live on the beach: From Copa Cabana to Miami Beach
- 02/22/11 11:40 AM
Florida REALTORS ® reports today that the Miami Herald article about wealthy Brazilians purchasing luxury properties, particularly high rise condominiums, in the Miami-Dade area in the past few months. There have been so many Brazilin buyers at Jade Ocean on Sunny Isle Beach in Miami-Dade, optional furnishings by Casa Fendi, that local delis, restaurants and service companies, like spas, have translated their offerings into Portuguese.Brazilian design companies are moving in and cashing in, like Ornare, a Brazilian-owned kitchen, bath and closet showroom in Miami’s Design District. “The dream of Brazilians is to have an Ornare closet”, said Mirtha Arrarian, a … (0 comments)
Artist Soirée at the Ritz Beach Hotel in Naples will be held this Thursday, February 22, at the Vanderbilt Ballroom from 5-7 pm, with the auction beginning at 6 pm, celebrating the new book "Artists in their Studios", by the landscape painter by Ruth Dwyer, with photographs by Crae Clements, featuring artists in the Naples Florida area. If you live in Southwest Florida, this is your opportunity to mix and mingle with SW Florida artists and also to meet nationally acclaimed painter Robert Vickrey, and see examples of … (0 comments)
We all know that our MAIN MLS photos need to makesuch a good impression that people want to look at the other photos. Melissa Tracey asks in “Styled, Staged & Sold” if a winter photo with gray skies and a lot of snow does really convey the impression you wish to give. Melissa reports that she decided to take a summer snapshot of her house when it was put on the market in the winter. Her home stood out from the competition. She had lots of showings and sold quickly. She believes … (3 comments)
live on the beach: Six Do-It-Yourself Updates That Can Increase Home’s Value By More Than $10,000
- 02/10/11 03:15 PM
Melissa Dittmann Tracey reports in “Styled, Staged and Sold (by REALTOR ® Magazine) that some simple do-it-yourself projects can increase the value of a for resale. 1.Cleaning and decluttering2. Cleaning all windows and curtains3. Rearranging furniture, bring in accessories to enhance rooms4. Inproving the 5. Repairing electrical or plumbing6. Replace or shampoo dirty carpetsRead the full article here … (4 comments)
live on the beach: Admin could faze out Fannie and Freddie
- 02/09/11 02:25 PM
WASHINGTON – Feb. 9, 2011 – A White Paper is expected to be released on Friday by President Obama with plans for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. White House officials have indicated that the Goverment will cease involvement in the two companies, but this is not going to happen fast.Getting rid of Fannie Mae and Freddie would make homeownership more difficult as less mortgages may be issued. Florida Realtors explains that the White Paper will report “three options:1. No government role beyond oversight through existing federal agencies.2. A Government backstop role for mortgages during times of crisis only.3. Government involvement at … (5 comments)
live on the beach: Is your password 123456?
- 02/04/11 02:33 PM
The New York Times published a great article by ASHLEE VANCE on January 2010, entitled "If your password is 123456 just make it Hackme", which is worth bringing to your attentoin a year later! She reports that “back at the dawn of the Web, the most popular account password was “12345, today, it’s one digit longer but hardly safer: “123456.” Internet users still have simple passwords, despite all the hackers. “I guess it’s just a genetic flaw in humans,” said Amichai Shulman, the chief technology officer at Imperva, which makes software for blocking hackers. “We’ve been following the same patterns since … (5 comments)
A lot of people in their 50s and 60s do not wish to sell their homes, although much too big for them, as that’s where they brought up their kids. In addition kids often encourage their parent(s) to keep a home that’s too big and too expensive because of the memories. If you have left home, let your parents know that … (0 comments)
live on the beach: "Boot Camp" for Floridian Condo Association Board Directors in Deerfield Beach
- 01/30/11 04:15 PM
Are you a board director of a condo, mobile home or timeshare association in Florida? There is still time to sign up for the BOOT CAMP for Board Directors!Last year, Florida legislators passed legislation requiring newly elected or appointed board members of such associations to complete a board certification course or, alternatively, to sign an affidavit stating that they have read Florida Statute 718 and all of their association's governing documents within 90 days of being elected. Donna DiMaggio Berger, executive director of the Community Advocacy Network (CAN), believes that such “dry” material, should be taught in a humorous and entertaining … (1 comments)
live on the beach: BEYOND THE PALE - where does it originate?
- 01/30/11 05:09 AM
I just used the expression "beyond the pale" in an Actve Rain Comment and suddenly wondered where or how it originated, so I checked. http:// worldwidewords.org tells me that is comes from the Latin word palus, a stake. "Pale is an old name for a pointed piece of wood driven into the ground and — by extension — to a barrier made of such stakes. Pole is from the same source, as are impale and palisade. This meaning has been around in English since the fourteenth century and by the end of that century pale had taken on various figurative senses … (4 comments)
live on the beach: The NAR American Attitudes About Homeownership Survey
- 01/30/11 03:36 AM
The National Association of REALTORS® recently published the results of its on-line poll, conducted by Harris, which put questions about homeowership to owners and renters. The results showed that 95 % of owners and 72% of renters believe that over a period of several years, it makes more sense to own a home, and 93% of owners surveyed would buy again.“Home owners and renters agree that home ownership benefits individuals and families, strengthens our communities, and is integral to our nation’s economy,” said National Association of Realtors® President Ron Phipps, broker-president of Phipps Realty in Warwick, R.I. “The results of this … (1 comments)
live on the beach: The new HOT trend in decorating: Photographic Art
- 01/30/11 02:24 AM
The Associated Press reported recently about a new “hot” trend in decorating: photographic art. “Photo art brings in elements of energy, atmosphere and emotion,” said designer Thom Felicia, one of the champions of photographic art. For websites to visit try photographic art artspan.com or Jen Bekman’s 20x200.com. She began the website in 2007 because:” There are a lot of people out there who want to sell their art and a lot of people who’d like to buy it. They just have a hard time finding each other”. Jen also gives good advice on how to choose photo art: “Start with prints … (0 comments)
live on the beach: Take all three GRI Course in ONE year in SW Florida!
- 01/28/11 01:27 AM
This year, the Naples Area Board of REALTORS® (NABOR) and the Bonita Estero Area REALTORS® (BEAR) are joining together to offer the opportunity to complete the GRI (Graduate of REALTOR® Institute) designation course in one year. These courses are traditionally only offered once a year and to have the opportunity to take all three courses in one year is truly special. Beginning with GRI 1 at NABOR on February 15th and continuing with GRI 2 (August at NABOR) and GRI 3 (May at BEAR) split between the two associations within this calendar year you will be able to complete your … (0 comments)
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