In this classic private estate setting by the sea, timeless old world amenities include state-of-the-art security, private pools for each building and town home, a tennis center and a 21 slip marina. At the heart of Porto Vita stands the lavish Villa Grande Club, inspired by classic Italian renaissance architecture. The Villa Grande’s graceful, timeless design is accented by polished, imported marble, rich Italian walnut authentic antiques, transforming its sun-baked stucco walls and barrel tile roof into a sanctum of supreme privlege. This 35,000 square foot Villa Grande Club is the most exclusive club of it’s kind in the world, reflecting the stature and good taste of every Porto Vita homeowner. Villa Grande’s luxury and gracious amenities are owned by its resident members, preserving for all time the standards of excellence that have earned Porto Vita acclaim as The Ultimate Limited Edition Lifestyle. Residents can enjoy rejuvinating massages, facials and an array of indulgent personal services, fitness classes including aerobics and spinning and state-of-the-art cybex weight equipment. Ornate men’s and women’s saunas, steam rooms, whirlpool grottoes accented by Italian tiles and adorned with delicate frescos, and social rooms invite members to linger in their private paradise. Those who choose outdoors are welcomed into a superb tennis complex, or may simply relax poolside, serenaded by the sounds of lightly cascading water from a charming, Atlantean fountain. Don’t miss the opportunity to live in this world apart from the oridinary. Make this townhome your home. Knowledge…..Professionalism….Dedication…Making your real estate dreams into a reality…one by one.For more information on this property and to preview current properties on the market in Porto Vita call Victoria Martin at 305-766-8447. Victoria has an impressive portfolio of luxury properties serving the needs of the most distinguished clientèle.

How will you order garbage cans? Get your electricity or water turned on? Get a drivers’ license? Register to vote? Here are a handful of: ESSENTIAL PHONE NUMBERS & WEBSITES FOR MOVING INTO YOUR NEW HOME

Florida Power & Light (Electric) 305.442.8770

www.fpl.com/customer/moving.shtml

Miami Dade Water & Sewer 305.665.7488

www.miamidade.gov/wasd/bill_app/start_service.asp

Solid Waste Management (Garbage) 305.584.1500

www.miamidade.gov/wastepickup

City Gas Company of
Florida 305.251.1011

http://www.miami.citysearch.com/profile/43440092/miami_fl/city?gas_of_fla.html

Adelphia Cable Television 1.888.683.1000

www.adelphia.com

Miami Dade Gov’t- (driver’s license, voting, etc.)

www.miamidade.gov

Palmetto
Bay Police 305.476.5423

www.palmettobay-fl.gov/police.html

Coral Gables Police 305.442.1600

www.coralgables.com/CGWeb/police.html

Pinecrest Police 305.234.2100

www.pinecrest-fl.gov/police.html

South Florida warmly welcomes people from all over the globe on a daily basis. Sometimes the tiniest details make a big difference. Feel free to call me regarding moving to, from, or within Florida…. or elsewhere – domestic or international. Vicki Restivo (305) 793-1365 restivo.v@ewm.com

SATURDAY 12/29 • Miami’s Junior Orange Bowl Parade:

SUNDAY 12/30 • Celebrity is a dubious title in some settings, none more original than the King Mango Strut–poking fun at all the craziness that is life here in paradise. This year’s parade will be hosted by the Chongalicious Girls! Not since Joey Buttafuoco was scheduled to introduce Andrew “Dice” Clay concert in Madison Square Gardens has anything seemed a more perfect match!
Be there at 2:00 p.m., December 30th at Commodore Plaza in the Grove. Bring your Sharpie!

MONDAY 12/31 • FIREWORKS! If you plan to watch some fireworks this New Year’s Eve, the popular vote for the biggest and best fireworks display is downtown Miami’s Bayfront Park. And best of all, it’s free. They also do the Big Orange ball drop like Times Square.

