South Florida home sales and prices on the RISE!!!

It is truly a pleasure when we can quote a newspaper on positive news on the South Florida Real Estate market. Such is today’s story in The Miami Herald.

Entitled : South Florida home sales – and prices – rise .. Home sales and prices increased in April compared to the year before – a possible sign of stability in a long-shaky real estate market.

You can read the full article here: MIAMI HERALD - HOME SALES UP

Here are the key points:

1) Median sale price of existing homes in Miami-Dade County (up 8%) and Broward county (up 7%) increased compared with last April (2009).

2) The number of Home sales also crept up – Miami Dade County up 7% and Broward County up 11%. This was mainly fueled by bargains on troubled properties, low mortgage rates and a deadline for thousands of dollars in tax credits.

3) Condo Sales also had huge numbers over last year. In Miami Dade County 723 units were sold which represents a 33% increase over the same period last year. In Broward County number of condos sold topped at 1,077 – an increase of 30% over April 2009.

Let’s hope this trend continues and we see successful increases in number of properties sold as well as increases in prices.

If you are interested in purchasing property from South Beach to Bal Harbour, Sunny Isles Beach, Aventura, Hallandale or Hollywood please contact The Golan Team at 786-271-1235 or drop us an email to info@golanteam.com

Trump Towers, Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, 33160 – Sales Exceed $100,000,000

The most frequently asked question we at The Golan Team (786-271-1235) as well as we can guestimate most practicing Realtors are asked is, "Are things Selling?"

The answer is most astoundingly YES!!!

But YES - only at the right price.

Take in point TRUMP TOWERS, Sunny Isles Beach - this luxurious 3 building Oceanfront complex on the Southern end of Sunny Isles Beach almost stalled in sales a year and a half to two years ago when the Developers and their Sales Team were asking around $700+/ft. Those Buyers that had bought Pre-Construction were either walking away from their deposits or renegotiating their purchase prices in order to close. At the same time you had the Banks/Lenders breathing down the necks of the Developers to for repayment on their loans. The Developers started courting the Bulk Buyers. All in all only 157 units had sold out of a possible 813 units had sold. The Buyers started looking for better deals. Inventory was at an all time high. Fast forward 18 months to now, and the situation is clearly different.

The Dezers (Developer Michael Dezer and his son Gil) recently assumed a $265 million loan from a Development Partnership that included the Related Group with Wells Fargo serving as agent for a syndicate of 11 participating financial institutions. The project's three towers (each consisting of 271 units) have a combined 475 units left to sell. The have been 181 sold this year in price ranging from $550,000 - $1.9 million. The average price/ft is now at $414/ft with some units selling as low as $350/ft and others that have been decorated closing near $600/ft. This significant lowering of the price/ft have allowed the Dezers to surpass the $100 million mark in sales to date.

"We are confident our adjusted pricing is what has driven beyond expected results," says Gil Dezer president of Dezer Properties in an interview to Businessweek. "The ability to purchase a unit in a building as prestigious as Trump Towers for $350- $650/ft has generated unprecented response from a broad range of local, national and international Buyers."

He continues, "We have always felt that prime oceanfront property would be a signal of the strength of the recovery, as these types of units are so much of South Florida's appeal...""... and while the residential real estate market clearly has a ways to go to reach full recovery, these initial results have been very encouraging about the state of our industry, at least in Sunny Isles Beach."

At these prices, both end users, 2nd home vacation purchasers and investors are able to rejoin the marketplace and purchase oceanfront property.

If you would like us to send you floorplans of Trump Towers - send us your details to info@golanteam.com SUBJECT - Trump Tower Floorplans.

If you would like to schedule an appointment to view the property in person call us at 786-271-1235.

Turnberry Isle Condo 2 Bed 2 bath Aventura FL

The Golan Team (786-271-1235) proudly presents this wonderful well priced two bed two bath at Turnberry, in Aventura FL. Priced to sell at $379,000, this residence is located on the 7th floor with direct east views. Enjoy magnificent views of the Intracoastal, Golden Beach and the Atlantic Ocean.

This spacious 2 bed in almost 1700 sf and features a huge master suite with two walk in closets, large master bath and unlimited water views.

Check out the view



Even from the interior of the unit you can enjoy this stunning water views day or night.

