Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot at Founder's Park in the fabulous Florida Keys We have a Turkey Trot / Waddle here in the Keys on Thanksgiving Day. It is a 5 K Walk/run around Founder's Park. It was the first race my Husband ever ran only 2 years ago! Featuring Mashed Potato Mile Run for your Life! Benefiting Treasure Village Montessori, Burton Memorial Food Pantry,  Be the Change of the Florida Keys, Marvelous Pet Rescue, and MARC House. If you are not familiar with the notion of a Turkey Trot, it is a long running tradition that can be found all over the United States, dating back to 1876. It is a great way to burn off some calories ahead of time in preparation for all those excess Thanksgiving calories. The event will be held at Founders Park in Islamorada at mile marker 87 Bayside from... 11/20/2010

101 Vilabella Drive, Islamorada, Florida Keys This property just closed in Venetian Shores, the most prestigious community in Islamorada, on Plantation Key. Description: 2 BEDROOMS/2 BATHROOM SINGLE FAMILY HOME IN THE HEART OF ISLAMORADA. PROPERTY IS A WATERFRONT HOME WITH A PRIVATE DOCK IN THE BACKYARD. ACCESS TO THE BAY AND THE OCEAN. This is a bank owned property. List Price: $612,000 - Sold Price:$ $600,000 Click Here for Mapped Location Mile marker 86 41 days until Pending.  Properties ARE moving down here! For More info contact me!   11/18/2010

Looking for Short Sale Venetian Shores Real Estate and or Homes for sale in Islamorada and arms length transaction homes for sale in Venetian Shores in the Florida Keys?Stop by my new website www.VenetianShoresHomesforSale.com. There you will find links to property currently available in Venetian Shores, in the Fabulous Florida Keys. You will find an aerial view and a street map of Venetian Shores to help you locate the properties that are currently being marketed. I have separate links for standard, arms length transactions, short sales and REO properties. Currently there are no Bank owned or REO properties available there. I also have some brief answers to some questions about Short Sales. You can access Venetian Shores Homeowners Association's website and the Islamorada Chamber of Co... 11/15/2010

One of the reasons that I decided to put my license with American Caribbean Real Estate was the company wide focus and commitment to excellence. Professionalism and community service are ,and have been, the hallmarks of our firm, and nowhere is that more exemplified than in the efforts of my colleague Bill Belian. Bill, was just awarded the distinguished title of the Florida Keys Board of Realtors', REALTOR of the Year! Congratulations Bill!   11/15/2010

Maybe it is just me, but I believe our market is picking up. The stats don't say so, but my pocket book does. I have more property under contract now than I ever have. I actually have money in the bank for the first time in quite a while. I thank my buyers for the opportunity to serve them.I know my area and I know what is available. It is important to use a local Realtor who knows the neighborhoods and the local market. The greatest disappointment are Realtors with the short sales who do not treat all Realtors or buyers the same. There are Realtors from the city that have listings in the Keys that they don't bother putting in the local MLS. I think this is a disservice to the bank/owner. These properties usually sell to one of their friends for a below market price. I wish that banks w... 11/14/2010

I have always had a library card. I was surprised the other day when speaking with a colleague and found out she didn't have a library card. Of all the things my taxes support, other than roads, this is the one thing I appreciate the government providing. My nearest library is at Mile Marker 82 in Islamorada. Any book you want is available for FREE! Lately we have checked out Pinheads and Patriots, Clive Cussler's Silent Sea and The Girl Who Kicked Over the Hornets Nest. I found Malto Mario's latest cookbook and scanned my favorite recipes. I have also brought home cookbooks that were useless. The library is a great money saver. Why buy books when you can check them out for free? 11/14/2010

I recently purchased the domain name "Plantation Key Properties for sale" and purchased webhosting to go with it through Advertizit.com. I am in the process of creating a website for the domain and wanted a Satellite Google map as the header.   It is frustrating because Google does not give you an option to save it as a .jpg. Here is how to do it with Windows XP or later. 1. Pull up your map 2. Go to Start, Accessories, Snipping tool. 3. Us the snipping tool to outline what you want to save. 4. Save it as a .jpg for use where ever you need it. Here is mine output. 11/14/2010

