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What is a Housing Bubble? Is One Forming?

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Bubble

The recent talk of Greece and its financial challenges has some questioning whether the U.S. could also return to the crisis we experienced in 2008. Some are looking at the rise in real estate values and wondering whether we are in the middle of another housing price bubble.

What actually is a price bubble?

Here is the definition according to Jack M. Guttentag, Professor of Finance Emeritus at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania:

“A price bubble is a rise in price based on the expectation that the price will rise. Sooner or later something happens to erode confidence in continued price increases, at which point the bubble bursts and prices drop. What makes it a price bubble is that the cause of the price increase is an expectation that the price will increase, which sooner or later must reverse itself.”

Does Professor Guttentag believe we are in another housing bubble?

In a recent article, he explained:

“My view is that we are a long way from another house price bubble. Home buyers, lenders, investors and regulators now understand that a nationwide decline in house prices is possible — because we recently lived through one.”

What are home prices doing?

Though home values are continuing to appreciate, the acceleration of the increases has slowed to year-over-year numbers which reflect a healthy housing market. Here is a chart showing year-over-year appreciation since January of last year:

Case-Shiller

We can see that appreciation rates have dropped from double digit numbers to more normal rates of 5% or lower.

Bottom Line

We think Nick Timiraos of the Wall Street Journal put it best in a recent tweet:

“Predictions of a new national home price bubble look unfounded for now, according to data.”

Interested in selling your home or looking to buy one, give us a call today at 786.554.8063 or send us an email at george@georgeassal.com. We will look forward to hearing from you!

For Sellers – Two Graphs That Scream List Your House Today

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Supply-Demand

The spring and summer months have always been known as a very popular time for homebuyers to start the search for their dream home. This year is no different!

We all learned in school that when selling anything, you will get the most money if the demand for that item is high and the inventory of that item is low. It is the well-known Theory of Supply & Demand.

If you are thinking of selling your home, here are two graphs that strongly suggest that the time is now. Here is why…

DEMAND

Foot-Traffic
According to NAR, “Foot Traffic has a strong correlation with future contracts and home sales, so it can be viewed as a peek ahead at sales trends two to three months into the future.”

According to research at the National Association of Realtors (NAR), buyer activity this year has far outpaced the same months in 2014. Purchasers who are ready, willing and able to buy are in the market at great numbers.

SUPPLY

The most recent Existing Home Sales Report from NAR revealed that the current supply of housing inventory is at a 5.1 month supply, which remains below the 6-months necessary for a normal market.

Buyer demand is far outpacing the supply of homes available for sale.
Buyer demand is far outpacing the supply of homes available for sale.

Bottom Line

Listing your house for sale when demand is high and supply is low will guarantee the offers made will truly reflect the true value of your property. Interested in selling your home or looking to buy one, give us a call today at 786.554.8063 or send us an email at george@georgeassal.com. We will look forward to hearing from you!

Silver Bluff: One of Miami’s best-kept secrets

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Most of the time, when I recommend looking at places in Silver Bluff to my customers, I’m met with a blank stare. A little known area right outside Coral Gables off Coral Way (zip code 33133 & 33145), Silver Bluff is one of the best and most affordable residential neighborhoods in the city. Often grouped in with the Gables, Brickell Hammocks or The Roads, there are few “secrets” in the Miami real estate market, and this is most certainly one of them.

As I mentioned in my last post, I would never sell a house I wouldn’t live in, and just as importantly, I would never sell a house in a neighborhood I wouldn’t live in either. So that would be why Silver Bluff comes so highly recommended by me—I live there! Therefore you have a relator’s stamp of approval of the area, and let me tell you a few reasons why…

  1. Proximity: Silver Bluff is close to everything in Miami. Only 5-7 minutes to Coconut Grove, 10-15 minutes to Brickell and Coral Gables and 15-20 minutes to South Beach.
  2. Safety: The area has a low crime rating.
  3. Neighborhood: Silver Bluff is known as being a calm, residential area with lots of trees, ample parking and families. Relationships with neighbors are important here, and there is a real sense of community.
  4. Investment: Buying a house here is a good investment with growing property values, and a much lower selling price than other areas in Miami. This is a great place for a first investment or first home because you get a lot of bang for your buck. Being so close to so many desirable areas in the city, there is only room to grow.
  5. Schools: There are three schools in the area, and the Silver Bluff Elementary School is graded “A”—perfect for all the families in the area.
    Source: http://www.city-data.com/
    Source: http://www.city-data.com/

    If the above still hasn’t convinced you and you would like to check out the neighborhood yourself, I’ll let you in on a few local Silver Bluff “secrets”:

    For wine lovers, Xixón Cafe , hip & modern Spanish eatery with multiple levels including dining room, wine cellar & bakery/deli, located on 21st and Coral Way, El Carajo is a must. Hidden away inside the BP gas station on 17th Ave and US1, they serve Spanish tapas and have an amazing bakery. At the Mighty Gastropub on Coral Way and 22nd Ave, they serve craft beer, sausages with an ambiance you can’t beat. Daily Bread Marketplace, boasts some of Miami’s best Mediterranean Food, and is located on 24 Ave and 27th St. And if you’re looking a twist on a Latin classic, Casabe 305 offers an incredible fare of Caribbean-Venezuelan Fusion and is located on Coral Way and 17th Ave.

