What does your front door say about you?
We've all heard that the front door is one of the most important elements in a house and it is true. The front door not only echoes the architectural style of the home, but sets the tone for the rest of the home. When we take a new listing, we stress the importance of the approach to the house; a clean walkway free of debris, potted flowers or plants to make a great first impression, clean and visible numbers, nicely painted or finished door, well lit, hardware in good working condition, avoid clutter, and please oh please make it CLEAN! Spider webs are for Halloween (and maybe not even….see Halloween Decorations or DISTRACTIONS?)If you want to add your own personal touch, do it with the entrance matt or a wreath or simply with plants or flowers.

NOTE: All of these doors are in Miami Shores

www.YourPropertyPros.com

Miami Shores FL Real Estate Market Conditions

Overview of the single family market in Miami Shores FL:

• currently on the market: 174
• under contract: 22
• closed in last 90 days: 33
• lowest price: $302,900
• highest price: $3,995,000

Overview of the condo market in Miami Shores FL:

• currently on the market: 33
• under contract: 14
• closed in last 90 days: 3
• lowest price: $139,500
• highest price: $699,000

Visit http://www.YourPropertyPros.com for more information about Miami Shores Real Estate.

A Future Photographer? You be the judge.

Our 11 year old son, Gabriel, spent almost the whole Summer with a camera by his side. Before school let out in May, the art teacher at his school handed out a ditto with an assignment for a Photography Competition. The competition would take place when school started in August and the theme would be nature. We truly can't tell what inspired him, was it the actual competition, or was it the $50 prize??

Either way, he was inspired, and took a lot of photographs. He learned about composition and light, and about the importance of capturing certain moments. We do Thank God for Digital Photography, because in our times we would have spent a fortune developing film. Here are some of the shots, tell us what you think!

Not bad for an amateur!

If you want to share anything you have done or your kids have accomplished, e-mail us, we would love to add you to our blog.

RICK & INES, Miami Shores Real Estate, www.YourPropertyPros.com

South Florida Neighborhood Profile: Miami Shores

If you've heard about Miami Shores but want a little more information about it, here it is.

Miami Shores is a small suburban neighborhood centrally located just minutes from Downtown Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Miami Beach. It´s considered a secret gem that few people know about. Its Real Estate ranges from Luxury Bay front homes, to 1920´s historic architecture. Activities include Golf, Tennis, a great community center and field house offering all kinds of sports and activities for all ages.
Miami Shores was developed in the early 1920´s at the same time as Coral Gables by The Shoreland Company. Its urban plan includes tree-lined streets, large setbacks, alleyways or service roads as well as a downtown commercial area which is known as "downtown Miami Shores". With its own extremely efficient police force, its own government building or Village Hall, as well as library, there´s nothing Miami Shores can´t offer. Schools include Miami Shores Elementary, Miami Country Day School, St. Rose of Lima School, Miami Shores Presbyterian pre-school, Baptist pre-school, Doctor´s Charter Middle and High School, and Barry University to name a few. Miami Shores is a neighborhood where your neighbors have your keys and kids play on the streets, a true village beautiful.

To search for properties in the MLS currently listed in Miami Shores as well as look at our featured listings, please visit our website at www.YourPropertyPros.com.

RICK & INES, Miami Shores Real Estate, www.YourPropertyPros.com

Home Sales Forecast Lowered

We felt the need to clear up a common misinterpretation for everyone who follows Real Estate trends. We are being bombarded by the Media on a daily basis that home sales are dropping. What does this really mean???

This doesn't really mean that prices are dropping. What it means is that less homes are selling. There is so much inventory (so many homes for sale), that buyers have a lot more to choose from and leverage to negotiate, but at the same time, there are fewer buyers.

More inventory, and fewer buyers means less sales. This means that when selling your home, you NEED TO DO YOUR HOMEWORK. You will need an agent, or a team of agents that market more aggressively, that have strong selling and negotiating skills, and that give 100% of themselves all the time, not just weekends, or just part of the week. Before you do yourself a disservice, please make sure the agent you are working with knows the area, and knows what they are doing.

