Archive for July, 2008
Put on your walking shoes….
July 31st, 2008 categories: Coconut Grove Real Estate
I like to walk. In fact, I often walk into the Grove on the weekends. I found this website www.WalkScore.com which gives a rating of the “walkability” of communities across the country. It will also give the “WalkScore” of a particular address or a particular home. It measures the distance from an address to the closest amenity in several categories (grocery store, bookstore, movie theater etc). 
I put in the address for my listing at 3055 Virginia Street to see how “walkable” it was. It got a “Very Walkable” rating of 82. You are even able to see the list of amenities that are within a 1 mile radius of their house. Such things include: The Coconut Grove Bookstore, AMC Movie Theatres, Restaurants, Schools, Parks, etc.
I could see how this would be a great tool for people relocating to Coconut Grove.
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Coconut Grove Real Estate | New Listing in The Moorings
July 30th, 2008 categories: New Listings in the Grove
This new listing on 3435 North Moorings Way just went on the market in The Moorings, making it only the fourth home currently for sale in this private gated community. It is a 4 bedroom, 4.5 bath with over 3,768 square feet of interior space and an 11,000 square foot lot. It also features a guest cottage and 2 car garage. Asking Price is $2,100,000.
You may also be interested in:
The Moorings | A Coconut Grove Gated Community
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Coconut Grove Real Estate…It’s Not Only Prices That Are Falling
July 29th, 2008 categories: Coconut Grove Real Estate
This is my listing on Espanola Drive in North Coconut Grove. The house was destroyed by fire several months ago making it completely uninhabitable.
Before the new owners close on the deal, the city is requiring that the owner demolish the house. It didn’t take but a couple of hours to completely knock the house down.
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Kumquat house reduced again….
July 29th, 2008 categories: Coconut Grove Market Conditions
The house at 4000 Kumquat Avenue in South Coconut Grove that I wrote about in an earlier post (Riding the Real Estate Rollercoaster) has been reduced again. The price is now $349,999. It is almost back to the 2002 sale price of $349,000. (UPDATE: As of 5/2009 this hosue is still on the makret and priced at $325,000)
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I could be out fishing……
July 28th, 2008 categories: Coconut Grove Real Estate
The market is bad, sellers want way too much for their houses, buyers want way too much of a discount, and newspapers continue to use the real estate crash to gain readership. I have over 20 clients still “looking” at homes who refuse to get off the fence because they are waiting for the bottom of the market. Some Realtors in my Coconut Grove office haven’t closed a deal in over 6 months.
But life as a Realtor is still pretty good. Why? Because I could be out spearfishing on a Monday morning.
I went over to Green Street’s last night and had a beer with my friend H. He asked me if I wanted to go spearfishing this morning. Sounded like a great idea, but my knee has been hurting lately which can make diving a little difficult. I had to decline.
So even though I’m not out fishing today, I could be…..and that is the point of this post.
I have no boss, nobody to tell me where to go, what to do, when to do it or how to do it. This job may have it’s downfalls, but it provides an A.D.D. person like me with lots of freedom.
I love my job for other reasons too….
I love having constant interaction with the residents and visitors of Coconut Grove. I love closing a deal and finding the perfect house for a client. I love going out and meeting new people every day. I love sharing this wonderful village of Coconut Grove with my out of town clients.
So even in a tough market, where every deal requires much more time and attention than it used to, where people are more stressed than ever, and where paychecks are few and far between, I still love my job.
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All homes deserve a good description….
July 28th, 2008 categories: Coconut Grove Real Estate
When a Realtor gets a new listing they are required to write in a description of the house. The description is where you can really give a person a feeling for what a particular house is all about. For example, is it a Contemporary or Old Spanish, charming or traditional, updated or original, what is the layout of the house etc.
When I look through the homes in Coconut Grove that are listed on the MLS I see the same pattern. The lowest priced homes, the short sales, and the foreclosures have the shortest, blandest descriptions.
Check out the difference between these two groups:
These Lower Priced Homes, Short Sales and Foreclosures in Coconut Grove
- Price: $199,000 | “Short Sale Property. Great Opportunity. Don’t Miss Out”
- Price: $250,000 | “Very nice home. Close to Downtown, Brickell and Beaches”
- Price: $270,000 | “Great home for investor. Centrally Located”
- Price: $475,000 | “Small, charming, 2/1 Single Family Home”
- Price: $1,050,000 | “Pre-foreclosure, short sale, third party approval needed”
- Price: $1,100,000 | “Great opportunity for short sale”
vs.
These Higher Priced Homes in Coconut Grove
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Price: $624,000 | “Charming and serene setting in the South Grove nestled across from Merrie Christmas Park. Paver patios, fireplace, new kitchen and baths, outdoor deck with hot tub. Argentinean gas/wood brick grilling area. Charming and immaculate move in condition”
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Price: $649,000 | “Charming 1 story home providing an ideal opportunity for someone to renovate and create value. Located within easy reach of Coral Gables and Coconut Grove shops and the best private schools. Light and bright in a top neighborhood on a great street.”
