These days it seems that the media would rather talk about the rising home prices than the fact that the number of foreclosures is still double what they averaged between 2000 and 2006 (source: Wall Street Journal).  Here in Coconut Grove, we have never had the rash of foreclosures that other parts of the country experienced.  In fact, for the past few years there have been just 5 to 15 single family home foreclosures sold each year. In 2013, there were 6 single family homes in North and South Coconut Grove combined.  These homes ranged from $605,000 to $1,450,000.  Because it is such a small sample size, you cannot look at the "average sale price per square foot" to give you an indication of whether they are selling above or below value.  Instead, you would have to perform an individu... 12/16/2013

The Annual Gifford Lane Art Stroll Poster Artist Contest is now in its fourth year! Everyone in the Grove looks forward to the Poster Artist Contest because it’s a fun time of year when the whole block of Gifford from Oak to Day Avenues will be converted into one huge colorful art block party. Expect awesome works of art filled with color, delectable food, upbeat music and of course an opportunity to connect with your neighbors. If you’re an artist, you can sell your artwork and crafts by setting up your own booth to share your talent with the community. Every year, there are over 60 artists who exhibit at the Stroll which will take place in March. There will be also be plenty of good eats to enjoy and you want to be sure not to miss one the most popular things at the Gifford Lane Art S... 12/16/2013

Delayed flights, power outages and city shutdowns are what most of the northeast is dealing with right now with the anticipation of Winter Storm Electra.  It is times like this that make us Coconut Grove residents very thankful to live in South Florida where the average December temperature is running about 78 degrees.  Here in Miami we are still walking around in our flip flops and the kids are playing in the pool.   The weather is one reason that the real estate market in South Florida will always be in high demand.  People want a place where they can escape the frigid temperatures of December through February.  While the real estate market comes to a standstill across the rest of the country during the winter months, it is surprisingly our busiest time of the year here.  Buyers are ... 12/15/2013

Strada in the Grove is a new Italian bistro that has opened in Coconut Grove.  Located at 3176 Commodore Plaza in the downtown village, Strada is a fantastic dining option for Grove residents.  It is an imtimate dining experience where you feel just as comfortable sitting at the bar for a glass of wine as you do on the patio enjoying one of their home-made pastas.  My wife and I have been several times and we haven't been disappointed yet.  Some of our favorites include the polenta and meatball appetizers, as well as the beef ragu.  Coconut Grove is known for its charming, outdoor cafes and this one is no exception.  Other local favorites include Lulu's, Greenstreet Cafe, Lokal, Darbar, Jaguar's and Peacock Garden. Riley Smith is a local, Coconut Grove resident and #1 selling realtor i... 12/14/2013

Ye Little Wood is an enclave of 31 homes situated along a winding road with towering oak trees and lush foliage.  It is one of the most secluded and private gated communities in Coconut Grove.  Homes in Ye Little Wood are in very high demand and when they hit the market they garner a lot of interest   I recently listed and sold 3810 Wood Avenue which was a completely remodeled home with 3,182 square feet of living space on a 6,700 square foot lot.  The home sold for $1,630,000 or $512.00/sq. ft.  I have also represented the sellers on the following homes sold in Ye Little Wood: - 3811 Wood Avenue | Sale Price: $1,695,000 - 3883 Wood Avenue | Sale Price: $1,540,000 Buyers seek out gated communities becuase they are looking for privacy and security.  Coconut Grove has several exclusive g... 12/13/2013

The Grove Green Market is now open every Thursday! Miamians are now able to shop for local, farm-fresh produce right here in our community at the Grove Green market located at 3496 Main Highway on Thursdays in the Coconut Grove Playhouse parking lot from 2 to 8pm.  Free parking is located at the Charles Avenue entrance.   Nick Bernal, of Seasons Farm Fresh, is a Grove resident who started the farmer’s market to serve as a link between the farmers and the community. “When you buy local, you not only provide sustainable produce for your family but you give back to these farms,” says Bernal. The Grove Green Market is 95% local and has active participation from real farmers.   It is a great place to buy farm-fresh produce, local honey, olive oils, spices, juices, grass-fed beef and more. Th... 12/11/2013

If you're wondering how to choose the right real estate agent because you're thinking of buying or selling your home, there are a number of things to consider.   Typically when we have a real estate need we mention it to our friends and family in our everyday conversations and often people will have someone in mind that they’ve worked with before that they will either recommend that you work with or perhaps they didn’t have a good experience and they want to be sure you don’t choose that person as your real estate agent.   In fact, one of the top ways that homeowners and buyers select a real estate agent is based solely on a referral from someone they know. When buying or selling what is often your largest asset, it makes sense to work with a trusted professional.   There may be other t... 12/06/2013

