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), but it's not the spot to see historic sites and monuments (No. 23).
Funny is how each city is ranked by visitors and residents and some opinions are so out there! Visitors ranked Miami number 4 in the Late-night/club scene while residents ranked the same category number 2.....I guess there should have also been a category for egocentric. Take a loot at the rankings.
Check out also the City Guide - which tells you what to do, where to stay and where to eat in Miami. (Including places like The Biltmore, Genius Jones and Garcia's Seafood Grill and Fish Market).
Here's other stats from the same article that I found hilarious:
Go take a look and have a good laugh and see if you agree with any of the rankings - but do NOT question Miamians being HOT!
Thank you Shailesh Ghimire, Arizona Mortgage Guru, for the heads up on the Reuter's Article.
You know I love old homes and have a passion for historic preservation. Cuban Tile is one of the popular flooring materials of the known "Spanish Mediterranean Revival" homes found in Miami - not to be confused with Historic Cuban Barrel Tile used for roofs (see article).
*photo courtesy El Nuevo Herald - FOTOSGALERIA - losas de la Habana*
Cuban Tile flooring is popular in South Florida and found in historic 20's homes as well as 30's, 40's and 50's and although the patterns are not as intricate as their historic counterparts, it's a great material nevertheless.
Trying to find the history of Cuban Tile, my mom brought me an article written by Sarah Moreno for El Nuevo Herald that gives great information from a gentleman by the name of Arturo Hernandez who has researched and documented these beautiful historic floors. Hernandez claims that Cuban Tile known also as cement tile, Encaustic Cement Tile or Hydraulic Mosaic Tile can be traced to Cataluña back to mid 19th century where The Industrial Revolution allowed for the technical innovation and mass production of these tiles that did not need to be fired. Even known architect Gaudi, designed floors with cement tiles that looked like Persian rugs.
I was also recently contacted by Lundy Wilder, a maker of cement tile who has a beautiful site that includes not only history, but also an array of patterns for modern installation.
Until the 1920's, colorful mosaico encaustic tiles were considered high-end ultimate flooring that decorated the palaces of the Tsars, the mansions of the Côte d'Azure, Gaudi's Barcelona and Berlin's official buildings. Later on, the encaustic cement tile expanded as a creative and durable flooring all over Europe, and the French, Spanish and Portuguese colonies. Around the 1950's the mosaic hydraulic lost importance and was replaced by less labor intensive, and less colorful floors. The beginning of this century, the trend for authentic products and 'green' flooring has brought attention back to the encaustic cement tile. Recent storms along the Gulf Coast have raised awareness of durable, waterproof architecture. We hope to spread the word. We have first hand knowledge of the need for sensible flooring along coastal U.S. Additionally; this type of tile flooring is perfect for high traffic areas and any place where discriminating people gather.
Cuban tile is a mixture of Portland cement, marble powder and earth pigments for coloring. The end result can be as shiny as Terrazzo floors and as beautiful as hand painted tiles. The restoration of Cuban Tile Floors can be an intricate project depending on the tile design, but I have now given you a great resource if you need to replace or compliment existing flooring with www.VillaLagoonTile.com
The material is easy to make and fairly inexpensive, does not require heavy machinery and is considered green because of the recycled marble powder and the fact that it does not require firing. The endurance is amazing - to think that all those historic homes were thinking "green" and didn't even know it!
There are many stories why cement tile is called "Cuban Tile" here in Miami and one of the theories is that Cuban Tile was entrusted as a special order to Cuban manufacturers who would hand make these tiles for residential applications in Miami. Next time you walk into a historic home in Miami or read a miami real estate description that includes "cuban tile", you will know a little about the history of Cuban Tile, how these were made and how it is possible to restore them.
Thanks again to Lundy for sharing his beautiful website, and here's a silent video on the making of cement tiles in Morocco.
Other Historic Preservation Posts:
We wanted to share a Miami real estate deal for sale now in 4 Midtown, one of Midtown Miami's new highrise buildings. This tower received its certificate of occupancy in February 2008 and people are already moving in and making this fabulous building their home.
In our opinion, a deal is when you can purchase a property for a lot less than similar properties in the same building. In the case of a high-rise like 4 Midtown, we look at the same line of units and see what these are priced at.
