greater increase than the same period a year earlier. Miller said a similar or even larger increase is likely this year. “I’m confident we’ll see just as much or more this time because of the fiscal cliff,” he said. “People are going to be pressing to close earlier than they might have.” The math of the mansion cliff is compelling. If the Bush tax cuts are allowed to expire, the current capital-gains tax of 15 percent will rise to 20 percent. Alan Kufeld, a principal with accounting firm Rothstein Kass and an advisor to wealthy families, explains that families who sell a second home that they’ve owned for more than a year pay capital-gains taxes on the difference between the sale price and their original purchase price (minus certain fees, improvements and other deductions). A $38 million home purchased for $8 million with $2 million in improvements could show a gain of about $28 million. The current federal tax bill on that gain would be around $4 million. If taxes go up next year, the tax would be $5.5 million – a difference of $1.5 million. The new federal health-care tax of 3.8 percent also kicks in next year for couples who make $250,000 or more. But for the $28 million gain described above, the tax could add another $1 million, bringing the total tax difference to $2.5 million. On primary residences, where owners have lived for more than two out of five years, there is a $500,000 exlusion. But brokers say that when a home is priced at $10 million or $20 million, the exemption is less of a factor. In addition to the federal tax, there will also be state and local taxes applied to the gains. Some of those tax rates are also expected to go up in some states next year. Kufeld aid his clients aren’t making long-term real estate decisions based on short-term tax issues. And the deals have to fit into a family's broader planning. But he said that since the potential tax savings are significant, “families are certainly having discussions about it. And they should.” ** Info from The Institute For Luxury Home Marketing website. (NBC News _ Business)

Single Family (RE1) LUXURY in _ PALM BEACH COUNTY / Actives and Closed

Market Analysis Report Property Type: Single Family (RE1) Status: Closed Sale Number of Properties: 9 _ PALM BEACH COUNTY #Beds #FBaths SF/FF List Price LP$/SqFt Sale Price SP$/SqFt SP$/LP$ Days on Market High 6 4 3,906 $7,250,000 $930 $6,000,000 $770 100 72 Low 3 4 3,906 $549,900 $139 $539,000 $134 82.8 6 Average 4.44 4 3,906 $1,860,406 $364 $1,663,039 $333 94.36 42.56 Median 4 4 3,906 $1,000,000 $289 $1,000,000 $289 95.4 39 *Search Criteria Status CS County PALMBCH List Price between 500,000 - SqFt Liv Area between 2,500 - #Beds between 3 - Entry Date between 1/1/2013 - Year Built between 2,011 - Market Analysis Report Property Type: Single Family (RE1) Status: Active-Available Number of Properties: 53 _ PALM BEACH COUNTY #Beds #FBaths SF/FF List Price LP$/SqFt Sale Price SP$/SqFt SP$/LP$ Days on Market High 7 6 5,123 $9,995,000 $2,107 $0 $0 0 135 Low 3 3 2,958 $549,000 $141 $0 $0 0 1 Average 4.53 4.33 3,993 $2,855,320 $510 $0 $0 0 29.16 Median 5 4 3,898 $2,395,000 $431 $0 $0 0 13 *Search Criteria Status A County PALMBCH List Price between 500,000 - SqFt Liv Area between 2,500 - #Beds between 3 - Entry Date between 1/1/2013 - Year Built between 2,011 -

BROWARD NEW (2011 +) LUXURY Single Family Houses _ Active & Closed

Market Analysis Report Property Type: Single Family (RE1) Status: Active-Available Number of Properties: 38 _ Broward County #Beds #FBaths SF/FF List Price LP$/SqFt Sale Price SP$/SqFt SP$/LP$ Days on Market High 7 8 10,000 $4,495,000 $1,022 $0 $0 0 0 Low 3 2 2,500 $524,900 $111 $0 $0 0 0 Average 4.92 4.42 4,359.79 $1,448,576 $336 $0 $0 0 0 Median 5 4 4,217 $1,125,000 $248 $0 $0 0 0 *Search Criteria Status Active County BROWARD List Price between 500,000 - SqFt Liv Area between 2,500 - #Beds between 3 - Entry Date between 1/1/2013 - Year Built between 2,011 - Market Analysis Report Property Type: Single Family (RE1) Status: Closed Sale Number of Properties: 8 _ Broward County #Beds #FBaths SF/FF List Price LP$/SqFt Sale Price SP$/SqFt SP$/LP$ Days on Market High 5 5 6,050 $3,600,000 $595 $3,550,000 $587 99.04 53 Low 3 3 2,634 $520,000 $173 $515,000 $172 86.5 3 Average 4.25 3.57 3,504.57 $1,082,963 $272 $1,030,188 $257 94.49 23.25 Median 4 3 3,000 $649,900 $216 $604,500 $199 94.87 19.5 *Search Criteria Status CS County BROWARD List Price between 500,000 - SqFt Liv Area between 2,500 - #Beds between 3 - Entry Date between 1/1/2013 - Year Built between 2,011 - ** Data from MLX

NEW (2011 +) LUXURY Single Family Houses CLOSED & ACTIVE till Today / Miami Dade County

Market Analysis Report _ NEW (2011 +)LUXURY SINGLE FAMILY HOUSES CLOSED TILL TODAY in Miami Dade County Property Type: Single Family (RE1) Status: Closed Sale Number of Properties: 12 #Beds #FBaths SF/FF List Price LP$/SqFt Sale Price SP$/SqFt SP$/LP$ Days on Market High 10 10 13,746 $8,150,000 $991 $7,500,000 $923 107.16 533 Low 3 3 2,764 $579,000 $140 $564,500 $150 86.36 1 Average 5.25 5.08 5,342.42 $2,848,158 $484 $2,620,494 $448 94.54 120.92 Median 4.5 4 3,857 $1,737,500 $451 $1,606,000 $416 93.08 48.5 SqFt Liv Area between 2,500 - #Beds between 3 - Year Built between 2,011 - Status CLOSED List Price between 500,000 - Closing Date between 1/1/2013 - SqFt Liv Area between 2,500 - #Beds between 3 - Year Built between 2,011 - Market Analysis Report _ NEW (2011 +) ACTIVE LUXURY SINGLE FAMILY HOUSES TILL TODAY in Miami Dade County Property Type: Single Family (RE1) Status: Active-Available Number of Properties: 47 #Beds #FBaths SF/FF List Price LP$/SqFt Sale Price SP$/SqFt SP$/LP$ Days on Market High 10 11 16,700 $16,900,000 $1,514 $0 $0 0 0 Low 3 3 2,773 $519,000 $149 $0 $0 0 0 Average 5.77 5.74 6,613.36 $3,735,221 $496 $0 $0 0 0 Median 6 5 5,349 $2,689,000 $431 $0 $0 0 0 Search Criteria Status ACTIVE County DADE List Price between 500,000 - SqFt Liv Area between 2,500 - #Beds between 3 - Entry Date between 1/1/2013 - Today Year Built between 2,011 - Today ** Info from MLX

thinking of refinancing ?....its a great time to Cash Out & Purchase Investment Properties

