The other important factor is the  real estate company(broker) with whom your real estate agent “hangs” his/her license…We are proud and happy to be with EWM the largest real estate brokerage company in Miami-Dade County and Broward County. Not only does EWM provide us with all the technologies we require, but it also is  financially strong which provides us with the assurance that our broker will not fail. In this day and age it is comforting to know that we are part of Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway group of companies.

October 7, 2009 EWM Relators has announced that seasoned real estate professional Reiner Perez has joined the company’s Aventura office.

Reiner Perez Joins EWM in Aventura

Perez brings to EWM more than a decade of industry experience in sales management, marketing, business development and corporate communications.  Perez, known for his energetic, creative approach to buying and selling real estate, has dedicated himself to exceeding customer expectations in a highly competitive industry. 

“This is the time and place to be at EWM,” said Perez.  “I look forward to working with a team that has earned such high regard in South Florida’s communities.  This kind of rapport, combined with the cutting edge tools and technology offered by EWM, will help me put the needs of my clients first, effectively and efficiently.”

Prior to this position, Perez was with Turnberry, Ltd. in Aventura where he played a key role in such notable projects as Turnberry on the Green, Fountanbleau II & III Condo Hotel on Miami Beach and Oceana V in Sunny Isles Beach.  Perez was recognized by Turnberry as the “Top Sales Executive of the Year” from 2002 to 2007.   He has had many other career highlights, including being presented the Builder’s Association of South Florida’s GOLD Award for Best Sales Associate of the Year in 2005.

“It’s an honor to welcome Reiner to the EWM family,” said Ron Shuffield, EWM President.  “He is an innovative professional — one who will build industry presence through superior marketing abilities and a highly diversified skill set.”

A native of Havana, Cuba, Perez has lived in Florida for more than 30 years.

For more information click on the property photo.

Pro Athletes & Entertainers

The JK Team at EWM Realtors continues to establish itself as South Florida’s leading provider of premium real estate services to the Professional Sports Players of the Miami Dolphins, Miami Heat, Florida Marlins, Florida Panthers and other various other teams/organizations.

With locations throughout South Florida, considered the sports and entertainment capital of the world, our team consists of both a a full service real estate brokerage firm and relocation company, whose focus is on assisting the Highest Profile Clients in their real estate transactions: These include buying, selling, and investing and range from first-time home buyers (rookies) to savvy luxury property investors, throughout the United States.

We understand the nature of the business and the game. We understand your need for privacy and confidentiality. And we understand the nuances, both contractual and legal to make sure that your interests are secured. If you are looking for an aggressive team of highly trained Realtors to make your real estate issues are HANDLED TO YOUR ABSOLUTE SATISFACTION, look no further. Please call us direct at 954-347-3799 or visit our site at www.Pro-Player-Relo.com, solely dedicated to professional athletes and their unique real estate needs.

www.JamesSanMartin.com

About Us

The JK Team at EWM Realtors continues to establish itself as South Florida’s leading provider of premium real estate services to the Professional Sports Players of the Miami Dolphins, Miami Heat, Florida Marlins, Florida Panthers and other various other teams/organizations.

With locations throughout South Florida, considered the sports and entertainment capital of the world, our team consists of both a a full service real estate brokerage firm and relocation company, whose focus is on assisting the Highest Profile Clients in their real estate transactions: These include buying, selling, and investing and range from first-time home buyers (rookies) to savvy luxury property investors, throughout the United States.

We understand the nature of the business and the game. we understand your need for privacy and confidentiality. And we understand the nuances, both contractual and legal to make sure that your interests are secured. If you are looking for an aggressive team of highly trained Realtors to make your real estate issues are HANDLED TO YOUR ABSOLUTE SATISFACTION, look no further. Please call us direct at 954-347-3799 or visit our site at www.Pro-Player-Relo.com, solely dedicated to professional athletes and their unique real estate needs.

Top agent Jo-Ann Forster joins EWM

By Yudislaidy Fernandez, Miami Today
 

August 12, 2009

Veteran Realtor Jo-Ann Forster and her eight-member team have left Coldwell Banker, where she was local top producer, to join Esslinger-Wooten-Maxwell Realtors looking for growth and change, she says.

It’s a jump from one of the market’s largest residential firms to the other.  With competition stiff among realty firms in a slower residential market, firm owners are seeking to lure new and seasoned sellers, industry leaders say. 

Looking for a reinvention like the “Madonna of real estate,” Ms. Forster said, she decided to join the forward-thinking, technology-driven business model of Esslinger-Wooten-Maxwell. 

“We always have to reinvent ourselves, especially in the world that we are today,” said Ms. Forster, who has spent three decades in real estate.

A leader in South Florida’s residential market, Ms. Forster was named Coldwell’s top producer in Miami-Dade since joining the company in 2003 and was the state’s overall top producer in 2007.

