Matt Pici

Join me this Wednesday, January 25th, as Miami's top real estate agents, investors, stagers and more get together and we tweet live from mybrickell during the weekly Real Estate Chat!

Meet & Greet Cocktail Hour: 7-8 p.m.

Live #realestatechat Tweet Chat: 8-9 p.m.

What is the Real Estate Chat, you ask? Details below.

Who: Real Estate Chat is open to everyone who loves real estate - realtors, developers, homeowners, sellers, investors, designers, etc.

What: An hour-long chat on Twitter organized with the hashtag #realestatechat. Real Estate Chat is dedicated to talking real estate, sharing opinions, networking and making new connections.

When: Real Estate Chat happens every Wednesday at 8pm ET.

Where: Join the chat on Twitter by following the hashtag #realestatechat. First chat? We'll guide you through it at the live event.

RSVP for the live event here. If you're in the real estate industry in Miami or surrounding areas, you don't want to miss it!

On the first day of Christmas my agent gave to me a lockbox on my front door.

On the second day of Christmas my agent gave to me two for-sale signs and a lockbox on my front door.

On the third day of Christmas my agent gave to me three web sites, two for-sale signs and a lockbox on my front door.

On the fourth day of Christmas my agent gave to me four open houses, three web sites, two for-sale signs and a lockbox on my front door.

On the fifth day of Christmas my agent gave to me five online ads, four open houses, three web sites, two for-sale signs and a lockbox on my front door.

On the sixth day of Christmas my agent gave to me six color photos, five online ads, four open houses, three web sites, two for-sale signs and a lockbox on my front door.

On the seventh day of Christmas my agent gave to me seven stagers staging, six color photos, five online ads, four open houses, three web sites, two for-sale signs and a lockbox on my front door.

On the eighth day of Christmas my agent gave to me eight maids a-cleaning, seven stagers staging, six color photos, five online ads, four open houses, three web sites, two for-sale signs and a lockbox on my front door.

On the ninth day of Christmas my agent gave to me nine broker previews, eight maids a-cleaning, seven stagers staging, six color photos, five online ads, four open houses, three web sites, two for-sale signs and a lockbox on my front door.

On the tenth day of Christmas my agent gave to me ten loos a-looking, nine broker previews, eight maids a-cleaning, seven stagers staging, six color photos, five online ads, four open houses, three web sites, two for-sale signs and a lockbox on my front door.

On the eleventh day of Christmas my agent gave to me eleven home inspectors, ten loos a-looking, nine broker previews, eight maids a-cleaning, seven stagers staging, six color photos, five online ads, four open houses, three web sites, two for-sale signs and a lockbox on my front door.

On the twelfth day of Christmas my agent gave to me twelve purchase offers, eleven home inspectors, ten loos a-looking, nine broker previews, eight maids a-cleaning, seven stagers staging, six color photos, five online ads, four open houses, three web sites, two for-sale signs and a lockbox on my front door.

Thanks to Calgary Home Point for their Real Estate 12 Days of Christmas.

Construction on the Venetian Causeway is still dragging on. Construction recently shifted to the south side, opening the completed northern side to traffic. Nice new sidewalks, lighting and some street parking are nearly complete.

According to Venetian Causeway Neighborhood Association head, Jack Hartog, the overall deadline for completion will miss its target date of the end of 2011 and should finish by February 2012. Hartog said that the delay is due to unexpected buried structures found at the outset of the project and FPL coordination issues.

The Venetian Causeway is a popular place for bikers and runners pounding the pavement and enjoying the beautiful views. Many of Miami Beach's most luxurious homes are located on the Venetian Islands. 27 E Dilido Drive on the Venetian Islands is the perfect picture of a 1936 Mediterranean Revival estate. Located on 106 feet of waterfront on Biscayne Bay, this 3,588 square foot house includes a marble entry courtyard, 20+ foot foyer with Spanish tiles and curved stairway. Five sets of French doors open to lush landscaping framing the elegant pool, spa, loggia and spectacular views of Star Island and South Beach. The second floor includes a master suite spanning the width of the home with mahogany floors and coral terrace. Contact me to learn more about Venetian Island homes for sale.

The Venetian Islands are a chain of six man-made islands in Biscayne Bay in Miami Beach. The islands are, from east to west, Belle Isle, Rivo Alto Island, Dilido Island, San Marino Island, San Marco Island, and Biscayne Island. Built during the 1920's, when "island building" was popular, this area is now home to some of the most gorgeous homes in South Florida.

