Some of you who have read my Blog for a while know that I've been a Big Sister with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America since 1997 and that my local volunteer office is Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Broward.  Just over 100 years old, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is the oldest one-on-one mentoring organization.Yesterday was BBBS Broward's 29th Annual Fishing Tournament, a Charity Event where local Fishing Captains volunteer their time and Boats for a 4-hr. event, taking Little Sisters and Little Brothers out with their Mentors (Big Sisters and Big Brothers) to Cruise or Fish.I have been matched with my current Little Sister for 4 years and we've attended the event each of those 4 years since she was 8.We weren't able to book one of the Fishing Boats today, so we cruised inste... 06/07/2008

Hi-Life Cafe is Fort Lauderdale comfort food defined.  Great feel, warm and friendly atmosphere, gracious greeting upon entry.  So nice in fact, you find yourself almost genuinely hoping that the food will not disappoint.  No need to hope or pray.  Chuck and Carlos (co-owners) deliver and do a phenomenal job at maintaining a quality food experience even as their small wonder has climbed to the top of Fort Lauderdale's choice food kingdoms.  Start out with what may possibly be the best Sangria in South Florida.  Not sure if you like Sangria?  They aim to please with offerings of red, white or champagne.  The concoctions are made right in front of you using only the freshest ingredients.  A refreshing twist from the routine cocktail and a precursor to all of the new dishes you are about t... 06/02/2008

Fort Lauderdale, Florida WHAT A GREAT VIDEO! Fort Lauderdale, known as the "Venice of America" due to its expansive and intricate canal system, is a city in Broward County, Florida, United States. Principal city of the South Florida metropolitan area.The city is a popular tourist destination, with 10.35 million visitors in 2006.The city is a major yachting center, with 42,000 resident yachts and 100 marinas and boatyardsFort Lauderdale and its suburbs host over 4100 restaurants and 120 nightclubsBest Real Estate Deals in Florida!Goran Jovanovic Keller Williams Elite Properties.For best Real Estate Deals CALL ME NOW: 954-243-7570http://www.goranflorida.comProduction: http://www.FloridaSearchonLine.comemail:floridasearchonline@gmail.comFort Lauderdale is named after a series of forts buil... 05/31/2008

Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Florida WHAT A GREAT VIDEO! 05/20/2008

Luxury Condos Sold in Ft. Lauderdale- Waterfront Condos for Sale- Ft. Lauderdale Oceanfront Condos - Ft. Lauderdale Condos for Sale  During the month of April, 2008, according to sales recorded in the S.E. Regional MLS, there were 14 sales of Condos that were sold at final sale prices over $1,000,000 in Broward County. Of course, there are luxury Condos that sold for less than $1,000,000, but for this post, I am highlighting the ones that sold at or over $1MM. The Condos sold between final sale prices of $1,050,000 - $3,550,000.  They are located in Ft. Lauderdale, Lauderdale by the Sea, Pompano Beach, and Hollywood: L'Hermitage (2 Sales) L'Ambiance (1 Sale) La Rive (1 Sale) Las Olas Beach Club (2 Sales)  Aquazul (1 Sale) Corniche (1 Sale) Cristelle (1 Sale) Hampton Beach Club (1 Sale) ... 05/17/2008

Located at 1200 Holiday Drive, adjacent to the Harbor Beach Marriott, Coconut Grove Residences holds the distinction of being Ft. Lauderdale newest Condo located directly on the Sand. Coconut Grove Residences is a 12-Floor direct Oceanfront Building offering only 64 luxury residences.  13 Floorplans are offered in units ranging in size from 1,465 square feet - 5,195 square feet (1 Bedroom with 1.5 Baths - 3 Bedrooms with 3.5 Baths). Coconut Grove Residences Amenities include:5-Star Concierge/Management ServicesAn 8-seat private Movie Room, which can be reserved via your SMART panelCardio RoomBeautiful freeform Pool11 Oceanside CabanasKey Operated ElevatorsThe completion of Coconut Grove Residences was delayed for a few months, but the pending Contracts finally started closing.  Between ... 04/29/2008

I decided to venture out in the blogoshpere today to see what some other lenders are writing about FHA Streamlines. As I have stated, you can't believe everything that you read, even if it sounds true. In this post, I want to highlight some of the misleading facts that I read and to share with you what is actually right. FHA loans have been around since 1934 and FHA streamlines been around since the 1980's. It is basically for those borrowers that currently have a FHA mortgage. FHA's sole purpose is to streamline the process, making it very simple and quick when refinancing. The main key points of FHA streamlines are :no credit check or income verificationsno cash-outHere is what I found on the internet. The misleading information will be underlined and the correct answers will be in B... 04/27/2008