Ron Shuffield, president of Esslinger-Wooten-Maxwell, says he has worked with Ms. Forster for years, one by the side of the seller and the other by the buyer.

“Some people don’t think about how our industry is different. We have competitors but we are working together,” he said. “In the past 25 years, I’ve watched her work when we’ve done deals together and Jo-Ann has said, “If I ever leave, I am coming to you.’”

The staff at Esslinger is also excited about working with her on the same team, he added.  Esslinger-Wooten-Maxwell is a subsidiary of HomeServices of America Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate. HomeServices and Coldwell Banker rank among the largest residential realty firms nationally. 

Ms. Forster, who specializes in selling luxury real estate, has moved to Esslinger’s Coral Gables office at 550 S. Dixie Hwy. with her administrative and sales team of eight.

With the team approach the “new paradigm for top agents,” she said, Esslinger understood that she would make the move with her full staff.  She plans to continue using her Web site and name, Unique Homes of Miami, she said, and all of her home listings are being transferred from Coldwell Banker to Esslinger.

With headlines constantly reporting on the debt of companies, Mr. Shuffield says the financial strength of his company amidst the economic downturn is reassuring to his employees and consumers.

“What Jo-Ann looked at was the financial stability of our company and the quality of the products that we offer to tap into the technology and resources that can help her market her properties…,” he said.

Realogy Corp., parent of large national franchise Coldwell Banker and others such as Century 21 and ERA, reported a $259 million net loss for the first quarter, despite slashing $310 million in expenses and generating $101 million in commission income from new franchise sales. 

Ms. Forster says the company’s financial standing was not a reason for leaving.  Many companies in the world right now, from large to small, have been impacted by the economic crisis, she added.

“Coldwell has been around for 100 years and I am sure they’ll be around for another 100 years,” she said.

One reason Ms. Forster said she made the leap to Esslinger is because of the company’s interest in staying at the cutting edge of technology.

Mr. Shuffield says the company strives to have the latest technology and uses interactive tools to help associates reach more buyers.  For example, the company started blogging 18 months ago and is posting videos on Youtube.com to get industry professionals and customers to better understand market conditions and changes, he said. “It exposes our services to that many more people.”

Ms. Forster says she plans to continue playing the real estate game her way. “I am my own competitor… My goal is not about money or volume,” she said. “I do seminars for the board of realtors and I tell them “If you focus on money and volume, everything falls.’”

Attracting new talent and top sellers is a priority for residential firms in this tough market, where the fall of some companies is accelerating the process. 

Jeff Morr, chief executive officer and founder of Majestic Properties, an independent real estate firm in Miami, says with some “smaller brokers closing shop,” some former agents have returned to his company because of the opportunities and stability.

Mr. Morr said Majestic also offers resources that smaller companies can’t, such as top marketing tools to promote their listings.

Majestic has added four new agents in the past month and recently welcomed back two former agents.

“In the last three months, business has been good and consistent and we are expecting an incredible season coming up,” Mr. Morr added.

Mr. Shuffield says in recent months he’s also had a “surge of new and seasoned associates seeing what we are doing and wanting to join. It’s gratifying to see those within our industry recognize not only the quality of our company, but the quality of the people who are here.”

A short sale is when the proceeds from the sale of a home are less than the mortgage balance owed, and the lender agrees to discount that balance in order to achieve the sale.

There is a fee of $250 to the seller to cover out-of-pocket charges for the necessary title search, title examination and lien search.  The fee is non-refundable to the seller once these services are provided.

The Starter Kit is aimed at those individuals who know that their mortgage amount is higher than what their residence is worth and need to expedite the sales process in order to avoid foreclosure.

“As anyone who has dealt with short sales can tell you,” says Marisa Pia Capua, Esq., president of EWM Title, and the author of the Starter Kit, “the biggest challenge in this process is waiting to hear whether the financial institution has accepted the offer from the potential buyer or not. By utilizing the Starter Kit, a short sale seller can begin the complex process before their home is under contract, helping to speed up what are often maddening time frames.”

The Starter Kit includes sample forms and contact information to get the process started.  The helpful, knowledgeable staff at EWM Title will assist sellers by following up on the paperwork submissions to push things along so that when that offer comes along, a quick closing is sure to happen.

“Initial response to the Starter Kit has been phenomenal,” adds Ron Shuffield, president of EWM.  “With such a large percentage of residential sales now short sales, the Kit is an important resource for a seller who is facing these circumstances and needs to move the process along as rapidly as possible.”

With local roots that are almost 50 years old, EWM Title is one of Florida’s most recognized and reputable title companies.  EWM Title has been at the forefront of short sale activity, and has unmatched skills at providing answers and resolving issues quickly through this often-difficult process.