Coconut Grove home values and local real estate market activity is a concern for many property owners ready to sell their home. Some of the questions that come to mind for homeowners are “how much are other homes selling for?” and “is now a good time to sell?”. When looking at how much homes are selling for, it’s important to keep in mind that Coconut Grove real estate features uniquely charming properties with great architectural character and home styles that range from captivating Coral Rock estates, custom contemporary homes, and cozy cottages to Old Spanish homes and many other rare tropical gems.   With so many unique opportunities to call Coconut Grove home, it’s almost impossible to generalize property values for the community as a whole. There are too many variables to come up ... 12/04/2013

CocoWalk is a chic and fashionable lifestyle shopping mall in the heart of Coconut Grove at 3015 Grand Avenue featuring more than 30 shops and services – including a plethora of restaurants, boutiques, shops and entertainment. This open-air center is a one-of-a-kind shopping experience with recognized brand name stores, as well as specialty shops, that will cater to the whim and fancy of the pickiest shopper! Everything from Gap, White House | Black Market and restaurants like the Cheesecake Factory to amazing hand crafted jewelry at The Habit: Art! and local and seasonal dishes at BICE Bistro. Visitors enjoy a wonderful Miami cultural, dining and shopping experience at CocoWalk. CocoWalk was created to blend in a picture perfect manner with the diverse, exciting and eclectic bayside vi... 12/02/2013

Say goodbye to Scotty's Landing! Developers have been proposing a Coconut Grove waterfront project for several years and finally on November 5th voters approved a waterfront plan, which will lead to the demolishing of Scotty's Landing. According to the Miami Herald the vote allows the Grove Bay Investment Group to sign a 50-year lease with the city for the sites of the Chart House and Scotty's Landing restaurants and the Grove Key Marina. The plan, as it is currently outlined, will require the developers to spend $18 million to refurbish the Marina and to build three new restaurants (with one reportedly being a Shula's Steak House). Aside from the new eateries the plan also entails building a pedestrian promenade from South Bayshore Drive terminating at a new public pier over Biscayne ... 11/14/2013

The Kampong, which means village in Malayasia, is a gorgeous garden tucked inside of southwest Coconut Grove at 4013 S. Douglas Road that is simply breathtaking. One could never guess that behind a rock wall lies a beautiful home fringed with exotic gardens. The wonderful Asian-inspired former residence of David Fairchild is nestled bayside, surrounded by verdant gardens of all things tropical. David Fairchild and his wife Marian, a daughter of Alexander Graham Bell, transformed the place into a garden property in 1928. Fairchild was an expert horticulturist who devoted most of his life to exploring plants and discovering flora appropriate for the United States. Many plants still growing at Fairchild Tropical Botanical Gardens in Coral Gables were collected and planted by Dr. Fairchild,... 11/13/2013

L’Hermitage is a fascinating gated community of 75 luxurious Mediterranean style villas in the prestigious North Coconut Grove area of Miami. This private community of villa residences has the gorgeous Biscayne Bay as its backyard and includes a small dock area, some waterfront units, and an atmosphere of secluded privacy. Located just minutes from the Brickell & Downtown business districts makes L’Hermitage a convenient place to call home in the tropical paradise of Coconut Grove. L’Hermitage is an exquisitely designed neighborhood with a unique Mediterranean vibe that offers luxurious living and breathtaking views.  Invite family and friends over to enjoy the many community amenities including the heated pools and a full-service spa! Each villa at L’Hermitage is unique and beautiful o... 11/11/2013

Short film, big dream. That’s how the Miami Short Film Festival began. The Miami Short Film Festival features films as short as 20 minutes or less. The best short films from around the world have been showcased, since its inception in 2002. The Festival’s dream is to showcase and develop the art form of short filmmaking. This year the 12th Annual Miami Short Film Festival will be held November 8-15, 2013 in the heart of Coconut Grove – a community known for its passion and support of the arts. The main venue will be the Paragon Grove 13 at 3015 Grand Avenue. Take a look at the short films playing during the festival and buy tickets online in advance at MiamiShortFilmFestival.com. Short films are true works of art and deserve an arena set aside and devoted to their presentation. Filmmak... 11/08/2013

The Coconut Grove Gallery Walk on the first Saturday of the month will take place tomorrow, November 2nd from 7 to 10pm in the Grove Art District which expands from Commodore Plaza and Main Highway to CocoWalk and Mayfair on Grand Avenue. Coconut Grove is a successful art district in Miami. The first Saturday of every month is a peak arts day in the Grove when several renowned galleries display the latest exhibitions by local, professional and emerging artists. Guests walk along the brick paths from gallery to gallery enjoying the many interesting art pieces, live entertainment and a few wine stops along the way. All of the galleries do something special each month; some will host an Artist Reception which features an artist and their work.  It’s a great opportunity to meet the artist, ... 11/01/2013

