Right About Real Estate Learning Corner

Guia Inversiones En Bienes Raices Fin De Crisis

2009-05-28T00:21:00.000-05:00

Guia Inversiones En Bienes Raices Fin De Crisis

View more OpenOffice presentations from Ivan Warman.

First Time Home Buyer Seminar

2009-05-27T15:48:00.000-05:00

1st Time Home Buyer Seminars

View more OpenOffice presentations from Ivan Warman.

Not all Realtors are created equal: Is your Realtor helping you make it or break it?

2009-05-20T13:26:00.003-05:00

Not all Real estate agents are created equal. Not only because some people have that go-getter personality, the kind that makes us think creatively to accomplish a goal and save a deal while others simply lack those over-achieveing traits, but because not every real estate agent has taken the time to educate themselves to be better sales people, better deal makers and the best at what they do.
Here, you will find a few ways to help you distinguish between the good, the bad and the ugly before hiring a real estate professional:

1. First off, you should know that not every real estate agent is a Realtor. A real estate agent has a state license that allows them to sell real property in that state. In Florida, the class lasts 60 hours, typically taken over the course of a week and is followed by a state exam. A Realtor however, is a member of the National Association of Realtors and someone who must abide by a strong set of ethical standards.

2. A good Realtor should be someone who thinks real estate is a serious business and treats it as a profession. Ask them questions about their track record. How many homes they have listed, how many they have sold, etc.

3. Ask what kind of continued education they have,what designations they hold and what they specialize in.

4. Some Realtors specialize in commercial properties, while others in residential. The Realtor you hire should have experience in selling and buying the type of property you’ll be buying/selling.

5. Hire someone who specializes in your geographical area and knows the various subdivisions, the prices, the bargains, the nice streets, the best values, etc.

6. A Realtor who has been in the industry for a while should have established sound working realtionships with people in related fields, such as mortgage brokers, property inspectors, etc. and can recommend them to you.

7. A professional Realtor keeps abreast of current market conditions and can advise you accordingly.

8. A good Realtor should treat every transaction with skill, care and diligence. Ask for references. You ask for references before hiring a plumber, so why not before hiring the person who will help you sell your most valuable asset? make sure you call a couple of past clients to find out how the Realtor performed and whether they were happy and satisfied with their services. Ask them also if they would hire them again.

9. You and your spouse should feel comfortable working with the person you are hiring, so make sure you both take the time to meet the Realtor and ask questions.

10. A Realtor should feel comfortable explaining to you the purchasing process. Ask if they have a written guide for home buyers/sellers or any other tool you might find useful in the home buying-selling process.

11. A Realtor is someone who can answer all of your questions honestly or help you find the answer if he/she doesn’t know it.

Miami June 09 top 10 Events

2009-04-30T09:18:00.002-05:00

Below is a list of 10 June events in Miami and surrounding areas * Florida Marlins vs. Milwaukee Brewers. MLB Baseball Game
June 1, June 2, June 3, June 4
* Stiltsville, Cape Florida Lighthouse & Key Biscayne Boat Tour. Join HMSF historian Dr. Paul George as you get one last peek of this controversial offshore community perched
June 7
* Florida Marlins vs. Baltimore Orioles. MLB Baseball Game
June 23, June 24, June 25
* Florida Marlins vs. San Francisco Giants. MLB Baseball Game
June 5, June 6, June 7, June 8
* Florida Marlins vs. St. Louis Cardinals. MLB Baseball Game
June 9, June 10, June 11
* Florida Marlins vs. Washington Nationals. MLB Baseball Game
June 29, June 30
* Florida Marlins vs. New York Yankees. MLB Baseball Game
June 19, June 20, June 21
* FB Kids Social Sundays. Join us at Fontainebleau Miami Beach for FB Kids Club Sunday Socials, where imagination and dreams become unleashed.
June 14
* Wanda Sykes. Performing live on stage
June 6
* Design & Dine. Design & Dine combines the worlds of fashion and food under the evening skies of the Miami Design District.
June 11

Monavie Pulse

2009-04-14T23:12:00.004-05:00

MonaVie Pulse Supports the heart and cardiovascular system
Some of the benefits include:
Boasts heart healthy levels of plant sterols* to help maintain existing healthy cholesterol levels.
Features resveratrol, which supports your cardiovascular system by helping protect healthy blood vessels.
Delivers powerful antioxidant polyphenols to promote a healthy cardiovascular system. Features a wide array of essential nutrients for optimal health.
Offers potent antioxidant protection against free radicals. Delivers the antioxidant capacity of approximately 13 servings of fruits and vegetables in just four ounces.
Anybody that has been drinking MonaVie for any significant period of time knows what all it can do for you, even though we were not allowed to make any "Claims" to what it could do... however, now, the FDA has approved several claims that MonaVie Pulse can do, which include:

HEART CLAIMS

Heart friendly.
Supports heart health.
Supports the heart and cardiovascular system.
MonaVie Pulse's unique blend of fruits is noted for its antioxidant polyphenol content.
MonaVie Pulse is formulated to support heart health.
MonaVie Pulse is a heart healthy blend with added plant sterols, resveratrol, and omega-3s.
Contains plant sterols that help maintain heart health.
MonaVie Pulse was designed with your heart in mind.
Resveratrol is an antioxidant that supports the cardiovascular system and the body's ability to protect healthy blood vessels.