If you choose to sell your house yourself and place a "FOR SALE BY OWNER" sign on your property, be ready to spend a lot of money on marketing in local newspapers, local publications, magazines and different websites as well. But also be ready to show your property with very short notice and usually at inconvenient times. Don't expect the sign in the front of the property, to sell your home.

If you feel like reading what the sales forecasts are, please read the following article by the National Association of Realtors.

http://www.realtor.org/RMODaily.nsf/pages/News2006090801?OpenDocument

RICK & INES, Miami Shores FL Real Estate, www.YourPropertyPros.com

Spiritual approach to sell your home?

We are bombarded by the Media everyday telling us that it is a slow housing market. Some sellers are trying new ways to attract buyers into their homes and eventhough some of these methods may seem unconventional, it's interesting to know different options are out there.
We have talked about conventional methods like "staging", "updating" and even "seller incentives", but what about imploring a HIGHER POWER??

Some of these practices involve from burying a St. Joseph statue in the yard of a home, to Feng Shui, to the Indian practice of Vaastu. Dinah Eng, in her Realtor Magazine article, speaks to different real estate professionals who have experienced these approaches.
http://www.realtor.org/rmomag.NSF/pages/Feat1200608?OpenDocument.

Let us know if you have had first hand experience using any of these methods, and what the result was and good luck with the sale of your home.

What will it take to SELL your property in this market?

The truth is that there is a lot of properties for sale, a lot of inventory, triple the amount from last year. This means that if you are selling, you have a lot more competition. If you are not in a hurry and do not really need to sell, then do NOTHING at all.
If you are motivated and don't have a choice, there are several things to do:

• First, price your property correctly (look at closed sales, not active listings).
• But most importantly, OFFER SELLER INCENTIVES!!!

As a seller, you can offer incentives to the actual buyer or you can offer incentives to the buying agent. Because of the amount of inventory, we find it more efficient to offer these to the buying agent, but keep in mind that every situation is different.
What does this mean? If a real estate agent is working with a customer ready to purchase a property in a certain area, usually, that agent will show properties that will make them more money. That agent will usually show properties that offer bonuses or that pay more commission. Therefore, that agent will most likely show and push for your property if it will make him/her more money.

This is not the time to hire discount brokers that offer less commission. If
you don't want to take our word for it, read the following article by Matthew Haggman from the Miami Herald.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/business/14918513.htm

If you have any particular questions about your selling strategy, please do not hesitate to call us at 305.758.2323 or e-mail us at info@YourPropertyPros.com

CONGRATULATIONS to The Shores' Marlins (9 & 10 year olds) for their top ranking in this year's Little League Series!


With the help of coach Rick Alvarez and coach Rick Garcia, the "Rick & Ines" sponsored Marlins had a great season. With lots of effort and improvement from every single player, they managed to have a lot of fun while playing their best.

We are lucky to live, work and play in this great Miami Shores Community, which offers great sports programs for kids of all ages practically year round.
For more information on Miami Shores Recreational Programs, please visit:
http://www.miamishoresvillage.com/rec/index.htm
or call (305) 795-2233.

Here are some photos of the players in action as well as the spectators:

IT'S OFFICIALLY A "BUYER'S MARKET"

What exactly does this mean??

It means that because there are more sellers than buyers (more supply than demand), sellers no longer have the power and need to be a little more flexible.

Realtor.org writes the following in their monthly Realtor Magazine: (http://www.realtor.org/RMODaily.nsf/pages/News2006050804?OpenDocument)

How to Take Full Advantage of a Buyer's Market(May 8, 2006) --

Home buyers are getting the big breaks in an increasing number of U.S. markets, says Tom Early, president of the National Association of Exclusive Buyers Agents.But even as the market shifts to favor buyers, to get the best deal, buyers must take the right approach. Some advice from Early:
- Stifle the guilt. Some buyers feel guilty about pressing their advantage. Remind them, if the shoe were on the other foot, the seller would show no mercy.
- Be patient. In slow-moving markets, it is sometimes a good bet to simply wait until a stubborn seller sees the light and drops his price.
- A price drop may be just the beginning. When a seller drops the price, it may be a signal that he is facing a deadline and will negotiate still more.
- Take full advantage of a buyer's right to a home inspection. The buyer may find an issue that can be used to his advantage in gaining concessions.
- Insults don't work. Wounding the sellers' pride in their home is never a good tactic. Also making a ridiculously below-market bid may shock the owners into refusing to talk anymore.

