There's no greater trend in the real estate market than the switching of home ownership to condo ownership. With urban sprawl and the rising cost of land and property maintenance, it's easy to see why people prefer the high-rise lifestyle. Additionally, condos allow residents to live in locations that would be nearly unaffordable if they were a single residence, like waterfront Miami Beach real estate. Some see more negatives than positives towards condo ownership so we'll "weigh the options" and see whether or not you're a condo person. The advantages of condo ownership are numerous. For instance, residents are responsible for little to no maintenance on the property, allowing them to keep their condo investment intact for free or for a small association fee. Residents are also given c... 10/13/2008

Owner Financing for Miami and Miami Beach Florida Homes As the financial markets and credit markets worsen, the availability for owner financing for Miami and Miami Beach Florida homes will probably increase.  In all of Miami-Dade County, there are currently almost 120 homes that are listed for sale that currently are offering owner financing otherwise known as seller financing. There are 46 homes over $500,000 and 20 homes over $1 million now offering owner financing.In order to sell property in the current economic climate, this is becoming a very viable option for many buyers and sellers. Note that there are over 180 condos that are also offering owner financing throughout Miami-Dade County. Most owner financing requires a down payment of at least 20% to as much as 50% in some cases.... 10/12/2008

Owner  Financing for Miami Beach Florida Condos-Akoya Here is a great opportunity to buy a waterfront condo in Miami Beach with owner financing at the Akoya, one of the tallest buildings in Miami Beach. This 3 bedroom/ 2 bath condo has 1,761 square feet of living space and has direct ocean views. Asking price is $1.05 Million. Akoya is a new, modern building that was recently completed a couple of years ago. Breath taking views is what you'll get with this n.e. Exposure corner unit. Wrap around balcony overlooking the ocean, bay and the city. Marble floors throughout, crown moldings, italian cabinetry, stainless steel appliances. New unit never occupied, ocean front luxury condo with everything you need: pool, tennis court, indoor racquetball, putting green, ocean view fitness center, s... 10/11/2008

Owner Financing for Miami Beach Florida Condos-1500 Ocean Drive Here is a great opportunity to buy a waterfront condo in South Beach with owner financing at 1500 Ocean Drive, one of the most luxurious condos in Miami Beach. This 2 bedroom/ 2 bath condo has 1,170 square feet of living space and has direct ocean views. Asking price is $1.285 Million. 1500 Ocean Drive is a renowned oceanfront south beach building designed by Michael Graves. This condo has floor to ceiling windows with a spacious balcony; marble floors throughout; top of the line kitchen with subzero refrigerator, granite countertops; bathrooms with jacuzzi tubs; and a huge walk-in closet converted to 3rd bedroom for guests or tenants. Available fully furnished & appointed with modern furnishings and flat screen TV.   For m... 10/11/2008

Owner Financing for Miami Beach Florida Condos With many banks making it difficult to finance loans, it makes sense for both buyers and sellers to explore owner financing for Miami Beach Florida Condos. Typically, most buyers will need be able to make a down payment of at least 20% and in many cases 25% to 40%. From a seller standpoint, it makes no sense to offer seller financing for less than a 15% down payment since it typically costs the seller at least 8% to just cover the cost of selling the property. Owner financing (also known as seller financing) is an excellent alternative for foreign buyers as it is currently very difficult to obtain good loan terms. Many banks have changed their policies and will not even touch a loan to a foreigner. The minimum down payment required before t... 10/11/2008

Miami Beach Florida Waterfront Home with Great Wide Bay Views for $2 Million It is not easy to find a Miami Beach Florida Waterfront Home with great wide bay views for $2 Million in a nice neighborhood. This is a renovated house with over 3,100 square feet of living space on a large lot of over 10,000 square feet with 72 feet of open bay frontage and a new dock.     Other features of this property are as follows: full fenced and electric gate entrance; very private property with mature landscape marble 18 inch tile floors with Brazilian cherry wood floors in bedrooms high-hat lighting throughout home 5 bedroom/ 3.5 bathroom home with private entrance for one bedroom/one bath, so can be used as a separate apartment Kitchen is 25 ft. x 14 ft. in cherry wood and granite with eat-in 6 perso... 10/11/2008

Miami Beach is such an incredible place to live. If not for the beaches, fine dining, world-famous shopping and musical atmosphere, certainly the never ending list of things to do and places to see should appeal to just about anyone with an adventurous spirit. Whether you're a rambunctious twenty-something trying to see everything there is to see or if you're an octogenarian who has seen everything and wants to relax in the sun, Miami Beach has anything and everything you'd need. In case you were wondering, Miami Beach has three different beaches: Miami Beach, Mid-Beach and South Beach. Miami Beach and Mid-Beach share a quiet and natural characteristic. It extends from 46th Street all the way south to 22nd Street. These two connecting beaches are lined with private Miami Beach condos an... 10/07/2008