HEART DISEASE (CHD-CORONARY HEART DISEASE) HEALTH CLAIM

Foods containing at least 0.4 g per serving of plant sterols, eaten twice a day with meals for a daily total intake of at least 0.8 g, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease. Two servings (4 oz) of MonaVie Pulse juice supply 0.8 g of plant sterols.
Foods containing at least 0.4 g per serving of plant sterols, eaten twice a day with meals for a daily total intake of at least 0.8 g, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol,
CHOLESTEROL CLAIMS

Watching your cholesterol? MonaVie contains plant sterols, which studies suggest play a key role in lowering cholesterol.
Helps maintain existing healthy cholesterol levels.
Helps maintain healthy cholesterol levels already within a normal range.
Studies suggest that when plant sterols are present, the body absorbs less cholesterol.
Plant sterols compete with cholesterol for absorption in the body.
So, don't you think maybe you should give it a try?
www.tujugo.com

Pensacola Land

2009-04-14T22:47:00.002-05:00

TO RENT OR NOT TO RENT: THAT IS THE QUESTION

2009-02-05T12:40:00.004-05:00

Many landlords and tenants today are faced with a game of tug-o-war when it comes to minimizing risk and asking and giving deposits and advance rent. With the economic crisis haunting consumers across the board, a lot of potential tenants have less-than-desirable credit worthiness to show a potential landlord that they will in fact pay their rent on time, so landlords are opting to ask for higher security deposits or more rent in advance (I have heard as much as six months worth of rent in advance plus security deposit). It is only fair that a landlord, who is putting most of the risk upfront (if a tenant stops paying rent and continues to occupy the property it may take up to 3 months for an eviction process to be completed, plus the time it may take the landlord to re-rent the property), has the option to protect itself. However, the only problem to the tenant in this case is not that they may not have the money to put upfront (I mean, not everyone these days has 3 to 6 or more moths worth of rent in the bank?)but that those funds are virtually unprotected. The Florida Landlord Tenant Act and most standard leases instruct the landlord to hold the security deposit and in some cases any advance rent in a separate bank account and in some cases even to post a surety bond against those funds, however, most landlords ignore or are unaware of this commitment they have made and spend the money elsewhere, typically in mortgage payments or improvements to the property. This is not only against the law, but in the event of a foreclosure, the bank who repossesses the property will not honor the terms of the lease and will not only have the tenant vacate the premises, but will not refund any money back to him, which means that if the landlord has in fact spent the money of security deposits and advance rent and is unable to refund it to the tenant, then the tenant has lost a significant amount of money and has to now go find a new place to live, where the new landlord may ask for security deposits and rent in advance. So, how do we end this tug-o-war and make it fair for both parties? if you are a tenant and you have the finds available but are just scared to lose it in the event the landlord is unable to fulfill the terms of the lease, then ask that the funds are held in an attorney's trust account or a real estate brokerage's escrow account, which are governed by the Florida Bar and FREC respectively.

Short Sales: Are banks really interested?

2009-02-05T10:36:00.007-05:00

It is hard these days to find a property advertised for sale that does not include the words "foreclosure", "bank owned", "repossessed" or at the very least, "short sale" in its advertising. A total of 31% of all sales in the nation in 2008 were of foreclosed homes and short sales according to Zillow.com, with some states having as high as a 58% of thse distressed sales.

The American Dream of owning a home has become an American nightmare, with about $3.3trillion in home equity being erased in 2008. American's highest and most precious asset is being lost to an economic crisis. During a crisis, when homeowners run into rough financial patches and would need to tap into their homes equity to pay bills, they find it impossible to cash out their equity (lenders won't loan more than the property is worth and many are reducing owner's already established lines of credit).

If you bought your homes five years ago, there is a 41.2% your home is worth less than what you owe on it.
So, when you have a home that is losing value with each passing day, you cannot tap into its equity and you cannot pay for it anymore, your most probable option is to sell it short. A good possibility at first, but the more and more people are interested in following this path, the slower the process becomes at the bank's end.
A typical transaction that is not a short sale and involves financing on the buyer's side should take 30 to 45 days to close, whihc means that from the time a buyer selects a home they like and the time they actually own it, 30 to 45 days have passed. In a short sale however, a seller's lender(s) must approve the sale before the buyer can even start their process, so that means that however long the lender(s) take to approve, should be added to those 30-45 days.
These days, lenders are taking anywhere from 60 to 180 days to approve a short sale.
Let me illustrate the problem with an example of one of my personal sales. I got a listing for a beautiful apartment in a prestigious area. We priced it right, competitive without giving it away. After about 40 days we got an offer at a very reasonable price.
In an ideal scenario, as soon as you have an offer, you should send it to the bank in what is called a short sale package, which includes seller's financial statements, bank statements, hardship letter and other documents. Once the package is uploaded into the bank's system (indeally 10 days after you submit the package), a BPO (Broker's Price Opinion) is performed on the property to determine whether the offer is at fair market value. Again, in an ideal scenario, the BPO is uploaded into the bank's system within 10 days and a negotiatior is assign, who should i turn accept, deny or counteroffer within 30 days. A total of 45-60 days in all. In most cases however, scenarios are far from ideal, so in our case, after 4 months of patiently waiting (most buyers would have walked after just a couple of months), the file was "closed in error" according to the bank's negotiator. The file had to be re-opened and because to much time had passed since the first BPO was performed, a new one needed to be ordered.
To my surprise, the buyers agreed to wait just a little longer, becasue according to the negotiator, this time it should be much quicker. Well, it wasn't and after 7 months, we finally got an approval. The problem with this approval is that it was for an offer 7 months old, which means that the value that the buyers saw in this property 7 months ago, was no longer there. We all know that in 7 months, the value of a home could drop significanlty and even if the buyers still want the home, if financing is invloved, the buyer's appraisal would come in lower that the offer, which would mean starting over from scratch.
We are now working on an approval for a new offer from a new buyer for $50,000 less than the original offer.

