**We saw this article and thought it might be of interest.

We've also got lots of great Florida-related real estate articles on our blog:
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.BlogSpot.com

Visit our Website:
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings

-- Begin Article --

Closings at downtown Miami condos have gone better than many expected
Copyright © 2008, The Miami Herald, Matthew Haggman. Distributed by McClatchy-
Tribune Information Services

MIAMI – Nov. 24, 2008 – Miami's latest building boom is creating 22,000
condominium
units in the city's urban center, more than double the number built in the past
40 years.

But the question everyone wants answered amid the real estate downturn is: How
many
have actually sold?

Seventy percent have found a buyer, according to a new study by
condovultures.com, a
real estate consultancy. But nearly a quarter of the condos – including some of
the largest
projects – built during the boom will be delivered over the next several months.

So far, 17,299 condos have been finished and 12,169 have closed at an average
price of
$405,966 per unit, adding up to total sales of nearly $5 billion in the greater
downtown
Miami area, which includes the Brickell, central business district and Midtown
neighborhoods.

Those sales are better than many observers expected for a downtown area often
viewed as
ground zero for real estate speculation and excess, and it highlights Miami's
ongoing
urban revitalization, fueled by people, builders and investors returning to the
city center.

However, by year's end, another 3,999 units are set to hit the market, and
another 1,439
after that.

"South Florida developers have to be excited by the fact that more than two out
of three
downtown condo units have closed successfully," said Peter Zalewski, principal
at
condovultures.com in Bal Harbour. "But some giant projects are coming, and
they're going
to hit like a hurricane – the only question is what category storm?"

The massive projects include the three-tower, 1,800-unit ICON Brickell built
between the
bay and Brickell Avenue, which starts closings this month. The 342-unit EPIC
rising
alongside the Miami River also will start closings soon. Also coming are the
530-unit Mint
at Riverfront, 459-unit Infinity at Brickell, and 346-unit Paramount Bay.

"We are bullish," said Miroslav Mladenovic, vice president of Cabi Development,
which
started closings Thursday on its 848-unit Everglades on the Bay project along
Biscayne
Boulevard. "Comparable projects to ours have fared well; we don't see why we
can't fare
the same."

A condo hotbed

Zalewski's report, culled from a review of property records ending Sept. 30,
covers the
area between the Julia Tuttle and Rickenbacker causeways, and from I-95 to
Biscayne Bay.

This swath of land has seen more development than any corner in Florida and is a
closely
watched sector in the broader housing market.

A month ago, the last of dozens of cranes erecting high-rise condos across
downtown
finally came down, signaling the end of the frenetic and historic boom. With few
new
residential projects planned, the next step is completing the structures and
getting the
units sold.

The new batch of condos is hitting the market as credit remains tight and
existing home
prices continue to fall due to a large inventory of unsold homes throughout
South Florida.

Home sales, however, have picked up in recent months.

While many downtown builders pre-sold all of their units – buyers were typically
required
to plunk down 20 percent deposits, though some builders asked for 30 percent –
the
ongoing concern is how many buyers will ultimately come to the closing table and
pay the
remaining 70 to 80 percent.

A cottage industry of lawyers attempting to get buyers out of pre-construction
contracts
has emerged.

Despite ongoing buzz about vulture funds trolling the real estate market for
bargains, the
closings have largely occurred without such funds swooping in to buy up blocks
of condos
at a discount. The rare examples of such bulk deals have been developer-led.
Related
Group, for example, partnered with Philadelphia investor Lubert-Adler this year
to spend
$36 million on 146 units at 50 Biscayne, the 528-unit Biscayne Boulevard condo
that's
now 100 percent closed, according to the condovulture.com report.

But that could change as the new round of closings for big condo projects begins
at a time
when developers face mounting pressures from lenders eager to see construction
loans
paid back. Indeed, the coming units could portend better deals for buyers and
added
pressure on downtown builders with outstanding loans and unsold units.

Hit and miss

So far the success of individual downtown buildings varies, according to the
condovulture.com report.

For instance, the two-tower 528-unit One Miami at the mouth of the Miami River
and
103-unit Loft I are 100 percent closed. The 348-unit Brickell on the River north
tower is
98 percent closed. The 200-unit Ten Museum Park on Biscayne Boulevard and the
454-
unit south tower at Quantum on the Bay next to Margaret Pace Park are 89 percent
closed.

Turning to rentals

Yet, as of Sept. 30, the report found, the 635-unit Opera Tower, a few blocks
north of the
performing arts center, had closed only 35 percent of its units; the 498-unit
Ivy along the
Miami River had closed 32 percent; and the 91-unit Flagler First along Flagler
Street just
28 percent.

Tibor Hollo, chairman of Florida East Coast Realty and builder of Opera Tower,
said he has
started renting units there.

"It's a tough market, but we are getting closings," said Inigo Ardid, vice
president of Key
International, who is building Ivy. He said closings at the condo tower have
risen to 42
percent since Zalewski finished his report.

"It is a slow process. Instead of closing buildings in 40 or 45 days, it is
taking six to eight
months or longer," Ardid said.

-- End Article --

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us. As always, thank
you for the
opportunity to earn your business.

All the best,

--Dr. Branon A. Edwards, ePRO
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker and Mortgage Broker
Direct Phone:  786-417-4910
Private Fax:  786-524-5747
mailto:Branon@...

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

VISIT OUR BLOG:
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.BlogSpot.com

Real Estate Office:
Aqualand Realty, Inc
8359 Stringfellow Road
Saint James City, FL 33956

**Hot South Florida Properties For Sale:

Our Listings
http://www.LiquidHomes.com

Foreclosures & Short Sales:
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/short-sale.htm

Ocean 4
17201 Collins Ave, #1506, Sunny Isles Beach, FL
5-star oceanfront building
2-bed/2-bath/2-balconies
West-facing unit with city/intracoastal viewss
Owner's break-even = $750,000+
Asking $635,000 - Includes 1-Year Prepaid Membership to Freedom Boat Club
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/ocean-4.htm

401 Blu
601 69th Street, #311, Miami Beach
1-bed/1-bath
Newly renovated building, unit almost new inside
Walk to beach, restaurants, shopping, Publix
Tenant in place at $1200
Developer close-out units from $225,000
Asking $199,900
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/401-blu.htm

Single Family Home in Mirror Lakes
1030 NW 75th Terr, Plantation, FL
4-bed/2-bath/2-car/pool
Unbelievably renovated, new roof, new pool cage, new kitchen, new wood
floors (not laminate)
Corner lot with privacy wall and landscaping
Well below market value
$335,900
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/mirror-lakes.htm

Single Family Home in Hollywood Hills
3701 Washington Street, Hollywood, FL
3-bed/2-bath/2-car
Remodeled with new kitchen, original terrazzo, Florida room, fenced yard
Below Appraisal with tenant in place at $1750
$373,900
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/3701-washington.htm

Hollywood Towers on the Broadwalk
3111 N Ocean Dr, #902, Hollywood Beach, FL
1-bed/1-bath with Balcony
Direct Ocean & Intracoastal Views, on-site restaurant & store
Lowest price in the building
$249,500
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/hollywood-towers.htm

Meadowbrook Towers
610 NE 12th Ave, #305, Hallandale, FL
1-bed/1-bath/enclosed balcony
Very nice condo in 55+ community
Lowest price in the building
$129,900
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/meadowbrook-towers.htm

Private Island Estate (SW Florida)
4981 Galt Island Ave, Saint James City, FL
3-bed/2-full bath/2-half-bath/3-car/elevator/workshop/pool/boat dock
with lift
0.70-Acre lot on Secluded Private Gated Galt Island (South end of Pine
Island)
Was $2.5 Million
Asking $2.2 Million - Bring Offers
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/galt-island-home.htm

5-Acre Building Lot on Pine Island
4094 Sunshine Blvd, Saint James City, FL
5 Acres, frontage on 3 sides
Build or divide
$316,000
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/sunshine-blvd.htm

Cashflowing 4-Plex in Virginia
128 White St, Danville, VA
Four 1-bed/1-bath apartments
Below market rents
Offered at almost 8% Cap Rate
$75,000
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/danville-4plex.htm

1129.33 Acres - Zoned AG
Evans Road, LaBelle, FL (Hendry County)
Mostly cleared, currently vegetable farm
Easy access to Hwy-29 & Hwy-80
4 Families - Parcels from 90 to 1129.33 Acres
Priced from $20,000 Per Acre
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/792-labelle.htm

Campsite Lot - Walk to Suwannee River
SW 14th Place, Bell, FL
50x135 Campsite Lot, Power on Property
Seller will TRADE or Finance!
$19,999
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/bell.htm

2.26 Acres - Zoned AG
Just off CR-337, Trenton, FL
Currently cleared and fenced as pasture
Long-term opportunity, Seller will TRADE or Finance!
$25,999
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/trenton.htm


Seasonal Rentals:

2080 S Ocean Drive, Upper Penthouse 1, Hallandale Beach, FL
2-bed/2.5-bath/wraparound balcony
SouthWest Corner, Top Floor, Ocean/Intracoastal Views
Turn-Key Furnished, Rents Monthly
Rates from $3750/month
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/rental/2080-ocean-dr.htm

2080 S Ocean Drive, Lower Penthouse 10, Hallandale Beach, FL
2-bed/2-bath/balcony
Faces North - great ocean views
Turn-Key Furnished, Rents Monthly
Rates from $3500/month
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/rental/2080-ocean-dr.htm

101 N Ocean Drive, #438, Hollywood Beach, FL
Largest Studio Floorplan in the Building
Faces East - Direct Ocean View
Turn-Key Furnished, Rents Monthly or Weekly
Weekly @ $999/week, Monthly from $1600/Month
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/rental/hollywood-beach.htm

Please visit our website or contact us for more details. Thank you for
the opportunity to earn your business.

All the best,

--Branon A. Edwards, ePRO
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker and Mortgage Broker
Direct Phone:  786-417-4910
Private Fax:  786-524-5747
mailto:Branon@...

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

VISIT OUR BLOG:
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.BlogSpot.com

Real Estate Office:
Aqualand Realty, Inc
8359 Stringfellow Road
Saint James City, FL 33956

Mortgage Office:
Mainland Mortgage Corp
2803 E Commercial Blvd, Suite 210
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308

Thank you for the opportunity to
EARN your business.

**Greetings from Branon Edwards and Jelena Panfilova
from Aqualand Realty in sunny South Florida!

We hope all is well with you and that you've been enjoying your summer. We just
reviewed
an article published by the Florida Association of Realtors that we believe will
be of
interest to you as well.

**  Florida Condo Prices Hit Bottom:
**  http://InvestFloridaRealty.BlogSpot.com

Needless to say, we've seen a number of these types of transactions occur in
recent
months, it's just surprising that only this one has made it public thus far.
Pension funds
have been buying up units on the beaches all summer. Our understanding is that
they'll be
leasing them out and holding them as medium-term investments.

We have a number of listings and opportunities presently that are well below
market price
and represent excellent opportunities for ready buyers. Granted, cash buyers
have the
most options at the moment, but buyers with substantial down payments and the
ability to
actually qualify for and carry a mortgage have options as well.

As a licensed mortgage broker in addition to being a licensed real estate
broker, we're
finding that investor mortgages are requiring substantial cash down (20-30%)
plus high
credit scores and an ability to prove their income. However, lenders are still
issuing loans
and condos (and single family homes and multi-family properties) are still
selling.

It all comes down to location and price. Unfortunately, a lot of investors
forgot the old
saying, 'Location - Location - Location' in the heat of the market and ended up
holding
difficult-to-sell properties - mostly due to less desirable locations. However,
beachfront
real estate and single family homes in sought after neighborhoods are still good
sellers.
The mortgage crunch has a lot of sellers in exceptionally motivated situations
providing
savvy investors with a real opportunity.

If you have any questions or if you would be interested in knowing about
attractive deals
presently on the market, please drop us an email or give us a call.

As always, thank you for the opportunity to earn your business.

All the best,

--Branon A. Edwards, ePRO
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker and Mortgage Broker
Direct Phone:  786-417-4910
Private Fax:  786-524-5747
mailto:Branon@...

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

VISIT OUR BLOG:
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.BlogSpot.com

Real Estate Office:
Aqualand Realty, Inc
8359 Stringfellow Road
Saint James City, FL 33956

Mortgage Office:
Mainland Mortgage Corp
2803 E Commercial Blvd, Suite 210
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308

Thank you for the opportunity to
EARN your business.

