EWM Realtors » Ines Garcia http://blog.ewm.com Public Blog Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:54:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 Sales and Pending Sales Up…Inventory Down http://blog.ewm.com/2009/08/28/sales-and-pending-sales-up%e2%80%a6inventory-down/ http://blog.ewm.com/2009/08/28/sales-and-pending-sales-up%e2%80%a6inventory-down/#comments Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:15:14 +0000 Ines Garcia http://blog.ewm.com/?p=24619 The numbers tell the story…. Broward and Miami-Dade residential inventories continued to decline during July, according to data from the Multiple Listing Service (MLS).  Inventories dropped from 74,966 total homes and for sale in July 2008, to 49,058 in July 2009, a 35% decrease in just 12 months. During the same time-frame, sales increased 47% from an average of 2,518 sales per month, to 3,707 sales per month.

Click here to see entire article by Ron Shuffield.

South Florida Residential Market Update August 2009

]]> http://blog.ewm.com/2009/08/28/sales-and-pending-sales-up%e2%80%a6inventory-down/feed/ 0 PIC-A Creative Chocolate and Art Cafe http://mywestonblog.com/2009/02/20/pic-a-creative-chocolate-and-art-cafe/ http://mywestonblog.com/2009/02/20/pic-a-creative-chocolate-and-art-cafe/#comments Fri, 20 Feb 2009 11:50:57 +0000 Ines Garcia http://mywestonblog.com/2009/02/20/pic-a-creative-chocolate-and-art-cafe/ picture-13

Sweet Creativity!

It is so nice to run across a nice and unique place… While driving by everytime I saw the sign I got curious but didn’t have a chance to stop until yesterday. Luckily it was lunch time and I decided to “explore” the new place on SW 136th Ave in Davie. Just steps a few steps actually but very close from IKEA, South of I-595.

It’s a place hard to describe, it is one of those you need to “experience”. It’s a Cafe where you can find some light goodies such as salads, wraps, sandwiches, pizzas and where you can create your own smoothie, chocolate and ice cream. You can also design your own box of chocolate! When I say design I mean it!!! You can  craft and decorate your own box, perfect for that one-of a-kind gift.

A warm atmosphere where anytime you turn your head you find something you didn’t see before. That’s the kind of place I love…

Patti told me that tomorrow Saturday Feb. 21st at 7:00 PM there will be a saxophonist and that soon they should be able to offer light spirits.

Kuddos to Patti and Rick Cortez for creating such a great place so close to home.

PIC A Creative Chocolate and Art Cafe
351 SW 136th Ave #103. Davie, FL 33325
954.370.3343
www.iluvpic.com
makeitspec@aol.com

]]> http://mywestonblog.com/2009/02/20/pic-a-creative-chocolate-and-art-cafe/feed/ 0 Vista Park-Weston FL http://mywestonblog.com/2009/02/17/vista-park-weston-fl/ http://mywestonblog.com/2009/02/17/vista-park-weston-fl/#comments Tue, 17 Feb 2009 20:37:20 +0000 Ines Garcia http://mywestonblog.com/2009/02/17/vista-park-weston-fl/ [Gallery not found]

No Sun-Block needed in the playground! Well bring it anyway …. I can’t contradict your Doctor’s instructions!!!

Vista Park is Located at 18800 Vista Park Blvd next to Cypress Bay High School. It is open every day from 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM. It is a 30 acre Community Park with 4 Baseball/Softball fields, 4 Football/Soccer fields, Concession/Restroom Building and a shaded playground area.

Relax and enjoy a quiet park. Having the opportunity to let the kids play protected will give you the freedom to take them to the park at anytime. The groungs are manicure perfect as every green area in Weston.

]]> http://mywestonblog.com/2009/02/17/vista-park-weston-fl/feed/ 0 The Real Estate Market Bottom-Are We There Yet? http://mywestonblog.com/2009/01/06/the-real-estate-market-bottom-are-we-there-yet/ http://mywestonblog.com/2009/01/06/the-real-estate-market-bottom-are-we-there-yet/#comments Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:38:18 +0000 Ines Garcia http://mywestonblog.com/2009/01/06/the-real-estate-market-bottom-are-we-there-yet/ What's ahead?

What's ahead?

I wish I could answer …we are just 2 hours away honey!!! But that’s not the case when I am asked about the real estate bottom.

We are all affected by the current real estate crisis…

A synergy (for the bad) of events caused it; a few measures from all parties affected have been taken and there is a lot of uncertainty in the near future. Every industry goes through good and bad times and you all know which one we are facing now. The good news is that sooner or later it has to end.