    All Restaurants

    So whether as a place to grab a great bite, an investment, a first home to raise your family or just as someone seeking refuge from the city and its high rent, Silver Bluff is a fantastic option. In fact, if you are interested in taking a look, I would be more than happy to meet you at any of our local spots and discuss your options and the places currently available.

    My goal is to help you, even if we aren’t in direct contact, and I’d love to hear from you with any questions.

    Interested in Selling, Buying, Renting, Investing in Brickell, Downtown, Coconut Grove, Coral Gables, Silver Bluff, Doral and surrounding areas? Call me 786.554.8063 or email me George@GeorgeAssal.com, I can help, because working with someone who knows the numbers and area is crucial.George Assal PA

BRICKELL ROADS TOWNHOUSE – FOR SALE

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*** LOCATION – LOCATION – LOCATION ***
240 SW 15th RD #105 Miami FL 33133

240 SW 15TH RD - GARAGE
240 SW 15TH RD – GARAGE

Rare opportunity to own this unique 3 story corner unit with laminated wood floors, open kitchen, 2 assigned parking spaces, full bedroom at the entry level, walk-in closets, high ceilings with interesting angled walls, (not your typical boring rectangular room), this unit has the largest backyard, centrally located, pet friendly and gated community, most important… seller motivated. Asking $350,000.00

LIVING / KITCHEN
LIVING / KITCHEN

Living Kitchen

Interested in Selling, Buying, Renting in Brickell, Downtown, Coconut Grove, Coral Gables and surrounding areas? Call me 786.554.8063 or email me George@GeorgeAssal.com,  I can help, because working with someone who knows the numbers and area is crucial.

Contact me for more info
Contact me for more info

Residences by ARMANI CASA – Sunny Isles

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The Related Group and Dezer Development joined forces to bring to Sunny Isles Beach, “The Residences by Armani Casa by Cesar Pelli” The most anticipated Ultra Luxury project in Miami. Only 261 families will have the honor to call the Residences by Armani Casa their home.

The Residences by Armani Casa Miami
The Residences by Armani Casa Miami

 

Highlights

.- The brand: First US project by Armani casa

.- Location: Sunny isles Beach

.- The Archited: Cesar Pelli

.- Units: 260 units

.- Prices: starting from $1 million

.- Completion date: 2017

.- Floor Plan: 5 units per floor, the higher the unit the bigger it is.

The Residences by Armani Casa Miami
The Residences by Armani Casa Miami – Oceanfront Living

The Residences by Armani Casa in Sunny Isles Miami are spacious units from 1358 Sq.Ft to 3,756 Sq.Ft and ranging in price between $1,000 – $1,500 per Sq.Ft

Floor plan

Residences By Armani General Floor Plan
Residences By Armani General Floor Plan

 

  • Unit A at Level 4  (Units at a Higher level offer more Sq.Ft)
    • 4 Bedrooms + Den / 5,5 Bathrooms
      • Interior Sq.Ft: 3,326  (At level 28→ 3,527 Sq.Ft  and No den –  At level 54 → 3,756 Sq.Ft)
        •  Balcony Sq.Ft: 1,440   (At level 28→ 1,487 Sq.Ft  –  At level 54 →1,539 Sq.Ft)
          •  Total Sq.Ft: 4,766
Residences By Armani Floor Plan A
Residences By Armani Floor Plan A
  • Unit B 
    • 4 Bedrooms + Den / 5,5 Bathrooms
      • Interior Sq.Ft: 3,027
        • Balcony Sq.Ft: 898
          • Total Sq.Ft: 3,925
Residences By Armani Casa Floor Plan B
Residences By Armani Casa Floor Plan B
  • Unit C
    • 3 Bedrooms + Den / 3,5 Bathrooms
      • Interior Sq.Ft: 2,712
        • Balcony Sq.Ft: 762
          • Total Sq.Ft: 3,474
Residences by Armani Casa Floor Plan C
Residences by Armani Casa Floor Plan C

 