**Greetings from Branon Edwards and Jelena Panfilova
from Aqualand Realty in sunny South Florida!

Welcome to another edition of InvestFloridaRealty.com's Florida real
estate newsletter. There have been a lot of changes to the real
estate landscape including the increase of foreclosures and sale
inventory, new homestead exemption and portability for property tax
reductions, as well as phenomenal opportunities for buyers and
investors. We hope to dispel some of the misinformation being touted
by the media while also giving you some solid information you can
use.

In this issue:
-Homestead Portability Thanks to Amendment 1 (Action Required)
-Time to Refinance?
-Featured Property: Porpoise Point Fishing Resort
-Our Real Estate Listings (Homes, Condos, Land, Vacation Rentals)
-What's REALLY Happening in Florida's Real Estate Market?
-Buyers' Market Highlights including Currency Exchange

---------------------------------------------------
Homestead Portability Thanks to Amendment 1 (Action Required)

What you should do to receive benefits of Amendment 1
To receive some of the benefits of the changes enacted January 29th,
certain citizens must take action by March 1, 2008. The
Constitutional amendment created four new opportunities for
taxpayers to obtain tax relief:

1. Increased homestead exemption
2. Portability of "Save our Homes" benefit
3. $25,000 exemption for tangible personal property
4. 10% annual assessment limitation for non-homestead property

What taxpayers must do to receive these new benefits:

1. Increased homestead exemption - Homeowners that are currently
receiving the homestead exemption will automatically receive the
increased homestead exemption. No action is necessary.

2.  Portability of "Save our Homes" benefits - If you received the
homestead exemption in 2007 on a home that you sold or otherwise
abandoned during 2007 and have purchased a new home by January 1,
2008, you are eligible to take some or all of the benefit of "Save
our Homes" to your new home. In order to receive this benefit, you
must apply by March 1, 2008 to your property appraiser for your new
homestead exemption and for the transfer of the "Save Our Homes"
benefit to your new homestead for 2008.

3.  $25,000 exemption for tangible personal property - Tangible
personal property taxes apply only to certain taxpayers in Florida -
typically businesses and certain owners of mobile homes. The tax
does not apply to homesteaded property. In order to receive the
$25,000 exemption for tangible personal property, taxpayers subject
to the tax must file a tangible personal property return with their
property appraiser by April 1, 2008.

4.  10% limit on annual assessment increases for non-homestead
property - The 10% limitation does not apply until next year. No
application is necessary for 2008.

If you have any questions about what action you must take to receive
these new benefits, please contact your local property appraiser.
For information on how to contact Florida's property appraisers, go
to http://dor.myflorida.com/dor/property/appraisers.html

---------------------------------------------------
TIME TO REFINANCE?

If you're like most Americans who purchased a property between 2004-
2006, chances are that you have an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM).
It's also very likely that this mortgage is about to convert from
the original 'teaser' low interest rate to a much higher interest
rate that will push up your monthly mortgage payment substantially.

If your current interest rate is higher than 8%, then you will
likely benefit enough from refinancing your mortgage to make it
worthwhile. Even if you interest rate is 7%, you could benefit from
a refinance if you plan to keep the property longer than 5 years.

With recent cuts in the interest rate by the Federal Reserve (and
more on the way), interest rates are very attractive presently.
However, your actual interest rate will vary based on your credit
score, the type of property (primary residence, second home,
investment, etc), how you plan to prove your financial situation
(full documentation, bank statements, stated, etc), and the purpose
of the loan (cash-out or just rate change).

If you would like a complimentary mortgage consultation, please call
Branon at 786-417-4910 or send an email to
Branon@...

---------------------------------------------------
FEATURED PROPERTY: Porpoise Point Fishing Resort

Aqualand Realty is happy to present to our customers a new bay front
townhome development on the island community of Matlacha. Matlacha
(Mat-Luh-Shay) is a quaint fishing village located between Cape
Coral and Pine Island on the West Coast of Florida. On a broader
geographic scale, it is located between the larger cities of Fort
Myers and Sarasota. It is within a 30-minute drive of Southwest
Florida International Airport in Fort Myers (Airport Code RSW).

The best way to describe Matlacha is that it looks like the Florida
Keys 25 years ago. There are no high-rises and the historical
society and local building regulations will keep it that way. In
fact, there is a height restriction in place that limits buildings
to no more than 3 stories.

Porpoise Point Fishing Resort is a new 20-unit townhome community
that is located right on a wide expanse of Bay on the South side of
the island. We can tell you from personal experience that the name
is justly earned. We have yet to spend any time at the community
without seeing the local pod of dolphins swimming by during the day.
There are also families of Osprey and a Bald Eagle, not to mention a
plethora of tropical birds and wildlife. Matlacha and Pine Island
are perhaps one of the few unspoiled islands left in Florida that
you can actually reach without a boat. Of course, the fishing in the
area is phenomenal and it's home to the World's Richest Tarpon
Tournament – the entry fee for the tourney is a mere $100,000!

This exclusive community will offer owners a 2,000-square foot
private residence with 3 balconies, 3-bedrooms, and 3-and-a-half
baths. In addition, the third bedroom can be converted to a guest
suite with nightly renting potential. The community's zoning permits
the main part of the residence to be rented with a 5-night minimum.
There will also be deeded boat docks available including
approximately six shoal-draft slips that should accommodate up to 26-
foot boats, and deep water slips that should accommodate larger
vessels with approximately a 5-foot draft at mean low tide. These
slips should be large enough for a +40-foot sailboat with direct
access (no bridges) to the Gulf of Mexico.

Click Here for More Information About or to Schedule a Private Tour
of Porpoise Point:
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/porpoise-point.htm

---------------------------------------------------
OUR REAL ESTATE LISTINGS (Homes, Condos, Land)

1,129 Acres
Evans Road, Labelle, FL
90-1,129 Acres of Mostly Cleared Land
Currently Zoned AG and Operated as Farm and Pasture
Could be Single Family Homesites, Dirt Mine, or Farm for
BioDiesel/Ethanol
Priced from $20,000 Per Acre
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/792-labelle.htm

Galt Island Estate
4981 Galt Island Ave
Saint James City, FL
3-Bedrooms / 3-Baths / Boat Dock with Lift
3-Story on Private Island
Originally $2.5 Million
Reduced to Just $2.2 Million
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/galt-island-home.htm

Waterfront Castle with Gulf Access!
3651 Turtledove Blvd
Punta Gorda, FL 33950
Brand New Construction
3-Bedrooms/3.5-Baths/Boat Dock with Lift
Gulf Access for Sailboats
Originally $2 Million
Blow Out Priced at $1,499,900!
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/pgi.htm

Porpoise Point Fishing Resort
Matlacha, FL (Pine Island)
3-Bedroom/3.5-Bath/3-Balcony/3-Story Bayfront Townhomes
Preconstruction Prices from $875,500
Private Boat Docks Available
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/porpoise-point.htm

Trump Towers One
Brand New Beachfront Construction
2-Bedrooms/3-Baths + Den
Direct Ocean Views
3 Units to Choose From
Purchase Preconstruction Contract for 50% of Deposit!
Prices from the $800,000s to High $900,000s

Ocean Four
17201 Collins Ave, Unit 1506
Sunny Isles Beach, FL
2-Bedrooms / 2-Baths / 2-Balconies
Beachfront Building. Unit has direct West views
of Intracoastal, City, and Fabulous Sunsets.
Over $750,000 Invested
Blow Out Priced at Just $635,000!!
Rented Short-Term @ $2200/month until May 2008
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/ocean-4.htm

Marina Walk on Pine Island
Saint James City, FL 33956
Gated Waterfront Community with Boat Docks
Homes from the high $400,000s
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/marina-walk.htm

Cape Coral Gulf Access Home – Reduced $190,000!
2540 SW 36th Lane
Cape Coral, FL
3-Bedrooms / 2-Baths / 2-Car Garage
U-shaped Captain's Dock with 7,000-lb Lift
Originally $650,000
Priced for Immediate Sale at $459,900!
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/gulf-access.htm

Saint James City Gulf Access Building Lot
2395 Sycamore Street
Saint James City, FL
New Sea Wall plus Dock Permit
Originally $500,000
Reduced to $475,000
Reduced Again to $460,000
Blow Out Priced at $375,000!
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/sycamore.htm

Axis at Brickell Village
Brand New Construction in Downtown Miami
Close to EVERYTHING, Great Amenities!
Contract Now, Close with Developer in February
Unit #3404-S - 2/2 Bay View @ $459,900
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/axis.html
Unit #1412-S - 2/2 City View @ $400,000
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/axis.htm

Hollywood Hills
3701 Washington Street
Hollywood, FL 33021
3-Bedroom / 2-Bath / 2-Car/Fenced Yard
Fenced Yard, lots of upgrades
Tenant at $2,100/month until July 2008
Originally $384,000 (below Appraisal)
Priced to Sell at Just $373,900
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/3701-washington.htm

Saint James City Acreage
4094 Sunshine Blvd
Saint James City, FL 33956
5 Acres Building Lot on Paved Road
Road frontage on 3 sides
Could Possibly be Subdivided
Should be $400,000
Asking Just $316,000 ($63,500 per acre!)
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/sunshine-blvd.htm

Latitude on the River
185 SW 7th St, #1708
Brand New Construction in Downtown Miami
1-bedroom/1-bath with Bay Views
Was $269,900
Blow-Out Priced at $259,900! - UNDER CONTRACT
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/latitude.htm

BUSINESS FOR SALE
Cash Cow High-End Flower Shop in Downtown Fort Lauderdale
High Profits, Low Overhead, Over $100,000 in Inventory Included
Unbelievable Price of $249,900
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/flower-shop.htm

401 Blu
401 69th Street, #311
Miami Beach, FL 33141
1-Bedroom / 1-Bath
Newly renovated building
Tenant at $1300/month until June 2008
Originally $275,000
Priced for Quick Sale at $239,900
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/401-blu.htm

Meadowbrook Towers
610 NE 12th St
Hallandale Beach, FL 33009
1-Bedroom/1-Bath Condo in 55+ Community
Overlooking Pool and Clubhouse, Recent Upgrades
Was $138,900
Now Just $129,900!
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/meadowbrook-towers.htm

Little Palm Village
Saint James City, FL 33956
Single Family Home Building Lots
Buy Now, Build Later
Priced from the high $40,000s
Various Olde Florida Home Plans Available
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/little-palm-village.htm

-----
VACATION RENTALS – TurnKey Furnished with Ocean Views:

2080 Ocean Drive, Hallandale Beach

2-Bed/2-Bath Penthouse-09 from $3250/month
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/rental/hallandale-beach.htm

2-Bed/2.5-Bath Corner Penthouse-01 from $3750/month
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/rental/2080-ocean-dr.htm

2-Bed/2-Bath Lower Penthouse-10 from $3250/month
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/rental/2080-ocean-drive.htm

Hollywood Beach Resort - #438
Large Oceanfront Studio with 2 Queen Beds from $1600/month
($999/week)
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/rental/hollywood-beach.htm

Alexander Towers - #806
2-Bed/2-Bath Oceanfront, 3 Queen Beds + 1 Twin Bed
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/rental/alexander-towers.htm
---------------------------------------------------
What's REALLY Happening in Florida's Real Estate Market?

We know the media has basically been saying that the sky is falling
for over a year now. In fact, if you listen to everything on the
news or believe everything you read in the papers, you're likely
standing on the edge of a tall building at the moment. However,
you'll probably be surprised to know that things really aren't as
horrible as they would like you to think. Step away from the ledge
now please.

According to the media, housing values have dropped by 50% in some
places - this is, of course, an exaggeration, but what's new? As an
example, the Miami market hadn't depreciated at all until just this
last quarter. And even then, it was an annualized depreciation of
just 3.1%. That's a far cry from thinking your house had been
devalued by 50%. In fact, over the last 12 months, homes in Miami-
Dade County have actually APPRECIATED by 3.4% overall.

We subscribe to a very high-end real estate software system that
tracks almost 400 large municipal markets throughout the USA. This
system tracks the ACTUAL property appreciation for single family
homes in these areas by sales, not by median home price. Median Home
Price is the most commonly used gauge of how markets are performing,
but if you know what the 'median' really means, you know it's not a
good gauge at all. The system we use tracks individual homes in a
given market over a 30-year period. By doing so, it can calculate
what each home has sold for over time and thereby calculate the true
appreciation rate.