After the dot.com crisis investors were looking for alternatives…

And it funneled a lot of cash into Real Estate. It seemed to be a “secured asset”. Land, bricks and mortar were much more tangible than stocks and sexier than bonds. Money was available, return on investment was very attractive and it started a party of speculation where many people had too much alcohol and got short sighted. Most Banks and investors lend money to anyone willing to get a mortgage. Some Appraisers played with prices. Many buyers, real estate agents and mortgage brokers got dizzy and gambled on real estate as the forever winning slot machine.

We all suspected what was going on…

How many forged loan applications were dancing as the band played. How many people cheated on basic personal finance principles? How many promises of eternal love and richness were told and believed? Everyone was doing it so it must have been right…..But as every party, even the best, ends one day…. and we are supposed to leave with good or bad memories depending on how we decided to enjoy it. That was not the case in this one. When the party was over a caravan of cars left the place with drunk drivers in front of the wheel. The sad part is that even if we just drank water …. all got involved in the accident caused by drivers under influence. The crash left behind blood and tears.

The good news is that the market in South Florida is showing some interesting signs

Inventories have decreased: Miami-Dade County in 6.1%  and Broward County in 13.8%

Closed Sales have increased: Miami-Dade County in 40.6% and Broward County in 48.3%

Pending Sales have increased: Miami-Dade County in 75.5% and Broward County in 51.6%

What is really going on?

We all wonder….Should I sell now? Should I buy now?
Even though I don’t like attorney’s answers and I prefer the ones in black and white I would respond…..It depends!
If you plan to stay in your home for a few years and you can find a fair deal…it’s your time to buy. Most of us stay in our houses even knowing prices might still go down because our roof is our home and not a short term money machine.
If you need to sell in the near future ….you better sell now; at the best price you can realistically get (not what you want or need). If you are upside down I would advice you to talk to an attorney, an accountant and an honest Real Estate Agent to help you fully understand the potential consequences of a short sale.

Getting to our destination will take a trip on an uncertain and bumpy path with many unforeseen events. Even thou it may not be that easy since there is too much debris on the road; when we get there we will look back and be happy for all we learned from it.

]]> http://mywestonblog.com/2009/01/06/the-real-estate-market-bottom-are-we-there-yet/feed/ 0 Luncheon to Benefit Susan B. Anthony Recovery Center at EWM SW Broward http://blog.ewm.com/2008/11/17/luncheon-to-benefit-susan-b-anthony-recovery-center-at-ewm-sw-broward/ http://blog.ewm.com/2008/11/17/luncheon-to-benefit-susan-b-anthony-recovery-center-at-ewm-sw-broward/#comments Mon, 17 Nov 2008 19:48:14 +0000 Ines Garcia http://blog.ewm.com/?p=13007 Great Food and lots of smiles!

Last Friday Mappy Salcedo with the help of many associates put together a Luncheon at our office. Everyone brought something to be given to the families at Susan B Anthony Recovery Center… Diapers, toiletries, money!

Sixty women along with their children live in the Center while going to their detox process and learning skills to take control of their life after they. Having the possibility to keep their children is one of things that makes this program so unique.

Collecting gifts for them will be our project on the holidays!

]]> http://blog.ewm.com/2008/11/17/luncheon-to-benefit-susan-b-anthony-recovery-center-at-ewm-sw-broward/feed/ 0 Mortgage Rate Resets by Credit Suisse-The Shift from Subprime to Option Adjustable Rate http://blog.ewm.com/2008/11/13/mortgage-rate-resets-by-credit-suisse-the-shift-from-subprime-to-option-adjustable-rate/ http://blog.ewm.com/2008/11/13/mortgage-rate-resets-by-credit-suisse-the-shift-from-subprime-to-option-adjustable-rate/#comments Fri, 14 Nov 2008 01:10:08 +0000 Ines Garcia http://blog.ewm.com/?p=12634 Mortgage Rate Rests

Mortgage Rate Resets

I run across this graph that Credit Suisse published last year. The era of huge volumes of sub primes resets is almost over and 2009 looks like a year of transition between a high volume of sub prime mortgages resets and a very high volume of Option Adjustable Rate Mortgages Resets that will take place on 2010 and 2011.

With the announcement by Citigroup that they will offer a moratorium on foreclosures, which will probably be followed by other lenders, I leave to the finances experts to comment on the impact it might have in the Real Estate Market.