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Price: $825,000 | “Groovey and Grovey! Really special 1924 home in the heart of North Coconut Grove on a quiet street. The home features a formal living and dining room, family room, high ceilings, crown moldings, working fireplace, dade county pine floors, kitchen to delight the cook with viking double ovens and Traulsen refrigerator, large deck and wrap around patio. Situated in the highest point in Dade county”
One reason realtors may write short descriptions for the first category is because there aren’t many positive features to brag about. They are probably older style homes that need significant repairs. The realtors probably assume that if they don’t have anything good to say then don’t say anything at all.
I disagree. You need to write SOMETHING in the description of EVERY home or else other agents will pas
s right over it when doing their searches. Even if you write “handyman special” or “home needs repairs” at least an agent knows what they are getting into when they show the house to their clients. After all, some people are looking for exactly that type of property.
As far as the foreclosures go, the realtors who work for the banks are completely overwhelmed with their listings and don’t have time to write a description of each house. On top of that, many of these agents haven’t even seen the house they are selling!
My argument is that good or bad, cheap or expensive, all homes deserve a well written description.
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Open House Tour in North Coconut Grove
July 26th, 2008 categories: Coconut Grove Real Estate
I will be holding all of my North Coconut Grove homes OPEN this Sunday (July 27th) from 2:00 – 4:00 pm. Please stop in and take a look at some of Coconut Grove’s finest homes.
3221 Morris Lane | 4 Bedrooms, 4.5 Baths | Offering Price: $1,495,000 | 3,087 Square Feet | Picture Below
1809 Micanopy | 4 Bedrooms, 3.5 Baths | Offering Price: $949,000 | 3,127 Square Feet | Picture Below 
2828 Coacoochee Street | 5 Bedrooms, 3.5 Baths | Offering Price: $1,399,000 | 4,340 Square Feet | Picture Below
1600 Onaway Drive | 5 Bedrooms, 5.5 Baths | Rental Price: $9,000 | 3,184 Square Feet | Picture Below
79 West Shore Drive | 4 Bedrooms, 3.5 Baths | Offering Price: $1,100,000 | 3,700 Square Feet | Picture Below
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Great home for sale on Leafy Way
July 26th, 2008 categories: Coconut Grove Real Estate
If I wouldn’t have just bought and renovated my current home on Bougainvillea Road, I would have probably bought this house which is for sale on Leafy Way. It is a great house to raise a family in, and has all the charm and character that an older house provides. The house needs some updating (new kitchen, floors, baths etc), but it is certainly livable in its current state. It is located on a half acre on a very private street in South Coconut Grove. The lot is gorgeous and since I love to landscape (it is my stress reliever) I would probably be out there every day planting and replanting the garden. The house also has a back entrance onto Braganza which would be very convenient.
Jo-Anne Forster has also listed the lot for sale but I would really hate to see this home knocked down. It just needs someone to come in and give it some TLC. These older style homes are what give Coconut Grove its unique character, and when a house like this is demolished it really takes away from the Grove’s beauty.
Details: 3975 Leafy Way, Coconut Grove
3 Bedrooms, 2.5 Baths
2,910 Square Feet Interior
22,887 Square Foot Lot
Offering Price: $1,450,000 (reduced from $1,699,000)
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Coconut Grove Real Estate Update
July 25th, 2008 categories: What is selling in Coconut Grove?
Recent Single Family Closed Sales:
- 4196 Douglas Road | List Price: $2,390,000 | Original List Price: $2,690,000 | Closed Price: $2,150,000 | 6 Bedroom, 6.5 Bath | 6,070 square feet | 13,000 square foot Lot | This was a new construction home that has been on the market since April of 2007.
- 4095 Bonita Avenue | List Price: $585,000 | Original List Price: $689,000 | Closed Price: $505,000 | 1,414 Square Foot | 9,842 Square Foot Lot | This home was on the market for a year prior to selling.
- 4180 Park Avenue | List Price: $380,000 | Original List Price: $418,000 | Closed Price: $400,000 | 1,413 Square Foot | 6,780 Square Foot Lot | The home previously sold for $699,000 in November of 2007.
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Residences at Vizcaya | First Unit Officially Goes On The Market
July 23rd, 2008 categories: Condos
One unit at the Residences at Vizcaya in Coconut Grove has been placed on the market for sale at $6,800,000. Keep in mind that other units are still available through the sales office, they just haven’t been placed on the MLS yet. Developers often times will put only one unit on the market to advertise their project, give details, and spread the word to Realtors.
Penthouse B at the Residences at Vizcaya features 4 bedrooms 4.5 baths and 5,491 Square Feet Interior.
The description from the MLS reads: “Residences at Vizcaya is a new sophisticated Bay Front boutique building located in the most prestigious area of Coconut Grove. Unparalleled design, layout and quality construction. Sail out of your own private 60 foot marina slip. Lap pool surrounded by cabanas and sun deck, 2 spas, 4 car private garage, full service back up generator for entire property and a 5,000 square foot botanical garden. Penthouse features keyed elevators, Viking appliances, European contemporary cabinetry with stainless steel accents.”
This is not the most expensive condo we have on the market here in Coconut Grove. There are 2 units available at the Grovenor House that are priced well above this. One for $9,000,000 (Unit 3101) and one for $17,900,000 (Unit 3201).
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