Here is an illustrative pie chart of the what has sold, what is listed and what is pending in Key Largo in the Florida Key Oct 14 to Nov 14th 2010. This includes the area from Tavernier Creek Bridge to mile marker 106. The market is much more active in 2010 vs 2009. Last year there were only 3 sale and 6 pendings during this same time period. Our market appears to be increasing as the weather up north gets colder. 11/13/2010

Here is an illustrative pie chart of the what has sold, what is listed and what is pending in Islamorada, in the Florida Key Oct 14 to Nov 14th 2010. The market is much more active in 2010 vs 2009. Last year there were only 7 sales and 14 pendings during this same time period. Our market appears to be increasing as the weather up north gets colder. 11/13/2010

Looks like today is going to be another pleasant day in Paradise! High today is supposed to be in the Upper 70's or very low 80's. Winter is here! It is cool at night, we almost had to close the patio door this morning because it dropped down to the low 70's last night. We just pulled the sheet over us instead and cuddled. Body heat is great for combating those 70 degree chills. Ah, what to do today? Maybe some peach Melba french toast at Mangrove Mike's for breakfast and a fish sandwich for lunch at Ziggy & Mad Dogs, or maybe Tuna Tacos at Island Grill. In the Keys there is always some place good to eat. Dinner will be at home tonight. 11/13/2010

Today is the day! Celebrity Bartenders will be at Zane Grey in the Florida Keys to raise money for the Forgotten Solders Outreach. Please help support our troops by coming to this fun and fabulous event. Every year it gets better and better.  It will be an afternoon and evening of LOTS OF LIVE MUSIC, RAFFLES, SILENT AUCTION AND fun 'fundraising'. In addition, to the special celebrity bartenders there will also be a Pig Roast, where a portion of the proceeds will benefit FSO.  Since 2003, FSO has benefited well over 100,000 of our military personnel serving all world theaters overseas. For more info on FSO visit www.forgottensoldiers.org 11/13/2010

This event will held at the Zane Grey Lounge at the Worldwide Sportsman in Islamorada. Mile Marker 81.5 Forgotten Soldiers Outreach is an incredible organization who goal is to continually encourage and support the men and women who are abroad fighting for our great nation. Their hope is to inspire hope, strength and courage while they are separated from loved ones, families, and friends by sending monthly 'we care' packages and letters of encouragement to our deployed armed forces, to assure they are not forgotten. Please help support our troops by coming to this fun and fabulous event. Every year it gets better and better.  It will be an afternoon and evening of LOTS OF LIVE MUSIC, RAFFLES, SILENT AUCTION AND fun 'fundraising'. In addition, to the special celebrity bartenders there wi... 11/13/2010

136 San Marco Drive Properties are popping here in the Keys!! As with most real estate in the Country, but especially down here, the are two types of Sellers...those that get it and those...that don't. In today's value driven market, savvy Buyers are very attuned to market value, and of course want to pay lower, but IF a Seller "gets it" and prices their property at market value, THAT is a property that will mostly likely have the opportunity of moving from Available to Sold. Too many Sellers are still testing the Market and pricing to high...these are the properties that sit on the market and become stale and, in essence, help to sell other properties that are bringing more VALUE to the table. In today's Market, premium features do not necessarily translate to higher price, but rather ... 11/08/2010

We woke up this morning with an extra hours sleep, which meant I woke up energized. The temperature had plunged during the night to 65 degrees. Down right chilly, or in Keys speak COLD. After I found a bath robe and turned on the heat, I decided to cook. I had purchased a two and a half pounds of beef and three pounds of pork. I woke up this morning and started chopping. I cube my meat, not grind it because that is what Hubby prefers. I added several cans of tomatoes, tomato paste, 3 grilled and peeled poblano chilies, 5 ribs of chopped celery, a whole sweet chopped onion and a large chopped green pepper and Chili powder to taste. It is very tasty! We had chili dogs for lunch with shredded cheese, chopped fresh onion and sour cream. 11/07/2010