4 Midtown was designed by John R. Nichols of Nichols Brosch Sandoval & Associates, Inc. architects and planners, based in Coral Gables, Florida - and its concept is:
Midtown's urban design is reminiscent of New York SoHo district with a Miami Twist. The pool deck is a true urban oasis nestled seven stories high. The architecture with it's wide expansive opening that emphasizes the panoramic views of Downtown and Biscayne Bay. With a modern minimalist lobby, and custom finishes that pay attention to detail.
3301 NE 1st Avenue, unit 2615 - Miami, Florida 33137
Priced at $425,000 $400,000
Unbelievable bay and city views from this 26th floor new, and never lived in Midtown 4 condo. Full-amenity building just South of Miami's Design District, centrally located close to Miami Beach, Downtown Miami and both airports. Two bedroom, two bathroom condo with split bedroom plan, high ceilings, Italian kitchen, porcelain tile floors and wrap around balcony overlooking Biscayne Bay.
Similar units in the same line are priced as follows:
Unit 2615 is being sold for $45,000 under pre-construction price, and although the seller is selling for less than he paid, this sale is not contingent on lender approval.
Even for experienced Miami Realtors, visiting new condos is always exciting. I for one love to check out the finishes and the preliminary design flaws. Then I tear them apart with my clients, from finish choices to distribution problems.
This week I had the pleasure of visiting Marina Blue, designed by none other than Arquitectonica. Located at 888 Biscayne Boulevard, in what Miami Realtors refer to as ˜the gridlock, because it is right across from the American Airlines Arena, Bayside Marketplace, The Center for Performing Arts, the new Museum Park, and the exit to I-395 that takes you to Miami Beach. I have to admit that the traffic is always a little intense, but what else do you expect for downtown Miami?
I figure if you dont want the action, excitement and traffic, this may not be the building for you. On a positive note, you do have the People-Mover right behind the building that takes you through downtown Miami and possibly to the talked about Wholefood Market Place that is rumored to be built nearby. The concept of this grouping of buildings which include:
The Marquis, Ten Museum Park, 900 Biscayne and Marina Blue
Is Green Urbanism - walkable communities close to everything, close to the action and with good public transportation.
I admit I was impressed with the finishes and the scale of the spaces. The lobby was austere and grand, the hallways were not finished, doors not painted (but we expect that from a newly finished building) and the common areas almost completed. The skybeach, although a sexy concept, in my opinion will not last long. (the wind is always powerful and to keep the sand off the interior common areas is going to be tough) - I hope they prove me wrong.
Heres some pictures of the pool areas and their views:
We saw a one bedroom unit on the 5th floor and even that one had an amazing view:
The kitchen finishes were not impressive and the choice of granite not my favorite, but the master bath was great and left nothing to be desired (with marble floor and counters, double raised sinks with designer faucets, bidet, and huge shower called a ˜wet room).
Lastly, here’s a picture of the lobby (I have to tell you that the concierge was a little nervous to be included in the photo). The use of stone, exposed concrete, wood and light was absolutely perfect!! (there are some unfinished planter looking thingies that don’t need to be there, I’ll see what they turn into).
Here are the developer specs for the building:
MarinaBlue is a spectacular 60-story curvilinear landmark featuring spacious 1, 2, and 3-bedroom floorplans, including gorgeous penthouses and lofts¦ all complemented by world-class amenities, including the unique and extraordinary SkyBeach.
Amenities and Services:
SkyBeach Features:
Residence Features:
Custom Kitchen and Bath Features:
According to the FBI, Florida is amongst the top 10 mortgage fraud states in the United States. It is our duty to report it and put a stop to it. Mortgage Fraud is a felony and playing the ignorant role is no longer acceptable. We hear nightmares about Miami Real Estate, and some people don't report it because they don't know how.
As per the FBI:
"Mortgage Fraud is defined as the intentional misstatement, misrepresentation, or omission by an applicant or other interested parties, relied on by a lender or underwriter to provide funding for, to purchase, or to insure a mortgage loan"
(please read the link to the FBI website because it is informative and educational)
The Office of the Mayor has formed a Mortgage Fraud Task Force whose mission is to reduce mortgage fraud and prevent victimization of individuals and businesses.
You can fill-out THIS FORM, and it will be routed to the Miami-Dade Police Department, Economic Crimes Division and either handled directly or forwarded to the proper law enforcement department on a case by case basis.