The Coconut Grove lifestyle is a tropical paradise with beautiful year-round weather that makes spending time outdoors in local parks and exploring all that the city has to offer, the ultimate in everyday living.   Peacock Park, 2820 McFarlane Road, is within walking distance to the heart of shops, restaurants and bookstores in the Grove.  It has a vast amount of green space, a nice softball field and a wooden walkway by the water. The location, next to the Bay, means beautiful views and sunsets. Right next to the park is the Coconut Grove branch library; perfect if you want to check out a book to read outdoors. There’s also a large field for events and games as well as an area with swing sets and a playground for the kids.   Known as a favorite spot for those with four-footed friends i... 10/28/2013

Ahoy sailors - Enjoy the best of Coconut Grove waterfront living! The weather should be perfect this weekend, both sunny and windy, for the 3rd annual Halloween Howler Youth Regatta hosted by the Coconut Grove Sailing Club on October 26th & 27th. The Coconut Grove Sailing Club (CGSC) is perfectly situated on the waterfront of Miami at 2990 S. Bayshore Drive with water activities and sports held all year. Youth programming begins on September 7h and the fall season goes through the end of December. There are four different divisions of youth sailing which occurs every Saturday 9AM to 4PM, rain or shine. During the year, kids and adults learn sailing skills during their hosted programs like Learn to Sail for Adults, Scholarships for Beginning Sailors, Keelboat Training for Advanced Skippe... 10/23/2013

The Village of Coconut Grove is sometimes known as the home of hippie, bohemian and quirky artists and musicians. Every autumn when the temperature falls just a little and pumpkins are a-plenty, talented artists exhibit their wonderfully zany works of art on the grounds of The Barnacle Historic State Park along Main Highway at the Mad Hatter Arts Festival. The 9th annual two-day Mad Hatter Arts Festival will take place on November 16th and 17th featuring various types of artists as the streets are magically transformed into art galleries. The highlight of this year’s Mad Hatter Arts Festival is Chalk It Up! Witness street painting art brought to a whole new level on Commodore Plaza. Another highlight of the Mad Hatter Festival is the music – be sure to join the fun and dance along in th... 10/16/2013

The Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove, Miami is the ideal setting from which to take in the panoramic views of the glittering Downtown Miami skyline, Biscayne Bay, and Coral Gables.   For a select few, The Ritz has become a place to call home with incredible bay, city and ocean views with year-round bay breezes.The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Coconut Grove give owners access to all of the amenities provided by the Ritz Carlton Hotel. The very name sets the standard for luxury and impeccable service throughout the world.   The Residences are magnificent one, two and three bedroom condominium and penthouse units designed for South Florida’s most extraordinary lifestyle offering floor to ceiling picture windows with views of Biscayne Bay and Downtown Miami.  Some of the features of the units ... 10/15/2013

The Barnacle Historic State Park is a favorite spot for those with four-footed friends in Coconut Grove. Situated on the shore of Biscayne Bay, The Barnacle, built in 1891, offers a glimpse of Old Florida during The Era of the Bay. It was the home of Ralph Middleton Munroe, one of Coconut Grove´s most charming and influential pioneers who had a passion for designing yachts. Through the years the home served as a comfortable personal retreat of Munroe and his family until it was sold to the State of Florida in 1973. A walk into the park harkens each guest to imagine Miami’s original landscape in the 1920s with awe inspiring views. Throughout the year, The Barnacle Society sponsors numerous events, including moonlight concerts and outdoor films, in an effort to raise funds to support this... 10/10/2013

Nestled in Coconut Grove on Biscayne Bay in Miami is a place that generations of Florida’s most avid boaters have called home, the Coral Reef Yacht club. Yachtsmen from all over the world enjoy the topnotch facilities at the world’s best water sports arena where fun and relaxation blend together perfectly. Prestigious regattas that stretch through the Florida Keys and the Bahamas are an all-time attraction at the club. Over the years, the Coral Reef Yacht club has hosted many great regattas including the 2008 Star Worlds, Bacardi Cup and Bacardi Miami Race Week, Lightning Mid Winters, and the Rolex Miami Olympic Classes Regatta. Club members have access to a 100-slip marina, a dining room with a magnificent view of Biscayne Bay and marina, and a number of activities. Social activities f... 10/08/2013