Finding foreclosure properties really isn’t all that difficult these days. The Miami real estate market is one of several in the country which, for better or worse, has seen dramatic rises in foreclosures, opening up numerous investing opportunities for buyers who know what they’re doing and are aware of the multiple risks involved in foreclosures. But then there’s the buyer who may be completely unfamiliar with a market like Miami Beach real estate but also wants to take advantage of the large foreclosure inventory. Where do they begin? Common sense and advice would suggest using tools like the Miami MLS search to get the ball rolling but for the first time foreclosure buyer, there are other methods of hunting down foreclosure opportunities. The surge in foreclosures means more realtor... 10/07/2008

Best Miami Beach Waterfront Homes under $5 Million with Wide Bay Views (1121 N Venetian Dr) This totally renovated home on a large point lot with amazing un-obstructed water views make this one of the best miami beach waterfront homes under $5 million with wide bay views. The home has 4 bedrooms and 4 baths with 5,000 sq. ft. of living space on a large lot with 105 feet of waterfront frontage in a prime location. Asking price is $4.5 million. Everything has been totally renovated and professionally decorated in this gated estate. The photos below tell the story. NOTE: If you have a house in Miami Beach that you are serious about selling, contact us directly at 786.553.0697 or Toll Free at 800.475.3430 to find out about how we will promote your property worldwide and sell it through our ... 10/04/2008

Best Miami Beach Waterfront Homes under $5 Million with Wide Bay Views (830 W Dilido Dr) 110 feet of waterfront frontage on a large 13,408 sq. ft. lot with a 4 bedroom/ 3 bath house of over 3,700 sq.ft. is why this home is one of the best Miami Beach waterfront homes under $5 million with wide bay views. This tropical paradise is listed for sale at $3.45 million. Wide bay views and open, bright living spaces and move-in condition make this a very desirable home. The property is located on the northern end of Dilido Island, one of the Venetian Islands. Surrounded by water and sunlight , the master bedroom opens to the pool/deck area. The over-sized living room is  completely updated, open, sunny and very comfortable. Trimmed landscaping in the courtyard and circular driveway with a wroug... 10/04/2008

Best Miami Beach Waterfront Homes under $5 Million with Wide Bay Views (430 W San Marino Dr) This property has a great view looking north and is on a large, rare point lot of almost 13,000 square feet. Asking price is $3.39 million and was bought in 2007 for $2.5 million. 100 feet of bay frontage is the other feature that makes this one of the best Miami Beach waterfront homes under $5 million with wide bay views. Asking price is $3.39 million, and it was bought for $2.5 million in 2007. Excellent views looking west, north and east, so you can see both sunsets and sunrises. Impressive vaulted ceilings, interior courtyard, large master suite, open kitchen, 2 car garage and guest quarters. Home requires renovation.   NOTE: If you have a house in Miami Beach that you are serious about sell... 10/04/2008

Best Miami Beach Waterfront Homes under $5 Million with Wide Bay Views (1142 N Venetian Way) The lot size is what is most desirable here as the property is a 13,250 square foot lot facing north with unobstructed views of Biscayne Bay. This house may not be the prettiest, but it is one of the best Miami Beach waterfront homes under $5 million with wide bay views that stretch for miles. It is located in the Venetian Islands in Miami Beach with 70 feet of bay frontage. There are no fixed bridges and ocean access. The future owner might buy this property for the location and decide to remodel or rebuild the house. The house is 3,168 sf and is a 2-story waterfront home privately and securely located at the very end of the cul-de-sac street on Biscayne Island, one of the Venetian Islands.    ... 10/04/2008

The economic climate continues to instill worries and hesitance in buyers wanting to buy Miami real estate, forcing owners to consider alternatives to traditional home selling methods which are simply not the most viable means of ensuring a sale these days. At the same time however, some buyers are finding that even as the prices for Miami Beach condos and Miami Beach real estate plunge, the required down payment and asking price remains out of reach. As a result of this situation, Miami rental properties have become increasingly prominent and homeowners eager to sell are taking the rent to own approach. The perk of renting to own—commonly recognized as a lease option—is that it opens up the buying prospect to a larger pool of potential buyers who simply may not have the monetary funds ... 10/03/2008

