How's the Market.

As you can imagine, I get this question a lot. From news reporters to the person on the other side of the gas pump as I gas up. And the answer could be an elaborate one or a simple sentence- it's hot or it's very slow, either way, it doesn't really matter.

Keep in mind that an agent or investor does not have to be affected by his/her marketplace. I come across agents (especially at this time in our slow market) tell me the market is very slow, meanwhile, I am doing better than ever. Essentially "their" market is very slow. Yes, real estate trends predict what the large population is doing as far as buying or selling, but the agents themselves decide how "their" market is.

Real estate trends in my area is that sales numbers are low and inventory is high (slow market). So instead of focusing on how hard it is to sell homes, I refocused my plan and became my own best realtor, because I said so. That's why!
Most investors and agents are sitting on the sidelines trying to wait the market until the market is great again before they begin reinvesting in real estate. Prices in general are dictated by supply and demand. When the markets great supply is low and demand is high. When the market is bad supply is high and demand is low.

The problem that I see with trying to wait out the market is that when the market is good you can sell for higher, but you pay more because there is more demand. When the market is low, you pay far less and sell for far less. Many times the two can cancel each other out. Best case scenario you buy when its low and sell when its high, and rent your places out in between. Just a thought.

Not your run of the mill fridge

How can you live without one? This $19,000 Refrigerator
made by Meneghini, the Italian designed refrigerator is one of the most expensive refrigerators in the world. Hand made cabinets hide the unit and can be combined with a coffee maker, ice machine, or a micro Combi steam oven unit. The cabinets are made to fit the décor of any room and size.

Senior Housing is maturing

Coral Gables Commissioners approved the terms of the lease agreement (99 years) for the soon to be built The Paladin. (http://www.thepaladincoralgables.com/). This will be a luxury senior housing facility with some health care and other amenities.
The deal is worth more than 12 million to the city. During the first couple of years during construction the city will get $ 120,000 a year($10,000M), with payment increases year after year plus portions of gross revenues. In addition, the project will add to the city 337 public parking public spaces. Not bad! So far it looks like a win, win. The city makes money, adds much needed parking for citizens and the housing needs for seniors is filled. One point for the City Beautiful!

(and Elephant Hide Wallpaper)
by Roberta Murphy

I didn’t consider luxury home insurance to be that interesting or that blogworthy until I read of an appraiser who tried to figure out the replacement value of the elephant skin wall coverings in a Seattle manse. That appraiser, James King with the Chubb Insurance Group, makes it a practice to thoroughly investigate the luxe and unusual features in Chubb’s insured luxury homes to make sure a realistic replacement value can be assessed. And sometimes that challenge requires more than a little research.
In the case of the elephant hide wall coverings, King was unable to determine replacement value, especially since the wall covering had been installed at the turn of the last century, before elephant hunting restrictions were in existence. His solution? Value the replacement as leather wallpaper, a very, very expensive treatment and alternative. I’m sure his appraisal stories could fill a large, fine leather-bound book!
After reading this story, I decided to call the Chubb Insurance Group directly to discover other challenges and solutions involved in insuring luxury homes. Mark Schussell, Chubb Vice President and Public Relations Manager, was kind enough to take my call–and patient enough to answer my many questions. Visit http://luxuryhomedigest.com/

The Hummer that could.

Peter Brady over at the Lussorian reports that the new luxury toy on the block is the loaded Hummer golf cart. Also called a Mini Hummer, it comes in a number of configurations. Our favorite is this sleek little roadster with leather upholstery, mobile video system, and a Sony XPlode sound system. The golf ball washer is extra. Hummer is creating a lot of excitement with this new venture. Their electric cars can be built to the buyer’s specifications for color, leather appointments, accessories and wheel availabilities—including 18–inch alloys. Need a rugged cart to chase an errant ball into the rough? This Hummer can take you there in style. Standard safety features include:
• Extra large mirrors. • Head lights. • Brake lights. • Indicators. • Fog lights • Reversing buzzer. • Safety horn. • Hazard lights.

Quick! Hide the TV

A television on display in a well-appointed master bedroom? Banish the thought!
It is a bedroom appliance never seen in home decor magazines, model homes or in Feng-Shui-directed abodes. At the very least, bedroom televisions are hidden in cabinets because sleeping areas are seen as sacred sanctuaries and spaces. Yet, how many of us watch television—while in bed—and wish we could totally hide the evidence?
MK1 Studio has been slaving for a decade to develop their underbed Television Lift. According to their site, a 50 inch panel with amplifiers, DVD and VCR players, subwoofer and seven channels of surround sound can be totally concealed beneath a King-sized bed. Queens will accommodate a 42 inch panel with all the same accessories as the King.
How long does it take to deploy? Only 45 seconds from the time you touch the button. Moreover, the screen can be swiveled so that it can be viewed from outside the bed.
Still not a believer? Watch the video:

I'm coming over

I'm making the switch from wordpress (Coral Gables Real Estate). I have neither the time or patients to withstand the learning curb. I just found wordpress too cumbersum to do even just the simplest of things; like pic downloads or aligning things just right. Something good that they do have is the ability to transfer data from one blog to another. I wonder if I can do the same from wordpress to blogspot. If anybody knows please let me know. It would be great if it's possible. I hate having to do this now because I had a great thing going on over at wordpress - developed quite a bit body of work-lot's of good real estate info, but I recognized the fact that I needed to be more creative by adding more pics and gadgets and bells and whistles and it seems with blogspot, I just click, cut and paste. Not very complicated. I love it. Oh well, here I go. Let me know what you think.