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In the Miami-Dade metropolitan area, a quaint seaside community is proud of its hometown traditions, and still manages to offer tourists and visitors a really nice place to visit.

The town of Surfside is a wonderful, closely-knit oceanfront community located in Miami-Dade County, situated between Miami Beach and North Miami Beach. The area has a total population of only 5,600,and has the perfect mix of a tranquil, attractive and truly livable residential and shopping community.

Tranquil Neighborhood Offers Many Residential Developments

The city's real estate ranges from a serene waterfront neighborhood which combines small and large-scale homes to upscale, luxury oceanfront condos. The town has its own home town shopping district as well as sprinkling of shops, restaurants, hotels, motels and resorts. Its residents vary from tourists and other year-round visitors, to its own loyal locals who shop, work and play in this beautiful community.

The Town Has An Effective Zoning And Land Use Ordinance

The efficiency and effectiveness of the town's public services is highly rated by residents and out-of-towners. The community's sanitation services are considered to be one of the very best in the nation. Garbage and trash is collected from all residences, businesses, and public areas around six days a week, and the police response time is placed at just around one minute. The town has entertainment and recreation programs which are regularly offered.

The town operates on a balanced budget, and the property tax rate has not been increased one bit for over a decade. This setting has produced pride in the community's record of positive results and achievement in the public interest. The town's officials have also implemented zoning and land use policies that are intended, and have actually protected the character of the community, and avoid the hazards associated with overdevelopment and pollution.

On building ordinances, the city's officials have not granted even a single height or density variance during their tenure, and in addition to effective growth management and zoning policies, the town's officials have also enacted stricter traffic control measures that aim to provide higher levels of stability and order to residents and town visitors as well.

How Real Estate Prices Figure Here

Real estate prices in this town have seen a slight drop, and it's obvious by looking at the lowest priced home listings at $449,000, as well as seeing two home sales falling below that.

However, despite the slow home buying market, Surfside's proximity to the ocean make it a wonderful location to live in, along with having a pleasing community atmosphere. The oceanfront condos on sale here are not getting hit as hard by the down-market though, but with no sales in January, housing market observers note that it may be the perfect time to get a waterfront home or condo right on the beach and be close to the warm sand and feel the ocean breeze.

With the available homes being sold here quite close to the ocean, you should expect homeowners here to visit the beach often, since everyone lives just a few blocks away. You’ll regularly see people strolling towards the ocean with their children, while others would sit on their beach chairs, and most would take a quick swim on the waters of the Bay.

The city of Ocala in Central Florida bears the distinction of being named an "All America City" in 1995.

The metropolitan area is the county seat of Marion County, and presently has a total population of 49,439, making it the largest city in the county. What strikes most visitors here is the city’s historic district, where tourists will be impressed by the great strides taken by local residents in the preservation and care of the area's historic homes and structures.

The City Best Suits Those Who Long For Country Living

For individuals who long for living both the urban and country life, the county offers plenty of options and possibilities, ranging from freshly completed country-style villages to weathered farm houses, horse farms, and large, elegant and grand estates. The area’s state highway system helps make access to the outlying areas convenient to Ocala's business and shopping districts.

From Belleview in the south, to Dunnellon in the west, and McIntosh or Reddick in the north, classic country homes are aplenty, along with more new home construction that is increasingly expanding the choices for home buyers and newcomers. The county lies at the crossroads of the state, and that is truly rightly said. Its location in the north-central part of the state makes it an hour or two within the major metropolitan areas, and the city is the hub of the system of federal and state highways that crisscross this country.

The Area Offers Many Affordable Housing Units

In Ocala and the surrounding towns and cities, many modern and affordably priced single-family homes, townhouses, villas, condominiums, estates and patio homes are available. With a large number of apartment complexes being built every week or month, these offer home buyers more rental opportunities, and these have monthly rates ranging from a low of $570 to a high of $1,300 for upscale multi-room homes. The houses here have prices ranging from $120,000 for starter homes, to a collection of rural estates and horse farms that range starting at $450,000 and above.