By the way, if you would like more information on subscribing to
this service, click here:
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/RealEstateToolKit

Here's the actual overview of several markets here in Florida:

Miami & Miami-Dade County
Last Quarter Annualized -3.1%
2 Quarters Ago Annualized +1.8%
Last 12 Months +3.4%
3 Years Ago +21.9%
5 Years Ago +14.9%
10 Years Ago +2.0%

Fort Lauderdale & Broward County
Last Quarter Annualized -13.7%
2 Quarters Ago Annualized -4.2%
Last 12 Months -4.7%
3 Years Ago +24.1%
5 Years Ago +14.1%
10 Years Ago +1.7%

West Palm Beach & Palm Beach County
Last Quarter Annualized -11.1%
2 Quarters Ago Annualized -9.8%
Last 12 Months -6.9%
3 Years Ago +26.1%
5 Years Ago +13.7%
10 Years Ago +2.3%

Fort Myers, Cape Coral & Lee County
Last Quarter Annualized -16.6%
2 Quarters Ago Annualized -9.2%
Last 12 Months -9.7%
3 Years Ago +19.6%
5 Years Ago +13.5%
10 Years Ago +1.6%

Please keep in mind that these are the appreciation rates for single
family homes - not for condominiums. Given the overbuilding of
condos in recent years in Southeast Florida, the condo market is
substantially different than the market for houses. Condos tend to
be even more localized markets with individual buildings acting as
neighborhoods and fluctuating based on the individual investor mix
in that particular building. Our condo market is wide open presently
with units that originally sold in preconstruction for $600 per
square foot being offered for $400 per square foot, etc. If you
don't plan to sell in the next year or two, condos can be an
excellent addition to your portfolio right now - particularly in
buildings that allow seasonal rentals.

If you would like more information on subscribing to the market
tracking service, click here:
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/RealEstateToolKit

---------------------------------------------------
BUYERS' MARKET HIGHLIGHTS including Currency Exchange

What is a Buyers' Market? Simply put it is a real estate market when
the market conditions favor the buyer more so than the seller.
Typically it means that there are more properties listed for sale
than there are buyers to purchase them. In this specific market, it
also means that in addition to the large amount of available
inventory, sellers are also experiencing increased motivation to
sell.

Florida experienced a huge increase in property values during the
heat of the market in 2003-2005. This wave of appreciation attracted
vast numbers of inexperienced investors into the market. Many of
these investors are now sitting on properties that are vacant with
mortgages that are inching upward as their rates adjust. Lots of
these folks are now offering their properties at a substantial loss
from what they paid for them just a few years ago. Foreclosures are
looming across the United States, which again adds to the seller
motivation.

From an investor's perspective, a Buyer's Market is exactly that - a
great time to BUY. It's not a great time to sell, especially if
you're artificially motivated, but the opportunities in the Florida
market are exceptional. However, in any market, people are always
buying and selling because of changes in their housing needs.

If we factor in the weak US Dollar, Florida real estate is an
unbelievable bargain for foreigners or those buying with non-US
currencies like the Canadian Dollar, the Euro, and the British
Pound. These buyers have the benefit of additional incentives
because of the attractive currency exchange rates.

At this writing, the exchange rates for these currencies are:
1 Euro = $1.48
1 British Pound = $1.97
1 Canadian Dollar = $1.01

Historically, the Canadian Dollar traded in recent years for about
60-cents in US Dollars. With this in mind, it means that Canadian
buyers are now buying US real estate at about a 40% Discount! Many
of these buyers are paying cash now with the anticipation of the
market eventually normalizing. Once the exchange rate 'goes back to
normal', these buyers will refinance their properties and take cash
out. They can then convert the resulting US Dollars to Canadian
Dollars and reap a nice profit once again from the exchange rate -
leaving them with very little actually invested in the property.

In short, if you're considering investing in Florida, now is a great
time to do so. Even if we haven't technically reached a 'bottom' of
the market, many sellers are sufficiently motivated that negotiating
the few points between the present market and 'the bottom' that you
can often get an even better deal. Granted, highly sought after
properties are still selling well and prices are holding steadily in
established areas without high investor concentrations. As always,
location is still the dominating factor in determining value in the
real estate market.

---------------------------------------------------

We hope you found this information useful. Of course, if you have
any questions about the market in general or your specific
situation, please feel free to give us a call at any time.

As always, thank you for the opportunity to earn your business. We
also appreciate your trust and welcome the opportunity to assist
your family and friends with their Florida real estate needs as well.

All the best,

--Branon A. Edwards, Licensed Florida Real Estate and Mortgage Broker
--Jelena Panfilova, Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker-Associate

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

VISIT OUR BLOG:
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.BlogSpot.com

---- Office Information ----

Real Estate Office:
Aqualand Realty, Inc
8359 Stringfellow Road
Saint James City, FL 33956

Mortgage Office:
Mainland Mortgage Corp
2803 E Commercial Blvd, Suite 210
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308

Apply Online: http://www.mainlandmortgage.com/apply-fora-loan.shtml

Thank you for the opportunity to
EARN your business.

To Subscribe from our newsletter, please click here:
mailto:branon@...?subject=SUBSCRIBE-
INVESTFLORIDAREALTY

To unsubscribe from our newsletter for any reason, please click here:
mailto:branon@...?subject=UNSUBSCRIBE-
INVESTFLORIDAREALTY

**Greetings from Branon Edwards and Jelena Panfilova
with Aqualand Realty in sunny Florida!

In this issue:
- New Company/New Capabilities
- New Blog
- Florida's Largest Property Tax Cut Approved
- Property Listings - For Sale
- Property Listings - For Rent
- Large Land Parcels For Sale
- Hot Condo Conversion Deals

We hope this email finds you and yours well.  It's been a little
while since our last broadcast, but we wanted to bring you up to
speed with various happenings, including some major tax cuts here in
Florida.

First, we are no longer with Coldwell Banker, but now are both
Brokers in our own firm - Aqualand Realty, Inc.  Second, we now have
a total of 9 agents and 3 brokers in our firm. Third, Branon is also
a licensed Mortgage Broker. And Lastly, we have a new Blog!

Needless to say, these are all very positive changes. We still
provide the same property marketing services we have in the past,
but now we have expanded to include a variety of new services as
well.  Simply put, we're not aware of another real estate firm in
Florida that offers the marketing reach that we do now with our own
company.

Check out our marketing guarantee page:
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/guarantee.htm

Aqualand Realty is an established firm with our partner, Betty
Twigg, also at the helm as a qualifying broker.  Aqualand has its
home office in Saint James City on Pine Island (near Cape Coral/Fort
Myers), but we still live and work in Hollywood. We have agents on
BOTH Florida coasts and plan to open our East Coast offices before
the end of the year.

Jelena and I still focus on real estate in Broward and Miami-Dade
Counties, and we feel that having the West Coast connection is a
tremendous benefit for our customers.  In addition, several of our
agents are multi-lingual so we can assist customers whose primary
language is other than English, plus expand our marketing into
additional areas like Latin America.  Our agents speak  English,
Russian, Spanish, and Portuguese.

Our website remains the same:
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com

Aqualand Realty also has its own site:
http://www.AqualandRealty.com

-----------------------------------------------

Check Out our New Blog!
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.BlogSpot.com

We maintain a couple of different ways of keeping in touch with our
customers, but we hope you'll subscribe to our new Web Log (Blog).
It's a great way to stay on top of new happenings in the Florida
real estate market, special opportunities, and other real estate and
investing related information.

You can also subscribe to our Yahoo Group:
http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/MiamiRealty

-----------------------------------------------

PROPERTY TAX CUTS IN FLORIDA - LARGEST TAX CUT IN FLORIDA HISTORY

There has been a lot of buzz here in Florida over the last few weeks
and specifically the last few days about property tax cuts, and for
good reason. There has also been much speculation as to how the
state legislators plan to provide some property tax relief to
Florida property owners, but the proof is in the pudding.

The Florida State Legislature passed the largest property tax cut in
state history on Thursday, which will apparently result over $31
Billion in tax cuts and saving the average taxpayer about 7% on
their property taxes this year. Before we start jumping for joy,
it's important to note that there's an amendment to the State's
constitution involved, which won't happen until 2008.

In the area of immediate tax relief, cities and counties will be
required to reduce their tax rates based on past history. This
varies from municipality to municipality and is a bit much to
explain in detail except that it should result in over $15 Billion
in tax cuts over five years for all property types, including
commercial and non-homestead properties. In short, cities and
counties that increased their taxes dramatically between 2001 and
2006 will have to make the most dramatic cuts. The higher their
increases during these periods, the more they're required to cut.

IMMEDIATE TAX RESULTS
This provision starts immediately by making 2007-2008 taxes equal to
the 2006-2007 rates, except for new construction. Future tax rate
increases will be tied to the annual growth of Florida personal
income so that rates maintain some semblance of fairness and logic.

The proposed $16 Billion constitutional amendment should be set
before voters in January 2008. The amendment essentially does away
with 'Save Our Homes' and replaces it with a 'super homestead
exemption'. This SuperExemption apparently will exempt 75% of the
first $200,000 of homestead value and 15% of the next $300,000 with
everyone getting at least a $50,000 exemption. Folks who are
currently protected by 'Save Our Homes' will apparently be given the
option of keeping their current status or changing to the
SuperExemption. Provisions for affordable housing, low-income
seniors, and working waterfronts are also provided.  Scroll down for
a link to an easy-to-read chart of changes.

-----------------------------------------------
Mortgage Payment Going Up?
Contact Branon today for a no-cost/no-obligation mortgage
consultation.
Fixed Rates - Long Term Adjustable Rates - Option Payments
Purchase - Refinance - Equity Lines - Cash Out - Hard Money
Residential - Commercial - Vacant Land
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/finance.htm

Apply online now:
http://www.mainlandmortgage.com/apply-fora-loan.shtml
Select 'Edwards, Branon' as your loan officer
Phone: 786-417-4910
-----------------------------------------------

Property tax cuts are fantastic news for Florida property owners and
may be just the impetus Florida's real estate market needs to kick-
start the housing market once again.

We have already been receiving emails left and right from various
real estate experts over the last few days about the positive impact
these property tax cuts will have. Still other investment groups are
compiling their cash in an effort to 'stock up' on the great deals
that are presently on the market.

Many first time home buyers and the thousands of folks moving to
Florida each week area also on a buying spree in trying to take
advantage of the unusual opportunities being offered by the market.
Foreclosures, bankruptcies, rising adjustable mortgages, and
motivated sellers continue to provide a wealth of deals for those
who want them.

Suffice it to say, we're all pretty excited about the possibilities
for future growth and expansion for our economy. Of course, there
are concerns about where the tax cuts will impact Floridians most
including education and services like fire-rescue, but we'll see
these things shake out in coming months. We'll continue to post
information as it becomes available.

EASY-TO-READ CHART OF PROPERTY TAX CHANGES by Florida Association of
Realtors:
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/florida-property-tax-chart.pdf

There are a number of articles in the Miami Herald. If you would
like direct links to some of the articles, just drop us a line.

-----------------------------------------------

FLORIDA PROPERTY LISTINGS - FOR SALE
(Sorted from highest to lowest price)

Large custom Waterfront 3-story with Elevator on Private Island
$2.5 Million
4981 Galt Island Ave, Saint James City
3-bed/2-full bath/2-half-bath/3-car/pool/boat dock/lift
Views for miles! Private island with 25-acre preserve.
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/galt-island-home.htm
Vacant lot 2 doors down available for $1.8 Million

Ocean 4 - Oceanfront Building, West-View Unit
$698,000 (Rent at $2550/month)
17201 Collins Ave, #1506, Sunny Isles Beach
2-bed/2-bath
West View of Park, City, Sunsets (oceanfront building)
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/rental/ocean-4.htm

Custom Waterfront Home with Gulf Access
$599,900 - REDUCED $50,000!
2540 SW 36th Lane, Cape Coral
3-bed/2-bath/2-car/pool/boat dock/lift
Absolutely gorgeous!
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/gulf-access.htm

Maryland - River Front Historic Home
$425,000 - Reduced $175,000!
4573 St Georges Ave, Piney Point, MD 20674
3-bed/1.5-bath/covered boat dock/lift
Minutes to Washington, DC
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/piney-point.htm

Pine Island Stilt Home on Pond
$379,000
15500 Bahama Way, Bokeelia
2-bed/1-bath
1-Acre Lot with Pond
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/15500-bahama.htm

Gulf Access Building Lot on Pine Island
$375,000 - REDUCED $125,000!
2395 Sycamore St, Saint James City
65x107 Waterfront Building Lot with Seawall & Dock Permit
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/sycamore.htm

Renovated Hollywood Hills Charmer
$374,900 - Reduced Well Below Appraisal
3701 Washington Ave, Hollywood
3-bed/2-bath/2-car/fenced yard
Beautifully renovated - close to everything
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/3701-washington.htm

Bankruptcy Forces Sale
$329,000 - Court Set Price - MAKE OFFER!
623 SW 39th Terr, Cape Coral
3-bed/2-bath/2-car/pool/boat dock
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/623-sw-39-terr.htm

401 Blu - Walk to the Beach
$274,999 - Plus $5k toward Closing Costs
401 69th St, #311, Miami Beach
1-bed/1-bath
City views in new condo conversion building with roof-top pool!
Great tenant in place at $1300/month until June 2008
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/401-blu.htm

Gulf Access Mobile Home
$250,000 - PRICED TO SELL
2767 Heron Ct, Saint James City
2-bed/1-bath
7,500 sq ft Gulf Access Lot, Renovate or Rebuild
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/heron-court.htm

55+ Condo Near Gulf Stream Park
$138,900
610 NE 12th Ave, #305, Hallandale
1-bed/1-bath
Great active community near shopping, beach, and more.
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/meadowbrook-towers.htm

Duplex in Belle Glade - Handyman Special
$60,000 - Cheapest Property on the Market by 50%!
401 SE 4th St, Belle Glade
2-bed/1-bath each side
Needs complete rehab, but could be a cash cow!
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/belle-glade-duplex.htm

2.26-Acre Investment Lot in Trenton
$25,999 - SELL OR TRADE
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/trenton.htm

1.02-Acre Investment Lot Near Branford
$21,999 - SELL OR TRADE
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/branford.htm

50x135 Campsite Lot - Walk to Suwannee River
$19,999 - SELL OR TRADE
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/bell.htm

Don't see what you're looking for?  CONTACT US!
The entire state of Florida is a Buyers' Market, which means there
are plenty of properties for sale at great prices!