As we are all feeling the pain of the current RE market, it will get better. If you keep a positive attitude you will reap those benefits.  Fortunately I get call's daily about my listings.  Many of those are renter's right now, and a few are buyers. Work is work, no matter if it's a renter or a buyer...pay's the bills (renter's) it's more work however, it's just business.  I met with a Realtor(R) tonight to show a property that I have to accompany on and he said the same thing. Right now is a good time to buy, the interest rates are low and there are great programs out there for the buyers. If you have some cash in the bank, you will reap the benefit's of the sales that are there. If you want info on these great deal's, call me. 954-464-4194 cell. Do you other Realtor's agree with me? ... 04/26/2008

Seasons 52 Restaurant Provides Seasonally Inspired Healthier Meals - 52 Weeks a Year. Located at the Galleria Mall on Sunrise Blvd adjacent to Blue Martini, PF Changs, and Capital Grille; this elegantly designed, pleasantly sophisticated restaurant and wine bar will delight all of your senses.  After a long day of shopping in the mall shops which include Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Abercrombie and Coach, kick back and relax in this casually chic spot. Your taste buds are in for a treat.  With a menu that changes with the season, giving you 4 menus per year, you get exquisitely fresh meals at exceptionally reasonable prices. Serving healthier meals with each menu item at no more than 475 calories, the savory flavor rivals the most highly seasoned entrees at comparable restaurants. ... 04/22/2008

Excellent opportunity to own brand new construction with these builder developer close outs. Quality construction, various locations and stages of development in Metro Ft. Lauderdale, prices range from $300,000 to over $1,600,000. See new slide show on my profile. Rookery located at Commercial Blvd & NW 31st Ave, 3BR 2BA Townhouses, 1 Car Garage $300K. Great location, highway access and affordably priced. Hurry, not many units left at this price. Project complete, move in immediately. MLS Area 3540.Riversedge Townhouses located in downtown Ft. Lauderdale in "The Arts" district, close to Las Olas & Riverwalk area, hot re-development area. 3BR 2 1/2 BA, Garage, elevator, granite counters. Project complete, move in immediately, only a few units available. $700'sK. MLS Area 3470.Grandeur at... 04/20/2008

Selling Your Fort Lauderdale Home Or Fort Lauderdale Condos -Is YOUR Fort Lauderdale Realtor Ethical?April 19, 2008 When selling Your Fort Lauderdale Homes Or Fort Lauderdale Condos, do you know if your Fort Lauderdale Realtor is considered ethical by other Fort Lauderdale Realtors?Who are you hiring-do you ever really know for sure?What if you hire the WRONG Realtor?Seller situation: You have listed your Downtown Fort Lauderdale Home or Fort Lauderdale Beach High Rise Condo with the most popular agent on Fort Lauderdale Beach.  He has a proven history of selling high rise waterfront condos in both Fort Lauderdale Beach and in Downtown Fort Lauderdale, and often will bring the buyer to the deal as well.  This is called dual agency. This is when the same agent represents both the buyer a... 04/19/2008

The city of Fort Lauderdale, located in scenic Broward County, Florida, is a thriving and vibrant metropolitan enclave, and is blessed with an economy that has a tableau of diverse services and commercial activity. While the city has successfully retained its small town roots and demeanor, it has also embraced the global economy. The city's competitive edge in the  global context is ensured through improvements in the area's infrastructure and city services, and through the years, the developments have literally paved the way for the balanced modernization and development of the city.  This urban center is known for offering an outstanding quality of life, highlighted by a wonderful semi-tropical climate, natural beauty and offering an array of cultural, entertainment, educational and f... 04/11/2008

Each week, I will be featuring a Broward County Subdivision, Condo Building, or Townhouse Community and introducing its' features to you, along with information about its' surrounding Community, quantity and prices of Homes recently sold, average price per Square Foot, types of homes available, prices of available Homes, and other information that's relevant to you as a Seller or prospective Buyer within that Community.This week, I'm featuring the Ft. Lauderdale Subdivision of Nurmi Isles.  Located off of Las Olas Blvd. in Ft. Lauderdale, Nurmi Isles is less than 5 minutes from Ft. Lauderdale Beach and the Atlantic Ocean, located West of the Intracoastal Waterway, and close to Las Olas' Seven Isles, but is not one of the Seven Isles (which I will feature in an upcoming post).  Per Tax R... 04/08/2008

As a Real Estate Professional, I consistently engage in continuing my Real Estate Education and enhancing the set of services that I offer my Buyers and Sellers. Last week, I completed The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing's Luxury Home Specialist class and became an Institute Member.What is the Institute for Luxury Home Marketing and how does my membership benefit you as a Buyer or Seller?The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing is the premier independent authority in training and certifying real estate professionals in the art of handling exceptional properties. The Institute has four key areas of focus: EducationThe Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist designation training, which all members receive, helps agents analyze the luxury home market, identify trends and strategies w... 04/08/2008