If you've been thinking of refinancing, mortgage experts say now is the time to take action. Improving economic conditions, potential rate increases, and expected changes to government programs means you may soon find it more difficult and expensive to refinance your mortgage. "People who are still waiting to refinance will realize that rates might never be this low again in our lifetime," says David Lazowski, branch manager at Fairway Independent Mortgage in Boston, MA. Still not convinced? Read on to learn why mortgage experts say you should refinance before spring arrives. Reason 1 - Changes to Mortgage Insurance Premiums (MIP) Is your mortgage more than 80 percent of your home's value? If so, upcoming changes by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development could increase your refinancing costs if you wait to refinance. In fact, effective April 1, 2013, the Federal Housing Authority's (FHA) mortgage insurance premiums are set to increase. Currently, lenders require mortgages greater than 80 percent of the home value to be covered by mortgage insurance, and the homeowner pays the premium cost. Richard Booth, a certified mortgage banker, explains how the increased premiums affect homeowners: Borrowers with less than 20 percent equity will pay more, he says, impacting their budgets and ability to borrow funds. "The result will be higher monthly costs and thus borrowers will have their borrowing capacity reduced," Booth adds. But that's not all: "Included in the many changes is the removal of the provision which permitted borrowers to drop their MIP once they reached a 78 percent Loan-to-Value (LTV), and the five year threshold," says Booth. This means that "many will be required to carry MIP for the life of the loan." [Think refinancing is right for you? Click to compare rates from multiple lenders now.] Reason 2 - Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) May Be Ending If you qualify for a HARP refinance but haven't taken advantage of it yet, you may soon be out of luck. Our experts believe the HARP programs may be discontinued. "The Home Affordable Refinance Program, designed to help homeowners who have lost value in their homes refinance into lower rates, has been rumored to be coming to an end," advises Booth. Wade Lovell, a California mortgage broker, agrees that if you feel you are a candidate for a HARP refinance, don't wait to give it a shot. HARP 2.0 and other programs make it possible to refinance even if you are underwater by as much as 25 percent and some lenders will go even higher," Lovell says. "Without these programs, homeowners whose houses are now worth less than they owe would be unable to refinance their primary residences. These programs may be short term. Take advantage of them now." Reason 3 - Benefits to Refinancing During Tax Season This may come as a bit of surprise, but yes, there are some perks to refinancing during the tax season. "One benefit of refinancing during tax season is that you will need many of the same documents needed to file your taxes," says Lazowski. "So while in the mind set of doing taxes, it makes good sense to get into the mind set of refinancing." If you wait until after tax season to refinance, however, you may be in some trouble. For example, if you have a rate lock or guaranteed mortgage rate for a specified period of time, you may have to wait longer for the verification of your paid income tax, which is often required in a mortgage refinance application. "After April 15th it will take you longer to get an IRS verification of your taxes being filed through a third party because of everyone filing their taxes on the due date," explains Lazowski. As a result, "This backs up the process and can take four to six additional weeks, causing rate locks to be tested." [Ready to refinance your mortgage? Click to compare rates from multiple lenders now.] Reason 4 - Impending Rate Increase How would you feel if you discovered your decision to delay refinancing cost your family thousands of dollars in interest? If rates rise, you could face just that situation. And unfortunately, you could be facing this dilemma sooner rather than later. In fact, according to Freddie Mac's "Weekly Primary Mortgage Market Survey," the interest rate for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage is already on the rise from 3.34 percent on January 3 to 3.56 percent on February 21. It is data like this that is leading experts to anticipate a continued rate increase. "Rates have started to move off of all time lows," Lazowski says. "With the economy improving it will come as no surprise that rates will move a bit higher. With that being said, rates moving a bit higher will help to spur both purchase and continued refinance activity." ** Information from Yahoo Homes _ Zillow Real Estate Network

Reduced !! in South Miami area....

Located in the prestigious Cochrane Manor; the home features split bedroom floor plan with a family room on each wing; formal dining room with bay window; gourmet kitchen with island & breakfast nook; full master-suite on the west side with walk-in-closet & spa; ample living room with French doors connecting to a screened outdoor entertainment area with oversize pool & built-in bar; Nested on a Builder's Acre ample space for tennis & basketball court. Directions _ 2 BLOCKS NORTH OF SUNSET DRIVE & EAST OF PALMETTO EXPRESSWAY. Call us to set up a private showing for you !! We are SellingMiamiEstates

My neighbor told me to avoid a Realtor......

""My neighbor got wind that I’m selling my house, and now they have expressed interest. They told me that we can avoid paying real estate fees if we work a deal privately. What should I do? The answer: If I had a nickel for every time I personally encountered this situation when listing a home – well, I’d have pretty heavy pockets. People are always eager for an opportunity to save money, but you’ve got to ask yourself what benefit the potential buyer gets, and what’s in it for you. In my experience, it’s usually one of two situations. In the first, and most likely, the neighbour is likely trying to get a deal by paying less than market value. Note that it couldn’t be that they expect to save paying real estate fees themselves as the buyer doesn’t typically pay the fees, the seller does (though of course most sellers do factor in fees when determining their bottom line). In the second situation; they simply aren’t serious. They’re testing the waters, and that’s a lot easier to do without a motivated real estate agent working to complicate things for them. if you put your plans to list on the market on hold and they then change their minds, you’re left holding the bag. If you have a potential buyer like this, tell them to make an offer when your property is listed on the market. It’ll make life easier for both of you. I’m a Realtor and I obviously have a bias against selling privately. I know the value that a real estate agent brings to a client. Realtors have chosen the career, they’re trained and certified, they have specialized tools, a community of support and a code of conduct. They’re professionals, and they work in a hypercompetitive marketplace that I’m convinced rewards the proficient and weeds out the poor performers. And practically speaking, a Realtor gets better rewards. It usually happens when we list a property, a neighbor approaches our clients to try and work out a deal. Neighbours or friends asking for a private sale also tend not to be the most disciplined in terms of paperwork. One thing I’ve learned in the real estate business is that you simply cannot rely on verbal discussions or agreements. If something isn’t in writing, I don’t give it much weight in my decision-making process. Here are two quick questions to determine if you are equipped to deal with a private real estate transaction: · Do you think you will be able to read and understand all of the details, implications and requirements of an offer? · How will you handle the deposit, how much should it be, and who is going to hold on to it? In real estate, paperwork equals protection. And how the money works? Always fundamental. It comes down to this: Work equals value, and skilled work equals higher value. A real estate agent is working for you, bringing their skill, experience and reputation to the transaction. You can assume that work for yourself, and keep the resulting savings if all goes well. But be warned that the risk and complications are all yours too. On top of the work, there’s a lot of emotion involved in selling a property, and that can impact a seller’s judgment when things get down to business. Especially if family, friends or neighbours take a liking to the idea of buying your place. And that’s exactly why I wouldn’t sell my own house. I’d hire a colleague to do it.!!!! "" Contact us, we are here to serve you with confidentiality and professionalism. We are SellingMiamiEstates team with One Premier Int. All the Best Espie Franky Luxury Realtor Dir 305.283.5868 Espiefranky@gmail.com *** article from "I’ve got a buyer for my home. Should I cut out the agent?" RICKY CHADHA Special to The Globe and Mail Published Friday, Apr. 26 2013

