The following statistics were taken from the Florida Association of Realtors, based on MLS sales levels from Florida’s Realtor boards and associations. (*Statistics are based on single-family homes sales) 

With home prices decreasing, it is now more important than ever to be sure you are working with the best real estate agent to sell your home. 

Be sure to sell your home with an expert!  If you are looking to list your home now or in the future, by working with an expert agent you will sell your home for the highest possible price.  Selling a home in today’s market does no have to be so intimidating. Be sure to choose the right agent, who will be with you every step of the way.

At expertrealty.com, you can connect yourself with the greatest Realtors in South Florida, who are all experts in their neighborhoods.

Skywater, a company based in Fort Lauderdale, offers this unique experience to buyers searching for high-end estates in the Miami-Dade and Broward County area.  These buyers are able to take a bird’s-eye view of homes and lots for sale, anywhere from the coast, to the everglades’ edge.

What are the advantages?  See the home for all that it is!  Get a better view of how much space the home has, see what is around the house in other properties you would not be able to access by foot, or even spot roofing problems!

The average cost of one flight runs about $1,000, and includes luxurious leather interior, and an air conditioned cabin.  Not recommended for home buyers on a budget!

The study also showed that the ratio of occupation of condos in downtown Miami comparing new leases to purchase contracts is at about 50:50.  So about half of downtown Miami residents are renters, while the other half are owners. 

The downtown area had not always been such a popular place, but with the redevelopment that has occurred over the recent years, the area is proving to be a great place for investment in Miami.

At the George Merrick house in Coral Gables, you can step back into time and experience the historical side of Miami.  It is now mostly used as a romantic getaway for many newly weds, which is attributed to its unique and secluded atmosphere, and perhaps its reason for being as well.  The home was built in 1916 after Merrick proposed to his wife, and plans for the home were to reflect her ‘beauty and uniqueness’. This Coral Gables home exudes the historical atmosphere you rarely find in the city of Miami.

From the couch in the living room, to the bedroom mirrors on the second floor, decorations in the home could not represent this time period more accurately.  Thanks to many donations from historical societies and vintage stores, the home is decorated and setup up with things from this exact time period, and reflect the taste and style of the Merrick family.

The developing area of West Kendall recently has defined itself, with its center being at Southwest 137th Avenue.  For quite some time this area had been known as “too far west”, as development of local malls, businesses, and supermarkets were few and far between.

Now, Southwest 137th Avenue seems to be the connecting route for those living in West Kendall, utilizing this road for easy travel to Doral, the Dolphin Expressway, or to the Tamiami Airport.  With accessible routes in and out of this area, the population has increased dramatically.  In the Kendall area, real estate buyers find themselves very interested in these beautiful new communities that have been constructed throughout the area.  And now, West Kendall, once a rural area,  is filled with large gated communities with homes and condos galore.

Communities such as Country Walk and Three Lakes are two popular communities in the area, that feature large homes with swimming pools and backyard patios.  These West Kendall homes have attracted home buyers from many different areas, which has led to the extensive use of Southwest 137th Avenue.  The level of traffic on the road has led many local businesses to want a definitive separation and signs for this “West Kendall” area, mostly in effort to compete with the popular Kendall Drive.  Kendall Drive is the most well known business area in Kendall, but they can now expect some friendly competition from their neighbors on Southwest 137th Avenue!

These new homes in Liberty City, which are scheduled to be completed this year, are just that.  Green LEED certified, and affordable. How does a home qualify to be LEED certified anyways?  Well, there are five factors that are considered when reviewing a home or a building, including sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, selection of materials, and the quality of the indoor environment.

Some of the elements included to qualify these Liberty City homes as “green” include things such as recycled oak wood flooring, fluorescent lighting, low VOC paints, energy efficient appliances, and landscaping that is drought-resistant.  And besides being environmentally friendly, owners of these homes will save big time on their yearly energy bills, with an estimated cost of just $2,000 per year. The starting price for one of these homes is at about $200,000.

But soon, that will change.  With the Downtown Development Authority anticipating the population of the downtown Miami area to be doubled what it is today by 2010, catering to this huge population is not only necessary, but a huge area for profits to be made. 

You can expect to see more shops, places to eat, and local services around the Brickell residential condo areas very soon.

One great start for the area includes The Shops at Mary Brickell Village, which offers various shops and restaurants, and even services such as shoe repair, hair-styling, or a pharmacy. This local mall in Brickell is a great place for residents, and still has many empty store-fronts to fill!

It seems as though the majority of residents in Miami Dade County would like to see more parks, and improve existing ones, since voters approved a plan to put $19.4 million towards parks and other public municipal complexes.  The Trust for Public Land, a nonprofit organization whose goal is to preserve land, historical sites, and other natural habitats, has set a goal in the South Florida area to create a park within a 10 minute walk of every community.

City managers have started the process of applying for state grants to assist with the development costs of the new park.  Officials are looking to begin development of the park on Treasure Island as soon as possible, so residents of North Bay Village can look forward to having a beautiful new park very soon!

The 2-acre bayfront land owned by Tibor Hollo will soon be converted into a public park, at least until the real estate market turns around.  Tibor Hollo has decided to lease the land to the city at a yearly rate of $1 and will install public benches and walking paths.

His future plans for the land will be to construct a Miami Beach bayfront condo community, however, with the way the market looks right now, holding off before beginning with construction will prove to be a good idea.  Real estate in the Miami Beach is a great investment, so Hollo will have to wait it out until things turn around.

Hollo made the lease official with the city on Wednesday, December 17th, at a public event held at the site.

The iconic resort has been seeking an occupancy permit for months, and on Wednesday, November 12th just before 7 p.m., they finally received one. The permit allows Fontainebleau to pursue their $5 million grand-opening this weekend. The delayed permit grant caused the exclusive hotel to cancel over a dozen major events, and disturbed the preparations for Friday’s gala and the televised Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show due to take place Tuesday, December 4th.

The aforementioned celebration is expected to draw the likes of A-listers like Lindsay Lohan, Martha Stewart, Usher, Heidi Klum, Sean Combs, and others who received $200 invitations. Singer Robin Thicke and actor/jazz singer Terrence Howard and another mystery celeb are set to perform at the soiree.

Fontainebleau is pulling out all the stops to premier its new facelift, proving once and for all that the South Beach legend will not fade into the backdrop of the ever-thriving Miami social scene.