Do you know about Lakeridge? It is a townhouse community in an easy, central location and the units enjoy stunning lake views. Honestly, when you pull through the guard gate it feels like you have escaped the hustle and bustle of the city, but the community is conveniently close to Coral Gables, South Miami, the University of Miami, the airport, expressways, and more!

I have a new listing in Lakeridge, and it has the most gorgeous view of the lake. I would love to show it to you in person, but meanwhile here is a link to its website so that you can admire the clean, comfortable home, and check out the beautiful dock and views: www.5163sw71place.com

If you are looking to buy or sell a home anywhere in Miami, please call me at 305-798-8685, or visit my website at: Luxury Miami Real Estate

A home’s square footage can be confusing because it is broken down into three different numbers: the living area, the adjusted area, and the total area. The living area is the actual air conditioned inside area of a house and is the smallest number of the three. Adjusted square footage is larger because it takes into account spaces that are utilized but not necessarily air conditioned, so it adds half of the size of the garage and one third of the size of covered patios to the living area. Total area is the largest of the numbers because it includes the full amount of all covered square footage. Take a look at the architect’s measurement below of 12440 Moss Ranch Road for more clarification.

The spaces shaded by tight dots labeled “conditioned space” in the key are the actual living area, which measures 5,546 square feet. The square area on the bottom right of the larger portion of the sketch that says 541 is the garage, and if you look at the key, the number on the right shows its adjustment to 271 square feet. The remaining spaces that are covered in diagonal stripes are the covered porches and balconies. Their area totals 1980 square feet, one third of which is counted towards the adjusted square footage, bringing that to 659. When you total these numbers you will see that the adjusted square footage of this fabulous home is 6,476.

When a realtor gives you the square footage of a house, chances are that he or she is referring to the adjusted square footage because that takes into account the measurements of all of the areas that are actually used, while not giving full credit to the un-air conditioned areas. However, because most houses have three sets of numbers floating around, the issue can often become confused. For example, the Miami MLS displays all three numbers, Realtor.com utilizes the actual square footage, while Zillow.com tends to show the adjusted, meaning that there is no consistency when a buyer starts their search online. EWM Realty International is actually working to change that and make real estate websites uniform, but in the meantime just give me a call and I can help you understand the facts!

If you are looking to buy or sell a home anywhere in Miami, please call me at 305-798-8685, or visit my website at: Luxury Miami Real Estate

As a realtor I have heard a lot about feng shui over the years, but today I had a first. I showed my listing at 5527 SW 87th Street to a couple who actually brought their feng shui specialist with them! Good news: the house ticked off all of the requisite boxes to be considered feng shui!

You probably have a basic concept of feng shui, which is the Chinese concept of orienting your home (or another building, monument, etc.) and the contents of your home in an auspicious way. In theory I know what the practice is, but having now met an actual specialist, it is much more complicated and involved than I actually knew.

After my showing, I Googled “feng shui” to write this blog and . . . wow! There is so much to know! I started reading a Wikipedia article on the matter and it was very detailed and included the various schools of feng shui and I could not even begin to narrow it down to a bite-sized blog. Then I found a much easier to understand article on thespruce.com, “Some Basic Principles of Feng Shui,” that boils it down quite succinctly. Read the article by clicking here.

The article gives you some good insight on the ancient practice, and I think that author Rodika Tchi summed it up nicely with this paragraph: “Feng shui is sometimes thought to be the art of placement—understanding how the placement of yourself and objects within a space affects your life in various areas of experience. It is a complex body of knowledge that teaches you how to balance and harmonize with the energies in any given space—be it a home, office, or garden. Its aim is to assure good fortune for the people inhabiting a space. Although regarded by some in the scientific community as a pseudo-science, feng shui has had an impact on the aesthetics of interior design and the architectural layout of living and working spaces both in its native eastern and, more recently, western cultures.”

Enjoy reading the fascinating article, and if you want to see feng shui in Miami, come to my listing at 5527 SW 87th Street. You will not be disappointed!