Updates of residential Inventory in SoFLa

Residential inventory in South Florida decreased to 32,685 from 32,697 active listings for the week ending April 22, 2013. During the same period, pending sales increased slightly, to 24,377 from 24,199. Active listings are properties where no current sale contract exists; pending sales are properties in which a contract for sale has been executed, but not yet closed. Listing brokers control the status of a property listing. ** Info from The figures were compiled by Condo Vultures Realty using the South Florida Shared Multiple Listing Service.

Economic Indicators...

In each Economic Update, the Research staff analyzes recently released economic indicators and addresses what these indicators mean for REALTORS® and their clients. Today’s second update discusses housing starts. ■In a strong showing, total housing starts crested the 1,000,000 mark in April, the first time since June of 2008. However, the bulk of the improvement was on the multi-family side, with a modest decline on the single-family side. ■ Housing starts have a strong impact on job creation and sales and thus jobs in related industries. Furthermore, they directly impact housing supply. ■Single family construction eased 4.8% from February to March, but is still up 28.7% relative to last year. ■ Likewise, permits for construction of single family units eased 0.5% over the same time frame to 595,000, but are up 27.7% compared to last year. ■While housing starts are strong relative to recent history, they remain well below the historic average. Inventories for both new homes and existing homes are tight in tandem with falling delinquencies and foreclosure starts. These trends are combining to help fuel strong price appreciation and to curb consumers’ options. An expansion of construction would help to ease price spikes in some local markets. ■While multifamily construction is on the rise, research by the Federal Reserve has shown that most post-foreclosure renters who were in single-family homes prefer to remain in them. Consequently, the increase in multi-family construction is not anticipated to destabilize supplies in markets that have experienced strong investor demand for single family homes in recent years. ** info from NAR e-magazine Contact us for a confidential market analysis !! We are Selling Miami !! SellingMiamiEstates team dir 305-283-5868

Mortgage Rates Back Near Lows Of The Week

Mortgage rates finally extended yesterday's move lower, falling at an even quicker pace today. Weaker Retail Sales data contributed to a morning rally that was already underway in European trading overnight. Mortgage Lenders adjusted rate sheets lower to a greater extent than we typically see after such market movements, easily putting 3.5% back in force as the best execution (what is this?) for 30yr Fixed loans. For many lenders, this means the best rate sheet offerings of the week, though some are not quite back to Monday's levels. Friday's lows remain elusive, but then again, so do the trading levels that spawned them. Yesterday, we commented on bond market strength (where "stronger" = "lower rates") being surprisingly reassuring. That had to do with Treasuries and MBS ("mortgage backed securities" which most directly affect rates) going against the grain as far as economic data was concerned. The data suggested weaker bond markets, yet they held their ground. We noted that COULD speak to some innate level of resolve, but that today's Retail Sales data could throw a wrench in the works. As it happens, weak Retail Sales results were in line with today's bond market strength, so we can't really know how firm the resolve would have been in the face of further contrary data. More focus will shift back to Europe next week, introducing more potential volatility surrounding headlines. For those inclined to float, negative headlines out of Europe could help us extend the recent gains. For those thinking about taking the risk off the table, we'd note that we're very close to the best levels of the past 3 months--levels that would look like a great lock opportunity against almost any other day in 2013. ** information from Mortgage News Daily Call us for a confidential RE market analysis.....the Best time to Sell & Buy RE is N O W !!! Espie Franky Luxury Realtor at your service 305.283.5868

Residential inventory in South Florida slipped to 32,872 from 32,995 active listings for the week ending April 8, 2013. During the same period, pending sales decreased slightly, to 24,028 from 24,413. Active listings are properties where no current sale contract exists; pending sales are properties in which a contract for sale has been executed, but not yet closed. Listing brokers control the status of a property listing. ***Info from The Real Deal _ South Florida Real Estate Call us for a confidential Market analysis....the best time to Sell....NOW ! All the Best, Esperanza Franky "espie" Realtor Member of The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing "Selling Miami Estates" team with One Premier International Realty Cell: 305.283.5868 E-Mail: espiefranky@gmail.com Follow us via Twitter: @espiefranky Marketing Florida Real Estate at the Highest Level !

