Early History of South Beach

The early modern history of South Beach, Florida goes back to 1870.  In that year, the Lum brothers, Henry and Charles, purchased some land to be used for coconut farming.  These 165 acres soon became known by the family as “South Beach”.  The first house was built on the beach in 1886 and the Lum brothers stayed for a few years.  In 1894 the Lums left the island and John Collins came in and farmed on the land also.

People nearby began to take notice of the land in 1912 when the Lummus brothers, businessmen from Miami, bought 400 acres with the plans to build modest homes on the beach.  Collins began building a bridge in 1913 from Miami to Miami Beach, but funding fell through and it was put on hold for some time.  Carl Fisher came to the beach in 1913 with his own plans for the Beach, namely to make it into its own separate city from Miami.  Fisher later helped Collins finish the Collins Bridge, and in 1915 Collins, Lummis, and Fisher all worked together to incorporate the Town of Miami Beach.

It wasn’t until 1920 that more residents began moving in.  Millionaires such as J.C. Penny and Harvey Firestone bought and built oceanfront mansions on South Beach real estate, and President Warren Harding stayed at the Flamingo Hotel.  Famous residents like these created a stir about the area among the rest of the country.  Soon the area was filled with well-to-do individuals, and the city became almost exclusively wealthy.  Those that could do so began moving out of their Miami homes into South Beach real estate, and the area flourished.

Tips for Buying a Home

Even with the current economic conditions of today, people are still out there looking for a good home to buy.  While fewer people bought homes and moved last year than many years previous, that doesn’t mean everyone is staying put.  Many people are migrating to the south, including Florida and especially to Miami homes.

There are many reasons why a person might want to relocate to areas such as the south.  One of the main reasons for relocating is for a job or business opportunity.  With the booming culture found in and around Miami, Miami Beach real estate has remained popular.  With other added benefits, such as a warm climate, beautiful landscape, and access to the ocean, Miami Beach and the area surrounding it are very popular.

Before you begin your search for a home, it is important to first consider your financial situation and set boundaries as to how much money you are willing to spend on a home.  Then, do some investigating of the real estate market of the neighborhood you are hoping to relocate to, and once you have found the house you are interested in, get an appraisal.    If everything looks good with the house, make sure you have a down payment ready to go, to help secure the house.  The most important thing to remember is to do your homework for each step of the way.  Miami realtors would be happy to help you in your search for the perfect Miami home.

Tips for Selling a Home

In this world of uncertainty in the real estate market, it has become difficult for many homeowners to sell their homes.  For those in the Miami area, it often makes things easier to have the help of one the great Miami realtors.  Many people that own Miami Beach real estate have found that Miami realtors can make the process go much more smoothly.  Below is a list of things homeowners can do to make their home a little more attractive to buyers.

Clean and clear out: One of the hardest things for potential homeowners to see past is a cluttered house.  It may be necessary to move some furniture or other items to a storage facility in order to make your home mess-free and looking good for potential buyers.  See that the house is tidy and things like carpeting and windows are clean.

Repair: Be sure those minor repairs are taken care of.  Replacing damaged flooring and electrical or plumbing problems will be necessary to improve your home, as well as a fresh coat of neutral paint in areas that are looking worn.

Update: Some buyers today are looking for a house that will require no work when moving in.  Many sellers have begun updating bathrooms and kitchens to make the house a bit more modern.  Adding a nice patio or redoing the landscape can also help impress a buyer.

Be patient in selling your home.  Taking the extra time to make your house presentable will help you sell it in the long run.

Tips for Selling a Home

In this world of uncertainty in the real estate market, it has become difficult for many homeowners to sell their homes.  For those in the Miami area, it often makes things easier to have the help of one the great Miami realtors.  Many people that own Miami Beach real estate have found that Miami realtors can make the process go much more smoothly.  Below is a list of things homeowners can do to make their home a little more attractive to buyers.

Clean and clear out: One of the hardest things for potential homeowners to see past is a cluttered house.  It may be necessary to move some furniture or other items to a storage facility in order to make your home mess-free and looking good for potential buyers.  See that the house is tidy and things like carpeting and windows are clean.

Repair: Be sure those minor repairs are taken care of.  Replacing damaged flooring and electrical or plumbing problems will be necessary to improve your home, as well as a fresh coat of neutral paint in areas that are looking worn.

