**Greetings from Branon Edwards and Jelena Panfilova
from Coldwell Banker in sunny Florida!

Happy Almost Halloween! It may be fall in New England, but you won't find many
Floridians raking leaves this time of year, thank goodness. Instead, we're
enjoying the
sunshine and headed to the beach whenever time permits.

We have had some calls and emails asking about hurricanes - here in Miami, we
usually
think they're referring to the University of Miami football team. But
seriously, Miami was
blessed and had no damage from ANY of the hurricanes and frankly, neither did
the
Florida Keys. If anything, Miami's tourism revenue should increase this year as
many
snowbirds flock further South of the damaged areas like West Palm Beach.

Of course, a special thanks to everyone who referred customers to us recently.
We
consider referrals to be the most sincere compliment we can receive. Thanks to
you, we've
been the top-referring agents in our office for 6 months running!

As promised, our October newsletter will debunk some of the most common myths
about
credit scores and what you can do to better them. Thanks to Liz Pulliam Weston
from MSN
Money and Mike Lutz of Coldwell Banker Mortgage for allowing us to bring this
great
article series to you.

-------------------------------------------------
CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to Alexander from California on his purchase of a
preconstruction 2-
bedroom oceanfront condominium in Trump Towers by the Sea. in Sunny Isles
Beach.
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/preconstruction/trumptowers.htm

Congratulations to Galina and Leon from California on their purchase of a
preconstruction
2-bedroom oceanfront condominium in Trump Towers by the Sea in Sunny Isles
Beach.
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/preconstruction/trumptowers.htm

Congratulations to William from Jacksonville on his purchase of a 1-bedroom
condominium in Miami Beach Condo-Conversion 401BLU.

Congratulations to Bjorn and Miho from California on their purchase of a
preconstruction
1-bedroom convertible condominium in Terrazas River Park Village on the Miami
River.
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/preconstruction/terrazas.htm

Congratulations to Jim from Fort Myers on his purchase of a vacant building lot
in Burnt
Store.
-------------------------------------------------
CURRENT LISTINGS

FOR RENT: Seasonal Rental on the Beach
Immaculately furnished 2-bedroom/2-bath luxury penthouse in 2080 South Ocean
Drive
on Hallandale Beach with direct Ocean and Intracoastal Waterway views. Available
monthly
for $6,000/month.
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/rental/hallandale-beach.htm

FOR SALE:
$50,000 Below Market for Quick Sale! 2-bedroom/2-bath/2-balcony luxury
preconstruction condominium unit in Ocean 4. 15th floor with direct West
Intracoastal
Waterway and Sunset views! Oceanfront building in Sunny Isles Beach. Current
market
price is $650,900 - asking $599,900.
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/preconstruction/ocean4-1506.htm

FOR SALE:
REDUCED from $899,000 to $895,000 - huge vacant building lot in exclusive Punta
Gorda
Isles. Nearly one-half acre with 50-ft seawall and direct Gulf sailboat access.
New concrete
boat dock - lot cleared and ready to build your 3-car garage pool home with
beautiful
sunset views.
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/pgi.htm

FOR SALE:
Vacant Building Lots in Ocala, FL. Beautiful single-family homesites in Silver
Springs
Shores, a growing area of Ocala. Lots starting at just $15,000.
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/ocala.htm

-------------------------------------------------
NEW - NEW - NEW - NEW - NEW - NEW - NEW - NEW - NEW

COMING SOON TO OUR WEBSITE BUT RESERVING NOW!
NEW Condo-Conversion in Miami Beach
Located on West Avenue in the heart of South Beach with spectacular amenities, 3
beautiful swimming pools with spectacular views, 2 Jacuzzis, a poolside cafe, 2
on-site
markets, an on-site beauty salon and spa, a 6,000 square foot health club with
aerobics
room, cardio-theater equipment, circuit training and free weights, a business
center with
private conference room, a club room/media room, valet parking and dry cleaning
services, and boat docks!

Now taking reservations. $5,000 at reservation. 5% or 10% at contract depending
on
whether it will be a primary residence or investment.

Price range:
Studio $140,000-$235,000
1-bedroom/1-bath $196,000-$306,000
1-bedroom/1.5-bath $140,000-$285,000
2-bedroom/2-bath $290,000-$440,000
-------------------------------------------------

THE EVER-ELUSIVE CREDIT SCORE
FICO SCORES - PART 2 OF 2

There's a lot of misinformation being propagated about what does and doesn't
hurt your credit score, and much of it is coming from sources who should
know better: mortgage lenders.

Now, let me say first that I've worked with several excellent lenders who
really knew their stuff and kept up to date, not only on loan trends but on
the information that's available about credit scoring. That's important,
because the FICO credit score, in its various permutations, is used in
three-quarters of all mortgage lending.