So Florida RE Inventory update!

http://therealdeal.com/miami/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/SF_Inventory_4_1_13.jpg Residential inventory in South Florida slipped to 32,995 from 33,350 active listings for the week ending April 1, 2013. During the same period, pending sales increased slightly, to 24,413 from 24,406. Active listings are properties where no current sale contract exists; pending sales are properties in which a contract for sale has been executed, but not yet closed. Listing brokers control the status of a property listing. The figures were compiled by Condo Vultures Realty using the South Florida Shared Multiple Listing Service. –Zachary Kussin ** from the Real Deal South Florida Real Estate magazine ?Ready to Sell ? Give us a call for a confidential market analysis, including staging & curb appeal reviews. Espie Franky Luxury Realtor 305.283.5868

SOUTH MIAMI Active Luxury Listings

SOUTH MIAMI Active Luxury Listings as of March 1, 2013 $500,000 - $549,999 1 $550,000 - $599,999 0 $600,000 - $699,999 2 $700,000 - $799,999 1 $800,000 - $899,999 1 $900,000 - $999,999 0 $1,000,000 or over 3 Total 8 Great Opportunity to LIST, SELL & CLOSE in South Miami Call me for a confidential market analysis, including price per square foot. ESPIE FRANKY BBA, Luxury Realtor dir: 305-283-5868

updates on active Luxury CORAL GABLES

Market Analysis Report for Luxury CORAL GABLES, showing ACTIVE new Listings as of March 1, 2013. Property Type: Single Family Status: Active-Available Number of Properties: 61 $500,000 - $549,999 7 $550,000 - $599,999 4 $600,000 - $699,999 6 $700,000 - $799,999 4 $800,000 - $899,999 5 $900,000 - $999,999 2 $1,000,000 or over 33 Thinking on Selling & need specifics of Price per square foot based on the condition and age of the property, feel free to give me a call 305-283-5868 Kind regards, ESPIE FRANKY BBA, Luxury Realtor

Existing U.S. home sales reach three-year high

Existing home sales across the U.S. grew 0.8 percent in February over the previous month, pushing them to the highest level since November 2009, according to National Association of Realtors data cited by the Wall Street Journal. The slight increase raised the seasonally adjusted annual rate to 4.98 million — 10.2 percent higher than in February 2012 — for the 20th consecutive month of year-over-year gains. The nation’s inventory also increased to 1.94 million, a 9.6 percent increase from January. And while the huge inventory of homes on the market following the recession had been a drag on the market, the increased inventory is likely coming from homeowners taking advantage of higher home prices, according to the Journal. “Now that you’ve had a year of price gains, some uptick in the level of inventory would reflect a better housing market. In some sense it’s a positive sign,” Michael Gapen, an economist at Barclays, said. ** from Wall Street Journal . Christopher Cameron

2013 Home Buying Season Kicks Off Early

Home prices are rising, the number of homes for-sale is showing a slight increase, and homes are selling faster—all signs that spring is in the air in real estate, according to the latest MLS data released by realtor.com Nationwide, median list prices continue to tick up, reaching $189,900 in February. Inventories last month increased 1.15 percent month-over-month, after recently hitting record lows. Also, homes are selling faster with the median age of inventory at 98 days, a 9.26 percent drop from the previous month. “As we enter the busiest time of the year for home buyers and sellers, our latest housing trend data shows just how competitive the market is with a significant housing recovery well underway,” says Steve Berkowitz, chief executive officer of Move Inc. “Looking ahead, we can expect the amount of inventory to increase this spring along with higher list prices as sellers become more comfortable with the market conditions.” Median list prices were up 5 percent or more in 51 markets on a year-over-year basis, according to realtor.com®. California markets are seeing some of the highest increases in list prices as well as some of the largest declines in for-sale inventory. Other top performing markets include Phoenix, Seattle, and Denver, according to realtor.com®. “However, many smaller industrialized markets in the Midwest and the Northeast registered year-over-year price declines, as did Philadelphia, Chicago, and New York City,” Lexie Puckett reports in a recent realtor.com® blog post. “While the number of markets experiencing year-over-year list price declines had been increasing, this pattern appears to be turning around as home list prices increased in 78 markets last month on a year-over-year basis and declined in 39.” **information from National Association of Realtors e-magazine.

Global Luxury Market Is Booming

DAILY REAL ESTATE NEWS | TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2013 The international luxury real estate market appears to be relatively immune to economic headwinds, according to a report by Christie International Real Estate, a luxury real estate affiliate network. Christie’s International Real Estate Index monitors record sales prices, prices per square foot, among other indicators in the global luxury real estate market. London emerged at the top of the network’s index, boasting a record sales price of more than $121 million for a residential property in 2012. In New York, an $88 million sale allowed it to come in at No. 2. The international luxury market is showing strong momentum, “driven by scarcity of quality inventory and demand from international buyers in many of the world's top destinations,” says Bonnie Stone Sellers, CEO of Christie's International Real Estate. There are more billionaires worldwide now than there were in 2008. What’s more, the percentage of worldwide millionaires has grown by 55 percent since 2000, according to the report. As wealth has grown so has the number of home buyers making housing deals in all cash. For example, the report notes that nearly all of the transactions in Los Angeles above $5 million were cash deals; 90 percent in New York; and 70 percent in San Francisco and Miami. **info form: “Global luxury real estate market showing 'strong momentum',” Inman News (March 11, 2013) Thinking on Selling your Luxury Real Estate ? contact us for a confidential free market analysis. Espie Franky Luxury Realtor 305.283.5868

Zagat restaurants offering Brunches

This is an invitation to All Exquisite restaurants in the Coral Gables, South Miami and Coconut Grove areas offering BRUNCHES on the weekends to Share their information with us ! The following are All +ZAGAT rated restaurants Fontana Italian | Coral Gables 1200 Anastasia Ave. (Columbus Blvd.) Coral Gables, FL 305-913-3200 Bizcaya American, Mediterranean | Coconut Grove 3300 SW 27th Ave. (bet. Bayshore Dr. & Tigertail Ave.) Coconut Grove, FL 305-644-4675 La Palma Ristorante Tuscan | Coral Gables 116 Alhambra Circle (Galiano St.) Coral Gables, FL 305-445-8777 La Camaronera Seafood | Little Havana 1952 W. Flagler St. (22nd Ave.) Miami, FL 305-642-3322 Le Bouchon du Grove French (Bistro) | Coconut Grove 3430 Main Hwy. (Grand Ave.) Coconut Grove, FL 305-448-6060 George's in the Grove French (Bistro), Mediterranean | Coconut Grove 3145 Commodore Plaza (Main Hwy.) Coconut Grove, FL 305-444-7878 Fox's Sherron Inn American (Traditional) | South Miami 6030 S. Dixie Hwy. (Sunset Dr.) South Miami, FL 305-661-9201 Jaguar Pan-Latin | Coconut Grove 3067 Grand Ave. (McFarlane Rd.) Coconut Grove, FL 305-444-0216 Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Sushi | Coral Gables 360 San Lorenzo Ave. (SW 42nd Ave.) Coral Gables, FL 305-447-6555

This weeks priciest Listing & Closed property....