If you are a Seller, place close attention to the advice given to buyers because it does impact you directly. Do not get offended by offers, it is better to receive a low offer than no offer at all, you can always counter. Just because you get an offer below your listed price, it does not mean it's a bad offer, it might mean your property is overpriced. Do your homework, look at comparables sales, and don't get greedy, unless you can afford to sit on the property and not sell.

Take a look at Ellen James Martin's article in the Miami Herald: www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/classifieds/real_estate/14511288.htm

WHY FENG SHUI???

An ancestral knowledge which originated over 4,000 years ago in China, teaches us how to harmonize not only our bodies, but how to achieve happiness and prosperity. It is the notion that the "spirit" or atmosphere of a place has an effect on your well being.

Some people believe Feng Shui is like astrology and fortune telling, they believe it goes against God and question why people can preach this kind of stuff. Unfortunately, this is a very common "myth". Feng Shui is not about religion, or philosophy and much less about superstition. It is the art and science of living in harmony with the environment. Simply stated by Suzee Miller, Feng Shui Master and professional speaker, "Feng Shui is the study of quantum physics - the flow of organic and inorganic energy in the universe. The primary goal of Feng Shui'ng listings, offices and/or homes is to increase the dynamic flow and accumulation of positive energy. It is this life force that helps us sell properties in record time, empowers us in our careers, and enriches our personal lives."

It might sound far fetched to many of you. But do we go to the gym to our favorite Yoga class? Do we buy incense to incite our senses? How about the lovely fresh flowers we so enjoy as a center piece? Or the color in your friend's dining room walls that makes you feel at such ease. All these things have to do with energy, and how our senses are heightened and influenced by certain things.

So how can this help you??? It can help you achieve the ultimate balance with simple arrangements of colors, materials, sounds, furniture placement, use of light, gardens, nature and more. By redirecting energies - repositioning furniture - changing lighting - adding mirrors and beautiful plants, you might be able to achieve just that. It can help sell a "stagnant" property that has sat on the market for a while without movement. It can help you sleep in a bedroom that you have not been able to relax in since you "re-decorated". It can even help you cure a "sick house".

Can you do this yourself??? It takes years of experience to get it right, but it can't hurt you to buy a couple of books and learn to do it yourself.......but your best bet is to hire a Feng Shui consultant or better yet, a Feng Shui Master to assess your home or place of business and start making changes.

Here are some websites that can help you to get started:

www.fengshuitimes.com
http://skepdic.com/fengshui.html
http://www.fengshuisociety.org.uk/
http://www.crystalinks.com/feng_shui.html

If you are planning on trying it out on your own, start small, with simple items and don't resort to generalizations (like store bought Feng Shui products placed exactly as "instructions" tell you). You could start seeing changes which will seem unbelievable.

COLDWELL BANKER celebrates 100 years of Real Estate Excellence and rewards its sales associates!

Coldwell Banker's Senior Vice President, Gus Rubio, writes the following:

Congratulations to our dedicated Sales Associates for making Coldwell Banker the #1 residential real estate company in Miami-Dade in 2005. We also thank you, our customers, for making Coldwell Banker your first choice in real estate. When you begin to consider buying or selling a home, please contact one of our offices for the exceptional services you expect in the style you deserve.

THANK YOU - THANK YOU- THANK YOU

Thanks to the support of our customers and friends, we received the International Diamond Society Award, which represents the Top 13% of all Coldwell Banker Sales Associates Worldwide!......not bad for a couple of rookies.

We could not have done it without you!

WHAT’S HAPPENING TO THE REAL ESTATE MARKET?

We get approached on a daily basis by people asking us if “the real estate bubble has burst”.