For the average three-bedroom, two-bath housing units, it would more likely to range between $200,000 and $240,000. For newcomers and prospective property buyers, whether the option is a home in a rural setting or in the country, residents are never far from schools, health care providers, churches, shopping and commercial centers, government services, cultural and recreation activities and most of all, the natural granduer that nature has bestowed upon this area.

The Area Is Home To Lovely Views of The Scenic Countryside

The whole county is home to lovely sprawling green fields, scenic countryside, shady forests, and unspoilt waterways that are proudly treasured and protected by residents, but the respect for the beauty of the countryside is also shared by new visitors and newcomers who quickly realize that the county, with Ocala at its center, is more than just a nice area to live in, it's also a place to be experienced. With thousands of new residents attracted each year by the county's vibrant economy, many also see the place to offer an excellent quality of living, diverse recreational activities, and pristine environment.

Growth Rates Are Up Here

Located in the north central part of the state, Marion County is a growing property market. Home to more than 305,000 people and nearly 121,000 households, the area is projected to grow by an additional 10% to 335,000 residents by 2010. In only a span of 5 years, the county's population has grown by an estimated 17.8%, which is far higher than both state and national averages.

Miami Beach is one of the premier places of condo building. All throughout the area, condominiums have risen, making it the site of choice for people wanting the urban lifestyle. But buying a condo doesn’t only mean cash out for you; in fact, you can also gain money from it.

Real Estate Investments

Investing on real estate can be very lucrative. It may seem risky, but it is actually safe since you are legally protected by law. It has been proven through history that wealth comes from real estate and some of the hottest pieces of property now are the high-end condos in Miami Beach.

Pre-Construction Investment

An enhanced way of investing is by entering the market in its pre-construction phase. Nowadays, this is said to be the most profitable real estate technique. Experts say that there is a high probability of making a profit of 10%-50% of your initial investment.

How It Works

Pre-construction investment basically means that you buy a property after it is developed and planned, but not after it is built. Developers usually sell the pre-constructed property for 5-20% below their appraised price when the property is done.

Depending on the negotiations, you can give a down payment for the said price, or you can pay for it in full. Either way, the property is already yours, and all you have to do is to wait for it to be completed. When construction begins, after you make a deposit, there are fixed periods when you would have to pay the developer what is left of your balance, in installments.

These kinds of discounts are given by developers to ensure adequate and steady funding of the project as it is constructed. The earlier you buy a property, the bigger the discount they can give you. Sometimes, there are additional benefits given, like voided tax charges for a year and unit upgrades.

Show Me The Money

Your profit, however, would come when the property is finished. After some time, or about two to three years of construction, the market value of the property will already have appreciated. This is when you get to see how much your investment has grown.

When the construction is complete, you can either stay and own the property,or you can sell it. Of course, since the property’s value has increased, you can then sell it for a higher price, compared to how much you bought it for.

High-End Miami Beach Condos

You can use the technique of pre-construction investment when acquiring high-end condos in Miami Beach. There are many developers that offer this kind of system in Miami. Although high-end condos would also mean bigger capital for you, take note that the profit is just as big; thereby making your investment definitely worth it.

Pre-construction investment is best for high-end condo units, since these are very much in demand and easy to sell. This is true, especially if your unit is in Miami Beach, where people flock and compete to acquire the best property deals.

[VanessaDoctor - Feb2008]

The city of Ocala in central Florida is a haven for horse lovers, lush green rolling fields, and wonderful real estate choices.

According to real estate analysts, now is a great time to buy new homes, as there are a lot of excellent home purchase deals to find out there. With interest rates at near historical lows, the median price for homes in this area is considered to be the the 2nd lowest in Florida, which necessitates the entry of a tremendous potential for property value appreciation over the next several years.

It's Still A Buyer's Market Out There

According to statistics, the homes listed on the Marion County MLS as of March 30, 2007 were placed at 6,869. Home sales are off quite a lot from March of 06 when 614 houses were sold.