Enjoy building ammenities such as movie theater, state of the art gym, party and card rooms, board room, swimming pool, cafe & more. To view more details on this listing click TURNBERRY NORTH 7F


Turnberry Isle is one of the original gated Intracoastal communities in Aventura. Conveniently located across from the 300 acre Fairmont Turnberry Golf Course, minutes from Aventura Mall and minutes from the Beach, this complex consists of 4 buildings and offers value, service, privacy and large and spacious residences. It is conveniently located within walking distances to Houses of Worship (Safra Synagogue, Young Israel, and others).

Units range from 1 bedroom to 4 bedroom with Intracoastal, Ocean and golf views.
To see current listings in all the buildings click below

Turnberry Isle North Tower

Turnberry Isle South Tower

Turnberry Isle Marina Tower

Turnberry Isle Towers

If you are interested in this property or any other in Aventura, Sunny Isles Beach, Bal Harbour, Miami Beach, Golden Beach, Hallandale or Hollywood send us an email to info@golanteam.com or call us at 786-271-1235.

Related Group beaten out on bid for Corus Bank’s Real Estate Assets

A couple of weeks ago we wrote a blog about Corus Bank (Are Developers Bankers? Are Bankers Developers?…). There were five major bidders up for the Real Estate Assets – Related Cos (parent company of Related Group of Florida (Jorge Perez), Colony Capital LLC, I Star, Lone Star Funds & Starwood Capital Group. Well the latter of all them, Starwood Capital Group and TPG (The Peninsula Group) are the winning bidders for the remaining assets of the now failed and defunct Corus Bank (taken over by FDIC on September 11, 2009).

The FDIC split the banking operations from its real estate holdings. According to The New York Times, the group bid $554 million for a 40% stake in the Corus real estate assets. The FDIC will retain the remaining 60% share. Corus represents the 90th bank to fail this year in the US. The blame is solely made around its loan portfolio that was based almost exclusively around condo projects in the once hot condo markets mostly in California, Florida & Georgia.

As of June 30, Corus held $4.42 billion in commercial real estate loans and $463 million in repossessed properties. At that time the bank reported that almost $3 billion of the outstanding loans were late or unpaid.

In Florida Corus holdings totaled $739 million in 15 different condo or condo conversion loans and a further $51.9m in one repossessed property (Tao project in Sunrise). Before it failed, the bank was able to sell its $44.1 million loan covering 41 unsold units at Onyx on the Bay in Miami and its $127.7 million loan covering 90 units at the Caribbean in Miami Beach. It had also successfully repossessed the 216 unit Aventine in Boynton Beach.

As Luxury Realtors specializing in Oceanfront and Intracoastal properties, we kept a special eye on the demise of Corus Bank as for us some of the bank’s most worthy assests were Jade Ocean Condominiums in Sunny Isles, Paramount Bay in Miami and the Trump International Hotel & Tower in Fort Lauderdale. Imagine these assets and others are now in the hands of the FDIC. Needless to say, the story is not yet over!!!

Out next blog will cover Jade Ocean Condominiums in Sunny Isles including exclusive photos and information.

For all your Real Estate needs in Southeast Florida count on the Golan Team (786-333-6200 or 786-271-1235), Your Luxury Realtors for Deserving Clients”

Happy New Year from The Golan Team

From our home to yours, and to those who celebrate, The Golan Team wishes you a Happy and Healthy New Year.

We thank you for all the business and support you have given us in the past and we look forward to continuing to work with you and your friends and family in the coming years as your Real Estate Agents.

Shana Tova (Happy New Year)
Eyal & Debra Golan
THE GOLAN TEAM
Keller Williams Realty
786-271-1235
786-333-6200
http://www.golanteam.com/

Sunny Isles Beach, Florida - Ocean III Unbelievable Buying Opportunity

The Golan Team (786-271-1235) are proud to present for sale at Ocean III in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, this 3 bed 4.5 bath Oceanfront flowthrough residence on the 23rd floor with Direct Ocean & Intracoastal Views. From a private elevator enter directly into your private foyer. A separate laundry room is located just off this entrance. A double door entry leads into this magnificent residence that is almost 2700 sf under air. This condo features 3/4" mahogany floors throughout the living areas and bedrooms + marble in the kitchen and baths. The master suite includes his and her outfitted custom closets, his and her baths and a bedroom with direct ocean views. The kitchen features Miele and Subzero Appliances. The owners of this unit are the original owners but only used the apartment for a few months so you will see even the oven is brand new and never been used!!! Each bedroom has stunning views of the Ocean or the Intracoastal. They are all very spacious size rooms and feature en-suite bathrooms. Enjoy sunrises and sunsets from two very spacious balconies that can fit table, chairs, outdoor beds and lounge chairs. The views are magnificent and unobstructed. Just check out the pics below!!!