*Today’s priciest new listing is a six-bedroom, six-bathroom, 6,300-square-foot single-family home that is asking $4.89 million, according to Condo Vultures. The waterfront residence, which is located at 435 Royal Plaza Drive, features Brazilian walnut floors and a heated pool and spa. (Condo Vultures‘ data includes condos and single-family listings in the main metropolitan areas of Miami, Fort Lauderdale). **A rendering of the penthouse at the Residences at The Miami Beach EDITION A combined-unit penthouse at the Residences at the Miami Beach EDITION has closed for $34 million, making it one of Miami’s priciest penthouse sales ever. Penthouses 1601 and 1602 in the the building were combined to form a 16,271-square-foot triplex featuring eight bedrooms and eight and three-half bathrooms. The building offers multiple pools and outdoor kitchens. “This record-breaking sale exemplifies the wonderful flexibility that Miami Beach offers. There will be a nearly 360 degree view of our beautiful city.” –Christopher Cameron ** info from The Real Deal, South Florida Real Estate Magazine Ready to Sell, Purchase, Lease....Luxury Real Estate in South Florida ? Give us a call for a Confidential market analysis. ESPIE FRANKY Realtor

Selling Miami Estates Listings for Your Consideration !!

Redlands area, over 5 acres of land with fruit trees & herbal garden. 4/2 Main house, 2/1 cottage,Stable for 3 horses and more... Pinecrest starters home. 3 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms on a 10,000 square foot lot. Selling Miami Estates presents a Ranch Style architecture house nested in an acre lot. Inlcules a Cottage and Pool. South Miami Area. FREE STANDING WAREHOUSE WIH 7,985 SQFT ON A 13,318 SQFT LOT, PRIVATE OFFICES, ZONED 71/ INDUSTRIAL, RECENT 4O YEAR INSPECTION WITH UPDATE 3 PHASE ELECTRICAL SERVICE. Selling Miami Estates is offering to your consideration the entire 4th Floor of "Grove Place" office building ! Property is currently divided into 2 offices and Both are Tenant Occupied !! Great opportunity to own this 1930 sq ft office in the heart of Coconut Grove business district - Laminate floor - key secure elevator - 5 assigned parking spaces - balconies overlooking lush Grove's vegetation. Nice home located in the family oriented subdivision of Dadeland Park in Kings Creek. This is a short sale. Transaction terms and commissions require lender approval. Seller Motivated...Bring Offers !! Located in the prestigious Cochrane Manor; the home features split bedroom floor plan with a family room on each wing; formal dining room with bay window; gourmet kitchen with island & breakfast nook; full master-suite on the west side with walk-in-closet & spa; ample living room with French doors connecting to a screened outdoor entertainment area with oversize pool & built-in bar; Nested on a Builder's Acre ample space for tennis & basketball court.

updates on JUMBO LOANS

Home sales and prices are rising briskly in those neighborhoods where the well-heeled like to plant their mailboxes: along Chicago's north shore, in the San Francisco Bay area and in the haute Hamptons. Sales of properties worth between $750,000 and $1 million are up 38.7 percent over a year ago; $1 million-plus property sales are up 25.7 percent, according to the National Association of Realtors. The luxury real estate revival is being fueled, in part, by another resurgence: so-called jumbo mortgages - those loans,typically over $417,000, that are too big to qualify for purchase by federal agencies, namely Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Jumbo loans are returning to the mortgage market after almost disappearing entirely in the wake of the credit crisis of 2008 and the real estate meltdown. Most lenders stopped making new jumbo loans when the private secondary market dried up in the credit crunch. Now the credit markets are comparatively stable. Lenders, who are only making these big loans to the most highly qualified borrowers, now see jumbos as a safe and profitable way to make money on their low-cost deposits. And secondary market investors are starting to regain their taste for these comparatively high-yielding loans. Moreover, once-pricey jumbo loans are being "The jumbo market may fare better than the overall mortgage market in 2013," Guy Cecala, publisher of Inside Mortgage Finance said. But he and other observers question whether the jumbo loan market can return to its past size without a full recovery in the secondary market, which is a fraction of its former self. And new mortgage regulations could limit lenders starting in 2014. "We are definitely enthusiastic," says Tom Wind, executive vice president of residential and consumer lending at EverBank Financial in Jacksonville, Florida. He sees growing investor demand for these loans allowing the market to grow. At current rates - roughly 0.23 percentage points above conventional mortgages - they provide nice yields for banks who want to keep the loans in their portfolios, too. For the four weeks ending February 22, new jumbo activity was up 60 percent from the same period a year ago, according to Mortgage Daily, a trade publication that has been consistently reporting year-over-year increases in jumbo activity. Even though loan volume is increasing, it is nowhere near 2007 levels, when the industry made $348 billion in jumbo loans. Last year,roughly $200 billion of jumbo mortgages were made, and Cecala says that he expects total 2013 volume to approach $220 billion. In some expensive markets, loans don't start being classified as jumbo until they exceed $625,500; that limit was even higher for part of 2007, meaning that the 2007 figure represents a smaller potential jumbo market and isn't directly comparable. Mortgage market leader Wells Fargo has increased its jumbo loan volume for three years straight, said Greg Gwizdz, an executive vice-president. In 2010, Wells Fargo issued a total of $10 billion in jumbo loans. That rose to $27 billion in 2011 and to $41 billion in 2012, with the average loan at $1 million, Gwizdz said. Less than half of jumbos tend to go to re-financings, while almost three quarters of conventional mortgages were for refinancings last year, Cecala said. That, too, should boost jumbo activity in 2013 as refis taper off and the housing market picks up. Better Deals, Narrowing Spreads Interest rates on jumbos have been approaching those of the so-called conforming loans, even though they don't have agency backing. In mid-February, for example, the average rate on 30-year fixed-rate jumbo loans was 3.98 percent while the average rate for 30-year conventional loans was 3.75 percent, making the spread between them just 0.23 percentage points, the Mortgage Bankers Association said. Pre-crisis, rates on jumbo loans were typically around 0.25 percentage points higher than those on conventional loans, says Keith Gumbinger of HSH Associates, a mortgage research firm in Pompton Plains, New Jersey. At the height of the financial crisis in December 2008, it hit 1.8 percentage points. "I just locked in a $900,000 loan at 3.5 percent," said Amy Slotnick, vice president of Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp., in Needham,Massachusetts. "I can't even get a conforming loan at that rate." Jumbos loans are priced well now because only the most qualified borrowers can get them. Lending standards, which were notoriously lax pre-crisis, have intensified as the loans have returned to market. "At one point all you needed was a pulse" says Matt Silver, director of the Chicago Association of Realtors, and a real estate agent who specializes in high end Chicago properties. "Now you have to have all of your ducks in a row." Those standards will get even more restrictive in 2014, when Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rules take effect. The CFP Brules are likely to kill the market for interest-only mortgages that had made up roughly 10 percent of the jumbo market, according to the Mortgage Bankers of America. The rules also offer lawsuit protection for lenders who require that borrowers keep their debt payments at 43 percent or less of monthly income. Rick Sharga, of Carrington Mortgage Holdings in Greenwich,Connecticut, said that could be problematic for the jumbo market, because many high-income and high net worth borrowers don't fit that guideline but still have plenty of money on hand to repay their loans. Today a borrower typically needs to put up 30 percent of equity, show a FICO credit score topping 760, provide years of tax records and prove that he or she has a year of mortgage payments in the bank. After meeting that stringent criteria, the typical jumbo borrower is probably a reasonable bet for a lender. "Not just a good risk,"says Slotnick. "A great risk." Mortgages 30 yr fixed 3.55% 3.13% 30 yr fixed jumbo 4.06% 3.88% 15 yr fixed 2.84% 2.71% 15 yr fixed jumbo 3.43% 3.28% 5/1 ARM 2.68% 2.52% 5/1 jumbo ARM 2.95% 2.83% Find personalized rates: Bankrate.com Secondary Market Pick Up Like many jumbo lenders, Wells has been keeping the loans it makes in its own portfolio instead of selling them off. "Holding a jumbo loan is an attractive investment for banks sitting on lots of low rate deposits," says Mike Fratantoni, vice president of research and economics at the Mortgage Bankers Association. But eventually, lenders will need to sell off those loans to raise more money to make loans.There has been some activity in the secondary market for these big loans - Redwood Trust Inc. led the way when it started packaging jumbos in 2010. Credit Suisse and Shellpoint Partners, a private mortgage-focused firm,have followed or made plans to do so, and JP Morgan Chase & Co is reportedly preparing its own jumbo-backed offering. But other investment firms, burned in the credit crisis, remain cautious. Indeed, back in 2007, 61.3 percent of jumbo loans were securitized, Cecala said. In the first 9 months of 2012, just 1.7 percent of jumbo loans were securitized, up from 0.4 percent in 2011 and 0.2 percent in 2010. Secondary market players andinvestors may come around as they see how the jumbo bet has paid off for Redwood - the real estate investment trust's share price is up roughly 96 percent since December 31, 2011.Redwood itself plans to buy and package $7 billion in jumbo loans in 2013, more than triple the $2 billion it securitized in 2012. Without more Redwood-like deals,lenders - and particularly smaller banks like Everbank - will run out of cash to lend to jumbo borrowers. If rates rise, they will have other places to find yield. Says HSH's Gumbinger: "There's no doubt (jumbos) are profitable today. But when you're sitting on $100 million in mortgages yielding 4 percent and you can use that capital to earn 6 or 7 or 8 percent? You're going to have to liquefy them somehow." ** Info from National Association of Realtors e-magazine 2-2013