According to some housing market observers, there is a glut of vacant new homes that were bought by investors who intended to flip them and are now caught with houses they can't sell, and there were around 1,948 vacant houses on the Ocala Marion County MLS as of March 30. The homes that are selling are well priced and in the mid to lower price range. Well-priced housing units are selling close to their asking prices today as well

Where To First Stop And Ask For Housing Info

For prospective home buyers, stopping at the offices of the local Realtors association would be a good start in finding the best home options here. Many local brokers also suggest checking out the local Chamber of Commerce for info on the areas where nice homes can be seen, and bought as well. Local brokers here say that a wealth of information is available to help make the search easier.

In addition to contacting a local property broker of choice and getting referrals from peers, they also suggest getting in the car and driving around town, to better learn the area. Major housing indicators at present, show the market in Ocala is leaning toward the area of being a buyer's market. Housing analysts note that is is primarily being driven by the increasing inventory of both new and existing homes. During the 2006-2007 season, the county as a whole, reported 2,698 permits for construction of single-family homes, which is down from 6,355 in the 2005-2006 fiscal year.

For the second quarter of 2007, the median prices of homes in Marion County reached $170,900, and this represents a slight increase from $169,500 for the same period in 2006. The National Association of Realtors noted that the U.S. median home price of $223,800 for the second quarter of 2007 compared to $227,100 in 2006. For the state of Florida, the median price for the period was $221,200, down from $243,300 in 2006.

According to a study done by the University of Florida, hopeful homebuyers in the state of Florida should act now, as the price is right as the state's single-family residential housing market bottoms out, "If you're thinking of buying a house, there's probably not much to be gained by holding out at this point," notes the director of the University's Bergstrom Center for Real Estate Studies, and they add that, "It doesn’t look like prices are going to fall anymore."

Surfside is a wonderful oceanfront town located in Florida’s Miami-Dade County, between Miami Beach and North Miami Beach. This is a community that truly loves and treasures its beaches, and when driving around, you can see people walking towards the ocean and enjoying a nice stroll on shores, or take a quick swim in the ocean.

The real estate options here are diverse, and the offerings range from quiet residential neighborhoods that combines small and, medium-sized homes to luxury oceanfront condos. The community is very proud of its own "home town" shopping district as well as its sprinkling of hotels, motels and resorts. The area’s residents vary from tourists and other visitors year-round to its own loyal band of locals who shop, work and play in this truly lovely oceanfront community.

Condo Conversions Are Common Here

Condo conversions, especially in suburban markets like Surfside, can range from $70,000 to $90,000 per unit, according to local housing analysts. The converters often shell out between $30,000 to $50,000 per unit before upgrading them. This may not be a major trend, but it is significant.

Usually, these residential converters come from places like New York or Chicago and are privately held, real estate investment companies, and then they generally come in with their own lending relationships from their home cities," he said. Usually, waterfront condominium converters look for the urban, infill type of properties that are located in affluent, waterfront communities like Miami Beach, Surfside or Aventura.

While these housing units appeal to more wealthy, middle-income buyers, they are less expensive than new units on the water. A new condominium in this town on the ocean may generally range from $250 to $350 per square foot, which can translate in prices from $500,000 up to $700,000 for a 2,000-square-foot condominium. A condo converter can sell a similar property in an existing building for around$250,000 to $350,000.

Current Property Listings In Surfside

Based on data given by local brokers and MLS services, there are at present 83 single-family home listings in the community. The highest priced listing is valued at $3,100,000, while the lowest priced listing is pegged at $449,000.

The pending sales, which are for homes under contract, is 4, and closed sales in January of 2008 amounted to two. These two home sales had prices were paced at $415,000 and $365,000. The community’s real estate property prices have seen a slight decline, and this could be obvious when looking at the lowest priced listing at $449,000 and fining the two other home sales priced below that amount.

The town’s close proximity to the ocean often makes it viewed often as a wonderful place to live or retire in, along with having a great, friendly and closely-knit community atmosphere. In the local condominium market, there are at present around 238 condo listings in this town, with the highest priced listing placed at $2,600,000, and the lowest priced listing pegged at $188,000.

Closed sales for condos in January of 2008 were 1, with the selling price at $173,000. In this area, the oceanfront condo units are not getting hit as hard by the downswing in the property market, however with no sales in January for the moment, it may be the perfect time to get a suitable home located right next to the beach, in close proximity to the warm sand and cool ocean breeze.