Sheridan Beach Club 2

2009-01-20T13:59:00.000-05:00

Aventura Bay

2009-01-20T13:34:00.002-05:00

BLOSSOMS AT THE HAMMOCKS

2008-12-18T12:15:00.000-05:00

Warehouse Ansin Blvd, Hallandale

2008-12-18T11:35:00.001-05:00

TENANT SCREENING TIPS

2008-11-20T12:54:00.001-05:00

TENANT SCREENING TIPS

1. Always use a preprinted rental application whether it is our generic form or a special company printed form.

2. Full Name: Should include first, middle and last names and any generation, such as Jr, Sr, etc. Include all nicknames and aliases previously used. Do this for all persons to occupy the property. Check to make sure that the drivers license, pay-stub, social security information match up.

3. Date of Birth: Obtain a birth date for each person and likewise verify the with IDCheck or Credit Report.

4. Driver license Number and State: Know what a valid license looks like and examine the driver license for genuineness. Be sure to check the full name, the address, the date of birth, the driver license number, the signature and most of all, the picture. Compare all these items with the data on the rental application form and with the physicality of the applicant. Also IDCheck will verify the applicants drivers license number and state of issuance.

5. Employment History: Get the business's name, supervisor's name, phone number and business address. Ask for copies of applicants pay stubs. Confirm and cross-reference all information with original application. If the prospective tenant is self-employed, ask for copies of tax returns. IDCheck may provide the name & date of Employement.

6.Reference Verification:Have at least three references of persons who know the applicant for a minimum of three years. Make sure the references are checked and confirmed. Although most references will not say something bad about applicant, references can be used as good sources for skip tracing should it be needed later.

7. Landlord History & Movement Patterns: Get the names, addresses and telephone numbers of last three Landlords. It is important to check present and prior landlords, however our professional screeners our careful as present landlord may not provide negative information in order to get rid of problem applicant. IDCheck also reports all addresses on file for applicant for the last 10 years.

To see the rest of the article you can go to http://www.verifytenant.com/Documents/TenantTIPS.pdf

Good Luck
Ivan Warman
www.verifytenant.com
www.rightabouthomes.com

September '08 Miami Events

2008-09-09T13:02:00.003-05:00

12 - September
Florida Marlins (Dolphin Stadium)

13 - September
Florida Marlins (Dolphin Stadium)
Miami Disco Fever Explosion (BankUnited Center)

14 - September
Florida Marlins (Dolphin Stadium)
International Ballet Festival of Miami (Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater)

16 - September
Florida Marlins (Dolphin Stadium)

17 - September
Florida Marlins (Dolphin Stadium)
Street Dogs (Culture Room)

18 - September
Florida Marlins (Dolphin Stadium)
Disney On Ice: Mickey & Minnie's Magical Journey (Bank Atlantic Center)
America's Best Dance Crew (American Airlines Arena - FL)

19 - September
Florida Marlins (Dolphin Stadium)
Disney On Ice: Mickey & Minnie's Magical Journey (Bank Atlantic Center)
Fito Paez (Knight Concert Hall-Adrienne Arsht PAC)

20 - September
Disney On Ice: Mickey & Minnie's Magical Journey (Bank Atlantic Center)
Florida Marlins (Dolphin Stadium)
Enrique Iglesias (American Airlines Arena - FL)
Enrique Chia (Dade County Auditorium)

21 - September
Disney On Ice: Mickey & Minnie's Magical Journey (Bank Atlantic Center)
Enrique Chia (Dade County Auditorium)
Florida Marlins (Dolphin Stadium)

23 - September
The OJays (Hard Rock Live-Hollywood)
Lisa Williams (Coral Springs Center)

24 - September
Disney On Ice: Mickey & Minnie's Magical Journey (American Airlines Arena - FL)

25 - September
Disney On Ice: Mickey & Minnie's Magical Journey (American Airlines Arena - FL) Nelly (Revolution Live)
3 Blonde Moms (Broward Center Amaturo)

26 - September
Clutch (Culture Room)
Disney On Ice: Mickey & Minnie's Magical Journey (American Airlines Arena - FL)
Fergie (Hard Rock Live-Hollywood)
3 Blonde Moms (Broward Center Amaturo)

27 - September
Disney On Ice: Mickey & Minnie's Magical Journey (American Airlines Arena - FL)
Howard University Bison Football (Traz Powell Stadium)
Henry Rollins (Revolution Live)
Cheech & Chong (Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater)
TNA Wrestling (BankUnited Center)
The Fab Faux (Parker Playhouse)
3 Blonde Moms (Broward Center Amaturo)
Miami Hurricanes Football (Dolphin Stadium)

28 - September
Disney On Ice: Mickey & Minnie's Magical Journey (American Airlines Arena - FL)
Henry Rollins (Revolution Live)

August Miami Events '08

2008-07-31T15:39:00.003-05:00

1 - August
Florida Marlins (Dolphin Stadium)
Slavas Snowshow (Ziff Ballet Opera House-Adrienne Arsht PAC)

2 - August
Slavas Snowshow (Ziff Ballet Opera House-Adrienne Arsht PAC)
Florida Marlins (Dolphin Stadium)
Maze (James Knight Center)
Slavas Snowshow (Ziff Ballet Opera House-Adrienne Arsht PAC)
Rock the Bells (Bicentennial Park)

3 - August
Florida Marlins (Dolphin Stadium)
Slavas Snowshow (Ziff Ballet Opera House-Adrienne Arsht PAC)
Kill Hannah (Culture Room)
Bow Wow (Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater)
George Michael (Bank Atlantic Center)

4 - August
Catch 22 (Culture Room)

5 - August
Slavas Snowshow (Ziff Ballet Opera House-Adrienne Arsht PAC)

6 - August
Slavas Snowshow (Ziff Ballet Opera House-Adrienne Arsht PAC)

7 - August
Slavas Snowshow (Ziff Ballet Opera House-Adrienne Arsht PAC)

8 - August
Slavas Snowshow (Ziff Ballet Opera House-Adrienne Arsht PAC)
Bad Company (Hard Rock Live-Hollywood)

