Author Archives: consultcorey

Miami Beach Luxury Market Remains a Safe Choice

The critics may suggest that the current trends in the South Florida real estate market reflect adverse effects, but if the attention from foreign investors and U.S. cities is any indication, Miami Beach remains a secure and stable place to purchase high end real estate. In fact, you may have read about the surge in interest from Turkish and Chinese investors as well as the Latin American interest among those seeking a primary or secondary home due to economic and political unrest.

European entrepreneurs that once considered Miami Beach a vacation destination are now seeing it in a different light as a permanent place to call home. Here in the United States, the Northeast is increasingly viewing the barrier island as a spot to enjoy the “encore” years.

These buyers seeking a permanent, second, or even third home have several items they take into account, beginning with—you guessed it—location. As prime luxury waterfront property becomes harder to find, location is still a top priority among clients. Other important factors include amenities, which are increasingly important as developers seek to provide residents with a living experience that emulates what it’s like to stay at some of the finest luxury hotels. Wellness centers and in-room dining are a pair of examples of amenities that developers are now including.

This update is presented by Miami Beach Realtor Tim Allen of Blackstone International Realty, specializing in Continuum South Beach. If you are interested in Miami Beach condos such as the Continuum condos for sale, call Continuum expert Tim at 305-588-2451 for information on sales and rentals.

Miami Courts Chinese Investors

A real estate development sales and marketing company based in Aventura recently achieved $7 million in sales at a Fort Lauderdale-based condo-hotel. Who were the buyers behind this beach project? They were Chinese investors.

Miami has been wanting to court the Chinese market for years, considering it’s the second largest economy in the world. In an effort to secure connection between the country and the city of Miami, brokerage houses in the city have started sending people abroad for the purpose of marketing properties to Chinese investors, going as far as hiring agents that can fluently speak the language.

The same company that sold the $7 million in sales also took a tour of various projects across Miami-Dade County, promoting and showcasing them to several of the bigwigs at Homelink, a major real estate company based in Beijing. The tour included several properties in Sunny Isles Beach, the Downtown Doral area, as well as in Fort Lauderdale.

Chinese brokers and investors are aware of Miami’s comparably inexpensive properties when viewed alongside other markets like New York and San Francisco, they’re also aware of the glut of inventory. Chinese buyers are responsible for fifteen percent of sales at the upcoming Paramount Miami Worldcenter, just one example of the strong foreign interest.

Great Bakeries in Miami Beach

We all know that Miami Beach is jam packed with a number of great places to eat, but sometimes what you want to enjoy is a baked good instead. Thankfully there are a few places in Miami Beach and neighboring Bay Harbor Islands that offer plenty of great food to eat.

Take for example the True Loaf Bakery on Bay Road. Unlike most bakeries with a history that includes a pastry chef that trained under the guidance of another, the chef behind True Loaf Bakery originally started his career in finance before switching gears. Today, the bakery is widely recognized for its fantastic croissants and beautiful pastries.

If you’re looking for some pastries with a Venezuelan touch, visit Moises Bakery on Collins Avenue in the North Beach area. Ham-filled crescent rolls called cachitos, good old fashioned arepas, cakes, and even some tasty imported snacks can all be found in what is perhaps one of the area’s best kept secrets.

Over in Bay Harbor Islands, La Parisienne is a French bakery well known for its artisanal breads shaped by hand that are fermented for up to 72 hours. In fact, the breads are so good, the bakery outmatched seven different Miami bakers to win the inaugural Baguette Battle held earlier this year.

Developers Seek to Appeal to the Chinese

This past weekend, a group of Chinese real estate brokers were taking a tour of South Florida’s many luxury condo projects as developers seek to boost business dealings with the Far East. Miami has a significant advantage over other major metropolitan areas like Manhattan or San Francisco in that the prices are dramatically lower in the Magic City than those two traditional Chinese buyer hotspots.

Between April of last year and March of this year, Chinese buyers spent over $25 billion on United States real estate, considerably more than Canada which came in second place at a much lower $8.9 billion per the National Association of Realtors. Despite the gargantuan amount, very little of that money was used here in South Florida, and it may have something to do with the lack of direct flights between Miami and China.

Chinese buyers accounted for a mere two percent of international sales in Miami-Dade and Broward County last year, according to the Miami Association of Realtors. Although that’s twice the amount that it was back in 2012, Miami real estate boom has a lot more to do with the influx of Latin American buyers. With currencies not doing so hot in major markets like Venezuela and Brazil however, developers are looking to appeal to the deep pocketed Asian market.

Find Your New Favorite Meal During Miami Spice

With the countless number of unique restaurants across Miami Beach, the smorgasbord of dining opportunities is far too large for the average person’s pocketbook. With Miami Spice however. it’s much easier to try a new place that could end up becoming your next favorite dining destination.

For those unfamiliar with Miami Spice, the two month event is a foodie’s dream come true. A multitude of restaurants are offering three-course meals at significantly discounted prices prepared by some of the world’s most acclaimed chefs. These meals are offered at lower prices of just $23 and $39 for lunch and dinner, respectively. This is the perfect time to have one of your favorite meals for a lower price or you can choose to be adventurous and discover something new that may end up becoming your new preferred meal.

The list of restaurants participating in Miami Spice is far too large to show here, but some of the notable places you may wish to try include Sweet Liberty, The Bazaar by Jose Andres, Beachcraft, and Macchialina, all of them located in Miami Beach.

Have you been to any of the restaurants participating in this year’s Miami Spice and if so, what are some of the new meals you’ve discovered?

This update is presented by Miami Beach Realtor Tim Allen of Blackstone International Realty, specializing in Continuum South Beach. If you are interested in Miami Beach condos such as the Continuum condos for sale, call Continuum expert Tim at 305-588-2451 for information on sales and rentals.

