Miami Beach Real Estate Blog featuring Real Estate News

Wondering just where to catch some of the best fun and nightlife that Miami has to offer?  Whether you’re into shopping, dining or dancing with celebrities, Miami will dazzle you with its incredible lifestyle.  Here’s a look at the most exciting destinations in this beautiful Florida city.

South Beach

Perhaps the most famous of all the Miami hotspots, South Beach is a can’t-miss spot on any Miami to-do list.  Located a short drive from downtown on a barrier island, South Beach is rich with interesting sites and things to do.  Start at the South of Fifth neighborhood on the southern tip of the island.  Here you’ll find ultra-chic condo towers and private marinas with incredible views of downtown Miami in the distance.

Enjoy the gorgeous Art Deco buildings along the infamous Ocean Boulevard, just steps from the beach.  Scope out the bodies of the bathing beauties lining the sand, or take in a delicious meal at the News Café, where you may just spot a celebrity or two.

Then head to Lincoln Road/17th Street.  You’ll find some of the best restaurants Miami has to offer as well as trendy boutiques and specialty stores.   If you love books, you’ll love the bookstore Books & Books where you might also happen upon a bestselling author signing copies of their latest tome. Once night falls, hit any one of the well-known nightclubs that line the road and be sure to keep a lookout for your favorite star.

Some South Beach Condos you may want to check out: APOGEE CONDO, Continuum South Beach , Murano at Portofino & Icon South Beach Condos

Downtown Miami

Downtown Miami has been experiencing a rebirth in recent years.  Many new luxury condo high-rises now dot the cityscape, bringing with them new residents and new life to the area.  If shopping is your thing, be sure to stop at the Bayside Marketplace where you’ll find boutique shops and retail chains.  Or stop and dine and one of the many new restaurants and eateries that have popped up in Downtown, representing some of the best cuisine in the area.

Getting There

Don’t miss out on all the exciting scenery by taking Interstate 95.  Instead, take the scenic route down A1A along the coast and enjoy the fabulous ocean views.  This route will take you directly into Miami Beach where you will arrive on Collins Avenue, in the heart of it all.

When traveling from South Beach to Downtown Miami, make sure to head over on the MacArthur Causeway.  This busy road spans the Biscayne Bay and gives commuters unparalleled views of Star Island to the north with its spectacular mansions, where celebrities such as Gloria Estefan, Shaquille O’Neal, Rosie O’Donnell and Lenny Kravitz reside.  South of the causeway is Cruise Ship Alley which just might get you in the mood to head out on a water excursion of your own.

Miami is unlike any other city in the nation.  Not only is it an important business center, but it is an epicenter of cultural activity for the Latin community.  It is quickly becoming home to more and more Europeans who are choosing to make Miami their home away from home.

You can browse our Miami Beach Real Estate Blog for the latest in Miami & South Beach. Looking for Miami Beach Waterfront Homes and Luxury Miami Beach Condos  for sale? The Kleer Team will show you the hottest  Condos in Miami Beach. Call 949-735-9014 to schedule a meeting.

Downtown Miami is home to Bayside Marketplace, a festival marketplace. The location is between Bayfront Park on the south and the American Airlines Arena on the north, and wraps also the Biscayne Bay banks.

The complex opened in 1987 during a major real estate boom. Instead of being constructed to revitalize a targeted area like many of its sister properties, Bayside complements the marina, which was already in place. The shopping center was often featured on the popular TV series Miami Vice.

About 15 million people visit Bayside Marketplace every year. It is serviced by the Metrorail at the Government Center, and is directly next to the Metromover at College/Bayside station. General Growth Properties, based in Chicago, owns and manages Bayside Marketplace.

The Marketplace is a wonderful shopping experience for anyone who works and lives in downtown Miami. It is located on Biscayne Boulevard which is just south of the American Airlines Area and has some of the greatest stores.

Entertainment and Shopping

Several shops like GNC, Bath & Body Works, Brookstone, Perfumania, Gap and Baby Gap, Foot Locker, Game Stop, Express, Victoria’s Secret and the Disney store are located at the Bayside Marketplace, which means there’s something for everyone.

Restaurants

You’ll find just about any food you want at the Marketplace, including Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, Hard Rock Café, Chili’s, Lombardi’s and Los Ranchos. Bubba Gump Shrimp Company not only serves several varieties of shrimp, but provides Southern classics like baby back ribs, as well as fresh fish entrees and homemade desserts. The restaurant is also proud to offer a gluten free menu for those who suffer from gluten intolerance or celiac disease. Hard Rock Café is the place to eat if you love smoked ribs or juicy burgers. Lombardi’s satisfies your craving for Italian food; you can delicious meals like oven-baked pizza and homemade gelato for dessert. There’s also a food court with Asian fare, along with chicken and seafood.