9 - August
Slavas Snowshow (Ziff Ballet Opera House-Adrienne Arsht PAC)
Miami Dolphins (Dolphin Stadium)
Slavas Snowshow (Ziff Ballet Opera House-Adrienne Arsht PAC)

10 - August
Slavas Snowshow (Ziff Ballet Opera House-Adrienne Arsht PAC)

11 - August
Florida Marlins (Dolphin Stadium)

12 - August
Florida Marlins (Dolphin Stadium)
Slavas Snowshow (Ziff Ballet Opera House-Adrienne Arsht PAC)

13 - August
Florida Marlins (Dolphin Stadium)
LIVE Boxing (Hard Rock Live-Hollywood)
Slavas Snowshow (Ziff Ballet Opera House-Adrienne Arsht PAC)
Rodrigo y Gabriela (Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater)

14 - August
Florida Marlins (Dolphin Stadium)
Miami Libre (Knight Concert Hall-Adrienne Arsht PAC)
Slavas Snowshow (Ziff Ballet Opera House-Adrienne Arsht PAC)

15 - August
The Hush Sound (Culture Room)
Florida Marlins (Dolphin Stadium)
Miami Libre (Knight Concert Hall-Adrienne Arsht PAC)
Marco Antonio Solis (American Airlines Arena - FL)
Monster Jam (Bank Atlantic Center)
Slavas Snowshow (Ziff Ballet Opera House-Adrienne Arsht PAC)
Jim Gaffigan (Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater)
Miami Libre (Knight Concert Hall-Adrienne Arsht PAC)

16 - August
Slavas Snowshow (Ziff Ballet Opera House-Adrienne Arsht PAC)
Monster Jam (Bank Atlantic Center)
Florida Marlins (Dolphin Stadium)
Monster Jam (Bank Atlantic Center)
Slavas Snowshow (Ziff Ballet Opera House-Adrienne Arsht PAC)
Memories of Elvis (Broward Center Au Rene)
Extreme (Revolution Live)

17 - August
Florida Marlins (Dolphin Stadium)
Slavas Snowshow (Ziff Ballet Opera House-Adrienne Arsht PAC)
Miami Libre (Knight Concert Hall-Adrienne Arsht PAC)
Gilberto Santa Rosa (Hard Rock Live-Hollywood)

19 - August
Candlebox (Culture Room)

20 - August
Stone Temple Pilots (Hard Rock Live-Hollywood)
American Idols Live (Bank Atlantic Center)

21 - August
Boston (Hard Rock Live-Hollywood)

22 - August
Slavas Snowshow (Ziff Ballet Opera House-Adrienne Arsht PAC)

23 - August
Slavas Snowshow (Ziff Ballet Opera House-Adrienne Arsht PAC)
G Love & Special Sauce (Pompano Beach Amphitheatre)
Miami Dolphins (Dolphin Stadium)
Slavas Snowshow (Ziff Ballet Opera House-Adrienne Arsht PAC)
Madame Butterfly (Colony Theatre)

25 - August
Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band - Tribute (Hard Rock Live-Hollywood)

28 - August
Miami Hurricanes Football (Dolphin Stadium)

29 - August
Florida Marlins (Dolphin Stadium)
Slavas Snowshow (Ziff Ballet Opera House-Adrienne Arsht PAC)
My Morning Jacket (Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater)

30 - August
Florida Marlins (Dolphin Stadium)
Kate Voegele (Culture Room)
Labor Day Comedy Explosion (James Knight Center)
Slavas Snowshow (Ziff Ballet Opera House-Adrienne Arsht PAC)

How is the price of gas affecting real estate?

2008-07-31T15:07:00.001-05:00

The price of gas is affecting almost every industry and it is impacting the lives of Americans in more ways that one. From the price of groceries, to the price of a checked bag on an airline all items of our day to day lives seem to be going up. The real estate industry is no exception. The $4 +/gallon of gas price has altered the behavior of the real estate market in unforeseen ways.

It is changing the way in which brokers market properties, how brokerages charge clients, how real estate agents show properties, how managers budget improvements, how tenants decide where to locate, how local governments are approaching development and transportation issues, how consumers decide where to spend money, how landlords calculate their expense pass-throughs, and how lenders fund construction projects and acquisitions.
It is also impacting the new construction market. Construction costs are skyrocketing and builders are using energy efficient and “green” features more and more.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
The ultimate motto of real estate has buyers deciding on location from a different point of view. Buyers are now looking for homes nearby or next to bus stops or other public transportation and closer to work. As the price of gas continues to rise, the affordability differential of living in the suburbs vs living in the city is diminished, causing a higher demand –and therefore increase in price- for homes near city centers.

THE CHANGE IN BROKER-CLIENT RELATIONSHIPS
The face to face meeting between a broker and his client is often being postponed until the day of property showings, having the initial interview to discuss the kind of home a buyer would like and the must-haves and would-likes of a home, over the phone.
Buyers are using the internet and other resources, such as brokers, attorneys, accountants, etc. to gather more information about a property before making a site visit.
Agents are now being much more judicious about showing property in certain areas, they are doing a better job of prequalification before getting in the car with clients. Some residential agents will not tour a buyer without an exclusive representation agreement.