Thinking about Selling your Real Estate ?

Seven years after the housing market began to collapse, rising prices and thinner inventories are presenting new opportunities for home sellers. Some hot markets are even seeing multiple offers for the same property—a phenomenon rarely seen since the boom years—as buyers become more confident and seek to take advantage of today's near-record-low mortgage rates. Home prices nationally climbed 8.3% in December from the same period a year earlier, according to CoreLogic, CLGX +2.61%a real-estate analytics company. The increase was the largest since May 2006 and the 10th consecutive monthly gain. The CoreLogic figures include foreclosures and other distressed sales. "You will unambiguously see more people test the water," says Thomas Lawler, an independent housing economist in Leesburg, Va. He expects home prices to rise another 3% this year. Thinking about selling? You are likely to find a buyer more quickly and at a better price if you factor in local market conditions and recent sales before setting an asking price, burnish your home's Internet profile and plan ahead for a home appraisal. Acting soon may pay off as well. While trends vary by region, buyer search activity generally peaks in March and April, while seller listings peak in July, says Jed Kolko, chief economist at real-estate website Trulia.com. "Most sellers would be better off if they pushed the process up a couple of months," he says. Sellers could face headwinds if mortgage rates jump or the economy weakens, while the supply of homes for sale is likely to increase over the next few months, creating more competition, say real-estate agents. Don't expect to make a killing. Even after the recent gains, home prices remain about 27% below their 2006 highs, according to CoreLogic. In some markets, prices remain so low that selling is likely to prove painful—unless you are looking to buy a more expensive home at a discount. Still, in many markets, sellers have more of an edge than they have had in years. One big reason: The number of existing homes on the market dropped to 1.74 million in January, down 25% from a year earlier and the lowest level since December 1999, according to the National Association of Realtors. Houses are also selling faster. The median number of days on the market for homes in January was 71, according to the Realtors group, meaning half of all homes sold within that time. That's down from 99 days one year ago. "I feel more confident, even if prices aren't at the height they were six or seven years ago," says Ms. Tolli, who has set a $1.2 million asking price for the five-bedroom waterfront property. That is more than it would have fetched a year or two ago, she says, but still well below its peak value of more than $2 million. If you are thinking of making a move, start by assessing conditions in your local market...focuse on five measures: price changes, the inventory of homes for sale, competition from foreclosures, the average time it takes a home to sell and the gap between selling prices and list prices. But sellers shouldn't be complacent. Here are some steps to consider: 1. Interview multiple agents. Some people prefer to handle the selling process themselves. But if you plan to use a real-estate agent, start by interviewing several contenders. Narrowe your search to agents who have handled many sales in your neighborhood. They are likely to have the best view of local market conditions and can better assess what your home may sell for and how it should be marketed. 2. Adjust your sights to today's market. Set aside what you home might have fetched in 2006 and focus instead on what homes are selling for today. 3. Don't overreach. Given today's thin inventories, it is tempting to reach for the stars. But if you get greedy and set the price too high, you are likely to wind up in a downward spiral. "You are going to have your largest viewing audience in your first days on the market, when the house is the newest product on the shelf," says Lloyd Fox, a broker at Long Realty in Scottsdale, Ariz. If the price is too high, buyers and agents are likely to relegate your listing to the sidelines. Properly priced homes are likely to get eight to 10 showings their first week on the market and an offer soon after, Mr. Fox says. If not, "you have missed the market" and it's likely a price cut is in order, he adds. 4. Weigh multiple offers carefully. In cases of multiple bidders, you should focus not just on price, but also on terms. In comparing two competing bids at similar prices, Realtor recommends choosing the buyer who is putting down more cash or is willing to forgo an inspection, since those deals are likely to close sooner and with fewer hassles. 5. Clean up your act. Even in a market where inventories are thin, a home isn't likely to sell if it looks shabby or crowded. At a minimum, you'll need to touch up the paint, clean the carpet and pare your possessions. ** A version of this article appeared February 2013, in the U.S. edition of The Wall Street Journal.(LinkedIn) Think of Selling or Buying real estate in South Florida? Allow us to serve your Real Estate Needs. All the Best, Esperanza Franky "espie" Realtor Member of The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing "Selling Miami Estates" team with One Premier International Realty Cell: 305.283.5868 Follow us via Twitter: @espiefranky Marketing Florida Real Estate at the Highest Level !