View other listings here:
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings

-----------------------------------------------

Don't forget to check out our New Blog:
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.BlogSpot.com

-----------------------------------------------

FLORIDA PROPERTY LISTINGS - FOR RENT
(Sorted from highest to lowest price)

Luxury Beachfront Penthouse - Seasonal/Monthly
2080 S Ocean Drive, UPH-9, Hallandale Beach
2-bed/2-bath -Turnkey Furnished South View
Rates from $3250
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/rental/hallandale-beach.htm

Luxury Beachfront Penthouse - Seasonal/Monthly
2080 S Ocean Drive, LPH-10, Hallandale Beach
2-bed/2-bath -Turnkey Furnished
North View
Rates from $3250
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/rental/2080-ocean-drive.htm

Ocean 4 - Annual, Unfurnished
17201 Collins Ave, #1506, Sunny Isles Beach
2-bed/2-bath
West View of Park, City, Sunsets (oceanfront building)
$2550/month  (Also for sale @ $698,000)
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/rental/ocean-4.htm

Beachfront Vacation - Seasonal/Monthly
3505 S Ocean Drive, #804, Hollywood Beach
2-bed/2-bath -Turnkey Furnished
Direct East Ocean View
Rates from $2500
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/rental/alexander-towers.htm

Renovated Hollywood Hills Charmer - Unfurnished 6 or 12 months
3701 Washington Ave, Hollywood
3-bed/2-bath/2-car/fenced yard
Beautifully renovated - close to everything
$2200/month - Lease Option Available - Also For Sale at $374,900
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/3701-washington.htm

Beachfront Vacation - Seasonal/Monthly
101 N Ocean Drive, #438, Hollywood Beach
Large Studio -Turnkey Furnished
Direct East Ocean View
Rates from $1200
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/rental/hollywood-beach.htm

View other listings here:
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings

-----------------------------------------------

LARGE LAND PARCELS FOR SALE

1,129 Acres in Labelle - Average of $25,024 Per Acre
4 Owners 90, 100, 147, and 792 acres - Sell together or individually.
Zoned Ag - could be farm, grove, dirt mine, or single family homes
Seller may hold some financing & may consider partial leaseback.
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/792-labelle.htm
Full Package in PDF Format:
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/1129-acres-labelle.pdf

57 Acres on Pine Island - $12.8 Million
Appraised at $16 Million
Development Order for Over 300 Condominiums
http://www.investfloridarealty.com/listings/57-pine-island.htm

43-Acre Palm Tree Farm on Pine Island - $5 Million
Includes $2 Million in Palm Tree Inventory
Development Order for 15 luxury homes around U-shaped lake
http://www.investfloridarealty.com/listings/43-pine-island.htm

View other listings here:
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings

-----------------------------------------------

HOT CONDO CONVERSION DEALS

Tampa: Grande Oasis
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/preconstruction/grande-oasis.htm
Prices from $128,990 to $253,990
Upgrade Condominium Homes
3% Toward Closing Costs
7% Toward HomeOwners' Association, Taxes, and Insurance

Coconut Creek: Olivine at the Township
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/preconstruction/olivine.htm
Prices from the $170,000s
Upgraded Condominium Homes
1 Year Free HomeOwners' Association Dues
No Developer's Fee
1 Year Free Home Warranty
3% Towards Closing Costs

There are also a number of buildings that are getting ready to be
completed such as 50 Biscayne in Downtown Miami, Harbor House in Bal
Harbour, Trump Towers in Sunny Isles Beach, and The Plaza in the
Brickell area - great deals for the right buyer!  Other buildings
are still selling, such as the Saint Regis Resort and Residences in
Bal Harbour.  Contact us for details.

Other condo conversions and new construction here:
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/preconstruction

-----------------------------------------------

As always, thank you for the opportunity to earn your business.

All the best,


--Branon A. Edwards, Licensed Florida Real Estate & Mortgage Broker
--Jelena Panfilova, Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker-Associate

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

VISIT OUR BLOG:
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.BlogSpot.com

---- Office Information ----

Real Estate Office:
Aqualand Realty, Inc
8359 Stringfellow Road
Saint James City, FL 33956

Mortgage Office:
Mainland Mortgage Corp
2803 E Commercial Blvd, Suite 210
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308

Apply Online: http://www.mainlandmortgage.com/apply-fora-loan.shtml

Thank you for the opportunity to
EARN your business.

To Subscribe from our newsletter, please click here:
mailto:branon@...?subject=SUBSCRIBE-
INVESTFLORIDAREALTY

To unsubscribe from our newsletter for any reason, please click here:
mailto:branon@...?subject=UNSUBSCRIBE-
INVESTFLORIDAREALTY

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

We hope this newsletter finds you well and that your year is thus far going
great.  As you
may know, it's been a little while since our last newsletter, but we've been
saving lots of
great information for you about Florida Real Estate.

IN THIS ISSUE:
-We've moved!
-In the News
-Florida Real Estate Market Conditions
-Property Listings from $9,999
-Rental Markets
-Condo Conversions & New Construction Update
-Advice for Success in Preconstruction and Condo Conversion Investing
-Condo Conversion and Preconstruction Projects to Consider
-Land and Homes
-HOT Investor Opportunities
-What is Del.icio.us ?


WE HAVE MOVED!
As many of you know, we relocated our primary residence from Miami to Hollywood
last
year.  However, we continued to maintain our office at Coldwell Banker in Key
Biscayne.
However, now that we're settled in and are truly enjoying our new home, we've
decided to
make the move official.  We are now working out of the Coldwell Banker Hollywood
office.
Our direct phone numbers, fax number and email addresses will NOT change, but
our new
office address can be found at the bottom of this email.


IN THE NEWS
Jelena has recently passed the Florida Real Estate Broker exam and is now a
Broker-
Associate.  We're always trying to increase our education so that we can better
serve our
customers. In addition, we'll be featured in an upcoming article about condo
conversions
in the June edition of Florida Realtor Magazine.  We were also interviewed for
an upcoming
article in the Wall Street Journal.


FLORIDA REAL ESTATE MARKET CONDITIONS
Obviously, with Greenspan retiring, interest rates fluctuating, the stock market
bouncing
around, lots of talk about the 'real estate bubble', increasing property
inventories, and real
estate prices continuing to climb, the market has been changing pretty
dramatically.  Ok,
now before you panic, change can be a good thing.  Granted, we don't think that
2006 will
bring us another year of 29% appreciation for Miami-Dade and Broward Counties
like in
2005, but we do still see plenty of opportunity.

As is typical with most markets, supply and demand has a tremendous impact on
pricing.
One of the things that has fueled the incredible price increases we've seen over
the last 4
years in South Florida is a lack of supply.  In a typical, healthy real estate
market there is
about 4-6 months worth of inventory for sale at any given time.  In other words,
if there
were no new listings, all of the current listings would be sold within about 4-6
months.
However, in Florida's real estate market, there has been less than 2 months
worth of
inventory at any given time for the last few years.

While there are still about 9,000 people per week moving into Florida, the
change in the
amount of houses and condos on the market (inventory) has increased.  In other
words,
our demand is still pretty steady, but the supply has increased.  Part of the
increase in
inventory comes from investors who are cashing out and reinvesting in the stock
market.
A good percentage of the inventory is actually coming from Florida folks who are
looking
to cash in on the fantastic equity they've built up in recent years.  Many of
these folks are
selling their properties in cities like Miami and moving North away from the
traffic and
sprawl to places like Ocala and Port Saint Lucie.  Port Saint Lucie was recently
named one
of the safest places to live in Florida, so you can imagine some folks in the
big cities are
taking a good hard look at that area.

Of course, more inventory means more choice for buyers, so we'll see many
Florida
markets move from super-hot Sellers' Markets to more healthy, balanced markets
and on
to Buyers' Markets.  South Florida is already considered a Buyer's Market, so
it's definitely a
great time to buy.  We don't see prices decreasing, but we do see properties
taking longer
to sell.  And the days of paying higher than appraised values are all but over
in most areas.

In markets like this, correct pricing and marketing exposure become the most
important
considerations when choosing a real estate agent.  The days of simply plopping a
sign in
the yard and getting 5 over-priced offers in less than a week are over.  Today,
we have to
price properties competitively and really expand our marketing reach.  Over 70%
of real
estate buyers now start their search for real estate online.  This is why an
online presence
is so important and why we have always focused our major marketing efforts on
internet-
based exposure.

Did you know that all of our listings are advertised here:
Realtor.com
ColdwellBanker.com
FloridaMoves.com
Fl.Living.net
InvestFloridaRealty.com
ScubAHH.com
CraigsList.org
MiamiHerald.com
Coldwell Banker Homes Magazine online
Direct mail postcards to neighbors
in the Miami Herald newspaper
this e-newsletter that is distributed to over 1800 real estate buyers and
investors;
and a variety of other sites that feed off of the Multiple Listing Service;
and are registered on over 300 of the top internet search engines;
and receive their own Google AdWords marketing campaign;
and receive their own personal webpage on our website.

Of course, markets like this also put real estate companies to the test. 
Smaller companies
and those that provide discount services often cannot sustain themselves during
these
types of markets because they don't have the resources to continue to advertise
listings
for the time required to sell the property.  In South Florida's last buyers'
market, it was not
uncommon to see 3 different real estate companies handling a property before it
sold -
1st discount broker with unrealistic asking price, 2nd discount broker with
slightly lower
asking price, 3rd full service broker who priced the property correctly and
advertised it
extensively to get it sold.  Of course, many listing contracts are for a minimum
of 6-
months and most are for 1-year, so you can imagine how frustrating a long
time-on-
market can be for someone trying to sell their home.