The Miami Herald has a comprehensive list of New Year’s Eve events if you are still wondering what there is to do here in paradise. What isn’t there?! It’s a who’s who of celebrities around town:

Kim Kardashian at Mansion,
Mansion: Kim Kardashian hosts with music by DJs Colleen Shannon and Ted the Dillinger; 9 p.m. Dec. 31; Mansion, 1235 Washington Ave., Miami Beach; $200. 305-531-5535.
Carmen Electra at (Parrot) Jungle Island (and Zo and Dwayne Wade),
Royale Ball: Carmen Electra and Alonzo Mourning host the event with dinner, aerial acts and music by a DJ. A portion of proceeds benefits several charities, including the Alonzo Mourning Foundation; 7:30 p.m. Dec. 31; Jungle Island, 1111 Parrot Jungle Tr., Watson Island; $500 for general admission, $1,000 for VIP. 786-251-1892.
Shannon Elizabeth at the Sagamore or the Catalina?
Sagamore: Actress Shannon Elizabeth hosts with music by DJs Vanjee, Ari Quinn, Schuller and Tommy Ryk; 9 p.m. Dec. 31; Sagamore, 1671 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; $200 which includes a one day pass to the Miami Metrozoo. Table packages start at $350. 305-993-1008.
Happy Zoo Year: Models Joanna Krupa and May Anderson and Shannon Elizabeth host the event which benefits the Zoological Society of Florida and features music by DJ Irie; 8 p.m. dinner, 9 p.m. cocktail party Dec. 30; Catalina Hotel, 1720 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; $300 for dinner, $175 for the cocktail party. 305-255-5551.

MONDAY 12/31 • COMEDY . . .
Laugh in the New Year with Lewis Black .
Fans of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart will recognize Lewis Black from his hilarious rants on the “Back in Black” segments. (Check out the “pantheon of nothingness” for a taste of Black’s cutting commentary.)
Read the Miami Herald interview for more of Black’s entertaining views.
9:00 p.m. at The Fillmore (Jackie Gleason Theater)
1700 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach.
Ticketmaster Cost: $58.50-$87.50

. . . Or see Gary Owen at the Miami Improv. So funny he’s the only white guy ever to host BET’s Comic View. The ticket price for the evening includes an hors d’oeuvres platter with baked brie, lamb chops, shrimp cocktail, filet mignon kabobs, fruit, and cheeses, and a champagne toast at midnight.
3390 Mary Street (ground floor of the Mayfair), Coconut Grove
Show starts at 10:00 p.m. Tickets are $57.50 per person.
For more information call 305-441-8200.

Broken Promises

A lawsuit is in the works against Bankrate, after hundreds of consumers complained about lenders who failed to deliver the rates and terms they promised on the website. In fact, one lender actually told a Bankrate employee that a consumer would need a “direct pipeline to God” in order to qualify for the rates and terms they advertise on the site. Why would a lender post rates and terms they are unwilling or unable to honor? To lure in consumers who truly want to believe that they are getting an interest rate or cost package that is significantly lower than all the competition. And by the time the consumer finds out they are not getting the package they were promised they are already emotionally and financial involved in the transaction and typically don’t have a choice but to go-ahead and close. Federal legislation is currently being considered to ban this type of misleading advertising.

So are there any reputable lenders on Bankrate? Yes, of course. And some of those lenders were the ones who prompted the lawsuit in the first place. As they were posting real interest rates and terms they could actually honor, they could see that consumers would instead be contacting the less-reputable lenders who were posting completely unrealistic rate and cost offers. And the consumer might not find out the difference until it was too late. Mortgage lenders get their money from essentially the same places – so anytime there is a very large difference between quotes on identical programs, it pays to ask some questions.

Do It Yourself

Bottom line – the Internet at large can be a great place to gain basic trends and information about a home loan, but the Bankrate lawsuit illustrates the need to work with a Trusted Advisor. For the most part Internet lenders are “do it yourself” mortgage providers so you have a small chance of getting what you are promised and saving a few bucks but a much larger chance of not getting what you need which can cost you thousands.

Most importantly, remember that the absolute lowest rate and terms on the WRONG financial strategy or loan program for your life will prove to be far more costly than a competitive rate package on the RIGHT strategy, which correctly fits your financial goals and needs.

Terms You Can Bank On

As I am writing this article the turmoil in Pakistan has created a flight to quality pushing bond prices higher and conforming 30 year fixed rates down to 6% assuming no points or origination fees. If you are working with an Internet lender that is quoting something significantly different beware!