Strong start to the year for Florida’s housing market !!

'For the thirteenth straight month, Florida has seen the median sales prices for both single-family homes and for townhouse-condo increase over their year-ago figures, according to a report released today by Florida Realtors, a statewide industry group. The report also showed increased closed and pending sales as well as a drop in inventory for January. Florida’s closed sales in January of existing single-family homes grew 11.7 percent from last January, to 13,679 from 12,247, the report said. Pending sales grew 31 percent over the previous January, to 23,502 from 17,945. The median sales price rose 12.4 percent over the year-ago figure — from $129,000 to $145,000. Closed sales of Florida’s townhouse-condos in January grew two percent from last January, to 6,670 from 6,539. Pending sales grew 17 percent over the previous January, to 11,779 from 10,066. The median sales price in the state jumped 18 percent over the year-ago figure — from $94,000 to $112,000, per the report. The report also stated that inventory for single-family homes stood at a 5.6-months’ supply in January, while inventory for townhouse-condos was at a 6.2-months’ supply." ** from The Real Deal, South Florida Real Estate magazine. During the month of January 2013, 15 Luxury properties went 'Pending Sale' in the Beautifull City of Coral Gables, of 42 New Active listings. During the month of February only 7 have been placed as 'Pending Sale' of 47 brand new Active listings. Please give us a call for a confidential market analysis. All the Best, Esperanza Franky "espie" Realtor Member of The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing "Selling Miami Estates" team with One Premier International Realty Cell: 305.283.5868 Follow us via Twitter: @espiefranky Visit our Blog: www.sellingmiamiestates.com Marketing Florida Real Estate at the Highest Level !

Decor color fashions for 2013 !!

Spring is in the air and the fashions for Spring 2013 are already appearing in the retail stores. While it's always interesting to see what clothing designers are offering for the upcoming season, what's of more (or at least equal) interest to real estate professionals is what's ahead in home fashion and decor. Here is a sneak preview of the colors which will dominate this Spring in both clothing and in home interiors. The hues you see on the runway are predictors of the colors which will soon be seen in wall paints, furnishings, and other home fashions from towels to tablecloths. So, if you want to know the colors which top builders and interior decorators will be working with later this year, see the Top 10 hues in the “Spring 2013 Fashion Color Report” from Pantone. Download the report and you’ll also get a bonus peek at the fashions retailers are hoping you’ll take home and add to your closets. The “Top 10” colors are the colors you’ll want to keep in mind as you stage your listings (color makes things look fresher and more appealing). With colors like these on the home fashion horizon, it appears that Spring will be bright! Down load the Complete Spring 2013 Color report:: http://www.pantone.com/downloads/support/FCR/PANTONE_FCR_Spring_2013.pdf ** from The Institute For Luxury Home Marketing blog.

Housing: It’s Becoming a Seller’s Market !!

The National Association of Realtors said on Thursday what home buyers in many parts of the United States have known for months: it’s becoming a seller’s market. The number of homes listed for sale in January fell by 4.9%, leaving 1.74 million properties on the market. That’s the lowest since December of 1999, when there were 1.71 million homes on the market. By contrast, there were 2.91 million homes on the market two years ago at this time. After adjusting for seasonal factors, home sales rose by just 0.4% in January, to an annual rate of 4.92 million units. Still, that’s up from 9.1% one year ago. The upshot is that there’s a growing pool of buyers chasing a shrinking supply of homes. If the trend holds, prices will keep going up. At the current pace of sales, it would take just 4.2 months to sell the current supply of homes available for sale, down from a 6.2 months’ supply one year ago. While inventories typically increase in the spring, the Realtors’ group has expressed growing concerns that sales volumes are being held back by the lack of choice. This is good news for homeowners who have watched home prices drop over the last six years, but it’s bad news for buyers—and for anyone that makes their living selling real estate. Inventory declines have been the most dramatic in California, Arizona, and other markets that witnessed some of the largest home price declines. Those cities have large numbers of underwater borrowers—people who owe more than their homes are worth—while many others may have equity but aren’t willing to sell because prices have fallen so far. Investors have also been aggressive in buying up properties that are selling for less than their replacement cost. National Association of Realtors Home sales could rise to 5.2 million units this year, an increase of nearly 12% from last year, according to economists at Goldman Sachs GS -2.77%. They base their forecast on household formation and demographics, which both suggest rising demand for housing in the coming years, and affordability measures such as mortgage rates and home prices. But the economists note that there’s a considerable amount of uncertainty that could make those targets hard to hit, particularly if there’s nothing for would-be buyers to purchase. ** from WSJ Blog / Real Estate News and Analysis from The Wall Street Journal

Rising sea levels could have drastic impact on South Florida coastline

Rising sea levels could have drastic impact on South Florida coastline ! With the rate of rising sea levels accelerating, the impact to South Florida coastal towns in coming years could be drastic, lawmakers learned yesterday during a presentation of an 84-page action plan compiled by county planners and water managers last fall. The report found that coastal properties in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties and the Keys at risk. “The upper estimate of current taxable property values in Monroe, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties vulnerable in the one-foot scenario is $4 billion,” the report said, referring to a one-foot rise in sea levels, “with values rising to more than $31 billion at the three-foot scenario.” The grim report has several lawmakers calling for more state aid to combat the problem, the Post reported. The lawmakers hope to frame it as a state economic problem in light of the residential properties with high taxable value. The problems wrought by rising sea levels can already be seen in certain areas where regional flooding and saltwater intrusion are becoming common. But it could get a lot worse as analysts predict a climb of at least an additional nine inches over the next 50 years. [Palm Beach Post]–Sanna Chu ** As per The Florida Real Deal, South Florida Real Estate Magazine. Thinking on Selling your Estate ? Make sure to meet with Professionals for a Detailed market analysis. It will be our pleasure to serve your real estate needs. All the Best, Esperanza Franky "espie" Realtor Member of The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing "Selling Miami Estates" team with One Premier International Realty Cell: 305.283.5868 Visit our Blog: www.sellingmiamiestates.com & Follow us via Twitter: @espiefranky Marketing Florida Real Estate at the Highest Level !