  • Unit D (Units at a Higher level offer more Sq.Ft)
    • 2 Bedrooms + Den / 2,5 Bathrooms
      • Interior Sq.Ft: 1,816    (At level 28→1944 Sq.Ft  –  At level 54 →: 2089 Sq.Ft)
        • Balcony Sq.Ft: 491  (At level 28→496 Sq.Ft  and No den-  At level 54 →502 Sq.Ft)
          • Total Sq.Ft: 2,307
Residences By Armani Casa Floor Plan D
Residences By Armani Casa Floor Plan D
  • Unit E  (Units at a Higher level offer more Sq.Ft)
    • 2 Bedrooms / 2 Bathrooms
      • Interior Sq.Ft: 1,358   (At level 28→ 1,476 Sq.Ft  –  At level 54→1,610 Sq.Ft)
        • Balcony Sq.Ft: 941  (At level 28→1,013 Sq.Ft  and No den-  At level 54 →1,094Sq.Ft)
          • Total Sq.Ft: 2,299
Residences By Armani Casa Floor Plan E
Residences By Armani Casa Floor Plan E

 

Note: Units C, D and E models are all taken however back ups for these units are accepted

Price Ranges

Residence by Armani Casa - Price Range - ** Prices and availability are subject to change without notice.
Residence by Armani Casa – Price Range –
** Prices and availability are subject to change without notice.

 

For more info regarding Residence by Armani Casa contact me directly

Contact me for more info

 

 

The Roads one of Miami’s most prestigious neighborhoods.

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The Roads is a neighborhood of Miami in Miami-Dade County, it is a triangular area located south of SW 11th Street, between SW 12th Avenue and SW 15th Road, just west of Brickell.

The Roads is known for its old homes, historic public schools, and its tree-covered streets. The Roads is very close to Downtown and Brickell, but is a historically residential neighborhood. It is also off the normal Miami street grid, and thus all the streets in The Roads are named roads, instead of streets and avenues, as is the case in the rest of Miami. Since 1986, the Miami Roads Neighborhood Civic Association has worked on a variety of projects to support the neighborhood.

The Roads neighborhood is served by the Miami Metrorail at the Vizcaya station to the south and by the Brickell station to the north.

The Roads
The Roads – triangular area located south of SW 11th Street, between SW 12th Avenue and SW 15th Road, just west of Brickell

 

The Roads, originally called “Brickell Hammock” was designed, platted and developed by Mary Brickell in January 1922 days before her death. Mary Brickell had designed the Roads as a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood, with wide streets with median parkways and roundabouts with native Miami plants. Mary Brickell gave the streets, parkways, sidewalks, and electric lighting to the City of Miami in 1922. All the properties were sold in a single day on February 1, 1923.

feb-jul - for sale- sold- pend - The Roads
For Sale – Sold – Pending Sale

The Roads is also an entire off-grid plan section of the city of Miami. The streets and avenues in Miami-Dade County are aligned to a grid, where streets run east-west and avenues run north-south. The roads that run from Broadway to SW 32nd Road are roughly 45 degrees out of alignment with the grid-plan. The avenues running perpendicular to these roads are also 45 degrees out of alignment with their respective avenues coming from the north. The avenues in this section run northeast-southwest rather than the standard north-south that the ones in the rest of the county follow. This causes an abrupt change in numerical designation as they cross SW 12th Avenue (SW 5th Avenue turns west and becomes SW 18th Street, SW 4th Avenue turns west and becomes SW 20th Street, SW 2nd Avenue turns west and becomes SW 22nd Street, etc.) The most well known example of this confusion is when historic Coral Way being SW 3rd Avenue, makes a 45 degree turn onto SW 22nd Street as it crosses over SW 12th Avenue.

price per sqft
Average Sold Price

 

The Roads is served by Metrobus and Trolley throughout the area, and by the Miami Metrorail at:

  • Brickell (SW 11th Street and SW 1st Avenue)
  • Vizcaya (SW 32nd Road and US1)

Metrorail has stops throughout Miami with service to Greater Miami and Miami International Airport, all Miami-Dade County bus lines, Tri-Rail and Amtrak. The main bus station in Downtown is located next to the Arsht Center at the Adrienne Arsht Center Station.

ADOM & SP-LP The roads
Average days on Market

 

 

For more information about The Roads please contact me directly

Contact me for more info
Contact me for more info

 

Park Grove in Coconut Grove.

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Park Grove in Coconut Grove.

Most ambitious architecture/project to date

The New Park Grove Condo Project is selling quickly; this luxury condo project is located in Coconut Grove more specific in the middle of a newly developed waterfront park. The condo project has 3 towers with great investment values.

PARK GROVE FLOOR PLAN

Designed by OMA and rem KOOLHAAS, the striking towers of PARK GROVE set a new architectural standard in the quiet seaside enclave of Coconut Grove.

stunning-towers

Park Grove Residences will blow everyone expectations with their high-end waterfront project. With amenities that will take you to the next level and to better your experience, The Park grove Condo offers pools, fitness, yoga, a private chef, yes a private chef and much more.

daytime

As the first Luxury Condo in Coconut Grove to be built after Grove at Grand Bay, makes this project most ambitious architecture/project to date

airy-open-kitchens

sun-filled-living-rooms

Contact me For more info about Park Grove and any other projects / new constructions in Miami or South Florida Business card