Located in the Northeast area of Ft. Lauderdale off of A1A/North Ocean Blvd., between Oakland Park Blvd., and Commercial Blvd., Bermuda-Riviera is one of Ft Lauderdale's best Waterfront communities.Bermuda-Riviera includes 234 Single Family Homes built from 1939 - 2007, located on Fort Royal Isle, Castle Harbor Isle, NE 34th Avenue, NE 42nd Court, NE 40th Court, NE 40th Street, NE 39th Street, NE 38th Street, and NE 37th Street.Bermuda-Riviera Highlights: •·         Most of the Homes are located on Access Canals or directly on the Intracoastal•·         There are no Fixed Bridges•·         Guard Gated Community•·         Walking distance to the Beach•·         Located conveniently close to Restaurants, Shops, and downtown Ft. Lauderdale•·         Deeded Beach Access on the Galt Ocean Mi... 12/27/2008

Intelligent people don't listen to the news, do they? Intelligence is bliss...Professional RE agents, what say You? I'm so tired of the bla, bla, bla of the negativity reported by the news about the Real Estate situation. I'm even MORE TIRED, of the people here who constantly blog about the negativity... WHAT IS YOUR POINT? Do you think reiterating the negativity that the uneducated reporters , NOT LICENSED REAL ESTATE AGENTS, who have no knowledge and are not licensed real estate agents who just read what is written by the other uneducated reporters write, are helping the general public. Come on. Most people can see through this debacle. How well are you doing if all you can write about is negativity? No wonder you aren't doing well...YOU ARE BUYING INTO, the NEGATIVE REPORTS from the ... 12/23/2008

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL OF YOU AR MEMBERS and LOCALISM VIEWERS! Take a break from work and spend time with your family...Take a day or two off and appreciate what you have. Live life to the fullest and take the time to appreciate what you have RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU. Life, sometimes is really short....Live life a day at a time...enjoy life to the fullest... IF YOU ARE STRESSED: If you are in a topsy tervy relationship, just remember: "If you love someone, And you set them free, If they come back to you, they're yours. If they don't they were never meant to be." Don't know the author, but good advice. Don't stress on jobs, money, or anything else...OK...do it after the Holidays. However, appreciate your family and the joy of the Holidays...It's once a year...AND IT'S SPECIAL...if you don't ... 12/23/2008

 Needed, French speaking Sr. High Math tutor for a foreign customer. I am in need of a French/English speaking High School Math teacher for one of my customers.  They are from Canada.  They home school their children and are doing OK for all subjects except the 10th grade Algebra. These folks are planning to buy a home here in the next week or so and will be here until next spring. Since they home school and are aware that they cannot do the high school math, this would be a tutorial for the required information needed for 10th grade level Math.  If this works out, I'm sure that next year at 11th grade, 12th grade and future work would be there as well. If any of you know bi-lingual Math. teachers, licensed please in the Fort Lauderdale, FL area,  please let me know ASAP. They will be ... 12/12/2008

Anyone who’s considered purchasing Fort Lauderdale real estate probably found out rather quickly that the economic recession and the drop in home values make things a little harder than usual. It may be harder but that’s not to say it’s impossible. With the right research, financial stability, and preparation buying a home isn’t necessarily that hard. Here are a few things to stay away from if you are indeed considering a home purchase. Buying Weston real estate is a lofty investment and the mortgage payments can be substantial so don’t make any other major purchase like a car if money is relatively tight. Monthly mortgage payments on top of car payments can cause financial strain and you certainly don’t want to become the next foreclosure statistic due to having too much debt. The mone... 12/10/2008

  Warning… this blog is thought provoking, but is only for the weary sole that can outlast and read 1,500 words. But it’s worth your time…. Just my .02.   Today was an interesting day. My Google Alerts told me that someone mentioned me in a post. The title was "Mortgage Professional or Used Car Salesman? Why it pays to know the difference."  In order to get an idea where I am going with this, you first need to read this blog.  I need a quick fix !!  Please pass me that 4.5% rate over here now !!  (hint-I was trying to make a specific point, but was accused of not showing the value of money - again, my post was not about the value of money, but why lowering rates could hurt our economy. Secondly, I even stated this in my post. But that was failed to be recognized.) picture from istockpho... 12/08/2008

I am often asked if we've reached the bottom of the Fort Lauderdale Real Estate Market and if it is time to buy? With so many pundits and so called experts reporting statistics and offering up their opinions often conflicting, there is no question as to the why there is so much confusion. Fox News reported a few weeks ago a finding by RealtyTrac that "1/3 of all homes offered for sale by the end of 2008 will be sold by banks" through Foreclosures.  Many homes offeres for sale by Short Sales will end up going into foreclosure because lenders take too long in responding to potential buyers, often taking as long as 4 months or more to respond to a buyer's offer to purchase. With home prices in Fort Lauderdale adjusting back for the most part to 2004 levels and on average prices have declin... 12/07/2008