Looking for JUMBO LENDERS !

2013 has started strong in sales of LUXURY Real Estate in South Florida. Many potential buyers ask us what is the best jumbo loan ? who offers it? what rates are available ? With this in mind we are inviting ALL JUMBO LOAN LENDERS to send us their answers to the above and their contact information. Kind regards, Espie Franky Realtor, Luxury Member, BBA 305.283.5868 espiefranky@gmail.com visit our Blog: www.sellingmiamiestates.com follow us via Twitter: @espiefranky Sent from my iPad

"Market for Trophy Homes is SIZZLING" !!

South Florida Ultra Luxury real estate market is on fire !! important concepts to have in consideration.... * the trend in the last several years is a DEMAND for Vey High Quality Product !! * High Net Customers are looking for Great Locations as well as Exotic Materials; such as Brazilian woods, Italian marbles and exotic stones including Onyx and mother pearl ! * Listing Prices for the fanciest single family houses & condominiums are soared to levels never before seen. * Renewed Interest from New Yorkers, and other ultra rick North Easterners to purchase Luxury real estates in South Florida. * Miami is emerging as an even greater magnet for the worlds Super Rich ! * The Ultra Rich Market is realizing how valuable the bay waterfront is! South Florida, Specially Miami is running out of prime ocean front and bay front sites ! * Newset architectural trends envision tropical modern style that fuses the indoors & outdoors ! * Many Top Tier Luxury Home buyers are going for the more contemporary looks such as glass houses with sleek modern feel, instead of the mediterranean architecture! For more information on Active, Pending sale or recent closed luxury estates, contact us 305.283.5868 or via email at espiefranky@gmail.com We will Appreciate Your business & referrals ! Kind regards, Espie Franky Realtor, Luxury Member, BBA dir: 305.283.5868 visit our Blog: www.sellingmiamiestates.com follow us via Twitter: @espiefranky

RE Mortgage Interest Rates start Climb....

Mortgage applications down as rates climb The number of mortgage applications for the week ending February 13, 2013 decreased 6.4 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from the previous week, the Mortgage Bankers Association announced today. On an unadjusted basis, the Index decreased 5 percent compared with the previous week. The Refinance Index decreased 6 percent from the previous week. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index decreased 10 percent from one week earlier, reaching its highest level since the week ending May 7, 2010. Unadjusted, the Purchase Index decreased 4 percent compared with the previous week and was 15 percent higher than the same week one year ago. The refinance share of mortgage activity held at 78 percent of total applications. The adjustable-rate mortgage share of activity also held at 4 percent of total applications. Interest rates for 30-year fixed-rate loans with conforming balances, continuing an upward trend for eight of the last nine weeks, increased to 3.75 percent from 3.73 percent, the highest rate since September 2012. Interest rates for jumbo loans also increased to 3.98 percent from 3.96 percent, the highest rate since September 2012. Rates for Federal Housing Administration-backed 30-year fixed-rate loans stayed at 3.53 percent from the previous week, while 15-year fixed-rate mortgages increased to 3.01 percent, the highest rate since September 2012, from 3 percent. — * from The Real Deal _ South Florida RE Magazine / Christopher Cameron ESPIE FRANKY REALTOR BBA Luxury Market 305 283 5868 Twitter to @espiefranky espiefranky@gmail.com

So Fla ranks 12th in USA as best place to purchase REO's....

South Florida ranked 12th in the nation on best places to buy a foreclosure, and could see nearly 105,000 distressed homes hit the market in 2013, the Palm Beach Post reported based on a new national report from RealtyTrac. Of the 20 most attractive U.S. metropolitan regions in which to purchase a foreclosure, six are in the Sunshine State, including the top-ranked Palm Bay/Melbourne area, the report stated. Rankings were determined on four criteria: months’ supply of foreclosure inventory, percentage of overall sales that are foreclosures, foreclosure sales price, and percent change in foreclosure activity in 2012 from the previous year. The inaugural report was compiled as a way to help address the nation’s current lack of housing inventory, said Daren Blomquist, vice president of RealtyTrac. “These are bright spots in the housing market where buyers will find more homes available,” Blomquist said. Palm Beach County had a 5.9 months’ supply of single-family homes in December, according to the Realtors Association of the Palm Beaches. Moreover, there was a six-month supply of condominiums and townhomes. Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties have 104,833 foreclosure homes — a 29 months’ supply — that are yet to be listed, the report stated. Last year, foreclosures in South Florida sold at an average price of $129,941, a steep 30 percent discount from the average sales price of a non-foreclosure. [Palm Beach Post] –Hiten Samtani ** from The Real Deal; South Florida RE Magazine Selling Miami Estates will soon be listing REO properties in South Florida....stay toned to our Twitter @espiefranky and our Facebook page sellingmiamiestates for particulars.

Luxury RE services Selling Miami Estates team provide

Hi Dear Customer and Friend, We are often asked 'how is the Luxury Real Estate Market'? Before providing relevant statistics that apply to any particular luxury market in South Florida we first make it a practice to point out that we are in a very 'Opportunistic Market'.! Depending upon personal needs and circumstances, unprecedented opportunities for buyers, sellers and investors are available in this luxury real estate South Florida market. There are other luxury real estate activities related to Premier customers like you, and we want to offer this service to you. The following is a list of services Selling Miami Estates team can assist you with this year; carefully review it and email us, how Selling Miami Estates team can best service your luxury real estate needs. 1. Staging 2. Curb Appeal 3. mortgage information 4. referral for an out of town realtor 5. how to receive luxury real estate information in different languages 6. previous month / year luxury market analysis for your neighborhood 7. active properties for sale in your luxury real estate market 8. Investment Properties available in your market area / REOs 9. New Constructions 10. ** How to have your home marketed at the Highest Level !!! It will be our honor to skillfully serve the luxury real estates needs of your friends and family as well. Please feel free to share this information to All those you deem appropriate. All the Best, Espie Franky Realtor. Luxury Member. BBA Founder Selling Miami Estates team Dir 305.283.5868 email: espiefranky@gmail.com twitter @espiefranky facebook page: sellingmiamiestates