Buying a home is a tricky process. Whether you're buying Miami Beach real estate or a new condo in Ten Museum Park in downtown Miami, there's a long list of tasks that need to be performed to ensure your purchase is safe and final. A good real estate professional can tell you all these things, but it's also important to be informed of all information and know how to filter out the misinformation. Here are some myths about home inspections that can save you time and money on your home purchase. Inspection reports serve as a catalog of repairs a seller must fix. This isn't necessarily true. Any significant outstanding repairs can be subtracted from the final price of the home in negotiations. Unless the homeowner is contractually-bound, they aren't required to fix repairs mentioned on the... 10/02/2008

It goes without saying that buying a home is arguably one of the biggest and most important decisions anyone ever makes in their lifetime. Putting aside the intricacies involved, among the first decisions a potential homeowner has to make is whether to choose a single family home or opt for a South Beach condo. Both have their unique appeal yet they also have tradeoffs that must be taken into account. The most obvious of these considerations is clearly the location. Condos are generally located closer to the city than a single family home and may therefore be a better option for someone who wants to be able to visit restaurants, shopping districts and such on foot. Also, unless you’re choosing a South Beach condo with few units, a condo won’t offer the same amount of privacy as a single... 09/30/2008

The Blue and Green Diamond are located at 4779 and 4775 Collins Avenue directly on the azure waters of the Atlantic Ocean and soar 45 stories to the sky. The "Diamonds" offer the most luxurious living in the heart of Miami Beach. Here are some of the fine features of The Blue Diamond and The Green Diamond; 2 Lighted Tennis Courts, Media and Multi Purpose Rooms, Billiard Rooms, 16000 S/F Health & Fitness Center, Steam & Saunas, Private Beach Club, Storage Facilities, Valet Parking, Concierge & 24 Hour Security With Gate House & Monitored Perimeter Cameras, Direct Beach Access, Cabanas, Spa, Kids Pool & Large Ocean Side Pool and Towel Service. Blue Diamond Green Diamond BLUE DIAMOND | GREEN DIAMOND The Blue & Green Diamond are located on over 500 ft. of beachfront and are currently the ta... 09/27/2008

About the Mondrian condo hotel residences in South BeachThe Mondrian South Beach is a condo hotel, residences are available to owners on a full-time basis, as their primary home  (if owner wish to do so)Quick Facts About Mondrian South BeachMondrian South Beach developer: Morgans Hotel GroupMondrian South Beach completion: 2007Number of Units: 342Mondrian South Beach Floor plans: Unit Sizes: From 547 to 1177 s.f.  See condos floor plansENTER HOME PAGE: Mondrian condo hotel residences in South BeachMondrian South Beach is the first condo-hotel property from the Morgans Hotel Group, owners of Delano Hotel, Morgans Hotel, Royalton, St Martins Lane and Sanderson, just to name a few. Mondrian South beach will have 343 exceptionally-styled oversized studios, 1 and 2 bedroom residences and pen... 09/26/2008

Antiques and Interior Design Ideas-Adding a collectible or antique to make your home feel warmer Adding a colorful rug can make any room come to life. This oriental rug is perfect for a home that needs more color. It can be used in a contemporary or classical style home.   Contact Cristina Euripedes-Sahlman, at 786-280-6200 to learn more about this featured item or to learn more about other collectibles and antiques in Miami Beach Miami and South Florida. Contact her by email if you prefer by clicking on email me on the right side of this page under her profile. To view all of the collectibles vintage pieces and antiques currently available for sale click here. If you have items that you would like to sell, please contact Cristina. Disclaimer: The information provided herein is supplied... 09/23/2008

Miami Beach and New York City Real Estate - Wow is that a window in your kitchen?! Real estate really is relative isn't it? This post was inspired by a recent comment from a colleague in North Carolina about the cost of living in Miami. Some friends were visiting some relatives of mine yesterday and they remarked on what a great apartment they had, and then it struck me. This really is a great apartment for Manhattan. I realized that I had become jaded in less than 7 years (since I moved from New York) and for a moment did not fully appreciate the value of a little light or a window in a Manhattan apartment since our Miami Beach condo is so bright that I have to wear sunglasses sometimes. Having grown up in the Big Apple, I can really appreciate the value of having an apartment with lig... 09/19/2008

According to the latest on-line poll by Travel + Leisure where 125,000 people were asked to rate cities in the US - Miami Residents scored number 1 in the most attractive category!  Did you have any doubts?  : ) No wonder why Miami Beach Real Estate is still a top destination!  People from all over the world relocate to Miami to either be surrounded by beauty, or to be part of it. Miami ranked number 1 for most attractive people, number 2 for most stylish, number 3 for wild weekend and best weather but they dissed us with the second to last place in intelligence - OUCH!!  (Only behind Las Vegas and ahead of our Los Angeles friends). Miamians win the title for America's most attractive people, and second place for their stylishness. Visitors also noted the city's good weather (No. 3), bu... 09/15/2008