]]> http://blog.ewm.com/2008/11/13/mortgage-rate-resets-by-credit-suisse-the-shift-from-subprime-to-option-adjustable-rate/feed/ 3 A Trip to Japan for $ 10 -What a Deal! http://blog.ewm.com/2008/05/16/a-trip-to-japan-for-10-what-a-deal/ http://blog.ewm.com/2008/05/16/a-trip-to-japan-for-10-what-a-deal/#comments Fri, 16 May 2008 19:36:31 +0000 Ines Garcia http://blog.ewm.com/2008/05/16/a-trip-to-japan-for-10-what-a-deal/ If you have never been at the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens you are missing a great day out! It is located a few miles north of Miami, in Delray Beach, FL. An array of programs, activities and exhibitions will keep you busy for a few hours and wanting to come back. You can spend a whole day there and have lunch at their Cafe that overlooks the gardens. Ikebana , Bonsai, Sumi-e Ink Painting, Japanese Nihongo Language, Photography….are just a few of the classes offered. A beutiful store filled with surprises for every budget and tea pot you can imagine.

I participated in a Tea Ceremony Class and I can tell you it was amazing. You have to learn to move in a certain way and be aware of so many details that you forget about the rest of the world. If that is not a Zen moment I can’t imagine one!

There are facilities that can be rented for special events such as wedding parties, concerts or business meetings.

You will fall in love with it and will enjoy Japan for just a few bucks!

]]> http://blog.ewm.com/2008/05/16/a-trip-to-japan-for-10-what-a-deal/feed/ 2 Happy Mother’s Day! Enjoy This Video http://blog.ewm.com/2008/05/09/happy-mothers-day-enjoy-this-video/ http://blog.ewm.com/2008/05/09/happy-mothers-day-enjoy-this-video/#comments Sat, 10 May 2008 00:44:51 +0000 Ines Garcia http://blog.ewm.com/2008/05/09/happy-mothers-day-enjoy-this-video/ I think we are all alike !!!Click here to view the embedded video.

]]> http://blog.ewm.com/2008/05/09/happy-mothers-day-enjoy-this-video/feed/ 0 USA and Spain more than the S in common (and it’s not the A) http://blog.ewm.com/2008/04/12/usa-and-spain-more-than-the-s-in-common-and-it%e2%80%99s-not-the-a/ http://blog.ewm.com/2008/04/12/usa-and-spain-more-than-the-s-in-common-and-it%e2%80%99s-not-the-a/#comments Sun, 13 Apr 2008 03:39:06 +0000 Ines Garcia http://blog.ewm.com/2008/04/12/usa-and-spain-more-than-the-s-in-common-and-it%e2%80%99s-not-the-a/ Even though we speak different languages and an ocean separates us we have a lot in common. You have probably read about it… Spain is mirroring our sub prime mortgage crisis (named differently of course). Low lending standards, 100+ financing, rapid price increases and over supply. Banks are getting tighter and asking for higher down payments. Does this sound familiar?
At the largest Real Estate event, SIMA, many, if not all, of the developers and local financial institutions were there . Developers were aggressively discounting prices. I didn’t have the opportunity to see it first hand but the comments were that prices were discounted quite a bit.
This week the International Monetary Fund (IMF) projected that properties in Spain are over-valuated and a 20% price drop can be expected.
What will happen in the emerging markets where investors are turning their heads to? Will the banks make the same mistakes they made in USA and Spain? There is a saying that no one learns from other’s experiences…let’s see!

]]> http://blog.ewm.com/2008/04/12/usa-and-spain-more-than-the-s-in-common-and-it%e2%80%99s-not-the-a/feed/ 0 SIMA and Where the European Investors are Looking to Invest http://blog.ewm.com/2008/04/12/sima-and-where-the-european-investors-are-looking-to-invest/ http://blog.ewm.com/2008/04/12/sima-and-where-the-european-investors-are-looking-to-invest/#comments Sun, 13 Apr 2008 03:33:01 +0000 Ines Garcia http://blog.ewm.com/2008/04/12/sima-and-where-the-european-investors-are-looking-to-invest/ The European investors are looking mainly at the emerging markets to invest in Real Estate. East and Central Europe countries mainly Rumania, Poland, Hungary and Bulgary had a strong presence thru many residential developments. Bucarest displayed in almost 2,000 SF the future developments plans for the city.
South Florida had a weak presence and only a few stand features developments in our area. The good news are that in one of the Forums South Florida was compared to emerging markets and the outcome looked pretty good. The risks of the potential loss in value can be compensated with the constant increase in Florida’s population and the stability of the country. Yes!!!!!!!! stability despite all the challenges we are facing. USA is an investor friendly country. There are some markets pe India that could be very interesting for investors but the retrictions for foreigners to purchase property makes it impossible.
Some of the other countries with a strong presence: Spain with tens of projects, Panama and Mexico with governmental entities promoting the country, Dominican Republic, Brazil, Mexico, Costa Rica, Uruguay, Argentina…

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