Ocean III is located on the upper end of Sunny Isles Beach. It is a beautiful building and amenities include a 2 story lobby, concierge, valet, gym, pool, full beach service, café restaurant, roof top spa and sun deck, party room, billiards and an Oceanside tennis court.

This residence was just reduced to $991,350 and is an excellent buy in this market. It is also not a short sale, so you can be rest assured for a quick response from the Seller and a quick closing if you desire.



Enjoy Roof Top Jacuzzi & Party Room

Living Room with Stunning Ocean Views Stunning Bay Views from Dining

Room, Kitchen & 2nd Bedroom


Elegant 2 story lobby & Concierge

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN SCHEDULING AN APPOINTMENT CALL 786-271-1235

Inside Word on Oceanfront Foreclosures in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida

For the last 4+ years, Paramount Beach has been trying to sell condos in its prime oceanfront location in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida. It had purchased 2.2 acres of oceanfront property at 16901 Collins Avenue. The plan was for a 47 story building consisting of 232 units. The sales office showed elaborate models, brochures and floorplans. No construction was started at the property location.

In February this year, iStar FM Loans sold the delinquent mortgage to Sunny Isles Property Holdings, which is managed to Carlos Mattos. This past Tuesday the group won a $26.2 million judgement. According to sources, this will give Mattos’s company the inside track at taking the property at the public sale on Sept 4 in the Miami-Dade County Courthouse.

You may recognize the Mattos name. He has been very active in Miami Real Estate recently. On June 17, 2009 a company affiliated with Mattos paid about $6 million for 31 units at 1060 Brickell Avenue, in Miami. Another company affiliated with his business partner, Jorge Mattos recently paid $5.7 million for 21 units at Marina Blue in Marina.

This is not the only foreclosure on the beach in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida.
BankFirst has also filed an $11.7 million foreclosure lawsuit against the developer of the proposed Regalia condominium in Sunny Isles Beach.

The Minneapolis-based bank filed the foreclosure action on June 15, 2009 against Aventura-based Regalia LLC and company members Jerold M. Kaufman, Abraham Cohen, Paul C. Murphy and Avra J. Jain, according to Miami-Dade County Circuit Court records. The action targets the vacant 1.14-acre beachfront site at 19505 Collins Ave. in Sunny Isles Beach.

Regalia got approval to build the 43-story, 40-unit condo, but construction never got under way. The preconstruction prices were from $6.3 million to $14.5 million for the 5,515-square-foot units with 2,100 square feet of balcony space.

BankFirst’s lawsuit also names British Virgin Islands-based Kannon Investment Business, which gave Regalia a $5 million second mortgage.

Regalia bought the site in 2001 for $9 million.

First Time Homebuyers Credit - $8000 you can use now to purchase a property.

July 4th has come and gone and I hope you all enjoyed the festivities and fireworks. Personally here in Aventura, Florida we had lovely fireworks though the weather was a little sticky and humid!!!

Well now that we’ve caught up on the festivities, thought I would share some more good news to all the first time home buyers out there (or the ones you may know). First off, let’s recap the definition of a “First Time Home Buyer”. These are classified as individuals who have not owned a “principal” residence in the last 3 years. This means that even if you own a vacation place or investment property you can still qualify. We first wrote about this in our blog on May 4th, 2009 (Do you want $8000? Buy a house and it’s yours!!!)

When this program first rolled out you needed to purchase your property and close by Nov 30, 2009. Then when you filed your taxes for the year you could apply for the credit. The credit went up to a maximum of $8000.