If you are looking to buy or sell a home anywhere in Miami, please call me at 305-798-8685, or visit my website at: Luxury Miami Real Estate

I am often asked about the Miami real estate market, and I am happy to talk about it to anyone who will listen. Today, though, I want you to learn about it from one of Miami’s foremost experts, Ron Shuffield, President of EWM Realty International. He has written a fascinating piece called “Insight,” which analyzes 2018’s market and predicts what is ahead for 2019. Click here to enjoy reading it and let me know if you have any questions.

If you are looking to buy or sell a home anywhere in Miami, please call me at 305-798-8685, or visit my website at: Luxury Miami Real Estate

Time and again I’ve heard that federal interest rates are going to go up, and they have done so recently. That has had many people asking me about mortgage rates, and those have also been climbing of late. For instance, the rate for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage was at 5.05% in November – an 8-year high. This week, though, a 30-year fixed is back down to 4.75% due to the downturn in the stock market, which has “investors head[ing] to the relative safe-haven of the bond market,” according to Diana Olick of CNBC.com. She continues by saying that “mortgage rates follow loosely the yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury,” which explains why rates have been more favorable this week. Read the full article by clicking here.

This week’s downward-trending mortgage rates are great, but I do think that we will see rates increasing overall. As previously mentioned, interest rates are expected to climb, and this will drive mortgage prices higher in the long run. I wish that I had a crystal ball and could tell you how high they might go or how it will impact the real estate market, but as of right now, only time will tell. If you are looking to buy a new home or to refinance your current one, now is the time to act!

If you are looking to buy or sell a home anywhere in Miami, please call me at 305-798-8685, or visit my website at: Luxury Miami Real Estate

Since before 2016 I have been hearing whispers that Coral Gables planned on annexing High Pines and Ponce Davis. On the heels of those whispers have been rumors that the County would only relinquish those very well-to-do areas if the Gables also took over the Little Gables section. Those whispers and rumors became news back in 2016 when the Gables actually started the process of annexing these areas.

We are not living in the Wild West, so Coral Gables did not simply get to stake its claim on High Pines, Ponce Davis, and Little Gables. Rather, it is a complex process and if you look at the annexation schedule on CoralGables.com you will see that the city will have to progress through 17 steps/meetings for Little Gables and 15 for High Pines and Ponce Davis. That is a lot of bureaucracy!

So where do we stand? Back on March 20th, the County Board of Commission voted to move the Little Gables annexation application to the Planning Advisory Board, and on June 5th, the Commission did the same for the High Pines and Ponce Davis application. Those are two good steps forward for Coral Gables. With 9 more hurdles to jump, let’s hope that these applications don’t take two steps forward and two steps back!

For more information about this process, visit https://www.coralgables.com/annexation-process-test and https://www.miamidade.gov/incorporationandannexation/coral-gables.asp

If you are looking to buy or sell a home anywhere in Miami, please call me at 305-798-8685, or visit my website at: Luxury Miami Real Estate

Do you want Florida Power and Light to pay you for electricity? I’ll bet you do! And it is actually possible with their net metering program. I had not heard of net metering until, at a brokers’ open house at 6262 SW 50 Terrace, a potential buyer asked if the house can go “off grid” with a system of solar panels. I did a little bit of digging to learn more about solar and other renewable energy sources and that is when I learned about net metering.

I am a paragraph into a blog about net metering and I have not even told you what it is yet, so here it goes. Generally speaking, most houses utilize less electricity during the day because their occupants are out and about at work or school. A house that is connected to FPL’s power grid, then, is sipping less power during those daytime hours than it will be when everyone is home watching tv, charging cell phones, and the like. Well, a house that is both on the power grid and that has its own, say, solar panels might just be using so little power during the daytime hours that the solar panels can create an electricity surplus. Rather than waste the power that the panels are creating, FPL automatically buys it back for its grid. The homeowners are compensated for the electricity that FPL is buying back either as a credit on their bill or by having the same amount of energy deducted from their bill. This sounds like a win for all of the parties that are involved!

My explanation of the net metering process is incredibly simple, but there is a little bit more to it than what I wrote. To learn more, check out net metering frequently asked questions page by clicking here.