For more information about what makes us different, please visit our website:
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/guarantee.htm


--------------------------------------------
CURRENT LISTINGS:

FOR SALE OR RENT: PGA VILLAGE
7221 Maidstone Drive, Port Saint Lucie, FL 34986
Brand new delightfully turn-key furnished 2-bedroom + Convertible
Den/2.5-bath/2-car
garage home in golf community with reserve views and over $13,000 in upgrades
including granite counters, built-in wine rack, tile floors, jacuzzi tub in
master bath, and
more. 1,784 sq ft of living area + covered patio and covered entry = 2,357 total
square
feet.  PGA Village is a gated golf community with several golf courses and a PGA
Teaching
Facility. Low association fees also include all yard maintenance.  $25,000 worth
of
decorator furnishings just added and is included in sale.  That's over $415,000
in value!
$379,900  (also for rent, 6 month minimum at from $2200/month)
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/maidstone.htm

FOR SALE: MIRAMAR POOL HOME
7801 Orleans Street, Miramar, FL 33023
Kid-friendly neighborhood conveniently located in Miramar. This 3-bedroom/2-bath
home features a one-car garage, screen-enclosed pool, and lots of recent
upgrades.  New
appliances, new roof, new screens in pool enclosure, new Diamond Brite pool
surface, new
sinks/toilets, and new interior paint.
$290,400 - Priced at Appraisal for Quick Sale
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/orleans.htm

FOR SALE: BLUE CONDOS ON THE BAY - MIAMI BAYFRONT CONDO
601 NE 36th Street, #911, Miami, FL 33137
Absolutely amazing direct bay views from this 9th floor A-3 unit in Blue.
Northeast
exposure overlooks the wide expanse of Biscayne Bay across to Miami Beach.  Just
minutes
to the beach or to Miami International Airport, Blue has a great location and
fantastic
amenities.  This is the lowest-priced A3 unit in the building!
$397,500
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/blue.htm

FOR SALE: ADMIRAL'S PORT WATERVIEW
2851 NE 183rd Street, #903, Aventura, FL 33160
Well-kept 1-bedroom/1.5-bath condo in recently updated building. New stainless
steel
appliances and gorgeous water views of the Intracoastal and Biscayne Cove across
Williams
Island.  Skyline views at night are simply breathtaking.
$252,000
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/admirals-port.htm

FOR RENT:  CLIPPER AT BISCAYNE COVE - AVENTURA WATERFRONT
18151 NE 31st Ct, #1109, Aventura, FL 33160
Newly renovated 2-bedroom/2-bath with large balcony overlooking Biscayne Cove
and
Intracoastal. This condominium home features stainless steel appliances and
amazing
water and Aventura views.  Located near Williams Island and close to world class
shopping
and the beach.
Annual unfurnished rental at $1500/month.
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/rental/clipper.htm

FOR RENT OR SALE: MIAMI BEACH CONDO
6917 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33140
Adorable 1-bedroom/1.5-bath condo in beachfront building.  This West-facing unit
offers
fantastic city and sunset views, granite counters, built-in granite wet bar,
marble tile,
stainless steel appliances, and is turnkey furnished.
$429,900 or Rent from $1850/month
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/collins.htm

FOR RENT: BEACHFRONT PENTHOUSE
2080 S. Ocean Drive, Penthouse 9, Hallandale Beach, FL 33009
Available starting December 1st for seasonal and monthly rentals - Gorgeous
2-bedroom/
2-bath luxury beachfront penthouse in fantastic oceanfront building. Southern
exposure
offers expansive ocean and Intracoastal views and split bedroom plan offers 2
master
suites for privacy and comfort. No expense spared in furnishing this vacation
getaway -
Egyptian cotton linens, hand-blown crystal martini glasses and stainless steel
martini
service, surround sound entertainment center with DVD, Tommy Bahama-style
bedroom
suites with queen beds, and much more.
Available Starting December 1, 2006 for Winter Season $5500/month
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/rental/hallandale-beach.htm

FOR SALE: VACANT LOT IN GILCHRIST COUNTY
0 SW 14th Place, Bell, FL 32619
Lowest priced lot in our inventory offered for sale by owner/agent. This 50 x
135-ft (6,750
sq ft) lot is within walking distance of the Suwannee River. Zoned residential,
but will need
variance to build.  Current use is as for recreational and camping purposes.
$9,999
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/bell.htm

FOR SALE: VACANT LOTS IN GILCHRIST COUNTY
Just West of CR-337, Lots 6 & 7
Two 1.13-acre lots side-by-side in Eastern Gilchrist County. Land is currently
zoned
Agricultural with no direct access road, but should be good long-term
investment.
Currently fenced, planted in hay, and used as grazing land for neighboring
farmer, but
land is cleared.  Lot 7 has utility easement, but combined lots provide more
than enough
room to build and to provide buffer from utility easement. Owner/agent. Offered
as tax
deed well below market price for area.
$20,000 for both lots together - Call/Email for details

FOR SALE: VACANT LOTS ACROSS FLORIDA
Marion County, Putnam County, Lee County, and more
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/land
Download our current lot list in MS Excel Format:
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/current-lots.xls

--------------------------------------------


RENTAL MARKETS
Rental markets are showing some signs of improving.  You're still not likely to
get strong
positive cashflow anywhere in South Florida, but according to a recent Miami
Herald
article; monthly rates in some areas are up 10% over last year.  As more
apartment
complexes go through condominium conversions, rental inventory will change a bit
from
traditional complexes to investor-owned single unit properties.  In addition, as
mortgage
interest rates increase, fewer buyers will qualify for loans large enough to
keep up with
property values.  For example, there was a recent article in the Miami Herald
that
estimated the 'average' Broward single family home at $400,000 - which means
that the
'average' buyer will need to earn at least $100,000 per year to afford to buy a
house.
(email us for a copy of the article)

So, we do see rental property starting to make a comeback, however, in areas
where there
has been tremendous appreciation, it will still be difficult to cover all of the
expenses with
rental income.  In most cases, investors will have to take on some negative
cashflow and
then make up for it with increased equity over time.  However, we are seeing
some areas
of Florida that still make sense from a rental perspective.

For example, we're working on a condo conversion in Tampa (See Arbors at
Carrollwood
below) and one in Gainesville (See Creek's Edge below) that are both near major
Universities, which will provide a steady stream of renters for years to come. 
With a solid
credit rating and some creative financing, an investor could expect to break
even or do a
bit better on some units.  Creative financing (like an interest-only loan) could
actually help
an investor pull out some monthly positive cashflow.  There are also some areas
that, with
a little urban pioneering, could do well in the long term.  'Urban Pioneering'
is when an
investor buys into a not-so-great neighborhood with the hopes that the
neighborhood will
improve and the property value will increase over time.  Urban Pioneers in areas
like
Edgewater (NE Miami) have done quite well in recent years as that area has
undergone
significant renovation and changes.  There was another great Miami Herald
article about
Urban Pioneering recently - please email us for a copy of the article.  Little
Haiti, some
older areas of Fort Pierce, and Riviera Beach are just a few areas where this
strategy might
pay off for an investor.

We see the Arbors complex as a very nice opportunity for an investor who wants
to gain
some long-term appreciation while having most of their expenses covered by an
existing
tenant.  We have an excellent opportunity with the developer to obtain some
exclusive
incentives that will provide investors with up to a $20,000 discount, plus an
existing
quality tenant whose lease doesn't expire until April 2007.


CONDO CONVERSIONS & NEW CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
As mentioned above in the Rental Market section of our newsletter, many
apartment
complexes are now going condo.  Fueled by previously high vacancy rates and the
promise
of solid condo profits, many apartment companies are selling off their complexes
to
developers and some are converting them on their own.  New construction
continues to be
hot across Florida.  The catch becomes what your goals are as a buyer of a
preconstruction
or preconversion project.

A year ago, you could have easily purchased a preconstruction unit and resold
your
contract within a few short months for a sizeable profit.  However, with the
sheer number
of condominium units under construction (and still in planning), the flipping
process is
becoming more difficult.  Unfortunately, some investors have received
less-than-superior
advice when it comes to preconstruction and have found themselves caught between
a fire
sale and losing their deposits.

We saw this kind of Fire Sale mentality at Beach Club last year.  There were a
lot of
investors who probably should not have been in the market in the first place. 
But when
pressed to either close on the unit or lose their deposits, many chose to offer
their high-
value units at well below market price.  We saw $850,000 units with the unit
directly below
it being offered for under $700,000.  Obviously, a few savvy cash-heavy
investors picked
up some great last minute deals because they were willing to move quickly. 
We're certain
we'll see more of this scenario this year as many more buildings start closing. 
There are a
number of gurus who made a lot of money in preconstruction investing during it's
hay-day
who are now creating vulture funds to take advantage of these fire sales.  The
trick is to
have the staying power to ride out the initial investor drop out and sell to end
users at
retail or perhaps just under retail to move the unit more quickly.

However, the high-end condo market is becoming a bit more precarious.  It pays
to have
good representation (ie a good Realtor) and it pays to know what you're getting
into
before you take the preconstruction plunge.  Can you still flip condo contracts?
Sure, but
it's likely to take a bit longer than it did a year ago.  Waiting until the last
minute to put
your preconstruction unit on the market is NOT generally advisable.  The
strategy we've
taken with most of our customers is to place the unit into resale as soon as the
resale
program begins.  Price it attractively, but at the same time, build in some room
for profit -
after all, that's why you invested in the first place, right?

We've always had a full-disclosure policy with our investors, especially when it
comes to
preconstruction.  But we've compiled some quick advice for your convenience:


ADVICE FOR SUCCESS IN PRECONSTRUCTION INVESTING:
In order to consider a preconstruction project, we suggest that investors be
prepared to:
1. Place a hefty cash deposit - from 10-20% of the purchase price...
2. Be physically, financially, and emotionally prepared to actually close on the
purchase as
you may not be able to flip your contract in a timely manner...
3. To have the financial wherewithal to carry the mortgage and expenses for AT
LEAST 6
months without any rental income (preferably 12 months). You may be able to rent
the
unit, but in most preconstruction projects, you won't rent it for enough to
cover your
expenses, so expect negative cashflow.
If you cannot do ALL THREE, then we suggest you NOT purchase preconstruction.


ADVICE FOR SUCCESS IN CONDO CONVERSION INVESTING:
In order to consider a preconversion project, we suggest that investors be
prepared to:
1. Place a solid cash deposit - from 5-15% of the purchase price...
2. Be physically, financially, and emotionally prepared to actually close on the
purchase as
most projects will not allow you to flip your contract...
3. To have the financial wherewithal to carry the mortgage and expenses for AT
LEAST 6
months without any rental income.
4. Be prepared to hold the property for at least a year to maximize profits and
also
reduced your capital gains exposure. If you sell within 12 months, you'll pay
28% capital
gains... if you wait until day 366; you'll pay only 20%.  Of course, see your
qualified CPA
for tax advice.
If you cannot do ALL THREE, then we suggest you NOT purchase a condo conversion.

When in doubt, err on the side of caution.  In addition, make sure you're
communicating
your true goals and financial situation with your Realtor.  We cannot help you
make the
right choices if we don't know all the facts.

--------------------------------------------

Condo Conversion Projects to Consider:

Arbors at Carrollwood in Tampa
Another great condo conversion by a very conservative developer.  The apartment
complex
was built between 1999-2001 and was recently converted and upgraded.  We have a
special arrangement with the developer to offer special discount pricing on
select units -
all with tenants in place through April 2007.  Small 1-bedrooms will start in
the
$160,000s and will rent around $900-$950. Large 1-bedrooms range from $174-
$200,000 and rent for around $1100. Small 2-bedrooms from $185-$220,000 with
rents
around $1100. Larger 2-bedrooms from $236-$270,000 with rents from $1150-$1400.
And perhaps the best option is 3-bedrooms from the $200,000s with rents at
$1650.  The
3-bedrooms with a solid down payment and creative financing may actual provide
positive
cashflow.  Maintenance fees are just 20-cents per square foot.
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/preconstruction/arbors-at-carollwood.htm

Creek's Edge in Gainesville
This condo conversion is located less than 2 miles from the University of
Florida, which
should provide a steady stream of renters for years to come.  According to our
local
associates, the 1-bedrooms will sell from the $120,000s and will rent around
$1,000 per
month.  3-bedrooms should rent around $1400/month.
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/preconstruction/creeks-edge.htm

Coco Parc in Coconut Creek
This condo conversion project is located in exciting Coconut Creek.  The
developer is
including new roofs, covered balconies, water heaters and air conditioners, and
upgrades
in select units.  Possible rental opportunities and long-term investor gains as
well as a
truly nice place to live.
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/preconstruction/coco-parc.htm

Addison Pointe in Boca Raton
Great condo conversion in Boca just West of Powerline Road with pool, tennis
courts, and
gym.  The project is surrounded by a previous golf course, so greenway views
will be
preserved.  The developer is offering some creative rebates that can be used as
down
payment, payment of taxes, or even maintenance fees.  The community would
provide
possible rental opportunities.
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/preconstruction/addison-pointe.htm

Kensington Royal Palm Beach
This condo conversion also offers some great full-time living and possible
rental
opportunities.
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/preconstruction/kensington.htm

Mizner Court at Broken Sound - Boca Raton
This lovely Boca Raton condo conversion features great floor plans and manicured
grounds.  As with some of the others we've highlighted, this project offers
full-time living,
resort getaway, and rental opportunities.
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/preconstruction/mizner-court.htm

Ocean Reserve at Sunny Isles Beach
This highrise condo conversion is located right on Collins Avenue across from
the beach.
While many beach projects are out of reach, this one is still priced
competitively.  Don't
expect to flip your contract in 3 months for a huge profit, but if you can hold
on to the
unit for a year or so, we think it will be a good opportunity.  Great incentives
for investors!
Imagine 3 years of homeowner's dues paid by the developer!
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/preconstruction/ocean-reserve.htm

--------------------------------------------

New Construction Projects:

Grove East in Plantation
This new project is changing the face of this soon-to-be hot Broward
neighborhood. The
project, coupled with lots of renovations of commercial property in the area
makes this a
very attractive project for investors and as a primary residence.
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/preconstruction/grove-east.htm

The Venture in Aventura
This Related Group project is currently closing on the last remaining units, but
prices are
still exceptionally affordable at around $400 per square foot.  There may be
some firesale
opportunities, though most of these are already priced to sell.  It's a lovely
community
with great amenities.  And of course, as it is located at the Southeast corner
of the
Loehman's Plaza shopping center, your favorite boutiques and restaurants are
just steps
away.
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/preconstruction/venture.htm

Meadowood Golf and Tennis at Panther Woods Country Club - Fort Pierce
This lovely Fort Pierce golf community was formerly the home of golfing great,
Sam Snead.
There are a number of available lots.  Our suggested strategy for this project
is to buy and
hold the land for about 10 months and then build a custom spec home.  This is
also a
lovely full-time living community in addition to being a great golf retreat.
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/preconstruction/meadowood-golf-tennis.htm

Green Cay Village in Boynton Beach
SORRY, NO INVESTORS. This is an excellent project for a full-time residence or
vacation
home. This truly affordable community will not sell to investors and there will
be resale
and rental restrictions for the first 3 years.  However, if you're looking for a
wonderfully
designed new community in the Boynton Beach area, this is a great place to
start.  The
townhouses are sold out, but some condominium units are still available.
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/preconstruction/green-cay-village.htm

European Club at Hallandale Beach
This high-end highrise condo promises to redefine the Hallandale skyline.  While
we don't
expect investors to be able to do quick flips on their contracts, this one
offers a nice
alternative to some of the high-priced beachfront projects in the area.
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/preconstruction/european-club.htm

We've also got information about these hot new projects;
Trump Hollywood
The Saint Regis Condo-Hotel at Bal Harbour
Oasis on the Bay by Related Group at 79th Street Miami

--------------------------------------------

LAND AND HOMES UPDATE
Land continues to be a hot commodity in Florida, after all, they're not making
any more of
it.  Lot prices have come down to more reasonably appreciating levels now, but
are still a
solid long-term play for investors.  We see particularly interesting
opportunities in rural
counties that are in the path of development.  One such county currently has
acreage
selling from under $10,000 per acre on larger tracts.

We currently have investor lots from $9,999 but most are priced in the
$20-$40,000
range.

We have also been in contact with a solid builder in the Ocala area recently. 
We've been
offering lots in the area to our investors for nearly 2 years now and have seen
some
excellent appreciation.  While lot inventory has now grown, we have found that
building
spec homes in the area is another possible avenue for investors.  You can build
a 4-
bedroom home on your existing (or newly purchased) Ocala lot for $131,000 from
our
builder.  The homes are taking about 4-5 months to build and an additional 1-3
months
to sell thereafter.  However, build on a reasonably priced lot, these 4-bedroom
homes are
selling for $195-$215,000 - obviously a nice short-term return.
You can download our current lot list online:
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/current-lots.xls

--------------------------------------------

HOT INVESTOR OPPORTUNITIES
We are constantly being asked about the latest and greatest opportunities in
real estate
here in Florida and in other areas as well.  Obviously, this newsletter has
already spoken to
a number of solid opportunities above.

Highlights:
Arbors at Carrollwood in Tampa -
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/preconstruction/
arbors-at-carollwood.htm

Creek's Edge in Gainesville
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/preconstruction/creeks-edge.htm

The Venture in Aventura
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/preconstruction/venture.htm

Vacant Land
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/current-lots.xls

Commercial Properties
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/commercial

Some other areas of real estate investing to consider:
Rehab Properties (buying fixer-uppers for rental and/or resale)
Commercial Properties like apartment complexes and shopping centers
Hotels with solid Cap rates - lots of these available at the moment
Condo Conversion Opportunities - we have some great options in the Carolinas
right now
Development Opportunities - want to be a developer? We can help you locate solid
development properties and also handle the back-end marketing and sales - truly
one-
stop shopping.

We see strong opportunities in commercial real estate and in multi-family
apartments
right now.  If you're interested in pursuing these types of opportunities,
please just let us
know.  We have access to the national database of commercial properties and can
help you
with purchasing across the US.  Trends are showing us that the Carolinas and
Texas are
both very strong presently.
--------------------------------------------

WHAT IS DEL.ICIO.US ?
Ok.. so you're thinking we're that we're getting ready to tell you about some
dessert recipe
or some new restaurant, right?  Sorry to disappoint you.  Del.icio.us is
actually a website.

Del.icio.us is a free public bookmarking site that allows you to store your
Favorites or
Bookmarks online so you can access them from any computer.  So why are we
mentioning
it?  Well, firstly, we think it's an interesting free service.  We tend to
travel a lot and
sometimes we're in areas where our laptops just aren't feasible or there isn't
any internet
access except local internet cafes.  It's nice to be able to actually access our
favorite
webpages while we're traveling without having to remember all of the site
addresses.

Secondly, it's a way for you to actually influence which websites people
visit... and this is
the real reason we're mentioning the site.  Once you register, you can add
websites to
Del.icio.us - we hope that our customers will consider adding our website to
their online
favorites.  By doing so, our website receives some additional exposure.  You
simply add
our website to your favorites and then write in a few notes about the site.  The
site is then
published on Del.icio.us, which allows other users to discover the site.  When
it asks for
tags, you can enter keywords like realty, realestate, florida, house, condo,
etc.  In the tag
section, you simply type in the keywords separated by a space instead of a
comma.

Please take a moment to register and add us to your favorites list so we can
spread the
word about Florida Real Estate:   http://www.del.icio.us

--------------------------------------------
Thinking about buying or selling Florida Real Estate?
Ask about our WRITTEN GUARANTEE.

When was the last time you received any kind of guarantee
from a real estate agent, especially one in Writing??

We provide Written Guarantees of All Our Services...
and it doesn't cost you a penny more.
--------------------------------------------

THANK YOU!
The most sincere compliment we can ever receive
is a referral from one of our customers.

As always, thank you for the opportunity to earn your business.  We look forward
to
hearing from you.

All the best,

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

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

---- NEW Office Information ----

Coldwell Banker® Residential Real Estate, Inc.
3319 Sheridan Street
Hollywood, FL 33021 USA

Mortgage Financing?  Same Day Approval.
Call Toll Free - 1-866-495-1095

Want to unsubscribe from this newsletter?
Just click the link below, though we hope you'll find value in the newsletter
and give us a
chance to earn your business.  We don't send spam and typically our newsletters
and alerts
go out less than 2 times per month.
mailto:Branon@...?subject=UNSUBSCRIBE-INVESTFLORIDAREALTY

**Greetings from Branon Edwards and Jelena Panfilova from Coldwell Banker!

Here's a quick opportunity for the right investor with Instant Equity.

Unbelievable deal.  Motivated/Anxious Seller has asked us to place her Brand
New PGA Village Home on EBAY with a starting bid UNDER the original
preconstruction
price.

This is a NO RESERVE auction - high bidder takes it!

The auction ends Sunday evening. If we receive an acceptable offer
before the first auction bid, we'll cancel the auction.

Property:
Mid-Ocean Floor Plan
7221 Maidstone Drive
Port Saint Lucie, FL 34986

Current Appraisal at $390,000 (Copy of appraisal available)
Starting bid is $299,500 - NO RESERVE. INSTANT EQUITY!
Opening bid is less than preconstruction cost.
High bidder actually gets a house under appraised value.

No gimmicks - it's a gorgeous house, but the seller cannot close on another
pending transaction until she sells this one first.

Link to ebay Ad:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4454963586

Link to Property Brochure:
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/maidstone.htm

Property is a Mid-Ocean Floor Plan
2-bedroom/2.5-bath/Convertible Den/2-Car Garage
1784 sq ft under air
2357 total sq ft
7,020 sq ft Reserve View Lot, Room for Pool
Over $13,000 in Upgrades

Thanks in advance for your time and consideration.

All the best,

Branon A. Edwards, REALTOR, e-PRO
786-417-4910 Direct Phone
786-524-5747 Direct Fax

Office Information:
Coldwell Banker
3319 Sheridan Street
Hollywood, FL 33021

Visit me online:
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com

Same Day Mortgage Approval at Coldwell Banker Mortgage:
866-495-1095

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

We hope this email finds you and yours well and enjoying a beautiful summer. 
July is full
of fireworks, barbecues, and lazy days at your favorite swimming hole... even if
it might be
the clear blue Atlantic Ocean.  Of course, July is also when tropical storms
usually start
becoming hurricanes.  Our side of Florida was essentially unaffected by
Hurricane Dennis
aside from a few days of rain and some gusty winds.

Jelena and I just returned from a wonderful trip visiting her family in Estonia.
We timed
our trip to coincide with the 'White Nights' which happen each year in May.  If
you've never
experienced 24-hour daylight, it's quite a spectacle.  It was truly odd to be
walking the
streets of Saint Petersburg, Russia at midnight with the sun overhead as if it
were noon.
Amazing!

By the way, Jelena and I were featured on the front cover of
Florida Realtor Magazine's May Issue:  http://www.planetrealtor.com/Florida/
FLRealtorMagazine/CovSalesFarms.cfm

As promised in our last newsletter about Florida real estate taxes, this
newsletter will
discuss the 1031 Tax Deferred Exchange.  I know, it already sounds like one of
those
complicated government loopholes, but don't worry, we're going to break things
down to a
less-governmental level so it's not quite so scary.

-----------------------------------------
CONGRATULATIONS to the following customers:

Jimmy and Claudia from Miami for purchasing a beautiful 5-bedroom lakefront home
in
Three Lakes and for selling their home in Country Walk.

David and Rocio from Cape Coral for purchasing a 4-bedroom pool home in Country
Walk.

Juan from Miami for purchasing a lovely 4-bedroom home in Palmetto Bay.

Igor and Svetlana from Brooklyn for purchasing an intracoastal-front condo in
Aventura.

Jorge and Angeles for renewing their lease in The Towers of Key Biscayne.

Jill from Weston for leasing a bayview condo at The Mark on Brickell.

Ryan from Miami for leasing a beachfront condo in The Wave on Hollywood Beach.

Tom and Susie from Miami for purchasing a building lot in Silver Springs Shores
near
Ocala.

Acya and Chris from Miami for purchasing a condo conversion unit in Treasures on
the
Bay.
-----------------------------------------

What is 1031 Tax Deferred Exchange anyway??
The 1031 tax deferred exchange is also referred to as a Starker exchange, a
like-kind
exchange, a like-kind swap, a real-estate swap, real estate exchange, delayed
exchange,
simultaneous exchange, construction exchange, improvement exchange,
multi-property
exchange, multi-party exchange, and sometimes even a 'starker' - in honor of
T.J. Starker,
whose pioneering lawsuits give us the advantages we enjoy today through Internal
Revenue Code (IRC) 1031.

No matter how you refer to it, a 1031 Tax Deferred Exchange can be an investor's
best
friend.  The IRS rules allow real estate investors to defer paying taxes on
qualifying
'exchanges' provided the investor meets a few criteria and uses a qualified
intermediary
(sometimes called a facilitator or accommodator.)

-----------------------------------------
CURRENT LISTINGS:

FOR SALE: Plaza on Brickell - Preconstruction
2-bedroom/2-bath, 1180 sq ft + 148 sq ft balcony - D unit in the first tower for
resale.
West view overlooking Brickell Avenue. Asking $530,000 with 20% down. Price
somewhat
negotiable with 48% down.

FOR RENT: 2080 S. Ocean Drive, Penthouse 9
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/rental/hallandale-beach.htm
Luxuriously furnished 2-bedroom/2-bath beachfront condo in Hallandale Beach.
Available
turn-key furnished monthly from $3500.

FOR RENT:  1183 Mahogany Lane, Weston
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/rental/weston.htm
Gorgeous 5-bedroom two-story home with fenced yard, pool, and 2-car garage in
gated
community with A-Rated schools.  Available for annual, unfurnished rental at
$2,950 per
month.

FOR RENT OR SALE: 3030 Collins Avenue, Penthouse 4-H
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/rental/madison.htm
Recently renovated 2-bedroom/1-bath condo across from the beach in the Madison
Condo with partial ocean views. Tile, stainless steel appliances. Available
unfurnished for
$1400/month. Owner may consider sale for $279,000.

UNDER CONTRACT: 15435 SW 141st Terr
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/countrywalk.htm
Two-story 4-bedroom/3-bath pool home with 2-car garage in Country Walk area for
$375,000.