Last week on July 1, 2009 a new program names Florida Homebuyer Opportunity Program (FLHOP) was created to help First Time Homebuyers get their federal tax credit early and allowing them to use up to $8000 toward a downpayment. This bridge loan is created so that the new homeowner can effectively borrow the funds from the State of Florida and then pay them back after they receive the new tax credit.

For us as local Realtors we think this is going to healthily encourage purchasing of property with quick closings. We anticipate an upsurge of sales as more lenders and Realtors will educate their clients of this wonderful opportunity.

If you qualify for the First Time Home Buyer Credit or know of someone who does please send us information to info@golanteam.com or call us at 786-333-6200.

South Florida Real Estate Market Stats.

Info above is based on 33160,33180,33154 zip codes (Sunny Isles Beach, Aventura, Bal Harbour & Bay Harbour) May 2009 info.

South Florida Market Stats:

Are we at the bottom of the market? Who defines the bottom of the market?

Is it defined as when the sales prices are move up?
Is it defined as when there are more closed property sales month on month and year on year?
Is it defined as when the inventory has shrunk?


There are probably a dozen definitions for the “bottom of the market.” The bottom line is that there are great opportunities out there. A few days The Florida Association of Realtors compiled their monthly analysis on home and condo sales and the results were very positive. For the ninth month in a row, condo and single family home sales were up!!! Is this is a sign of recovery? Perhaps.

The full article goes on to explain how month on month we are up 16% on sales. Click to read more about South Florida Home Sales and Market Stats

Locally our numbers are holding though May seemed a better closed sale month than June (except in Bal Harbour/Bay Harbor Islands which increased), the number of pending sales in June 2009 are still holding strong.:


Aventura, Florida

No of Condo Properties Sold in June 2009: 68

No of Condo Properties Sold in May 2009: 98

No of Condo Properties Pending Sale June 2009: 94

No of Condo Properties Pending Sale May 2009: 60

Sunny Isles Beach, Florida:

No of Condo Properties Sold in June 2009: 32

No of Condo Properties Sold in May 2009: 41
No of Condo Properties Pending Sale June 2009: 55
No of Condo Properties Pending Sale May 2009: 55

Bal Harbour/Bay Harbour, Florida

No of Condo Properties Sold in June 2009: 12

No of Condo Properties Sold in May 2009: 10
No of Condo Properties Pending Sale June 2009: 8

No of Condo Properties Pending Sale May 2009: 10

Interesting to note, in Miami Dade County total inventory of property available is down 26%.

If you are interested in a particular condo building stats or other area stats sent us an email to info@golanteam.com and we will send you the requested information.

WCI sells Regent Hotel in Bal Harbour, Florida

It has definitely been an interesting week so far in Southeast Florida Real Estate. Top news of the week is the selling of its shares in the Regent Bal Harbour by WCI Communities only to have the Regent Hotel Chain pull out of the property the next day. The Regent Bal Harbour or I should say the Bal Harbour Hotel which I believe will be the new name) is located on one of the prestigious oceanfront lots in all of South Florida.

Right on the Haulover Inlet the views are absolutely spectacular. It is a condo hotel project which like most Real Estate in South East Florida has seen a drop in value. It shares the same address as One Bal Harbour – one of the most luxurious condo buildings on the Beach.

Currently there are 18 listing for sale ranging from studios to 1 bedroom suites. Prices range from $369,000 (an unbelievable short sale opportunity) to $1,150,000. Owners can use the units as well as put them into the hotel program to earn income while they are vacant. Maintenances fees run between $3000-$3500 depending on the size of the unit. However this maintenance fee can be recouped depending on owners entering their units into the hotel pools and the revenue this generates. Please click to see properties available at Regent Bal Harbour

Earlier I mentioned that the hotel shares some amenities (like a gorgeous pool deck and 24 hour valet, housekeeping and full concierge ) with the condo One Bal Harbour. This luxurious building currently has 33 properties for sale ranging from 1972 sf (2 bed 2.5 bath) to 5200+ sf (4 bed 4.5 bath) and are priced between $1,295,000 and $6,299,000. Many of these units have been reduced in price. To see pictures click One Bal Harbour Properties.

If you would like more information or to arrange a private viewing the Golan Team are available at 786-271-1235 or 786-333-6200.

IRA accounts - a great way to invest in South Florida Real Estate

Buying Real Estate with your IRA account.