Events in Miami - July '08

2008-07-01T14:48:00.004-05:00

1 - July
Florida Marlins (Dolphin Stadium)
Chris Rock (Hard Rock Live-Hollywood)

2 - July
Florida Marlins (Dolphin Stadium)
Teddy Geiger (Culture Room)

3 - July
Ringo Starr (Hard Rock Live-Hollywood)

5 - July
The Radiators (Culture Room)
Gilberto Gil (Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater)

8 - July
Cute is What We Aim For (Culture Room)
Ringo Starr (Hard Rock Live-Hollywood)

10 - July
Carole King (Hard Rock Live-Hollywood)

12 - July
Bjorn Again (Parker Playhouse)
Juan Luis Guerra (American Airlines Arena - FL)
Matisyahu (Revolution Live)
Zo's Summer Groove Comedy Show (Hard Rock Live-Hollywood)
Vans Warped Tour (Bicentennial Park)

13 - July
Zo's Summer Groove Block Party & All Star Game (American Airlines Arena - FL)

15 - July
Michael Bolton (Hard Rock Live-Hollywood)
Tom Petty (Bank Atlantic Center)

17 - July
Premios Juventud (BankUnited Center)

18 - July
The Backyardigans (Broward Center Au Rene)
Florida Marlins (Dolphin Stadium)
hed pe (Culture Room)

19 - July
The Backyardigans (Broward Center Au Rene)
Florida Marlins (Dolphin Stadium)
The Backyardigans (Broward Center Au Rene)
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week (The Raleigh Hotel)

20 - July
The Backyardigans (Broward Center Au Rene)
Florida Marlins (Dolphin Stadium)

21 - July
Florida Marlins (Dolphin Stadium)

22 - July
Zappa Plays Zappa (Club Cinema)
Florida Marlins (Dolphin Stadium)

23 - July
Florida Marlins (Dolphin Stadium)
GBH (Culture Room)

24 - July
Rx Bandits (Culture Room)
Anita Baker (Hard Rock Live-Hollywood)

25 - July
Secondhand Serenade (Culture Room)
Idina Menzel (Parker Playhouse)
Miami Libre (Knight Concert Hall-Adrienne Arsht PAC)

26 - July
Slavas Snowshow (Ziff Ballet Opera House-Adrienne Arsht PAC)
Jerry Seinfeld (Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater)
Madame Butterfly (Colony Theatre)
Slavas Snowshow (Ziff Ballet Opera House-Adrienne Arsht PAC)
Brian McKnight (Sinatra Theatre-Bank Atlantic Center)
Super Stars of Freestyle (James Knight Center)
Jerry Seinfeld (Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater)

27 - July
Miami Libre (Knight Concert Hall-Adrienne Arsht PAC)
Cartel (Culture Room)

28 - July
Florida Marlins (Dolphin Stadium)

29 - July
Florida Marlins (Dolphin Stadium)
Miami Libre (Knight Concert Hall-Adrienne Arsht PAC)

30 - July
Florida Marlins (Dolphi
n Stadium)
Flobots (Culture Room) Miami Libre (Knight Concert Hall-Adrienne Arsht PAC)
Girls Night Out - The Musical (Parker Playhouse)
Return to Forever (Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater)

31 - July
Florida Marlins (Dolphin Stadium)
Mark Knopfler (Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater)
Miami Libre (Knight Concert Hall-Adrienne Arsht PAC)
Girls Night Out - The Musical (Parker Playhouse)

Nearing Retirement? Avoid These Common Mistakes

2008-06-30T13:38:00.000-05:00

As Baby Boomers see retirement in their horizon, financial planners counsel against these common mistakes.

No current will. Even if you created a will when you were younger, it may be badly out of date as you approach retirement...and...not in synch with your wishes or circumstances. Update it.

Out-of-date beneficiary designations. Beneficiaries named in life insurance policies and retirement accounts must be up-to-date to avoid misunderstandings and possibly adverse tax consequences for your heirs.

Concentrated stock holdings. Whether through long association with a single employer or as owner of your own business, you may have a significant portion of your wealth tied up in a single stock. Nearing retirement, it's too risky to keep so many eggs in one basket. Diversify.

No excess liability insurance. Auto and homeowner's insurance policies offer liability protection if someone comes to harm on your property or in an accident involving your car. If claims exceed your policy limits, though, plaintiffs could come after your personal assets. Carry an excess liability, or "umbrella, policy, for added protection.

Emotional investing. Volatile financial markets can be unnerving, especially when you're close to retirement. Be patient, and hew to your well-grounded investment strategy...but...recognize that your stockbroker will never tell you, "When in doubt, get out" of the stock market.

No estate or tax planning. Many retirees craft an investment plan but overlook estate and tax planning. Start the process now if you haven't already, both to minimize tax bills for you and your heirs and ensure that your estate is distributed according to your wishes.

Source: The Wall Street Journal, March 8, 2008

Visual tour TOWN HOME RENTAL

2008-06-25T02:04:00.002-05:00

Baggage Policies

2008-06-11T12:26:00.001-05:00

Baggage Policy Changes

The following carriers have made changes to their checked baggage policies. Click on the airline below for further details. To stay updated with the current baggage policy as it is today, please visit the airlines website provided.

Air Canada:

Air Canada has announced a new checked baggage policy for tickets issued on or after May 15 for travel on or after July 15, 2008. For those traveling before July 15, 2008 or have booked before May 15, 2008, the baggage allowance of 2 bags per person would still apply.

Under the new policy, customers who purchase tickets on Air Canada which carry a cancellation penalty, may check one bag at no charge and a second bag for a $25 service fee. The fees are assessed each way and may be higher depending on weight and dimensions of the baggage.
This policy applies for travel within Canada and between Canada and continental U.S. including Hawaii.
Click here for complete details regarding the new baggage policy posted on carrier's Web site.

AirTran Airways:

AirTran Airways has announced a new checked baggage policy effective May 15, 2008.

Customers may check one bag for free and a second bag for a $10 USD fee if paid through AirTran Airways' Online Check-in or $20 if paid at the airport, then $50 USD per bag thereafter. The fees are assessed each way and may be higher depending on weight and dimensions of the baggage.
Click here for complete details regarding the new baggage policy posted on carrier's Web site. Note: Military personnel may check one duffel/sea bag in place of a 61-inch bag.