It's Tournament Time in Islamorada!!!   Below are some selected exciting tournaments that are sure to get the blood racing, reels spinning, and fish biting!  NovemberIslamorada/ November 5th to 7th Redbone Celebrity Tournament Contact: Gary Ellis 305.664.2002 Islamorada/November 27th to 28th Islamorada Fishing Club Junior Derby Contact: Jim Trice  305.664.3864 December Islamorada/December 2nd to December 5th 47th Annual Islamorada Sailfish Tournament The first leg of the triple-crown Florida Keys Gold Cup Championship Series is limited to 25 boats and characterized by high-flying sail action, conservation and sportsmanship.  It's also the only tournament in the Gold Cup series to offer a junior division for anglers age 16 and younger. Contact: Dianne Harbaugh 305.852.2102 Islamorad... 11/05/2010

One of the Main reasons that I decided to join American Caribbean Real Estate was for their prominence in the field of Luxury Sales.  I became aware of the company as far back as 1997 when I was with Wimbish -Riteway ( The then DOMINANT!!! Luxury brokerage in Dade County- and I was proud to be on it's Top Producing Team!!  But that's for another post...).  Both of our companies were at that time affiliates of Sotheby's and I began to notice their impressive track record of Keys Sales.  American Caribbean, since that time parted ways with Sotheby's and has become the Keys' Exclusive Affiliate of Christie's Great Estates ( a VERY Smart Move!), providing even greater services to both Buyers and Sellers of Luxury Properties, especially Waterfront Properties.  As Luxury Waterfront Properties... 11/03/2010

Is that tummy rumbling? Is it 11:30 AM and you still want breakfast? Then head on over to Mangrove Mike's at Mile Marker 82.2 bay side in Islamorada in the fabulous Florida Keys. Mike's serves breakfast from 6:00 AM until 2:00 PM. In addition to your regular eggs any way you want them, Mike has added two new French Toast offerings in addition to his Cinnamon Roll French Toast. First is the Peach Melba French Toast and the second is made with Apple Carmel bread. Both are $6.95 and six slices are served. Top with some Maple Syrup, they are both just YUMMY. The down side of Mike's is the choices, the Up side of Mike's is the choices. You can have your eggs any way you want them, now come the choices. Do you want the eggs with Fruit? Grits? Potatoes? Potatoes, then do you want Hash Browns o... 10/30/2010

Wow, It's a nice quiet weekend in the Fabulous Florida Keys NOT! Key West has the Fantasy Fest parade, but here is what is on the Islamorada Chamber's calander.   October 30 Fantasy Fest Parade Shuttle Fanstasy Fest Shuttle Runs today! $43 Round-trip. Space is limited. Call Today. Pickups in Key Largo, Tavernier, Islamorada and Lower Matecumbe. Will park one block from Sloppy Joe's. Contact: Call Suzanne 664-2664 Elk's Lodge Fantasy Fest Bus Brunch served at 10:00 am and then the Fantasy Fest Bus Tour leaves the Tavernier Elks Lodge at 1:00 pm. $75 per person. Drinks will be served on the bus. $75 per person Contact: 305-852-1872 Monster Ball Goes Hollywood! Chi Sigma Sorority presents their annual "Monster Ball Goes Hollywood"! Come as your favorite "famous" or "infamous" character. Wi... 10/30/2010

10/25/2010

Why use and experienced Realtor? Because we know the in and outs of the transaction, the area and the homes in it. I have sold one home three times. If you mention an neighborhood, I can tell you what's there and the prices. I know about the lot sizes and which streets are on plugged canals in Venetian Shores, I know the square footage of the two and three bedroom Condos at Coral Harbour Club. What are the pitfalls of buying a Short Sale condo? I can help. What does the sale contract say? Although I am not an Attorney, I can give you an overview. Buying and selling a home is a complicated procedure. Use an experienced professional. 10/25/2010