With the current instability of the stock market, many individuals are wondering what to do with their IRA accounts.

Investing in real estate through an IRA is one of the hottest new areas of investment.

Why invest in Real Estate now?

1) The stock market has tanked. Stock portfolios on average are down 30-50% and even more in certain instances.

2) Real Estate prices are dramatically lower than just two-three years ago creating a tremendous upside through both a higher further resale value and current return on investment (rental revenue).

3) There are a tremendous amount of foreclosures and auctions where you can pick up properties at 20-40% of their original values.

4) By purchasing real estate through your IRAs you are not changing your retirement plan funds, which was to build tax-free value for a later date, you are simply changing the type of investment you are investing in.

How to purchase Real Estate with an IRA account:

There are a couple of technical requirements that allow people to purchase Real Estate in an IRA. (Note always consult a tax professional as well as a Realtor for all the conditions you must meet). The most important of these requirements is that you must have a separate investment account with the required documentation and not commingle this account with any other funds. i.e. if you buy a property for investment then the rent money must be paid into that account. Also if you need to do repairs on improvement on the property you must use funds from this account, not your personal account.

If you are interested in learning more about purchasing property with your IRA send us an email to info@golanteam.com.

Foreclosure properties available for sale:

If you want to search foreclosure properties in Aventura, Sunny Isles Beach, Bal Harbour and Miami Beach click on the following resources.

Current Foreclosures Available for Sale in Aventura

Current Foreclosures Available for Sale in Sunny Isles Beach

Current Foreclosures Available for Sale in Bal Harbour

Current Foreclosures Available for Sale in Miami Beach

Do you want $8000 - Buy a house and it's yours!!!! Certain restrictions apply!!!!

Can you use $8000?

Well the government is willing to give it to you to buy a house!

The federal tax credit is actually available for anyone purchasing a home that has not owned a principal home in the previous 3 years. Note they call it a “first time home buyer tax credit” but it does not mean you are purchasing a property for the first time!

There are certain limitations and criteria that you must meet in order to be eligible for the tax credit:

1 The deduction is worth 10% of the home’s value up to $8,000 (this means that every house valued over $80,000 can qualify for the maximum amount).

2.Income qualifications:
a) A married couple’s modified adjusted income (MAGI) should be under $150,000.
b) A single filer’s income should be less than $75,000
c) Partial credits may be available for married couples with MAGI incomes over $150,000 but under $170,000.
d) Partial credits may be available for single incomes over $75,000 but under $95,000.
e) If a married couple files individual returns, they can both claim 5% of the home purchase ($4000 each if home value is over $80,000) on their tax returns.

3. This is a tax credit not deduction. This means the entire amount goes back to the “first time homebuyer” unlike other deductions like interest on your mortgage which is deducted from gross income before tax is calculated. If you qualify for the $8000 credit, you will get $8000 even if they would not owe that much in taxes.

4. The tax credit applies to homes purchased from Jan 1, 2009 through Nov 30, 2009.

5. The tax credit does not have to be paid back, as long as the Buyer keeps the home for at least 36 months and resides in the home. This means you must make this your principle residence for 36 months in order to keep the credit.

6. To qualify, as a “first time Buyer” the purchaser cannot have owned a home within the previous three years. However ownership of a vacation home or rental home does not disqualify the Buyer.

7. The credit only applies from the day the Buyer takes possession of the property. For example if you purchase a pre construction home between Jan 1, 2009 and Nov 30, 2009, but you do not take possession until Jan 2010 you will not be eligible for the credit.

8. The tax credit can be claimed on 2008 income taxes even if you purchase the property in 2009.

It is important to note that the tax credit is not a down payment. However, if you know you are definitely purchasing between Jan 1 2009 and Nov 30 2009 and you are a US Taxpayer who has money withheld from their paychecks for income taxes and you owe more tax then the amount deducted you can pay the IRS: but if you owe less you can get a refund. If you could anticipate at least an $8000 refund in early 2010 when you file your 2009 taxes, you could technically cut down on your tax withholding this year and save the money toward a downpayment. There is one important caveat to remember – if you don’t purchase a home in the qualifying period you would still owe the money to the IRS, and not withholding can lead to a high bill at tax time.