FOR SALE: Waterfront Building Lot in Punta Gorda Isles
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/pgi.htm
$944,000 - huge vacant building lot (0.46-acre) 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
overlooking a wide basin.

FOR SALE: 0.64-Acre Building Lot in Silver Springs Shores, Ocala, FL
Huge 0.64-acre building lot in the Sequoia section of Silver Springs Shores,
about 20
minutes Southeast of Ocala.  The lot has a utility easement running along the
rear of the
property, but there is still plenty of room to build your dream home or hold for
investment.  Asking $75,000.  Recent survey available.

FOR SALE: Vacant Building Lots in Ocala, FL.
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/ocala.htm
Beautiful single-family homesites in Silver Springs Shores, a growing area of
Ocala. Lots
from $30,000 and rising quickly. Email us for the latest lot lists.
-----------------------------------------

What or Who is a Qualified Intermediary?
A qualified intermediary is simply a company that is registered with the
government and
that has expertise in the exchange process.  Coldwell Banker's sister company,
Mid-
Exchange Inc, is a qualified intermediary.  Starker Services is another
qualified
intermediary - if the name sounds familiar, yes, they're related to T.J.
Starker, the 'father
of the 1031'.  Simply put, qualified intermediaries handle the actual exchange
and work
with the title agency or closing agent to make sure all the paperwork is
completed
correctly.  They charge a reasonable fee for these services - generally less
than $1,000 per
transaction.

-----------------------------------------
B A L   H A R B O U R   U P D A T E

HARBOUR HOUSE IN BAL HARBOUR by Related Group
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/preconstruction/harbourhouse.htm
Ready to Sell!  Prices from over $600 to $900 per square foot.
Beautiful condo conversion on the beach in exclusive Bal Harbour.  Friends and
Family
pricing available to select customers. Studios from $400,000, 1-bedrooms from
$700,000, and 2-bedrooms from $900,000. Requires $50,000 to reserve with a total
of
10% within 15 days. Additional 10% within 60 days.
Renovation should take approximately one year to complete - closings
Spring/Summer
2006.

COMING SOON from Related Group:
ST REGIS IN BAL HARBOUR - to be built on the Sheraton Bal Harbour Site.
Exclusive luxury beachfront condominimums.
Prices from over $650 per square foot.
-----------------------------------------

WHO SHOULD USE A 1031 EXCHANGE?
Any real estate investor who is contemplating buying or selling an investment
property.

PROPERTIES THAT MAY QUALIFY FOR A 1031 EXCHANGE:
Apartment
Duplex
Triplex
Fourplex
Rental House
Commercial Property
Unimproved Property, Land, Vacant Lots
Multiple Properties
30-Year Leases

PROPERTIES THAT *DO NOT* QUALIFY FOR A 1031 EXCHANGE:
Primary Residences
Vacation Homes
Second Homes
Stocks, Bonds, or Notes
Stock in Trade or Other Property Held Primarily for Sale
Other Securities or Evidence of Indebtedness
Certificates of Trust or Beneficial Interest
Partnership Interests
And a few other exclusions

About 1031 Tax Deferred Exchange
Tax deferred exchanges have been around since the 1920s, but became more
accessible
to investors in 1979 following several court cases, thanks to T.J. Starker.
 Following those
court cases, a 1031 exchange became far less complicated and certainly more
'popular'.

-----------------------------------------
WANT TO BUY PRECONSTRUCTION...
BUT DON'T WANT TO WAIT 2 YEARS TO MOVE IN?
The Related Group has a number of projects that will be delivered later this
year...

THE LOFT DOWNTOWN by Related Group
Located in the heart of Downtown

Current Resales: (subject to change)
Unit 2203, A2 Model,  685 sq ft, $265,000
Unit 1604, A5 Model, 784 sq ft, $267,000
Unit 906, A4 Model, 738 sq ft, $269,000
Unit 2108, A3 Model, 712 sq ft, $269,000
Unit 1406, A4 Model, 738 sq ft, $275,000
Unit 2006, A4 Model, 738 sq ft, $290,000
Unit 202, B2 Model, 1078 sq ft, $297,000
Ready Late 2005. Prices are with 20% Down.

----

ONE MIAMI by Related Group
Located Downtown ON THE BAY

Current Resales: (subject to change)
Unit 512-East, C3 Model, 1250 sq ft, $550,000
Unit 412-East,  C3 Model, 1250 sq ft, $600,000
Unit 909-South, A1 Model, 1792 sq ft,  $799,000
Unit 609-South, A1 Model, 1792 sq ft,  $862,000
Unit 2409-South, A1 Model, 1792 sq ft,  $925,000
Unit 3809/3812, A1 Model, 3209 sq ft,  $1,799,000
Ready Late 2005. Prices are with 20% Down.
-----------------------------------------

LIKE-KIND PROPERTIES
Many people mistakenly believe that by using a 1031 exchange, the exchangor has
to
swap their property for a similar property at the same time.  In the old days,
that was the
case - corporations would literally trade one deed for another and the
properties truly did
have to be nearly identical.

HOWEVER, currently, the rules regarding LIKE-KIND are more concerned with the
intent of
the investor moreso than the property itself.

Just SOME Possible Property Exchanges
Vacant Land  <-->  Single Family House
Rental House  <-->  Rental Condo
Rental Condo  <-->  Retail Center
Duplex  <-->  Triplex
Apartment Building  <-->  Office Building
Office Building  <-->  Vacant Lot

With 1031 exchange, a real estate investor can exchange a vacant lot for a
rental condo, a
rental house for a shopping center, a rental condo for a vacant lot, a shopping
center for
an apartment building, and just about any other combination you can imagine.
 With a
properly structured 1031 tax deferred exchange, an investor can actually
complete the
transaction without paying any capital gains tax at all.

-----------------------------------------
THINKING ABOUT BUYING OR SELLING REAL ESTATE?
We are full-service real estate professionals with Coldwell Banker, the nation's
largest real
estate firm.  We are one of the few agent teams in the area who will actually
give you a
Written Guarantee of our services.

For more details, please visit our website:
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/guarantee.htm
-----------------------------------------

WEIGHING THE OPTIONS
Right now, you may be imagining that the process is way too complicated to be
worth it.  
Or perhaps that the process must be terribly expensive if it will save you tens
of thousands
(in some cases hundreds of thousands) of dollars.  However, it's really not
complicated at
all and it's less expensive than you can possibly imagine (typically less
than$1,000
regardless of the cost of the property).

We can help you buy or sell real estate using the 1031 tax deferred exchange.
 The best
part is that the process is simple and we will help you every step of the way.

-----------------------------------------
THE PLAZA ON BRICKELL by Related Group

Current Resales: (subject to change)
851 Building
Unit 1602-North, B Model, 739 sq ft, $299,900
Unit 2303-South, B Model, 739 sq ft, $333,900
Unit 4301-South, A Model, 847 sq ft, $427,900

901 Building
Unit 305-West, C Model, 1209 sq ft, $439,900
Unit 1810-East, F Model, 1400 sq ft, $648,900
Unit 1510-North, F Model, 1398 sq ft,  $654,900
-----------------------------------------

READY FOR 1031?
If you or anyone you know is considering selling an investment property, please
give us a
call or send us an email.  We'll be happy to help you determine whether or not a
1031 Tax
Deferred Exchange makes sense for your particular situation.  Of course, nothing
replaces
the advice of a good CPA - who else knows your financial structure better than
your
accountant?

As always, thank you for the opportunity to earn your business.  We consider
referrals to
the most sincere compliment we can receive.  Thank you in for your trust.

All the best,

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

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

Mortgage Financing?  Same Day Approval.
Call Toll Free - 1-866-495-1095

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

We hope all is well with you and yours.  It's been a hectic few months for the
two of us -
we sold our bayfront condo, bought a waterfront house, and spent nearly 2 weeks
researching the oceanfront real estate markets on Mexico's East coast (see
below).
Needless to say, we're still catching up from our trip and the move.  This is
our first
newsletter since our adventures began, so it's a little longer than usual.

As we all know, April is tax month here in the United States.  With that in
mind, we have
decided to focus this month's newsletter on taxation.  How original, right?

IN THIS ISSUE:
- Old IRS Rollover rule eliminated and replaced with easier rule
- Capital Gains taxes on the sale of your primary residence
- Florida Homestead Exemption
- Paying your property taxes early for a discount
- Property Tax Timeline

Next month, we'll focus on 1031 tax deferred exchanges for investment
properties.

--------------------------------------------------
ATTENTION INVESTORS - HOT NEW PROJECTS FROM MIAMI TO MEXICO

TREASURES ON THE BAY from $200,000
We are working on a new bayfront condominium conversion on the Southeast Corner
of
Treasure Island (North Bay Village) with prices from the mid-$200,000s to over
$500,000.
Friends and family sales started today and units are moving very quickly.  The
project is so
new that we don't have a web-page for it yet, but will keep you posted. This
pet-friendly
building (no pet restrictions) will feature valet and self-parking, 2 swimming
pools, fitness
center, bayfront clubhouse, and of course, spectacular bay views. Studios,
1-bedroom, 2-
bedroom, and 3-bedroom units available.  If you are interested in reserving a
unit in this
exciting project, please CALL US TODAY so we can put you on the VIP list.
mailto:Jelena@...?subject=TREASURES-INTEREST

HARBOUR HOUSE - Bal Harbour Condo Conversion
We are currently taking letters of interest and deposits for this beachfront
condo
conversion in exclusive Bal Harbour.  We expect this one to be a quick sell out
with prices
from the $300,000s. Building will take about a year to renovate.
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/preconstruction/harbourhouse.htm

PARK SUITES AT 50 BISCAYNE - Downtown Bay Views - Turnkey Furnished!
Originally, 50 Biscayne had planned for a boutique condo-hotel from floors 4
through 9
and contracted with the Rockwell Group (of movie star decorator fame) to
completely
finish and furnish these studio and one-bedroom units.  The units will be
delivered TURN-
KEY furnished with linens, plasma televisions, and all of the luxurious comforts
you'd
expect from the design geniuses at Rockwell.  There are a select number of these
hot
downtown condos left with Direct Biscayne Bay Views from the high $200,000s to
almost
$600,000. Call us today for more information.
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/preconstruction/50biscayne

SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING PROJECT in South Miami (Old Cutler)
We are expecting information any day now about a new Lennar project in South
Miami near
the Old Cutler area.  The project will feature a variety of single family home
model plans
with convenient access to US-1 and the Turnpike.  We expect prices to start in
the high
$300,000s.  If you're interested, drop us an email and we'll add you to our VIP
list for the
project.
mailto:branon@...?subject=LENNAR-PROJECT-INTEREST

MEXICO BEACHFRONT
Pelican Beach - Cozumel
66 x 164 feet beachfront building lots in Cozumel, Mexico from $231,000 to
$324,000.
New road to be constructed soon, which will have a substantial positive impact
on prices in
the area.

El Caribe North and South - Costa Maya (South of Cancun)
79 x 321 feet beachfront building lots at $302,000 each.
--------------------------------------------------

Ok, since we're going to be talking about taxes, we need to throw in the old
legal
disclaimer that neither of us are attorneys or certified public accountants.  As
such, we
cannot give legal or tax advice and always suggest that you contact your own
attorney or
CPA with specific questions about your particular situation.

HOUSE SALE ROLLOVER - Dinosaur replaced by simpler process
Remember the old IRS rule that said if you sold your house and rolled the money
into a
higher priced property within a specific period of time you didn't have to pay
capital gains
taxes on the profits?  Well, that rule was eliminated way back in 1997, but we
talk to folks
all the time who still think the rule applies.

The rule was replaced by a new one that allows you NOT to pay capital gains
taxes on the
sale of your primary residence provided you owned the property for at least 2
years and
lived in it for at least 2 of the last 5 years.  You can actually make $500,000
in capital
gains if you're married and not pay a cent in tax.  If you're single, the amount
is $250,000.

Yes, it's true.  Let's say you bought your house 2 years ago for $100,000. Let's
also say
that you have lived in the property as your primary residence for those 2 years.
Let's also
say that the property is now worth $600,000 and you're married.

By IRS rule, you can actually sell the house for $600,000 and NOT pay a penny in
capital
gains taxes on the sale of the house.  Amazing?  Not really.. but it certainly
makes cashing
out a very attractive option right now.  This is particularly attractive for
empty-nesters who
are looking to downsize to a smaller property.  By the old rule, you'd have to
buy a
property equal to our more expensive than the previous house you sold.  Now, you
simply
sell the house and pocket the gains whether you buy something else or not.