But what I heard from several lenders responding to my recent column, " 8
big <http://moneycentral.msn.com/articles/banking/basics/9969.asp> mortgage
mistakes and how to avoid them," was the kind of bad advice that can cost
you money and keep you from getting the best loans.

-------------------------------------------------
50 BISCAYNE - Update
So you missed the opening of 50 Biscayne in August?
No worries, there are still some excellent units still available and we've got
them at
ORIGINAL PRICE!

Studio West View from $240,900 to $262,900
1-bedroom West View from $315,900 to $378,900
2-bedroom West View from $456,900 to $544,900
2-bedroom BAY VIEW from $563,900 to $645,900
3-bedroom BAY VIEW from $668,900 to $809,900

50 BISCAYNE PROJECT OVERVIEW
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/preconstruction/50biscayne

50 BISCAYNE FLOORPLANS
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/preconstruction/50-biscayne
-------------------------------------------------

Check out your options. Find the best rate BEFORE you borrow.
Coldwell Banker Mortgage 1-888-240-2236

Let's debunk some of those myths, shall we?

If your mortgage broker gives you any of the following advice, take a tip
from me: Find a new broker.

CLOSING ACCOUNTS CAN HELP YOUR CREDIT SCORE
No, no, no. For the umpteenth time: Closing accounts can never help your
credit score, and may hurt it.

Every time I write this, I get more e-mail from people who say their
mortgage lenders told them exactly the opposite. It's true that having too
many open accounts can hurt your score. But once you've opened the accounts,
you've done the damage. You can't repair it by shutting the account, and you
may actually make things worse.

The credit score looks at the difference between your available credit and
what you're using. Shut down accounts, and your total available credit
shrinks, making your balances loom larger, which typically hurts your score.

The score also tracks the length of your credit history. Shutting older
accounts can also make your credit history look younger than it actually is,
which can hurt your score.

Rather than closing accounts, pay down your credit card debt. That's
something that actually can and usually will improve your score.

-------------------------------------------------
THE PLAZA ON BRICKELL
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/preconstruction/theplaza.htm

Some of those elusive Plaza units have become available again, here's your
chance:
A models $357,900 to $487,900
B models $348,900 to $357,900
C models $372,900 to $484,900
D models $482,900 to $500,900
E models $351,900 to $361,900
F models $460,900 to $497,900
Penthouses $991,900 to $1,165,900
-------------------------------------------------

CHECKING YOUR FICO SCORE CAN HURT YOUR CREDIT
Unfortunately, I heard this one from a mortgage broker who is otherwise
pretty smart. He was confused about which type of inquiries hurt your score
and which don't.

Applying for new credit is generally what hurts your score. Ordering a copy
of your own credit report or credit score doesn't count. Those mass
inquiries made by credit card lenders, who are trying to decide whether to
send you an offer for a pre-approved card, also aren't going to hurt you,
either -- unless you actually take them up on their offers.

If you want to minimize the damage from credit inquiries, make sure that
when you shop for a mortgage you do so in a fairly short period of time. The
FICO score treats multiple inquiries in a 14-day period as just one inquiry
and ignores all inquiries made within 30 days prior to the day the score is
computed.

For most people, one inquiry will generally knock no more than 5 points off
a score (and scores typically run from 300 to 850, so that's not a big
percentage).

-------------------------------------------------
EVERGLADES ON THE BAY
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/preconstruction/everglades.htm

Now Selling the North Tower:
Line 2 1-bedroom/2-bath+Den from $800,000
Line 3 2-bedroom/2-bath from $850,000
Line 4 1-bedroom/1-bath from $325,000
Line 5 1-bedroom/1-bath from $385,000
Line 6 1-bedroom/1-bath from $308,000
Line 7 1-bedroom/1-bath from $390,000
Line 8 1-bedroom/2-bath+Den from $424,000
Line 9 2-bedroom/2-bath from $505,000
Line 10 1-bedroom/2-bath+Den from $335,000
-------------------------------------------------

CREDIT COUNSELING WILL HURT YOUR SCORE AS MUCH AS A BANKRUPTCY
The current FICO formula ignores any reference to credit counseling that may
be in your file. That's been true for the last three years, after
researchers at Fair Isaac, the company that created the FICO scoring
system, noticed that people getting credit counseling didn't default on
their debts any more often than anyone else.

Your ability to get a loan could still be hurt by credit counseling,
however. Your current lenders may report you as late, because you're not
paying what you originally owed or because your credit counselor isn't
sending your payments in on time. Late payments do hurt your credit score.