You can visit the IRS website to learn more: IRS HOMEBUYING CREDIT
To check out neighborhood properties click here: Buy A Home

Sotuh Florida Real Estate - it depends on how you decide to see things

I had the pleasure of reading some wonderful lessons from a business coach and there was one lesson that resonated deeply with me. It was not phrased as a question but as a statement:

“Success depends on your mind-set”

Never have I heard a more truthful statement. The economy is telling us that we are suffering, that we cannot be successful because the economy is so bad. This self-limiting belief can prevent us all from achieving.

The coach went on to explain, as a child you are already programmed with self-limiting beliefs such as, “don’t talk to strangers” or “don’t be too forward” etc. These beliefs can actually hinder you in the future as they put negative and limiting beliefs.

Think of it like this: if you become excited and enthused about something no matter who you speak to about it they too will “catch your enthusiasm” and feed off your positive energy. Unfortunately the opposite also holds true.

As an active Realtor in today’s market, I am always hearing about how negative the market is. The fact is what can be negative to one person can also be an opportunity in disguise. Today’s Real Estate market has plenty of these opportunities to find. Prices are lower. Banks are more willing to negotiate and more and more Sellers have become realistic. Remember as a Seller you cannot think of what you need to sell for the price will only be set by what Buyers will be willing to pay for it.

As a Realtor I am having these conversations daily with my Sellers. I explain that there are ways to capitalize on this market but that you must also be willing to invest. For instance, did you know that staging a property can help not only sell a property faster but also for a higher dollar amount. De-cluttering is also another useful tool. I explain to Sellers that the moment you decide to list a property for sale is the moment that your property goes from being your “home” to an “investment”. Working with an experienced Realtor will benefit you tremendously.

To find out the current market value of your property send us an email at info@golanteam.com.

Statistics for February 2009 condo activity in Aventura, FL

Aventura sales were up but so was inventory in February 2009.

Below please find a chart of activity, pending sales and closed sales for Aventura in February 2009.

New condos listings in the market

Feb 2009 - 199

Feb 2008 - 49

# of listings of condos available

Feb 2009 - 1821

Feb 2008 - 401

Pending Sales

Feb 2009 - 79

Feb 2008 - 6

Closed Sales

Feb 2009 - 261

Feb 2008 - 51

The most expensive condo on the market in Aventura in February 2009 was a 6 bedroom apartment in Williams Island asking price $4.9 million. The lowest price was a one bedroom condo in Point East (an over 55 community) for $65,000.

Stayed tuned later this week for statistics on homes in Aventura as well as condos and homes in surrounding areas.

If you are interested in seeing any of these properties contact the Golan Team at 786-271-1235 or visit us on the web at www.golanteam.com

Sunny Isles Beach - Ocean III Best Deal - Stunning 3 bed Oceanfront unit

Ocean III is a beautiful oceanfront complex in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida built in 2003 by The Related Group and designed by the architectural firm of Sieger Suarez. It soars 32 stories and boasts oceanfront amenities such as pool, gym, café, party rooms, tennis courts, roof top Jacuzzi and sundeck as well as conference rooms, valet, security and self parking privileges.

Most units feature private high speed elevators that open into private foyer areas. The building was specifically designed that every unit will have ocean views.

Currently there are 28 units for sale at Ocean III showing this is a very healthy building even though the economy is struggling. The building has 215 residences in total ranging from 2-4 bedrooms and 1591 sf to almost 4000 sf.

We have had the privilege of listing 2307, located on the 23rd floor. It is a flowthrough residence with 2649 sf under air + two huge entertaining style terraces.

This residence features 3 bedrooms 4.5 bathrooms and has two balconies allowing for direct east (oceanfront) and west (open bay and City of Aventura) views. In a word, “Breathtaking.” With brazilian cherry ¾” solid wood floors throughout, this residence is vacant and available for sale or rent. The bedrooms are all spacious and have ensuite bathrooms. The master suite includes his and her walk in closets, his bathroom and her bathroom with a jacuzzi overlooking the ocean. The kitchen is eat in and features Miele cooktop, oven, subzero Refrigerator and a Miele dishwasher.

The last sale of a similar unit was December 2007 when the same unit, two floors higher, sold for $1,270,000.