If you are interested in seeing 6262 SW 50 Terrace, the spectacular house that started this whole conversation, please feel free to give me a call. I would love to show it to you!

Photo courtesy of HelioPower: www.heliopower.com

If you are looking to buy or sell a home anywhere in Miami, please call me at 305-798-8685, or visit my website at: Luxury Miami Real Estate

I cannot believe that summer is over and that the school year is underway! Much like we do at the start of every New Year, I think that the new school year is a great time to make resolutions. For this fresh 2018-2019 start, I plan on increasing my social media presence for business. I am going to mix up my workout routine (maybe you’ve seen me at Orange Theory or Yoga House Miami lately – this is an easy resolution for me to follow!). I am going to read my Ransom Everglades Book Club books at a more leisurely pace. I am definitely planning on blogging more! Lastly, I am going to make it a priority to sell more real estate! How are you going to improve yourself this new school year?

Image courtesy of www.utahvalley360.com

If you are looking to buy or sell a home anywhere in Miami, please call me at 305-798-8685, or visit my website at: Luxury Miami Real Estate

I have the two cutest rental listings that you’ve ever seen, each of which is in a fabulous location! Take your pick from either Coral Gables or South Miami!

515 Catalonia Avenue #3 is an excellent rental located in the heart of Coral Gables. The light and bright 2 bedroom / 1 bathroom second floor unit with a stackable washer and dryer. It is situated conveniently close to downtown Coral Gables and the Youth Center on a quiet tree-lined street and comes with an assigned parking space.

7720 SW 54 Ct #43C is a beautifully maintained second story unit in the Arbors Condo. It features 2 bedrooms / 1 bathroom, large closets, and impact glass windows. Located in the heart of South Miami within a stone’s throw to shops, restaurants, and amenities. Wonderful pool area and convenient parking. Location cannot be beat!

Come take a look – these charming properties are ready to be your next home.

If you are looking to buy or sell a home in these extra-hot areas, or anywhere in Miami, please call me at 305-798-8685, or visit my website at: Luxury Miami Real Estate

Are you dying to get your kids into Sunset Elementary School? Well, I have four amazing opportunities for you to do so!

506 Sunset Drive is an elegant estate home with 7 bedrooms and 6.5 bathrooms situated in three separate but connected structures: the main house, guest house, and 2 car garage with apartment. Fine finishes include the Scavolini kitchen, Italian bathrooms, pool with spa, steam room, and so much more all on a 28,600 square foot oak-laden lot. Click here for more information and photos.

7900 Altamira Street has been expanded and renovated to stunning perfection. The 5 bedroom, 4 bathroom home measures 4,707 adjusted square feet and also includes a 1/1 maid’s quarters. Its 20,000 square foot lot has a gorgeous pool, barbecue area, and plenty of space to play. Beautiful master suite, vaulted ceilings, new kitchen, and so much more! Click here for more information and photos.

6920 Veronese Street spans 3,999 square feet on a stunning 18,500 square foot lot. The split floor plan includes 4 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms. The ultra-private master suite has vaulted wood beamed ceilings, an enormous bathroom, and fabulous walk-in closet. This is a wonderful opportunity to renovate and make an already-special property your own. Click here for more information and photos.

7415 SW 56 Avenue is a lovely rental in a close-in High Pines location, just a stone’s throw away from the shops and restaurants of South Miami. The charming home has 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, and open living spaces. Updated eat-in kitchen, hurricane impact glass windows and doors, and a 9,375 square foot lot. Click here for more information and photos.

Come live in one of these fabulous homes and love sending your kids to Sunset Elementary School!

If you are looking to buy or sell a home anywhere in Miami, please call me at 305-798-8685, or visit my website at: Luxury Miami Real Estate

Are you looking for a fabulous rental opportunity in the Sunset Elementary School District? Look no further than this 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom home in High Pines! Check it out here: https://ashleycusack.com/my-listings/7415-sw-56-ave/

If you are looking to buy or sell a home in these extra-hot areas, or anywhere in Miami, please call me at 305-798-8685, or visit my website at: Luxury Miami Real Estate