Nicholas Goglucci, PA. | Re/Max In Motion, Inc. | nicholasgoglucci@aol.com | 954-650-7800 511 SE 5th AVENUE, Fort Lauderdale, FL NU RIVER LANDING 1 Bdrm Condo offered at $339,777 Year Built 2006 Sq Footage 908 Bedrooms 1 Bathrooms 1 full, 0 partial Floors Unspecified Parking 1 Car garage Lot Size Unspecified HOA/Maint $500 per month DESCRIPTION WORLD CLASS RESORT STYLE LIVING AT ITS BEST. NORTHERN EXPOSURE VIEW OF WATER ON 7 TH FLOOR LOCATION OVER LOOKING THE MEDITATION / SERENITY GARDEN & NU RIVER. GREAT CITY VIEWS FROM EVERY ROOM. GOURMET KITCHEN WITH ITALIAN CABINETRY & GRANITE COUNTERTOPS.ITALIAN CABINETRY & MARBLE VANITY TOPS IN BATHS. WASHER & DRYER IN UNIT. OPEN FLOOR PLAN. LOTS OF LIVING SPACE & EXTRA STORAGE. WALK-IN CLOSETS. ENTERTAINING AND RELAXATION. ALL RESORT STYLE AMENT... 04/06/2008

In May of last year, I posted here on my blog about the grand opening of the St. Regis Ft. Lauderdale Resort and Spa.  I can't believe it's almost been a year already!  Anyway, I thought you might be interested in an update.Since that time, 5 units have sold in the St. Regis Ft. Lauderdale Resort and Spa, with final sales prices between $2,100,000 and $3,950,000.There are currently 10 units listed for Sale, priced between $1,995,000 and $8,999,000.One of the previously active listings has expired.  You might recall that I've mentioned it in several of my Ft. Lauderdale Luxury Real Estate Market Reports as the highest priced Ft. Lauderdale Condo listed.  When the listing was active, it was priced at $17,000,000.  This 10,000 square foot unit encompasses the entire top 2 Floors of the St.... 04/04/2008

On March 19th, I posted an announcement about the Ft. Lauderdale Luxury Real Estate Auction that was held on March 28th.Per Reports on March 29th, 67 of the 99 Properties had no Bids at all.  This doesn't surprise me. You might recall that, in my previous posts, I've mentioned that Luxury Homes are very seldom scheduled for Absolute Auction and potential Buyers prefer Absolute Auctions.  Instead, Luxury Homes are usually scheduled for Reserve Auctions, where Bids have to meet a minimum bid amount.  In my blog posts and in talking to many people about the Luxury Real Estate market, I've indicated that most Luxury Homes (particularly those in the higher end of the Luxury Market) ARE NOT being "given away", despite some people's wildest fantasies.  About the lack of Bids on the Luxury Home... 04/03/2008

  Are some lenders and loan officers just shooting craps with your mortgages? I think so.....  Experience and knowledge don't always have to be a prerequisite to help you with a mortgage. Now, don't get me wrong, knowledge and experience could be the key to your mortgage closing. But what about common sense? Shouldn't it be on the list also?. Why do I say this? Just a week ago, I received a phone call from another lender in Alabama. Her question was about the down payment assistance programs and if I new any investors that did these with conventional financing. My first question to her was, why aren't you pursing this as a FHA mortgage? Her main response was that the back end ratio to qualify was too high. I asked, how high. She said 47%. Okay, in reality, depending on the loan, I can ... 04/02/2008

Just thinking about this place makes my mouth water. If you live in South Florida and you enjoy a great slice of pizza then you have to go to Primanti Bros. in Fort Lauderdale or Oakland Park.Originally started in 1933 in Pittsburgh (known as a die hard Steelers fans hangout) these guys really know how to make a pizza great. It doesn't matter if you like plain cheese, mushroom, or the 5 topping special on your plate - it is all phenomenal at Primanti's.It isn't the pizza that delivers too. I think all of the pasta dishes are all delicious, although I always seem to order the tortellini. Their signature dish is their sandwich, which is just about any meat topped with french fries, cole slaw, & tomatoes. The story goes that when they original lunch cart opened in the Strip disctrict 75 ye... 03/31/2008

    About Fort Lauderdale City of Fort Lauderdale Overview Incorporated on March 27, 1911, the City of Fort Lauderdale is situated on the southeast coast of Florida, centrally located between Miami and Palm Beach. Encompassing more than 33 square miles with a population of nearly 190,000, Fort Lauderdale is the largest of Broward County's 30 municipalities and the seventh largest city in Florida. Embraced by the Atlantic Ocean, New River and a myriad of scenic inland waterways, Fort Lauderdale truly lives up to its designation as the "Venice of America." The City of Fort Lauderdale is named for a Second Seminole War fortification built on the banks of New River in 1838. In that year, Major William Lauderdale led a detachment of Tennessee Volunteers south along the east coast of Florida... 03/29/2008