I attended Hudson & Marshall Auction yesterday at the Hyatt Bonaventure 300 properties we auctioned; this was my first time ever attending one of these events. And while I went there with one of my investor clients I must say that going to one of these events was a phenomenal experience, I wrote every single one of the prices that each home sold for as I like to keep it as a good indicator for future reference. Here is what my client purchases keep in mind that before bidding on anything you MUST perform your due diligence on the property, inspections, comparables, restrictions etc. Unit in Downtown West Palm Beach originally sold for $342k in 2005 we got it for $112.500 intracoastal front.   Coral Springs condo originally sold for $272k in 2005 we got it for $62.500   AMAZING DEALS!!!N... 12/07/2008

December 7, 1941 is remembered as "a date which will live in infamy":   Pearl Harbor Day. Thousands of lives were lost, a major portion of America's Pacific fleet was in pieces and the U.S. was catapulted into war in the Pacific. Today, at the onshore "USS Arizona" Memorial Visitor Center, we can see displays of World War II naval history and wartime Hawaii; and view a film about the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. A ferry shuttles back and forth between the visitor center and the memorial where one can actually stand right above the "Arizona". In fact, the rusted remains of the "Arizona" are clearly visible under the waters of Pearl Harbor. The memorial to the 1,100 men, entombed forever within the sunken, once mighty, battleship, straddles the "USS Arizona". One wall of the structure... 12/06/2008

Monday night (12/1/08) I attended the Dave Koz Concert with my Husband and absolutely LOVED it!  Dave Koz' Smooth Jazz Christmas 2008 Concert at Broward Center for the Peforming Arts was one of the Tour Dates on the 2008 Dave Koz and Friends Tour. Monday night's performance featured Dave Koz along with multi-talented Band and Artists, Jonathan Butler, Keiko Matsui, Jeff Golub, Brian Simpson, Stevo Theard, Bill “Rubberhand Man” Sharpe, and Randy Jacobs.  This was my first time hearing any of their Live performances and the Vocals, Drums, Piano, Bass, and Guitar were beyond phenomenal! The Songs included Smooth Jazz versions of Christmas Classics such as "My Favorite Things," "White Christmas", "O Holy Night", "Little Drummer Boy" and others along with many Smooth Jazz favorites.   The 2... 12/01/2008

The 2008 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade in Ft. Lauderdale is right around the corner and I'll be attending.    It's scheduled for December 13, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. The Parade Route starts on the New River, travels East to the Intracoastal Waterway, and continues North to Lake Santa Barbara in Pompano Beach. To enjoy the show, you have 2 viewing options: Free Viewing along the Parade Route with prime viewing spots East of The Stranahan House View the Parade from the Grandstand Viewing area, which opens at 3:00 p.m. and will offer reserved and assigned seating, located inside Birch State Park on the Northeast corner of Sunrise Blvd. and the Intracoastal Waterway. The Grandstand Viewing Area will feature interactive games for the family, Florida Panthers' Slap Shot Game, 99.9 KISS... 12/01/2008

  Professional Office/Retail Suite Number: R-A Space Available SF: 2,000 SF Minimum Divisible SF: 2,000 SF Maximum Contiguous SF: 2,000 SF Space Subcategory 1: Office Building Space Subcategory 2: Office Showroom Lease Rate ($/SF): $20 PSF Lease Rate Type: Annual Date Available: 11/11/2008 Lease Term (Months): See Agent Lease Type: Absolute NNN Space Type: New Conference Rooms: 1 Offices: 5 Kitchen: Yes Parking Spaces: 6 Real Estate Taxes: $5.25 Operating Expenses: $13 CAM Expenses: $7.75 Rent Escalators: Index Lease Rent Escalators Description: 4.5% Annually Rent Concession: office is being offered fully furnished, with PBX and 15 phones, 1 T1 Internet service, Photocopy machine. Phone service (excluding International long distance) Internet Service and electricity are included. 200 S... 11/30/2008

The FDD - Franchise Disclosure Document and Franchise Agreement isn't so scary; in fact, it is typically a standardized document brimming with franchise information   Ft. Lauderdale, FL --  Young entrepreneurs who are looking to enter the world of franchising have learned a lot of valuable information by working with Rick Bisio, a highly respected franchise consultant and mentor for franchisees in training.  Rick teaches his students all about researching franchises and choosing one that is right for them.    Rick has discovered that many students are intimidated at the thought of reading and understanding the franchise contract.  In one of his recent mentoring sessions, Rick explained, "Though the contract may seem to be very heavy on legal terms it is not so difficult to understand on... 11/30/2008