Bayside Marketplace is also home to quality live entertainment. Let’s Make a Daiquiri is located at the Marina Stage and provides tasty cocktails you can enjoy while you take in the sounds of live bands and singers. Off the Hookah is another ideal location for live music; you can also enjoy Mediterranean and Japanese fare, along with Happy Hour specials.

Parking at Bayside Marketplace

You can park your car in the public garage for $3 for the first and an additional $2 per hour afterwards. There is a $10 daily maximum for parking

For more information on Bayside Marketplace and interactive maps, visit www.baysidemarketplace.com.

Downtown Miami Condos & Residences

If you are on the market to find the perfect luxury downtown condo, below is a good list:

• 1060 Brickell Avenue
• 900 Biscayne Condos Miami
• Axis Miami Condo
• Brickell House Condos Miami
• Miami Epic Condos Residences
• Icon Bay Miami
• INFINITY AT BRICKELL Condos

For more Downtown Miami condo listings, Click Here or call The Kleer Team @ 949-735-9014

The South Florida, specifically Miami Beach real estate market seems to be in a recovery phase according to statistics for January of this year.  2013 has already shown a rise in both home prices and purchases in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties.  This is great news for the sellers but leaves some buyers and Miami Beach Realtor with a lack of market choices.

January figures reflected a 14.8% jump in single family home median prices from the same time last year.  The median Miami-Dade County price was $194,000.  Condo prices are also reportedly up 24.1% from last year.  1,947 previously owned homes and condos were sold in January, up 7.5%.

Broward County experienced similar increases, with a 24.5% increase in median prices for single family homes.  The median single family home price was $224,088 in January, up from last year.  Condo and townhouse prices were also up 26.5% from last year to $94,000.  Single family home sales climbed 15.3% to 1,033 units sold with townhouse and condo closings up 10.7%.

With sales up so much, it also means inventory is down.  Again, great for sellers who are being bombarded with multiple offers, but rough on the buyers who are paying higher prices and finding fewer options.  These issues at least indicate recovery for South Florida’s previously struggling market.  Miami-Dade and Broward County real estate can no longer be called a buyer’s market.

The inventory shortage isn’t just in the mid-range price market.  From prices in the $200,000 bracket up to the multi-million dollar mansions, inventory is down across the board.  The total number of homes for sale in all of Miami-Dade was just 13,316 residences, down 12.9% from January of 2012.

Broward showed an even sharper inventory plunge of 26.5% for available single family homes with only 4,510 in January.  Condos and townhouse listings were at 6,407 units, down 11.2% from last year.  Homes are selling faster and much closer to their asking prices than in previous years.  The median number of days on the market was just 48 for single family home sand 42 days for condos and townhouses.  Single family homes were going for 93.4% of their listing prices which is a significant rise from 90.9% in 2012.  Condos and townhouses were also selling for 93.8% of the listing price, up 1.4%.

Many sellers are also in the desirable position of fielding multiple offers, some offers soaring well above and beyond the asking price.   One reason inventories may be so low is that some potential sellers are still under high mortgages – higher than the current value of their homes.  These sellers may be waiting for market rates to rise even more so they can avoid a loss.  And, the other side of that coin contributes to the speed at which homes are flying off the market.  Buyers will always want the lowest price they can get and are opting to buy now, rather than wait for prices to go up more.

You can browse our Miami Beach Real Estate Blog for the latest in Miami & South Beach. Looking for Miami Beach Waterfront Homes and Luxury Miami Beach Condos  for sale? The Kleer Team will show you the hottest  Condos in Miami Beach. Call 949-735-9014 to schedule a meeting.

Coconut Grove is a neighborhood located in Miami, Florida, known as the oldest modern neighborhood continuously inhabited since the early days. Coconut Grove is connected to North Prospect Drive, Rickenbacker Causeway and South Dixie Highway, Biscayne Bay, and LeJeune Road. It’s also located in the vicinity of neighborhoods such as The Roads, Brickell and Coral Gables.

Coconut Grove – Historic Facts

What people know today as Coconut Grove was developed in 1925, around the same time when Miami annexed two additional areas: Silver Bluff and Coconut Grove. The city is now served by Douglas Road stations and the Miami Metrorail.

You’ll certainly enjoy visiting or even living in this city because of its chic and relaxing vibe, not to mention its high-quality hotels, restaurants and vivid nightlife. Besides, the city has a central location and it features a wide range of things to do and fun-based activities.

Coconut Grove Activities

You can begin with a walking tour of the city, where you can take a look at its most famous restaurants, parks and shops, and on your way you can also learn a lot of things about the history of Coconut Grove. Vizcaya Museum and Garden is one of the most popular attractions of the neighborhood where you can discover many interesting details about the life of rich people who lived in the 1920’s. Besides, the gardens are enormous and will charm you with their beauty and numerous species of plants.