We have just reduced this unit to $1,065,000 an unbelievable opportunity for the right Buyer.
Please call us at 786-271-1235 to schedule a visit and we hope you can call this magnificent place “home” soon. PS It is also available for rent at $5000/month unfurnished.

Keller Williams Family Reunion - Lessons for All

Last week was a real wake up call. The whole Golan Team attended the Keller Williams Family Reunion in Orlando, Florida. For most when you think of a “Family Reunion” you think of fun in the sun, maybe a cruise, but most likely a big party and a lot of good memories.

For Keller Williams Agents, Family Reunion definitely does include the spirit of fun but it is more about work, goals, ethics and taking your business to a new level of achievement. For the Golan Team, that was exactly what we went to Family Reunion to achieve.

Almost 7000 Keller Williams Agents thought the same thing. Gary Keller, who founded the company in 1983 talked about all the opportunities we have as Agents in this “Shifted” market. There were approximately 100 seminars to attend over the three day period and there many lessons to learn whether you were a Realtor, a Buyer, a Seller or an Investor. Below I thought I would share a few thoughts that I think we can all learn lessons from:




These were my top 5 lessons that have changed my outlook not only on the Real Estate market but also in my personal life…


1) FOCUS ON WHAT YOU GET FROM AN EXPENSE: This is universal.. if you are subscribing to a service are you getting the most for it? Cut your expenses to a minimum…ask yourself do you really need this? Is it producing more than it is costing you? Are you bringing in more than you are spending? This principle can be applied not only to Real Estate but to every expense in our everyday lives.

2) If you want to sell your house then, “BE IN THE MARKET NOT ON THE MARKET”. Listing a property today is not the hard part – selling it is. The truth is that if a property is priced right (defined as being in the bottom 10%-20% of the lowest property price point for your property) it will sell…These are the properties that are attracting Buyers and know THERE ARE BUYERS OUT THERE. So remember in order to achieve your goal of selling a property = PRICE IT RIGHT.


3) Know that the price given to you at a Listing Presentation has an expiration date just like the milk in your refrigerator!!! Again thinking about the principle above, you must always be aggressive in your pricing and watch what is selling around you and why it is selling and yours is not. Be diligent in reducing your price of your property to attract the most Buyers. This is called, “the worry price” the price at which Buyers will worry that if they don’t jump on it, they will miss the opportunity.

4) Be consistent, Be Persistent and think like a Warrior. We all need to understand that we are fighting for our survival (just look at the economy) so think like a Warrior and keep that mentality to achieve your goals in this marketplace.


5) “Qualify your expectations” Be realistic about your goals. If you are listing a property then be realistic about the selling price. This market is based on the principle of timing and opportunity. Opportunity is a result of attracting the Buyer who will pay the best price in this market for your property and it is up to you to capitalize on this.

If you would like to discuss any of this further, please feel free to comment or contact me via email : debra@golanteam.com or phone 786-333-6200. If you also want to know how to sell your property and attract multiple offers, again please contact us to discuss strategies.

Aventura Condo Stats: Closed Sales Up...Have we hit bottom?

Yesterday there was yet another prediction report by a major research company that stated that it won’t be until 2011 until we see the market turning around, well what I believe is fact not fiction.

FACT: There were 53 closed condo units that closed in Aventura between January 1, 2009 and January 31, 2009. In the same period a year ago, only 44 condos sold.

FACT: Between January 1, 2009 and January 31, 2009 – 218 condos in the Aventura were listed for sale. In the same period a year ago, there were only 48 condos that were listed.

FACT: In the month of January 2009 of all the 218 condos that came on the market, 28 were short sales and 7 were Bank owned foreclosures. In the same period in 2008: 10 were short sales and none were bank owned foreclosures.

FACT: In the month of January 2009 the average price of a condo that sold was $303,997. A year ago for the same period the average price of a condo that sold was $490,098.

The analysis is there for all to see. More properties are still coming on the market but there are Buyers out there seeing the value and getting off the fence to buy. It will be interesting as we track these same statistics month on month, and year on year if we will continue to see a rise in closed sales, whether the average price will stay stable go up or go down? And whether ultimately we have hit bottom or are still on the way down.