American Airlines:

American Airlines has announced a new checked baggage policy effective for tickets purchased on or after June 15.

This policy applies for travel within the U.S. the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Canada.
Customers may check one bag for a $15 USD fee ($30 USD round-trip) and a second bag for a $25 USD fee ($50 USD round-trip). The fee may be higher depending on weight and dimensions of the baggage.
Click here for complete details regarding the new baggage policy, including exceptions, posted on the carrier's Web site.

Continental Airlines:

Continental Airlines has announced a new checked baggage policy for certain Economy fare tickets that were purchased on or after April 5 for travel on or after May 5, 2008.

This policy applies to travel within the United States, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada.
Customers may check one bag for free and a second bag for a $25 USD fee ($50 USD round-trip). The fee may be higher depending on weight and dimensions of the baggage.
Click here for complete details regarding the new baggage policy posted on the carrier's Web site. Note: OnePass Elite members, SkyTeam Elite and Elite Plus members, Tickets issued on Y class of service, Continental Airlines Presidential Plus credit card holders, active military traveling on orders are not impacted by this policy change.

Delta:

Delta has announced a new checked baggage policy for domestic tickets traveling on or after May 1, 2008.

This policy applies to domestic travel.
Customers may check one bag for free and a second bag for a $25 USD fee ($50 USD round-trip). The fee may be higher depending on weight and dimensions of the baggage.
The fee will be charged to passengers if their itinerary includes segments after May 1 regardless of when the tickets were purchased.

Note: SkyMiles Elite, and First/Business Class passengers are not impacted by this policy change.

Frontier:

Please be advised of the following baggage fee changes that Frontier has implemented effective Jun 10.

Customers who purchase tickets for travel on or after June 10th will be charged a $25 fee for a second checked bag.
Customers who have already purchased tickets before that date will not be affected. Our EarlyReturnsÂ® Summit and Ascent members and active duty military personnel will be exempt from this fee.
The policy for pets traveling in the aircraft cabin will be discontinued effective June 10, but all existing reservations will be honored.
Click here for complete details regarding the new baggage policy posted on the carrier's Web site.

JetBlue:

JetBlue has announced a new checked baggage policy that will take effect June 1, 2008.

This new policy applies to customers traveling on/after June 1, 2008.
Customers may check one bag for free and a second bag for a $20 USD fee ($40 USD round-trip). Subsequent bags will be assessed at $50 USD per bag. The fees may be higher depending on weight and dimensions of each baggage.

Northwest Airlines:

Northwest Airlines has announced a new checked baggage policy for those traveling within North America on or after May 5, 2008.

This policy applies to tickets issued on/after March 29 for travel within North America on/after May 5.
Customers may check one bag for free and a second bag for a $25 USD fee ($50 USD round-trip). For customers checking in three or more bags, the carrier will assess a fee of $100 per bag each-way. The fee may be higher depending on weight and dimensions of the baggage.
Click here for complete details regarding the new baggage policy posted on Northwest Airlines' Web site. Note: Silver, Gold and Platinum WorldPerksÂ® Elite customers, SkyTeam Elite customers, and those booked in first or full fare classes (Y or B) will not be impacted by this policy change.

United

United has announced a new checked baggage policy for nonrefundable domestic economy tickets that were purchased on or after February 4 for travel on or after May 5, 2008.

This policy applies to travel within the United States, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada.
Customers may check one bag for free and a second bag for a $25 USD fee ($50 USD round-trip). The fee may be higher depending on weight and dimensions of the baggage.
Click here for complete details regarding the new baggage policy posted on United's Web site. Note: Customers with Mileage Plus Premier status or greater, Star Alliance Silver status or greater, government fares, military fares, standard Award Tickets, first and business class award tickets, or first and business class upgrades granted prior to check-in are not impacted by this policy change.

US Airways:

US Airways has announced a new baggage policy for tickets purchased on or after February 26 for travel on or after May 5, 2008.

The new policy applies to all flights within the United States, to/from Canada, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Europe.
Customers may check one bag for free and a second bag for a $25 USD fee ($50 USD round-trip). The fee may be higher depending on weight and dimensions of the baggage.
Click here for complete details regarding the baggage policy posted on US Airways' Web site. Note: Dividend Miles Preferred members (Silver, Gold, Platinum and Chairmanâ€™s Preferred), confirmed First Class and Envoy passengers (at time of check-in), Star Alliance Silver and Gold status members, active military personnel in uniform with ID, unaccompanied minors, or passengers checking personal assistive devices are not impacted by this change.

HURRICANE SAFETY TIPS

2008-06-11T11:43:00.000-05:00

HURRICANE SAFETY TIPS

Make sure you have a full tank of gas before a storm arrives.

Store a crate in your trunk with emergency supplies:

· a first aid kit

· duct tape

· jumper cables for a dead battery

· one or two blankets

· a flashlight

· bottled water

· some sealed, shelf-stable food (like energy bars)

· some basic tools like a screwdriver and pliers

· a couple of brightly colored cloths to tie on your rear-view mirror to signal for help if you need it

Make sure you have a good spare tire.

If you're evacuating, bring your (fully charged) cell phone.

If you're evacuating or returning home after a hurricane, avoid driving through water. The average car can be swept off the road by as little as 12" of moving water. According to the National Hurricane Center, more than half of all hurricane deaths in the last 30 years have resulted from inland flooding. Of those deaths, one in four was someone who drowned in her car. Find an alternate route.

If your vehicle stalls in deep water, you may need to restart the engine to make it to safety. Please know, however, that restarting may cause severe damage to your engine. If you can't restart your vehicle and you become trapped in rising water, IMMEDIATELY ABANDON IT FOR HIGHER GROUND. If you're unable to get out of the vehicle safely, call 911 or get help from a passerby or someone standing on higher ground.