. . . Or see Gary Owen at the Miami Improv. So funny he’s the only white guy ever to host BET’s Comic View. The ticket price for the evening includes an hors d’oeuvres platter with baked brie, lamb chops, shrimp cocktail, filet mignon kabobs, fruit, and cheeses, and a champagne toast at midnight.
3390 Mary Street (ground floor of the Mayfair), Coconut Grove
Show starts at 10:00 p.m. Tickets are $57.50 per person.
For more information call 305-441-8200.

Click Here For The Phone Menu Cheat List For Hundreds Of Companies!!!!!!!!

BUGGING OUT?
Afraid of insects? How about if you increase them from 40 to 600 times life size? Relax, they’re robotic! Get some perspective for the new year when you check out “ROBOBugs” an exciting exhibit at the Museum of Science and Discovery in Fort Lauderdale being offered through January 6th. Sponsored by Truly Nolen this exhibit offers kids a fun-”Honey-I-Shrunk-The-Kids” feeling. Check out the 22-foot-long preying mantis!
The pairing of Truly Nolen with this exhibit brings to mind this bumper sticker:

A SCRIPT FOR SUCCESS
And the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay goes to . . .
Fancy yourself a scriptwriter? Apply to Scriptapalooza’s 10th-Annual Screenwriting Competition. To enter by the early bird deadline, January 7th, you must give $40, your genre, title, and a 1-3 sentence summary aka “logline”. The regular deadline is March 5th ($45), and the final deadline is April 15th ($50). So get busy and fine tune your masterpiece. Your script will reviewed by 80 Hollywood production companies, including representatives from Disney, Miramax, and Big Light. First place wins $10,000. There will be a 2nd and 3rd place chosen, as well as 10 Runners Up. All will receive scriptwriting software. What are you waiting for? Get busy now if you’re not ready and enter next year!

Having credit checked is an important and necessary step in the home buying or refinancing process. As a matter of fact you can not get an accurate good faith estimate without having your credit pulled, but very few people realize that each time their credit is checked, the “inquiry data” that the credit bureaus (Equifax, TransUnion, Innovis or Experian) have on file have now become a commodity. This information is being sold by the credit bureaus to other lenders…and also to companies that sell and resell the same names and personal information.

These “inquiry leads or trigger leads” include name, address, phone numbers (including unlisted), credit score, current debt and debt history, property information, age, gender and estimated income. They are marketing personal, confidential information to anyone who will pay their fee…and making millions. Your privacy is being sold, not just once, but over and over again. And lenders that purchase these leads at a premium will then do everything they can to recoup their investment and turn a hefty profit. Super sneaky bait and switch tactics are being used to lure clients away from their reputable lender. Clients have even been called by telemarketers representing disreputable lenders and told that the lender they had been speaking to previously “passed on” the information to them, because they knew that they’d be able to offer much better interest rates and terms….of course they can’t deliver better rates and terms and in the end they don’t!

Stop Them In Their Tracks!

The consumer credit reporting industry has provided two ways to “opt out” and remove your name from these lists. You can contact them by phone at 1-888-567-8688 or online at www.optoutprescreen.com. You must opt out at least 48 hours prior to having your credit checked to make sure it is processed in time. You can choose a five year or lifetime option, and the lifetime option does require a signed form. If a credit report needs to be run prior to the 48 hour waiting period – at least you are aware and informed, and can be on the lookout for suspicious phone calls or mailers from someone who has purchased your data.

The good news is by opting-out you can make it stop right away and protect yourself from “pre-approved credit offers” arriving via mail, which is one of the leading causes of identity theft in the US.

With any luck 2008 should see Federal legislation banning these types of misleading and aggressive marketing tactics and should eliminate some of the more dishonest players in the mortgage industry.

Take your privacy back. Take five minutes right now – opt out, and take control of your name and personal information.

Does anybody have an update as to when this may happen? See my High Pines/Ponce Davis listings below. Now is the time to get into these areas before annexation occurs….

Check out whats for sale in High Pines/Ponce Davis