Tourists can also have a great time visiting the Miami Museum of Science & Space Transit Planetarium. The museum has something for everybody, starting from planetarium shows and an exclusive wildlife center to laser light shows and educational exhibits for the kids.

Introducing Barnacle State Park in Coconut Grove

Barnacle State Park is famous for its house – the oldest in the neighborhood that was built on the park’s premises centuries ago. Tourists can also watch interesting concerts also known as “Barnacle under Moonlight” every two Fridays between May and September. Another recreational park in Coconut Grove you cannot miss out is Peacock Park, a great place for children who want to have fun on the playground and benefit from quality family time.

Besides, if you want to visit a beautiful garden, you shouldn’t miss The Kampong Garden where you can admire a wide range of tropical fruits or flowering trees. There can be nothing more rejuvenating than a day spent in nature.

Shopping & Dining in Coconut Grove

When it comes to shopping, Coconut Grove is an excellent location to consider; home to several outdoor malls like “The Streets of Mayfair” or “Coco Walk”, the neighborhood will certainly keep you busy. After a long session of shopping it’s time for lunch. Luckily for you, Coconut Grove features a great deal of fantastic restaurants designed to suit all tastes. Some of the most notable eateries are Lulu, Green Street Café, Berries, and more.

Coconut Grove is a bohemian neighborhood in Miami that will certainly keep you entertained, whether you’re looking to have fun, shop, or just walk around and discover its history.

For more information about Coconut Grove Estates call Allan Kleer @ 305 748 2058. The Kleer Team represents many first time buyers of Miami Beach Luxury Real Estate. Schedule an appointment for a personal interview.

In January of 2010, the world was shaken by the news of the earthquake that destroyed Haiti. Since then, the country has been fighting to rebuild itself from the ashes and ruins. The establishment of a new government, a new leader at the head of the Ministry of Tourism, along with the efforts of the Consulates and Ambassadors abroad, has brought nothing but pure excitement. This is especially true for the efforts made to revive and uplift the image of the beautiful Haiti.

The Haitian Culinary Alliance or HCA is founded by the talented Haitian Culinary Professionals. They decided to do its part when it comes to the promotion of Haiti and its cuisines. Gastronomy is a very essential ingredient in the promotion of tourism. And as chefs and culinary professionals, they view themselves as the ambassadors working at giving great flavors that Haiti has to offer to the rest of the world.

Introducing Haiti’s Gastronomy

The Taste of Haiti in Miami is the first ever event organized by the Haitian Culinary Alliance. This is in partnership with the General Consulate of Haiti in Miami, the Haitian Chamber of Commerce in Florida, the Offices of the Commissioner Jean Monestime, as well as the City of North Miami. All these organizations have one goal, and that is to promote and introduce Haiti’s Gastronomy to the people of Florida and other nearby places.

When people talk about Haitian food in the United States, the first things that come to mind are the griot, rice and beans, and the popular Soupe de Giromond. But there is actually more to the culinary background than these popular meals. Haiti has been greatly influenced by a number of cultures, including African, French, Indian, Lebanese, Spanish and so much more. Just imagine what kind of food will be produced when all these cultures are combined. The island of Haiti offers an extraordinary variety of food, and the people from this place are ever ready to share what they have to the world.

So, save the date Miami. The event will take place this coming May 11, 2013, the first edition of the Taste of Haiti. Come and have a taste of the best foods of Haiti.

Event Details

• What: Taste of Haiti
• Where: Moca Plaza, 770 NE 125 Street, North Miami FL
• When: Saturday, May 11, 2013 from 3:00 pm to 10:00 pm
• Free Admission

More about Haiti

Haiti, officially known as the Republic of Haiti, is a Caribbean country. It stands on the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antiallean archipelago. Haitian Creole and French are the official languages of the country. Haiti was the first independent nation of Latin America and the Caribbean.

On January 12, 2010, a destructive earthquake struck the island, with a magnitude of 7.0. The death count was estimated at 220,000. Most of the important structures in the island were destroyed, including the Presidential palace, Parliament, and countless homes. The earthquake left hundreds homeless.

But Haiti no longer wants to be remembered that way. Through the Taste of Haiti event, people in the United States, particularly in Miami, will see Haiti in a different perspective. They get to see the beautiful and rich side of Haiti, especially on its gastronomy.

You can browse our blog for the latest in Miami Beach Real Estate. Looking for Miami Luxury Homes for sale? The Kleer Team will show you the hottest  Miami Beach Real Estate Listings. Call 949-735-9014 to schedule a meeting.