“We recognize that any homeowner engaged in a short sale is under great stress,” concludes Capua.  “At EWM Title, we provide the personal touch so often lost in this fast-paced market that can help them work through the process.”

For additional information or to access the ‘Short Sale Starter Kit’, please visit www.ewm.com/title, or contact Short Sale Expert Laura Coiner of EWM Title, at 305.960.2578.

Aventura Marketing Council

The Turnberry Isle Resort & Club.  Amid all the visting consuls and trade commissioners from all over the world, the Canadian consul, Mr. Claudio Ramirez, made a wonderful presentation about the close relationship between our Canada and the US.  As a Canadian export myself, and having so many of my clients coming from Canada, I can personally attest to the strength of that connection. There is no better trade partner and ally than our friends to the north.   And I am happy to say that EWM Realtors have had a longlasting relationship with Canada through our relo department.

March 5, 2009 – EWM Realtors today announced the launch of EWM Smart Living, an initiative focused on helping buyers easily access every available residence for sale in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties priced under $300,000.

EWM President Ron Shuffield said the growing number of lower-priced Miami-Dade and Broward listings – including new homes, re-sales and foreclosures – are now prominently placed within the EWM Smart Living section of EWM’s website, www.ewm.com.

“The growing inventory of single-family homes and condos in this price range in both counties, coupled with available FHA and  Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac financing loan limits of up to $423,750, has created  the perfect buyer’s market,” continues Shuffield. “For the past quarter, 75% of all Miami-Dade & Broward single-family homes and condos that have been sold have closed at prices less than $300,000… an amazing statistic.” (Watch EWM TV to see more of Ron’s interview about Smart Living: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrhAOxCfTvw.)

Homes and condos priced under $100,000 provide an even more dramatic graph: over 11,000 properties available today representing 17% of the total home inventory vs. fewer than 400 available in mid-2005. Through its proprietary Facts & Trends platform, a recent EWM analysis of Multiple Listing Service (MLS) data indicates that more than 45,000 South Florida single-family homes and condos are priced less than $300,000.

“That represents 65% of the total number of homes and condos actively for sale in the Miami-Dade / Broward market,” adds Shuffield, “and a real improvement in affordability over the past year.”  All 45,000 of these available properties can be viewed on EWM’s website.

In the Miami-Dade market, there were 7,936 single-family homes listed for sale at $300,000 or less at year-end – approximately 52% of the county’s total single-family for-sale inventory.

For comparison, there were just 516 homes in that price category on April 30, 2005 – the height of the recent boom market.  That’s 516 vs. 7,936 today, a total shift from the sellers’ market of the mid 2000’s, to today’s buyers’ market.

The county’s condominium market shows a similar pattern: 14,749 units, or 63% of all listings, were priced at $300,000 or less at the end of 2008.
At year-end in Broward County, there were 7,498 single-family homes, 54% of total inventory, priced at $300,000 or below. There were also 16,854 condominium units in that price range, about 80% of total inventory.

“Affordability in South Florida has increased exponentially in the past year,” Shuffield added.  “That’s really the most compelling piece of good news for this market – our newfound level of affordability with the price corrections.  Prices have dropped significantly and mortgage rates are at the lowest point most of us have seen during our lifetimes.”

For instance, rates on FHA loans are now about 5% on a 30-year, fixed-rate loan and down payments are as low as 3.5%.

Shuffield continued, “Clearly, the South Florida market is becoming more affordable and there will be more savings for working professionals and other moderate-income buyers who purchase prior to December 1, 2009.  Qualified primary home buyers who have not owned a home within the past 3 years, and who close before December 1, 2009, will be eligible to receive an $8,000 tax credit, as part of the Federal Housing Stimulus Package.  South Florida is more affordable today than it has been in several years.”

While South Florida has seen significant price corrections over these past 3 years, data organized  through the Facts & Trends reports reveals that a median-priced single-family home purchased in Miami-Dade today still has a value greater than its value in January, 2002.

“While our prices have clearly realized significant adjustments over these last three years, those taking the long-term view of real estate will still find it to be a viable investment, plus, home ownership has other intangible values that cannot be overstated,” adds Shuffield.

EWM Smart Living homes can be accessed through www.ewm.com.

Captain Jim is accompanied off the field by top scorer Erik El-Masry

Jim Haas took one for the team when he fell running to first base early in the game, but he wiped his bloody elbows and hands and continued playing!

Our ‘blue’ opponents had nabbed the shady-side dugout and were in self-imposed exile as EWM had all the food and drinks, cheering agents, dogs, kids, wives, husbands, boyfriends, girlfriends, and interested spectators on our side! We were obviously a better team, but having all that energy made every run to base and home run a cheering, spirited EVENT! We were only disappointed that they were able to make that one point, but we are generous and will get over it.

The only thing we forgot to bring, and had to send for, was a bat!