After you and your vehicle are out of deep water and in a safe area, depress your brakes slowly several times to help dry them out.

And remember, if you're evacuating an area and leaving your car behind, be sure it's not left in a low-lying area prone to flooding. Rising water can seep in and damage your vehicle.

June Miami Events

2008-06-07T01:00:00.003-05:00

7 - June
Sesame Street Live (American Airlines Arena - FL)
Sesame Street Live (American Airlines Arena - FL)
Florida Marlins (Dolphin Stadium)
Stevie Nicks (Hard Rock Live-Hollywood)
Miami Hurricanes Baseball (Mark Light Field)
Festival Yachad (Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater)

8 - June
Sesame Street Live (American Airlines Arena - FL)
Florida Marlins (Dolphin Stadium)
Sesame Street Live (American Airlines Arena - FL)
Miami Hurricanes Baseball (Mark Light Field)
Steely Dan (Hard Rock Live-Hollywood)

9 - June
Florida Marlins (Dolphin Stadium)
60's Invasion (Dolphin Stadium)
Vampire Weekend (Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater)

10 - June
Florida Marlins (Dolphin Stadium)

11 - June
Florida Marlins (Dolphin Stadium)
Ladytron (Studio A)

12 - June
Florida Marlins (Dolphin Stadium)

13 - June
Jesus Christ Superstar (Broward Center Au Rene)
Eddie Izzard (Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater)
The Cure (Bank Atlantic Center)

14 - June
Go, Diego, Go Live! (Ziff Ballet Opera House-Adrienne Arsht PAC)
Eddie Izzard (Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater)
Jesus Christ Superstar (Broward Center Au Rene)

15 - June
Go, Diego, Go Live! (Ziff Ballet Opera House-Adrienne Arsht PAC)
Jesus Christ Superstar (Broward Center Au Rene)

17 - June
Jesus Christ Superstar (Broward Center Au Rene)

18 - June
Less Than Jake (Revolution)
Citizen Cope (Culture Room)
Jesus Christ Superstar (Broward Center Au Rene)

19 - June
Cyndi Lauper (Sinatra Theatre-Bank Atlantic Center)
Rancid (Revolution)
Jesus Christ Superstar (Broward Center Au Rene)

20 - June
Celia Cruz (Knight Concert Hall-Adrienne Arsht PAC)

21 - June
Arthur Abraham (Hard Rock Live-Hollywood)
Celia Cruz (Knight Concert Hall-Adrienne Arsht PAC)

22 - June
Raheem Devaughn (Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater)

23 - June
Modest Mouse (Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater)

24 - June
Florida Marlins (Dolphin Stadium)

25 - June
Florida Marlins (Dolphin Stadium)

26 - June
Florida Marlins (Dolphin Stadium)

27 - June
Rooney (Revolution Live)
Florida Marlins (Dolphin Stadium)
Tantric (Culture Room)
Celia Cruz (Knight Concert Hall-Adrienne Arsht PAC)
Rooney (Revolution)

28 - June
Akon (Bank Atlantic Center)
Florida Marlins (Dolphin Stadium)
Andrew Dice Clay (Parker Playhouse)
Wisin y Yandel (American Airlines Arena - FL)
Professional Rodeo (Davie Arena)
Celia Cruz (Knight Concert Hall-Adrienne Arsht PAC)

29 - June
Florida Marlins (Dolphin Stadium)

30 - June
Florida Marlins

The Housing Bust Is Over

2008-06-06T10:21:00.002-05:00

By Dr. Steve Sjuggerud

Don't believe all the gloom and doom you read...
The U.S. housing bust may be just about over. We should be darn close to the bottom... possibly within one year of it.
You probably don't believe me. That's okay. I'm used to being the contrarian – it's a position I prefer to be in actually. But bear with me, and at least hear me out... Today, I'll share with you two simple facts that explain where we are now in housing and why we could be close to the bottom. Let's get right to it...
1) Houses are affordable again.
You may be flabbergasted to hear this... But U.S. houses are affordable again. Since last summer, the change has been extraordinary. The typical mortgage payment on the typical home in America now is 20% cheaper than it was less than a year ago. Let me explain:
Last July, the median U.S. home would have cost you about $230,000. And you'd have paid about 7% in interest on your mortgage. So that's a $1,200 monthly mortgage payment on that house (assuming a 20% down payment).
Today, the median home price is $200,000 – a $30,000 difference from last summer. And mortgage rates are down to 6%.
Between the lower price and the lower mortgage rate, you'd be paying less than $1,000 a month on your mortgage now – for the same house that would have cost you $1,200 last summer!

Most people shop for homes based on their mortgage payment... They ask, "How much can I afford each month?" And then they look for homes that will give them a payment they can afford.
So the big question is: Can the typical household afford the typical mortgage payments on a typical home? Last summer, the answer was no. But now, the answer is yes. Take a look:
Already? Yes! Houses are affordable again...
You may be surprised to hear it, but thanks to lower mortgage rates and lower home prices, homes are affordable... They're just as affordable now as they were right before they boomed in the 2000s.
2) We've paid our dues, pricewise.
You may also be surprised to learn home prices in general don't go up that much... The median U.S. home price has only risen at about 1.5% per year since the 1970s, after you subtract inflation. That's not much of a gain. (Even that 1.5% price gain is overstated... Homes have gotten much larger since the 1970s.)
The annual increase in price has been consistent... Whenever prices run significantly above that trend, like in 1978 or 1987, they run significantly below that trend three to four years later.
Have we paid our dues yet?
Cycles happen. You can see it easily in this chart. You can also see in 2005, prices ran farther above trend than any time in history. And now, in 2008, prices have fallen farther below trend than any time in history.
Could we see another year or two below trend? Of course. But I expect that we're in the process of finishing "paying our dues." We'll return to the trend.
In sum... you may be surprised to hear it... but
1)U.S. homes are once again affordable.
2)We've just about "paid our dues" pricewise.