The Reality is that something was bound to happen. The Market was so hot that we could not hold inventory. Houses would sell in just days and in some cases just hours after being listed. It was a seller’s market where sellers could inflate prices and could get what they asked for and fast!

Historically, Real Estate has ups and downs influenced by supply and demand, interest rates, and economic conditions. There are shifts from "seller" to "buyer" markets and transitional periods.

We believe we are in one of those transitional periods where the Market is stabilizing. Click on this link for a great article from the Miami Herald’s writer Douglas Hanks III.
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/business/13986063.htm


What does this mean to you as a SELLER? – There are a lot more properties for sale, which means more competition, and your property will most likely not sell as fast. If you price your property above market price, it might sit for a while, so be careful how high you price your home, unless you are willing to wait.

What does this mean to you as a BUYER? - There are a lot more properties to choose from, and there is more room for negotiation. Don’t be afraid to look at properties that are a bit above your price-range, knowing you may be able to get certain properties for less, especially those that have been for sale for some time.

In Miami Shores in particular, we are seeing a pattern where some agents are overpricing homes to the point of absurdity knowing that when push-comes-to-shove, they will have to negotiate down quite a bit. So when it comes to buying or selling, make sure you hire a Realtor who will work for your best interest, not just their bottom line. Work with someone who really understands your needs, and your current situation, someone that knows the area well – Don’t take risks on a Shifting market……..unless you are willing to gamble.

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF WHEN SELLING OR BUYING A HOME

The National Association of Realtors (N.A.R.) has some great consumer protection tips for home buyers and sellers. It never hurts to do a little research when you are ready to purchase or sell a home.

Home Buyers:

• Check your credit report for accuracy and completeness
• Use the Internet wisely
• Educate yourself on mortgages and mortgage fraud
• hire the right real estate professional

Home Sellers:

• Know your home's value
• Protect yourself and your home
• understand the purchase contract
• hire the right real estate professional

How to Choose the right real estate professional:

• do your research
• get referrals from friends and relatives
• interview at least 3 agents
• make sure the agent you choose is a Realtor

For the complete article, please follow this link:

http://www.realtor.org/PublicAffairsWeb.nsf/Pages/ConsumerPropectionTips06?OpenDocument

Remember that we are always ready to provide a no obligation market analysis of your home. So if you are thinking of buying or selling, or know someone who is, please give us a call or send them our way. We appreciate referrals.

What does it mean when we include "REALTOR - ACCOUNTANT - ARCHITECT" in our marketing???

It does not mean that we are marketing our professions at the same time that we are marketing our real estate services. We are full-time Realtors and it means, that as professionals, we have an extra edge to offer our customers that most Realtors don't.

Ines is an architect (Bachelors of Architecture from the University of Miami) and Rick is an Accountant (Bachelors in Business Administration from The University of Central Florida, and Master's of Accounting from Nova Southeastern University) as well as a Florida State Certified Mortgage Broker. We offer complimentary accounting and architectural consulting services exclusively to our real estate clients, at no extra cost.

Ines will sit with you with floor plans and help you re-distribute space, help you choose colors, or give ideas on what a future master suite might look like. Ines will even "Feng-Shui" a home that has sat on the market for a while and will help it sell quickly.

Rick will offer knowledge on current mortgage programs, capital gains taxes, 1031-exchanges and can help analyze financials for commercial real estate transactions and other investment type purchases.

Full Service Real Estate Services, wouldn't you say?

Welcome to our Newsletter! Here you will find fun and hopefully useful information on South Florida's Real Estate Market, our experiences and our opinions. Your comments are not only welcome, but also appreciated. We live, work and play in Miami Shores, but also work the surrounding areas. Feel free to ask and request information. We will write about Feng Shui, Architecture, Taxes, our kids, How to stage properties, For Sale By Owners, and other "HOT" topics. We will give you tips and advice and look forward to your regular visits.
We want to give thanks to our extremely talented photographer, Roy Llera, for the "blog" idea. So check out his website at www.RoyLlera.com, you will not be disappointed.