Try Something New During Miami Spice

If you haven’t been to Miami Beach during the summer, you’re missing out on perhaps one of the best dining experiences in South Florida. Miami Spice is an annual event where a number of different restaurants present three-course meals prepared by some of the world’s most acclaimed chefs. Foodies and diners can try a new lunch or dinner meal for just $23 or $39 during lunch and dinner, respectively.

Now in its 15th year, the 2016 Miami Spice is the biggest and best one yet, boasting an even greater number of participating restaurants, over 220 in fact. Although it’s called Miami Spice, you’ll be able to enjoy Miami Spice at many different areas beyond Miami, including South Beach, Bal Harbour, Sunny Isles Beach, and more. Rest assured though that classic mainstays like A Fish Called Avalon, Kitchen 305, Bulla Gastrobar, and Morton’s Steakhouse will all be serving their top rated dishes during Miami Spice.

While these well-established names may be the ones grabbing all of the attention, Miami Spice is a great time to try some of the lesser known “mom and pop” places that only the locals know about. Who knows? You may find a new favorite tucked away among the larger eateries!

Miami Spice ends on September 30th, allowing you plenty of time to try a smorgasbord of dishes.

The Problem with Listing Shortages

A lack of homes for sale is not doing any favors for buyers yet it’s spurring sellers and driving South Florida prices higher.

If the market were balanced equally among sellers and buyers, there would be a six month supply of properties on the market. In other words, that’s about how long it would take for all of these homes to find a buyer if there were no other homes listed.

Per data from the Greater Fort Lauderdale Realtors, by the time June ended Broward’s collection of single family homes was at a very low 3.8 months, compared to 4.9 months back in June 2014. Palm Beach has slightly improved numbers but there still aren’t quite enough for sale signs out there. The county had about 4.8 months worth of homes by the end of June, also down from 5.8 months just two years ago.

A lack of housing supply is among the major contributors to the steady rise in home values. When the market hit its bottom back in 2012, sales skyrocketed as buyers and investors seized the opportunity to take advantage of bargains. Bank-owned and distressed properties were a common sight during the housing recovery, but the bulk of these are no longer for sale on the market.

Buyers should always remember that if one deal happens to fall through, chances are a better one is just around the corner. A knowledgeable real estate agent can help with navigating the short supply and find something that’s competitively priced.

Best Brunch in Miami Beach

For brunch, there is arguably no better spot to enjoy a meal than South Florida. With the sunny weather, relaxed ambiance, and plenty of nice scenery, meeting up with friends, family or colleagues for a hearty brunch meal is just one of the many qualities that make South Florida so appealing. Let’s take a look at some of the best spots to enjoy iy.

We’ll focus on a few places located right here in Miami Beach, beginning with Juvia on Lincoln Road. Despite being on the road frequently packed with locals and tourists, the rooftop restaurant has some of the best views of the Atlantic Ocean in the city. If you want to impress your brunch guests, bring them here.

Just northeast of Juvia is Pubbelly on 20th Street, singlehandedly responsible for igniting Miami’s gastropub craze back in 2010. The restaurant offers great brunch from noon to 4pm on Sundays consisting of items like mango peach cheesecake donuts, short rib dumplings, and plenty more.

Visit 27 Restaurant on Indian Creek Drive on Sundays from 11am to 4pm to try its a la carte brunch menu consisting of dishes like Tres Leches French Toast, Latkes Benedict, and of course plenty of tasty cocktails to complement the meal.

Great Experiences During Miami Spa Month

If you’ve yet to take advantage of Miami Spa Month, you’re missing out on a great opportunity to relax and rejuvenate at a fraction of what it would normally cost to pamper yourself. Miami Spa Month is all about great discounts at some of the most upscale spas and it runs through the end of August. You’ve still got plenty of time to book your appointment and enjoy some aromatherapy, a poolside massage, or a soothing facial.

The Spa at Miami Beach Edition has a great three in one package that includes a manicure and pedicure plus a thirty minute facial massage using organic fruit cleansers. There is also a steam and detox room and nearly hourlong therapeutic treatments.

Interested in some hot stone treatments? The Lapis Spa at the Fontainebleau has it for $80 off and the session is a fusion of aromatic oils plus warm, basalt lava stones. While you’re enjoying the various spa services you’ll also be able to make use of the Fontainebleau’s fitness center, its pool, and the sunny beach area.

The Tierra Santa experience at the Faena Hotel’s Tierra Santa Healing House is a supremely relaxing one that includes among other things an eighty minute deep tissue massage using warm babassu butter taken directly from the palm trees of beautiful Brazil. The massage typically costs $300 but is available for $199 during Miami Spa Month.

Become Miami’s Master Brewer

If you’ve had the pleasure of trying some great professional brew, chances are the brains behind it received at least a portion of their training by experimenting with homebrewing. Of course there is a significant difference between preparing some brew for your friends and being a professional, and that’s where the Master Brewer Academy comes in.

A recent addition to Miami, the Master Brewer Academy will be teaching its first class next month, on the 29th to be exact. The class aims to elevate homebrewing to a new level, with students learning how to make beer on a much larger industrial scale. The twelve week class is broken down into steps, beginning with the science behind brewing during the first month and continuing into topics like how to run a business, how to cask beer, utilizing wild yeast strains, and more. Upon completion, students will complete a three week internship and will receive certificates of completion.

If you’re interested in Master Brewer Academy, you should know that the classes are intended for people with at least some degree of knowledge on how to brew a beer, novices may have a harder time. Only three classes are held throughout the year and they are limited to a maximum of twelve students. For more information visit http://www.masterbreweracademy.com/.