Don't get caught up in the gloom and doom. Stick with the simple facts.
These indicators are pretty simple. They show how the worst of the housing bust could be behind us already.
Good investing,
Steve

Busines Safe

2008-05-12T12:53:00.001-05:00

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) has launched BusinesSafe, a new anti-terror initiative designed to provide Florida businesses with domestic security information to protect assets and safeguard local communities.
The first of its kind in the nation, BusinesSafe allows members of the private sector to register for free electronic alerts from FDLE’s Office of Domestic Security. These notifications will provide breaking news, important safety tips and opportunities to learn about specific preparedness techniques. The alerts can be sent to email accounts, cellular phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs).
BusinesSafe also provides access to industry-specific fact sheets that will help businesses identify suspicious activities or potential threats. Participants can register with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to access information on protection from security breaches.
Security is a top priority for us and this new tool will help connect our company with important and relevant safety information.
I encourage you to access the program at www.fdle.state.fl.us and to sign up to receive the alerts.
Thank you,

Tips for Organizing Your Office

2008-05-07T15:08:00.001-05:00

Tips for Organizing Your Office
Using these tips for organizing your office you will become:
• more organized
• more focused
• more productive.
The reasons are simple. When things are organized you can find what you need. When you can find what you need you waste less time. When you stop wasting time you become more productive.
Whether you work from home or not, you can benefit from these tips for organizing your office.
Tips for Organizing Your Office
At Home
Organizing your home office presents a unique set of challenges. Clutter from the rest of your house can sneak into your office and you can become distracted by other household activities.
If you work from home, you need to set some ground rules.
1. Establish your working hours. Choose a time frame during which you will work each day. Try to keep this consistent, the way it would be if you worked away from home. By creating a schedule, you will make it easier for the rest of your family to respect your working hours.
2. Encourage respect of your schedule. Once you have established your work schedule, discourage interruptions while you are working. Develop a code to help remind younger children when you are not to be disturbed. Choose something easy for them to recognize like shutting the office door or setting an alarm clock.
If you are the only parent home with young children and need to work while your children are awake, establish quiet time while you are working.
o Put some chairs and a bookshelf in your office and allow your kids to sit in there with you and read quietly while you work.
o Provide puzzles or board games for them to play.
o Make work time for you fun for them. Make your kids some popcorn and pop in one of their favorite movies as a special treat.
o Spend lots of time interacting with your children prior to quiet. Encourage them to respect quiet time and make sure they understand that you would love to give them lots of attention, but only when quiet time is over.
3. Nothing goes in the office that doesn't belong in the office. Your home office is not a catch-all. Everything in your house needs a home and, when not being used, should be in it's home not in your office.
Next, determine what you will use your home office for and follow these tips for organizing your office accordingly.
• Do you run a business out of your home?
• Do you need to be able to meet with clients?
• Do you use your home office to maintain the family's records and finances?
• Will other family members need to use your office?
Once you have answered these questions, decide what kind of furniture you will need in the room to accomplish each task. A desk and chair are obvious, but will you need bookshelves, filing cabinets, or extra seating? Once you have the required furniture, find the best placement for it in your office.
Now determine the equipment you will need, such as a computer, telephone, fax machine and copy machine. Determine the best home for each piece of equipment based upon frequency of use.
Be sure you have storage space for supplies and merchandise. These items should be stored neatly and clearly labeled for ease of recognition. Again, keep frequency of use in mind when you are finding a home for your supplies and merchandise.
Finally, get your files organized. Whether your files are limited to your family's important papers or include extensive work-related documentation, they should be maintained in an orderly manner. A file cabinet with labeled folders kept in alphabetically order is usually a safe bet to keep all of your paperwork organized. Following these tips for organizing your office will help to ensure that you are as efficient as possible in your home office.
Tips for Organizing Your Office
At Work
If you work away from home, chances are that you will have to make do with the furniture, file space and storage that is provided for you. With these tips for organizing your office you can make any situation work.
Your system will depend upon the type of work you do.
• Do you need an in box?
• Do you need an out box?
• Do you need storage space for reference materials?
• Do you need space to spread out large projects?
Based upon the answers to these kinds of questions, determine what supplies you will need to do your job efficiently.
Next, think about the tasks that you regularly perform at work. Routine tasks require a system.
To follow up on outstanding items, use an accordion file with slots numbered 1 through 31. Make a photocopy of anything requiring follow up. Put the copy in the slot for the date that you will follow up on it. Each day, simply pull all of your copies from the current date slot and follow up. Make any necessary notes on the follow up copy and, if the item requires additional follow-up, place the copy back into the accordion for the appropriate date.
If you are receive verbal instructions, keep a note pad on your desk. Any time a verbal request is made, write it down. When a task is accomplished, cross it off. Take ten minutes at the end of every day to re-write your to-do list. The next morning you will have a neat and orderly list to start with. This will also help to clear your head so that when you leave work for the day, you can leave all of your worries behind, knowing that nothing will be forgotten.
Finally, create an ideal daily schedule. For example:
DAILY WORK SCHEDULE
TIME TASK
9:00-
10:00 Daily follow-up
10:00-
11:00 Return telephone calls and answer emails
11:00-
12:00 Prepare daily reports
12:00-
1:00 Lunch
1:00-
2:00 Return telephone calls and answer emails received during lunch
2:00-
3:30 Miscellaneous daily tasks
3:30-
4:30 Filing
4:30-
5:00 Reorganize to-do list

Post this schedule where it will be visible to you. Don't expect to strictly adhere to it, but having it as a guideline will help keep you focused. Following these tips for organizing your office will help to ensure that you are as efficient as possible at work.