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Miami Luxury Real Estate - from Fisher Island to Aventura including Miami Beach, Miami Shores, Bay Harbor Islands & Surfside - specializing in Luxury, historic and waterfront homes
Enrique Garcia (Rick) and Ines Hegedus-Garcia - THE RICK & INES TEAM We are a husband-and wife Realtor Team and live, work and play in Miami Shores. We consider Miami Shores our stomping ground, our main market, our safety net. Miami is very large and we sell properties from Fisher Island all the way to Aventura. Although our main markets in Miami-Dade County are Miami Shores, Bay Harbor Islands and Surfside, we are flexible and go beyond those limits. Some other cities within Miami Dade-County that we cover include: Ines is an architect with a Bachelor's degree in Architecture from the University of Miami. Her passion is luxury, historic and waterfront single-family homes as well as condos and offers architectural consulting services at no additional cost to their real estate clients. Rick's solid business acumen stems from a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of Central Florida and a Master's in Accounting from Nova Southeastern University, along with years of financial experience. His forte is to dissect numbers for commercial real estate deals. Together, we have successfully operated a commercial property management company since 1994. Visit our website MIAMISM.COM to learn more about us. The website offers everything you need to buy or sell real estate in South Florida from: When it comes to blogging, it's all INES, although Rick often contributes ideas and may occasionally throw in his 2 cents. We are known for our honesty and integrity. We don't sugar coat reality and we always tell it like it is. This is our strength and our weakness - since a lot of people don't want to hear the truth.
As husband and wife a lot of people ask us "how can you work together?" - the reality is that we work great together, we don't step on each other's toes, we each have our areas of expertise and do occasionally slap each other around (not really....just seeing who's paying attention).
Our Miamism.com blog gives you local information about Miami from places to visit, restaurants, local events. We also write Miami Real Estate Stories that can give you inside information about the industry that you can't get elsewhere.
Don't miss MIAMISM FRIDAYS where photos are posted every Friday that show what makes Miami special, why people gravitate to Miami and why it is such an amazing place. We encourage visitor participation, so if you have a photo of a "Miamism" please send it in, we would love to feature it.
You can also get information that focuses on Real Estate Buyers and Sellers - click on "categories" on the left menu to get a wealth of information about Miami and Miami Real Estate.
Ines' passion is good architecture. Walking into a good space gives her chills and her excitement is beyond words. She can dissect a building in seconds and can point pros and cons of a particular building without holding back. Clients love to share Ines' enthusiasm when they find a property that works for them. She will see the potential in everything and will help visualize a space with drawings she creates on the spot.
Ines' historic architecture articles are educating and entertaining and she is willing to answer questions about historic materials and elements. From Mediterranean Revival Architecture to Art Deco, including finishes and details.
Rick's passion is numbers. Because of his commercial property management experience and his financial background, Rick will dissect financial statements in seconds and will determine which properties are good investments and which will give the most return. Their foreign customers love the ease in which he handles their business and keeps them informed at all times.
They produce monthly in-depth Real Estate Marketing Reports on the areas they work that provide information not easily found anywhere else. With easy to read graphs and charts and Miami real estate market trends.
Our mission with this blog
Our goal with this blog is challenging - To open a channel of communication where we can have honest discussions with our customers about market conditions, about the ways we deal with daily issues in Real Estate and about our daily life in general. Although we are Realtors and we do sell properties, we want our customers to trust us and to know that we represent their best interest. We have established a great reputation and hope to convey that message to our readers.
We encourage dialog even if it contradicts our beliefs, it is only through conversation and discussion that we become better Realtors.
Miami Real Estate Properties For Sale
Take a look at our current listings in Miami. You can click on any of these properties to see more photos, virtual tours and get additional information.
Miami Commercial Property Management
Rick and Ines have been operating a successful Commercial Property Management Company in Miami for over a decade. They offer personalized service to satisfy the diverse needs of each client. They believe that the key ingredient of a dependable management company is the service it provides to both the property owner and the tenants. They manage retail as well as office spaces and single properties.
Their expertise assures that your property will be maintained in top condition, so it provides the maximum return on your investment.