Great Opportunity to buy at Turnberry, Aventura

When one thinks about Aventura, Florida the first two things that usually pops up in their minds is the world famous Turnberry Golf course, which just underwent a $40 million renovation and the Aventura mall – a indoor mecca of over 2.8 million sf of shopping, dining and entertainment.

Living in the city of Aventura is fantastic. It is literally 5 minutes from the beach, 15 minutes from airports and 20-25 minutes from South Beach. But for most, Aventura offers such a great life both day and night that you don’t really need to travel far to have fun!!!

Two to three years ago, 2 bedroom apartments at Turnberry went for over $400,000. Some reached as high as $650k. Today with the decrease in property values, you can get some amazing deals.

Check out this 2 bed 2 bath condo which is over 1500 sf and has a huge terrace. Located on the 4th floor you can enjoy views of the fountain, tennis courts and marina. During the high, the same unit on the 8th floor sold for $475,000. This unit is priced to sell at only $259,000 and is the lowest priced 2 bedroom in the building. Turnberry North Tower, which is located at the end of Turnberry Island has recently undergone a huge renovation and features a stunning lobby, new media room, new gym, new party rooms, lounges and conference room.

This condo is within walking distance to the golf course, Aventura mall and houses of worship. The building is located on the Intracoastal and is perfect for boaters as you dock your boat at your front door in the Turnberry marina.

Here are some pictures of the living room, dining area and huge terrace.

Check out more pictures of the lobby, media room, gym etc by clicking here.

If you need more information call the Golan Team at 786-271-1235.

EWM - The State of the market - Credit crises impact South Florida real estate market

This posting references the wise words and thoughts of Ron Shuffield, EWM Realtors President

"As we enter 2009, it's important to note that while the changes to our residential real estate market during 2008 were unprecedented, the opportunities that are evolving today are equally compelling. When all is said and done, it’s hard to imagine that we will ever see again a buyer’s market similar to what we will experience in the year ahead. Opportunities abound to purchase all types of housing at prices that we didn't dream possible two years ago. But, we will still have to dig out the real values. 33% of the total Miami-Dade and Broward MLS inventories are now listed as short sales and another 10% are listed as REO properties. That means that we are at a point where our buyers are now finding exceptional values in almost 50% of our listing inventory. While 2008 was the year of "analysis", 2009 will be the year of a sharp increase in the number of homes sold. Our industry sold 43% more single-family homes and condos in the 4th quarter of 2008 than we did in the same period in 2007; and, we believe that we will continue to see many more sales in 2009 than we experienced in 2008. Our buyers are recognizing the values that we are now offering."

Ron Shuffield's thoughts on the credit situation and how it affected Real Estate in 2008 and what his predictions will be for 2009.

Aventura, Miami Beach & Sunny Isles

Forget about shopping for a condo, now you need to shop for a building!!!


Sitting down with a cup of tea in hand I opened the Miami Herald Saturday morning, to see a blaring headline…”New rules raise bar for condo mortgage”

I got to thinking about the gist of this article and how was it going to impact our already suffering values of property. The new Fannie Mae guidelines in essence say that in order to qualify for new financing:

1) At least 70% of the units in a new condo building must be presold
2) No more than 10% of units can be owned by a single entity
3) No more than 15% of units can be more than 30 days past due on association fees.
4) No more than 20% of a condo can be devoted to commercial space
5) All condos new and old, must have fidelity insurance, which protects the association funds from fraud.
6) The seller is not allowed to help with down payments or offer other perks like deductions of association unless they are disclosed.
7) Condos must have hazard insurance
8) When investors buy in established projects, at least 51% of units must be owner occupied.

The article continued to debate whether this is good or bad. (Most contributors and Realtors quoted were saying it was disatrous) . Are we being a little too strong a little too late? After all it was not the condo buildings that got the market into this mess. It was the practice of easy lending that allowed buyers to purchase properties way beyond their means.

Now when a buyer is interested in purchasing a condo they first have to sort out which buildings are even viable options. It is very important that a Buyer work with a Realtor who is current with their market knowledge and knows the financial conditions of neighborhood buildings.

For those of you cash buyers, this news is like winning the lottery as your buying power has just exponentially gone up and you will have great power when it comes to negotiation.

Written By
Debra Golan
The Golan Team
EWM Realtors
786-333-6200