Update: Some buyers today are looking for a house that will require no work when moving in.  Many sellers have begun updating bathrooms and kitchens to make the house a bit more modern.  Adding a nice patio or redoing the landscape can also help impress a buyer.

Be patient in selling your home.  Taking the extra time to make your house presentable will help you sell it in the long run.

The Miami Beach Real Estate Market

One of the biggest topics in our country today is that of the housing market. Everyone is concerned about where real estate values are heading, and countless homes have ended up in foreclosure because of the skyrocketing interest rates. Now the government has stepped in, and there is much controversy about what is the best solution to this situation.

However, there are some areas where the buying and selling of homes has picked up, and one of those areas is Miami Beach. These days, there are many people looking to sell, and with a motivated seller comes lower prices. You can’t go wrong with Miami Beach real estate, with the beautiful climate, and the view of the ocean, and a culturally hip night life. Miami Beach real estate is as hot as the weather.

If it’s not Miami homes you’re looking for, there is still good news for you. Builders are still building condos in the area, and there are many different ones to choose from.  Luxury condos are selling fast, despite the slow market in other areas of the country.  With so many things drawing buyers in, Miami realtors are optimistic about the Miami Beach market.  This also means that, while sellers are willing to sell at a very reasonable price, home values have not dropped to alarming rates, as with the rest of the country, and they are not expected to in Miami Beach.

Botanical Garden an Asset to the City

People living in Miami homes may not even know the place exists, but there is an area of South Beach real estate that is a quiet oasis in the middle of the busy nightlife district.  The Miami Beach Botanical Garden is a block away from Lincoln Road, across from the Miami Beach Convention Center.  Visitors to the garden can experience orchids, bromeliads, a Japanese garden, and subtropical palms.  In addition to the plants, the Botanical Garden also features cultural performances, gardening classes, and a conservatory, and general admission to the garden is free.

Once a year the Miami Beach Garden Club hosts Taste of the Garden, which is a chance for guests to experience food, wine, and plants.  Chefs prepare excellent food for visitors, who are left to marvel at the beauty of the Botanical Garden.

The Garden is an inspiring setting for one to become familiar with plant life that is indigenous to Miami Beach.   The tropical climate of southern Florida allows many fruit trees and plants to grow, many of which are on display for all to see at the Botanical Garden.

A growing trend with homeowners is to beautify their property with local plants and trees.  Being able to see the plants growing in a beautiful environment is one way for residents to visualize their own landscape with the plants.  Places like the Botanical Garden are a great place to start.  Owners of Miami homes can gather much information about what will grow at their own Miami Beach real estate from spending time at the Garden.

South Beach Diet

Surely everyone has heard of the South Beach Diet.  In fact, many people have tried it and had success with their weight loss.  The diet was named for the city where its creator practices medicine.  Arthur Agatston, MD is the director of the Mount Sinai Cardiac Prevention Center in Miami Beach, Florida.  The idea for the diet began in the 1980’s when Agatston saw patients that tried low-fat diets to reduce cholesterol and prevent heart disease, but he saw that many people had a hard time sticking to the diet.  After investigating the blood sugar cycle further, Agatston was able to come up with his South Beach Diet, which limits sugar-rich carbohydrates and encourages portion control and healthy eating.

No doubt people living in South Beach and Miami homes were the first to try out their doctor’s diet.  But soon Dr. Agatston’s book become popular and the diet became a sensation.  From Hollywood stars living in multi-million dollar Miami Beach real estate, to housewives in the Midwest, this diet has been tried and tested by many.

One of the reasons for its popularity is that the dieter does not have to go hungry.  In fact, snacking is encouraged for healthy eating, and while some foods are off limits for the first two weeks, eventually the dieter can eat at least small amounts of nearly everything.

Based on its popularity as well as its credentials among physicians, this diet may be a healthy way for people to control their eating habits.

Miami Beach Celebrates the Inauguration

The inauguration of President Barack Obama this year brought attention and anticipation to many people in our country, and students and those living in Miami homes felt the excitement too.  Long time Miami Beach real estate owners, as well as newcomers to the city found their own ways to celebrate.  Miami Beach, being so culturally diverse, even saw many people that are new to our country that participated in observations of the big day.