"With Rick and Ines you get two great Realtors with different perspectives and expertise for the price of one. It is good to know that you are working with true professionals, who are honest and have your best in mind, ALWAYS! Rick and Ines have been wonderful, they are patient, understanding, never wavering and questions are always answered with details and expedience. Their service is always above and beyond what one can and should expect. Selling and buying was truly a safe and comfortable experience with their guiding hand". S. Rytteke "Working with you is a pleasure. Your never ending patience and eye for detail set you apart from experiences I have had with other agents with other companies. I feel safe in saying that if any of my friends need real estate related services, you will be highly recommended by me. Miami can be a difficult city to navigate and you make it seem effortless, this counts for a lot in my final opinion of a person. Each city has its own little set of rules and you always seem to be current with each and every one of them. That to me is a very strong indicator of a true professional. It has been wonderful working with you and even more rewarding making a new friend". T. Rockwell Rick and Ines, On behalf of the Miami Shores Recreation Department, I would like to thank you for your support. Your sponsorship allows our youth an opportunity to play sports and be rewarded for their participation at the end of the season. It is because of the additional financial support from you that we are able to promote each sport throughout the community. You are making a difference in the lives of our youth and are considered our WINNER! Miami Shores Athletic Supervisor We Need To Find More Customers Like Ines Hegedus-Garcia To Listen To In 2008: Ines is a wildly successful REALTOR and blogger in the Miami area. We did some property videos for her around mid-year. Little did I realize how she would get us to think completely differently about the real estate business. Her standards for a successful video were incredibly high and often laid out in excruciating detail. My notes from our conversations are still a veritable treasure trove of REALTOR expectations for property video production. It would have been oh so easy to just nod and agree, and then go off and continue doing what we were doing. But we didn't. We listened (even to the hard messages) and our business is so much better for it. I still find myself occasionally thinking about what Ines might have to say while reviewing an edited real estate video. From use of widgets to why she loves/hates certain on-line products to what details should and should not be highlighted in a property video, Ines made a world of difference for us. We incorporated a bunch of technical and business process items as a result of our time spent with Ines. About half of our work items for 2008 are derived from things that Ines said that we need to make easier in order to expand our business. Tony Grey - VidListing.com Rick and Ines have managed our professional building since 1994. Being an absentee owner it is great having a team with such professionalism and knowledge where I do not have to worry if issues are being resolved. From day to day maintenance issues, to tenant relations and even tax compliance, Rick and Ines have me covered. Their architectural background helps to make sure the building's aesthetics as well as building systems are always at its best. With their accounting expertise they produce easy to read and analyze reports to keep me informed at all times of the financial position of the building. I would not hesitate to recommend them. President of Bordona Investments, Inc.
"I couldn't be more pleased with the professional and courteous service that you provided to us. Communication was excellent! We felt confident that you were looking after our interests in the sale of our property. Many Thanks!"
L. Sanders
"I wanted to personally thank you for everything you did to make the sale of our property go smoothly. You did a great job. It was a pleasure meeting you and we really appreciated all you did. If you are ever in the Atlanta area, please feel free to look us up, I will be ready to make you some Jamaican food".
B. Brown
"I have been involved in several real estate deals over the past few years and therein have dealt with many real estate agents. Without question my best experience was with Rick & Ines Garcia. They standout from your typical real estate agent(s). Rick is a mortgage broker and accountant so he understood and explained the financial aspect of our deal. Ines is an architect and she helped visualize possible changes that matched our design taste. Furthermore, they did not view us (my wife and I) as clients - they thought of us as their friends. Rick & Ines went out of their way to get to know us better so they could truly understand what we were looking for within our budgetary constraints".
David Block
"Thank you for everything, and honestly in the entire transaction you were the only professional person. Please accept our deepest thanks for your help and for the basket as well" .
Luca Levi
"Rick & Ines have successfully managed Moremart, Inc., a professional building with seventeen commercial tenants, for the last 4 years.
Rick and Ines have proven to be an excellent professional team offering a variety of services. They have completely automated the company resulting in a more effective and efficient system to conduct business, benefiting not only the owners of the building, but the tenants as well.
Moremart, Inc. is successful today due to the efficient managing team of Rick & Ines. Moremart's turn over rate has dramatically decreased and the quality of tenants has increased. We would certainly recommend them for any future contract involving property management".
Matilde Almazan / Vice-President of Moremart, Inc.
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