Up until now, it's been kind of fun, hasn't it? This whole ‘franchise education' process? You've told your friends that you're thinking of being your own boss, you've found a franchise that appears to match your goals and desires, you've talked to existing franchisees...and now it's time to read the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) and Franchise Agreement.   Ugh. It looks and feels heavy and legal. No fun. Scary even. Rest assured that fear at this point is normal and healthy.  What you don't know is that the franchise disclosure document you hold in your hands is a lot friendlier than it looks. It constitutes a standardized document, full with franchise information. You've likely heard that it's written to protect the franchisor; you should also know that it protects the franchisee ... 11/30/2008

The Auction method of marketing provides many advantages including:  •        By reducing the time a property is on the market, a greater value is returned to the seller as the marketing time has been greatly reduced, thereby reducing the carrying cost. •        A major reduction in the cost of carrying real estate, and the related expense of interest, maintenance, vandalism, taxes and risk of decline in the market value. •       Targeted marketing to the correct group of potential buyers who have the ability to purchase. This eliminates the expenditure of advertising dollars to groups of buyer with no interest in your property. •        Commissions collected from the buyer in the form of a Buyer's Premium instead of an adjustment to the gross proceeds on the closing statement. •      ... 11/25/2008

Foreclosures & Long Term Thinking  ! The majority of people that want to buy a home are not investors. There is a large group of people who don't want to buy properties now because they think prices will continue to drop. That may be the case but there is no one alive that can precisely time when the real estate market hits its extreme low as well as timing the extreme high.   The areas I specialize in are Foreclosures in Ft. Lauderdale & surrounding areas. People are waiting for the prices to drop further instead of realizing the Foreclosure home you purchase now will be lived in for a minimum of three to five years. Primary residential Foreclosure properties purchased today will be substantially higher in years to come. I don't have a crystal ball but if you bought a property at belo... 11/23/2008

Now is probably the greatest time in the history of Real Estate to buy Foreclosures. The general public needs to be educated about the fact that Foreclosures are relatively easy transactions as opposed to Short Sales or emotionally driven sellers.  The bank is not in the Real Estate business and has a surplus of properties they want to sell and sell now. Banks want to sell the thousands of properties on their books and are willing to take pennies on the dollar to do so. The average Foreclosure is well below today's market values and the bargains are incredible. The majority of buyers don't realize that five to ten years from now that most properties purchased from the bank today will have increased dramatically. Nobody has a crystal ball but if history repeats itself the general public ... 11/20/2008

110 N FEDERAL HY #632 in Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 has just been reduced to $299,999 and the best part about it is that it's not a SHORT SALE. 101 North Federal Hwy the Waverly You must see this very unique and spacious condo at 101 N. Fed. Hwy #632. Its original floor plan was a 2 bedroom and 2 bath with a huge storage room next door. This storage room was renovated and converted into a third room with large closet which can be used as a bedroom/office/media room. With this added space- you have approx 1686 s.f of air conditioned living space. Plus- you only pay maintenance on original sq ft.  Additional upgrades include crown moldings, kitchen granite, specialty lighting. Tandem space for two cars in covered garage.  Waverly Las Olas has resort-style pool, valet, 24-hour gym, and part... 11/20/2008

Humane Society of Broward County-Adopt a Pet Today A little over a month ago I had to sadly had to put my dog to sleep. We had a wonderful 17yrs together and I'll always cherish the times we had. A few weeks after his passing.....I decided to take the food we had left over and donate it to the Humane Society of Broward County.     While I was there for my visit..... I decided to go look at what dogs they had available to adopt. Adopting a rescued pet is a great thing for both the pet and the new owner. I looked around and went through all 4 kennels and I'll have to admit that it was hard for me to see so many dogs that were left abandoned.             Right now it's too soon for me to take in another pet at the moment but if you know anyone who would be interested....you should send the... 11/18/2008

Head to Huizenga Plaza downtown Fort Lauderdale 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday when Wendy's will give away 1,000, 1/4-pound Singles and 2,000 $5 Wendy's gift cards. All free! The same promotion will be repeated 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21 at Bayfront Park in Miami. Fort Lauderdale and Miami are the final two cities in Wendy's 25-stop Great Taste Tour which features a mobile kitchen, music and prizes. So if you are looking for free stuff, I suggest you head down to Fort Lauderdale for free burgers!! They go fast so don't wait to long!!! I loe free stuff and loe Wendy's so nothing better than for an excuse to head to downtown!! See you there!!!   11/17/2008