North Miami Beach High School

North Miami Beach Senior High School students organized and carried out a big inaugural ball, complete with fancy dresses, suits and ties, and formal dancing.  Students watched the inauguration live on TV, and then held their own ball at their school.  Some students dressed up as the President, the First Lady, and other famous guests that were in attendance at the actual event.  Teachers at the high school were glad to see the students so excited for an American tradition, as well as to see history in the making.

Gloria Couture

An owner of Miami Beach real estate also celebrated the inauguration for special reasons.  Gloria Petri, owner of Gloria Couture in Bay Harbor Islands, is a custom dressmaker.  She was commissioned to create 16 ball gowns for guests of the inauguration.  Customers of hers liked her style and the fact that she could create a one of a kind gown for the big event.  Petri was able to help make the night special for those wanting to observe the new President come to office.

Gloria Estefan Making a Name in Miami

It seems as if a new couple has made their way into the culinary world, and people are really beginning to take notice. Emilio and Gloria Estefan are well-known for their producing and Latin pop music, but recently they have also made a name for themselves in the cooking world.

 

The Estefans own successful restaurants in Miami and Orlando, and they also own Miami Beach real estate, including a mansion and a hotel.

 

They recently compiled over 60 of their traditional Cuban recipes into a book, called “Estefan Kitchen”. The couple came up with the idea for the recipe book when they began getting many questions at their restaurants about how they make various dishes.

 

Gloria’s family fled Cuba when she was young, and the family had humble beginnings as they settled in Miami. But the family also has a rich history in food preparation, and Gloria and Emilio are doing their part to spread knowledge of their culture to others. Gloria’s great-grandfather was the private chef for two Cuban presidents and it seems he passed his love for cooking on to his family. Gloria’s grandmother, after arriving in America, rented one of the Miami homes that was next to a park, and cooked and sold her food to Little League families that frequented the park. Her grandmother’s determined start in America is what gave Gloria the passion to open her own restaurant and to write this book.

 

This cookbook is sure to be a crowd-pleaser, with family stories and pictures that connect the reader with the Estefan family.

Miami Beach Celebrates the New Year

New Year’s Eve in Miami Beach, what could be more elegant? Some of the top celebrities have spent their New Year’s Eves in Miami Beach, either as performers at local celebrations, or as attendees to chic parties. However, with all the talk of the economy being poor this year, some analysts were worried that celebrations in Miami Beach would be cut short, or not well attended. As of a few days before the new year, there were still good tickets available to see Lindsay Lohan and also singer John Legend in the Miami Beach area. Normally these tickets, which can be rather pricey, would sell quickly to both Miami Beach real estate owners and visitors to the area. Many would jump at the chance to attend a party hosted by a celebrity.

 

But this year was shaping up to be different. Many Americans have begun to tighten up their finances in order to stay afloat, and those with connections to Miami Beach are no different. Some are saving up to buy that perfect South Beach real estate property, or to take a great Florida vacation, and frivolous spending isn’t always trendy anymore.

 

It turned out that people still had a good time welcoming in the New Year in Miami Beach. The parties still went on, and even if attendance was down at some events, many people still celebrated by hosting parties inside their own Miami homes.

Miami Beach Dog Parks

Dog lovers are almost always looking for areas to take their pet to run and play outside. For those living in Miami homes, the task has not always been easy. For a long time there was a “no dogs anywhere” mentality in the Miami area, but that has changed in recent years. A few dog-friendly parks have opened in the last decade, including two dog parks that were sponsored by Purina. Blanche Park and Kennedy Park both have areas for dogs to run, as well as water fountains and dog pickup bag dispensers.

Moving away from Miami itself, owners of Miami Beach real estate have pushed for places to let their dogs run off leash, and now there are a few locations that allow it. Flamingo Park has lots of green space, including two adjacent fenced in dog areas. Close to many other activities at Flamingo Park, dog owners can run their pets close to other activities, such as the handball courts. Flaming Park has lots more to offer, namely a swimming pool, climbing wall, and ball fields. Also close to some great Miami Beach real estate, Flamingo Park is in a great location.

Pine Tree Park in Miami Beach also has a fenced in dog area. This Bark Park permits off-leash dog fun. With running water and a location close to Miami Beach real estate, primarily condominiums, residents have even more options for nearby places to take their dogs.