Lenders consider other factors besides credit scores in making their
decisions, as well. The factors they look at can vary widely. Most want to
know your income, for example. Some want to know how much savings you have
or whether you're a homeowner. Some will find credit counseling disturbing,
while others see it as a good sign.

-------------------------------------------------
TRUMP TOWERS BY THE SEA - Just a few units left!!
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/preconstruction/trumptowers.htm

A - 37 floor - $1,912,900
B - 17 floor - $1,026,900
B - 37 floor - $1,160,900
C - 17 floor - $1,027,900
Cmod - 29th floor - $955,900
D - 17 floor - $1,191,900 (North)
-------------------------------------------------

The mortgage lenders who don't like credit counseling generally treat its
enrollees the same as if they had filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Chapter
13 is the kind of bankruptcy that requires a repayment plan and is looked at
somewhat more favorably than Chapter 7, which allows you to erase many of
your debts. You might still be able to qualify for a loan from one of these
lenders, although your interest rates will almost certainly be higher than
if you had perfect credit.

If you plan to get a mortgage soon, and you're not already behind on your
debts, it's probably smart to steer clear of credit counseling. If you're
already in trouble, however, a good credit counseling agency might be able
to help you get back on track.

-------------------------------------------------
Terzetto at Aventura:
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/preconstruction/trilogy-at-aventura.htm

Terzetto (formerly Trilogy at Aventura) is now selling condos and is still
taking
reservations for their Lofts and Villa Townhomes. Prices are only going to go
up. Call us
to reserve a unit now!

Condos
SELLING NOW from $444,000

Villa Townhouses: <<--- GREAT VALUE!!
From the High $400,000s for the 2-Bedroom + Den to mid-$500,000s for the
3-bedroom
+ Den

Lofts:
$375,000 to over $700,000

TIMELINE:
$20k reservation (now)
Remainder of 10% at contract (in a few months)
10% at groundbreaking (after the 1st of the year)
80% at closing
-------------------------------------------------

YOUR FICO ISN'T THE ONLY SCORE YOU NEED TO CHECK
This came from lenders who thought the FICO score is offered by only one of
the three credit bureaus: Equifax.

In reality, all three of the bureaus offer FICO credit scores using the
formula developed by Fair Isaac, but they each give the scores a different
name. At Equifax <http://www.equifax.com/> , the FICO is known as the Beacon
credit score. At TransUnion <http://www.transunion.com> , it's called
Empirica. At Experian <http://www.experian.com/> , it goes by the unwieldy
title of "Experian/Fair Isaac Risk Model."

Complicating matters further is that you'll probably have three different
scores from the three different bureaus, largely because the bureaus don't
all share the same data. One bureau may list more accounts for you than
another, for example, and the differences (in types of accounts, payment
histories, credit limits and balances) will be reflected in the score that
bureau computes for you.

-------------------------------------------------
THINKING ABOUT SELLING YOUR HOME?

Did you know that we offer a WRITTEN GUARANTEE of our services?
In addition to all the services you'd expect from a Realtor, you'll also get
extensive
marketing exposure, internet savvy marketing, TALKING HOUSE, and a host of other
services you might not expect.

The best part is, it won't cost you a penny more.
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/guarantee.htm
-------------------------------------------------

Because of those differences, it does make sense to pull and examine your
credit reports from all three bureaus before you apply for a big loan like a
mortgage. Many mortgage lenders take the middle score from the three bureaus
when making their decisions, so fixing errors in all three reports before
you shop for a loan is smart.

You can get all three of your FICO scores from myFico.com
<http://www.myfico.com/> .

But the ways you improve your credit score are the same in any case:
CORRECT ERRORS
PAY YOUR BILLS ON TIME
PAY DOWN YOUR DEBT
AND APPLY FOR CREDIT SPARINGLY

We hope that helps clear up some of the misconceptions surrounding Credit
Scores. If you
need another copy of Part I of this series, send us an email and we'll be glad
to send it to
you: mailto:Branon@...?subject=[INVESTFLORIDAREALTY]-RESEND-
SEPT

Of course, if you or anyone you know are interested in buying or selling real
estate here in
Florida, we hope that you will keep us in mind. As always, thank you for the
opportunity
to earn your business.

All the best,

--Branon A. Edwards, Licensed Florida Realtor®, ePRO
--Jelena Panfilova, Licensed Florida Real Estate Agent

Branon Direct: 786-417-4910
mailto:Branon@...

Jelena Direct: 786-417-4911
mailto:Jelena@...

Our Private Fax: 786-524-5747

VISIT OUR WEBSITE:
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com

---- Office Information ----

Coldwell Banker® Residential Real Estate, Inc.
328 Crandon Blvd, Suite 127
Key Biscayne, FL 33149 USA

Is Your House a TALKING HOUSE?
http://www.MiamiTalkingHouse.com