27 E Dilido Drive, Miami Beach, FL

Experience all Miami Beach has to offer in this 1936 Mediterranean Revival estate located on 106 feet of waterfront on Biscayne Bay, just moments from South Beach. The marble entry courtyard of 27 East Dilido Drive in Miami Beach will impress guests the moment they arrive. The welcoming 20+ foot foyer with Spanish tiles showcases a cypress beamed ceiling, curved wrought iron and elegant stairway. Five sets of French doors open from the grand living room to lush mature landscaping framing a pool, spa, loggia and spectacular view of Star Island and South Beach in the distance. The second floor master bedroom spans the width of the home and is fit for a king with coral rock terrace. Relax and unwind in the huge master bathroom with a separate jacuzzi tub, shower, dual vanities and spacious walk-in closets. Entertaining is state of the art and enjoyable in the gourmet kitchen with adjacent formal dining room. Enjoy the convenience of a separate electric boat and Jet Ski lift.

35 E Dilido Drive, Miami Beach, FL

This vacant lot has a planned home that is approximately 9,000 square feet sitting on the 13,463 square foot lot with 105-feet of waterfront along Biscayne Bay. Upstairs are 4 bedrooms/5 bathrooms and a gym (which could easily be converted into a fifth bedroom.) The powder room downstairs is adjacent to the staircase/elevator and indoor water feature. Enjoy the view from the bat front backyard with a cabana bath by the pool. There is a convenient staff/guest bedroom next to the garage. The architect of this home is Todd Tragash of STA Architectural Group in Miami.

227 E Dilido Drive, Miami Beach, FL

This beautiful, never lived in contemporary waterfront home (built in 2008_ is about to come onto the market in Miami Beach. The owner is finishing flooring on the second and third floors, completing the kitchen and baths, repainting the exterior and completing the custom smart home technology. The owner is doing this work over the next two months and then will relist at $5,999,000. 7,350 square feet of interior space also includes a separate two-story guesthouse. This home is a one of a kind and also one of the few contemporary homes for sale in Miami Beach currently.

1 E Dilido Drive, Miami Beach, FL

An heir to the Italian fashion house, Fendi is the patron of this impressive Miami Beach waterfront home for sale. The 7,829 square foot home boasts amazing contemporary architectural style and the perfect blend of technology and design. The over-sized pie-shaped lot on the Dilido Island (off the Venetian Causeway) has dramatic views of downtown Miami and Biscayne Bay. Live the celebrity lifestyle in this stunning house with magnificent media room that doubles as a private nightclub. Completion is expected in late 2012.

Contact me for more information on any of these properties.

Knowing which type of mortgage loan is right for you can be tricky. Below is a great explanation of five different types of mortgage loans from Foreclosure Data Bank.

Fixed-rate loans:

These are some of the most commonly used loans for financing a home purchase. The length of time may vary from 10 years to as long as 50 years. Fixed-rate loans are those whose interest rates remain the same over the period agreed upon in the contract. For example, if you get a 30-year fixed rate mortgage, your interest rate will remain the same for the next 30 years, regardless of whether the market slumps or improves. Advantage: Borrowers are protected if interest rates rise, but will not benefit should rates go down.

Government loans:

There are two major types, Federal Housing Administration Loans and Veterans Affairs loans. The first, FHA loans, are insured by the government through the FHA. This type of loan is ideal for first time homebuyers because the down payment is relatively low and credit scores are not given much weight when evaluating applications. The second, the VA loan, is specifically geared towards veterans of the US Armed Services and their families. VA loans do not need a down payment and the requirements to qualify will depend on the length of service and the nature of the veteran's discharge from the armed forces.

Interest-only loans:

This type of loan offers the borrower the option to pay only the interest at a given amount of time. However, borrowers are required to pay for the entire original loan balance upon maturity of the mortgage loan. If you are set to come into an inheritance or large amount of money in the future this may work for you.

Adjustable rate mortgage loans:

Better known as ARMs, this type of financing comes in several forms. Basically the interest on your loan changes monthly or annually or may remain fixed for a certain time period, depending on what the agreement is. As opposed to fixed rate, borrowers benefit when the interest rate declines. However they are not protected from surges in rates.

Buydowns:

This offers borrowers a chance to pay for a lower interest rate through fees. Buydowns are aimed at lowering the interest rate at least for a few years. In most cases the property owner or seller will pay the fee to the lender to enable the buyer to have a lower monthly interest rate payment. The typical length of time is from one to five years. If the seller is willing this can be a good deal for borrowers.