--------------------------------------------------
CURRENT LISTINGS:

FOR RENT:   (May short-term special: $3500 for May 3 - 31).
Seasonal/Annual Rental on Hallandale Beach - AVAILABLE starting May 3rd
Immaculately furnished 2-bedroom/2-bath luxury 18th floor penthouse in 2080
South
Ocean Drive on Hallandale Beach with direct Ocean and Intracoastal Waterway
views. Pets
negotiable.
Imagine Egyptian Cotton linens, Cuisinart countertop appliances,
gourment-equipped
kitchen, surround sound DVD, tennis, pool, gym, and valet! Summer rates at $4300
per
month. Winter season at $5500 per month and worth every penny!
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/rental/hallandale-beach.htm

FOR RENT:
Annual Rental on Hollywood Beach - AVAILABLE NOW
Gorgeous 15th floor 1-bedroom/1-bath oceanfront condominium in The Wave on
Hollywood Beach with direct ocean views. Completely remodeled with new
appliances,
crown moldings, and lots of closet space.  Pets are negotiable. $1750/month
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/rental/wave-hollywood-beach.htm

FOR SALE:
Winston Towers 200 - 11th Floor Corner Unit with Wrap Around Balcony in Sunny
Isles
Beach
Magnificent panoramic intracoastal waterway & ocean views from this beautifully
remodeled 11th floor corner unit w/almost 1900 sqft. Enjoy your meals from your
spacious wrap-around balcony. Renovation includes Italian tile, jacuzzi tub &
updated eat-
in kitchen. Walk to the beach, restaurants & shops. Building features free
shuttle services,
24-hr security, pool/spa, new laundry facilities, bellboy, men/women's gym &
sauna.  1-
year home warranty!  Priced to sell quickly at $399,900!

FOR SALE:
$944,000 - huge vacant building lot (0.46-acre) 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
overlooking a wide basin.
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 under $20,000 and rising quickly. Email us
for the
latest lot lists.
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/ocala.htm
--------------------------------------------------

FLORIDA HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION
More than just saving money...
If your primary residence is in Florida, you should have already applied for
your
Homestead Exemption.  The Homestead Exemption gives you a $25,000 discount off
of
the appraised value of your primary residence, which can equate to as much as
$750 per
year in savings on your annual property taxes here in Florida.

Further, having your home classified as your homestead protects your home
from ever being sold to pay off debts from credit cards, judgements, etc.
Of course, tax liens and mortgage liens and resulting foreclosures still
apply.

Requirements for Homestead Exemption:
- Apply by March 1.
- Own the property on January 1.
- Reside in the property on January 1.
- You must be a permanent resident of the State of Florida on January 1.
    (no previous residency required)
- You must be a US citizen or have been granted a Permanent Resident Card on
or before January 1.

Other points of interest:
- Widows and widowers receive an additional $500 exemption.
- Disabled veterans with service-related disability can receive up to an
additional $5,000 exemption.
- Disabled persons can actually be TOTALLY exempt from property taxes.
- If you're over 65 and meet certain income requirements, you may also
qualify for total exemption.

--------------------------------------------------
CONGRATULATIONS:
We would like to offer our sincere congratulations to the following customers on
their
recent sales/purchases:

Ferndando and James of Florida for their purchase of a 1-bedroom/1.5-bath
bayfront
condo in Charter Club on Biscayne Bay.

Kimberly and Eugene of Florida for selling their 3-bedroom waterfront ocean
access home
in Hollywood.

Jimmy and Chris of Florida for purchasing a new construction home in PGA Village
in Port
Saint Lucie.

Ann and Arthur of Pennsylvania for purchasing a new construction home in PGA
Village in
Port Saint Lucie.

David and Colleen of Florida for purchasing two 2.5-acre lots in Clewiston.

Paul of Florida for reserving a preconstruction condo at The Mondrian in the
Performing
Arts District.
--------------------------------------------------

PAY YOUR TAXES EARLY FOR A DISCOUNT
Did you know that most counties actually give you a discount if you pay your
taxes before
they're late?  In some cases the discounts can be substantial - upwards to 5% of
your total
tax bill if you pay it when it arrives in November. Most tax bills show
different amounts to
pay depending on when you send in payment.

PROPERTY TAX TIMELINE
- August - preliminary tax statements mailed (you have 30-days to dispute the
statement)
- November 1st - tax bills issued
- December 31st - current tax year ends
- January 1st - new tax year begins, property may be reassessed, a lien is
placed against
your property for the November tax bill. This is the earliest you can apply for
a Homestead
Exemption for this tax year.
- March 1st - last day to file for the Homestead Exemption for the current year.
- April 1st - property taxes for previous year become delinquent

--------------------------------------------------
PRECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS:

Mondrian in the Performing Arts District from the $300,000s
Now taking reservations! One bedrooms SOLD OUT!
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/preconstruction/mondrian.htm

Paramount Beach in Sunny Isles from $980,000
Now taking reservations! Unique oceanfront property featuring ONLY 3 and
4-bedroom
units.
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/preconstruction/paramountbeach.htm

Paramount Bay in the Performing Arts District from $600,000
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/preconstruction/paramountbay.htm

NoBe Bay on Biscayne Bay near the Deauville Hotel
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/preconstruction/nobebay.htm

The Lofts Downtown Resale Update - units available now from $204,000!
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/preconstruction/downtownlofts.htm
Unit# -     Price    -  Unit Type
1103 - $204,000 - A2
1509 - $210,500 - A1
1703 - $216,000 - A2
1909 - $225,000 - A1
2109 - $230,000 - A1
2108 - $269,000 - A3
UPH6 - $309,000 - A4
2002 - $361,000 - B2
LPH7 - $420,000 - B3

OneMiami resale units also available - please email us for details.

Everglades on the Bay Update
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/preconstruction/
75% Sold out in the North Tower
100% Sold out in the South Tower.
Completion is projected for October 2007
Resales should begin within the next 4 months or less.

North Tower Opportunities
7th floor Loft - 915 sq ft - $428,000 - North View
37th floor Studio 812 sq ft - $420,000 - South Views
2/2+Den - 1627 sq ft - $770,000 - South View
--------------------------------------------------

Tune in next month when we discuss 1031 Tax Deferred Exchanges.  In the mean
time,
you can visit our website for more information about 1031's: http://
www.investfloridarealty.com/1031exchange.htm

Of course, if you have any questions, you can always pick up the phone or send
us a quick
email, and we'll be happy to get back to you right away.

--------------------------------------------------
THINKING ABOUT BUYING OR SELLING REAL ESTATE IN FLORIDA?

Imagine getting a WRITTEN GUARANTEE from your real estate agent.
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/guarantee.htm

We consider referrals to be the most sincere compliment our customers can give
us.
Referrals are the heart of our business - thank you!
--------------------------------------------------

As always, thank you for the opportunity to earn your business.  We look forward
to
hearing from you again soon.  If we can ever be of service, please don't
hesitate to contact
us at your convenience.

All the best,
--
--Branon A. Edwards, Licensed Florida Realtor®, ePRO
--Jelena Panfilova, Licensed Florida Realtor®

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

UNSUBSCRIBE: mailto:branon@...?subject=UNSUBSCRIBE-
INVESTFLORIDAREALTY

**Greetings from Branon A. Edwards and Jelena Panfilova
from Coldwell Banker!

Can you believe the holidays are right around the corner?!  Neither can we, but
the season
is definitely upon us.  Miami is abuzz with the sounds of snowbirds flocking to
our warmer
climate and white sand beaches.

We hope you and yours have a wonderful holiday season and that all of your
winter
dreams come true.

We wanted to combine our November and December newsletters to keep things simple
for
you - you've got enough going on without having to wade through scores of emails
from
your favorite Florida real estate couple.

We continue to be asked about the real estate outlook for Florida.  We've been
doing lots
of research and would like to share a five national trends that are impacting
real estate
markets across the country - including Florida's.

-------------------------------------------------
CURRENT LISTINGS

FOR RENT:  Seasonal/Annual Rental on Hallandale Beach - AVAILABLE NOW
Immaculately furnished 2-bedroom/2-bath luxury 18th floor penthouse in 2080
South
Ocean Drive on Hallandale Beach with direct Ocean and Intracoastal Waterway
views. Pets
negotiable. Available monthly for $5,500/month.
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/rental/hallandale-beach.htm

FOR RENT: Annual Rental on Hollywood Beach - AVAILABLE NOW
Gorgeous 15th floor 1-bedroom/1-bath oceanfront condominium in The Wave on
Hollywood Beach with direct ocean views. Completely remodeled with new
appliances,
crown moldings, and lots of closet space.  Pets are negotiable. $1750/month
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/rental/wave-hollywood-beach.htm

FOR SALE:
Lovely 17th floor 1-bedroom/1.5-bath in Charter Club on the Bay with direct
views of
Biscayne Bay. Condo is beautifully furnished and includes new appliances, 1-year
home
warranty and $3,000 toward closing costs or upgrades. Across the street from
Blue
Condos near the Performing Arts District and the Design District. Just $250,000.
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/listings/charterclub.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
-------------------------------------------------

FIVE NATIONAL TRENDS AND FLORIDA'S REAL ESTATE MARKET
We recently met with one of Coldwell Banker's Regional Vice Presidents who
shared her
thoughts about the Florida real estate market.  More specifically, we talked
about some
nationwide trends that put Florida in line for continued growth.

1.  INTEREST RATES
Obviously, low interest rates have continued to fuel the real estate market for
some time
now.  Even with recent interest rate increases, mortage lenders continue to
offer
exceptional rates and innovative programs to draw renters and recent graduates
into the
home-ownership market.

2.  BABY BOOMERS AND THE TRANSFER OF WEALTH
Baby Boomers are the recipients of one of the largest wealth transfers in our
nation's
history.  Parents of Baby Boomers lived through the Great Depression and as a
result,
many continued their frugal saving habits throughout their lives and are now
passing that
wealth on to their children.  With increased awareness of estate planning
(including real
estate investments), even more wealth is being passed along rather than being
handed
directly to Uncle Sam as estate taxes.  Many of these Baby Boomers are using
these
unexpected windfalls to purchase second homes, vacation homes, and investment
property.  Of course, as Baby Boomers near retirement age, many are looking to
warmer
climates for their future residences.

-------------------------------------------------
NEW PRECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS:

PORT ST LUCIE - PGA VILLAGE
Single family golf course homes from the $300,000s
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/preconstruction/pgavillage.htm

FORT MYERS - OASIS ON THE CALOOSAHATCHEE RIVER
Riverfront highrise condos from the $200,000s to over $800,000s
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/preconstruction/oasis.htm

SUNNY ISLES BEACH - PARAMOUNT BEACH CONDOMINIUM
Oceanfront luxury 3 and 4-bedroom condos from $980,000 to over $2 Million
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/preconstruction/paramountbeach.htm

MIAMI PERFORMING ARTS DISTRICT - MONDRIAN CONDOMINIUM
Urban artistic boutique condominiums from the $240,000
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/preconstruction/mondrian.htm

COCONUT GROVE - GROVE LOFTS ON GRAND AVENUE
True loft living in the heart of the Grove from $240,000
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/preconstruction/grovelofts.htm

NORTH BAY VILLAGE - LINX ON NORMANDY SHORES GOLF COURSE
Ultra-contemporary golf course condos from the $200,000s
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/preconstruction/linx.htm
-------------------------------------------------

3.  INCREASING HOMEOWNERSHIP AMONG IMMIGRANT POPULATIONS
Many immigrant populations typically rent for their first 10 years in the USA,
but move
toward buying a home in their second 10 years.  Given the immigrant population
increases
in the 80s and 90s, many of those immigrants are now looking to move away from
renting
toward owning.  The hispanic population, according to Census numbers and other
studies,
is particularly interested in owning property and are making the move toward
home
ownership.

4.  STOCK MARKET RUMBLES
Since the Dot-Com plunge a few years back, an increasing number of investors
have
realized that real estate investments have been generating better returns than
their often
riskier Wall Street portfolios.  Many REITs are announcing record numbers of
both
investors and returns.  Further, more investment advisors and wealth planners
are jumping
on the bandwagon and are now recommending real estate to many of their
customers.
States like Florida are particularly high on the 'suggested buy list' because of
the
exceptional returns that our real estate markets have been generating.  As an
example,
the Miami real estate market has been enjoying returns of upwards of 20%
annually over
the last 3 years - certainly few stock brokers can boast similar results.

-------------------------------------------------
SPECIAL THANKS to... YOU !
Thanks to great customers like you, 2004 has been a very successful and exciting
year for
both of us.  Thanks to your confidence and your referrals, we have held the
title of top-
referring agents in our office for more than 6 months running and have surpassed
several
career milestones.

We truly believe that referrals are the most sincere compliments that we can
receive... and
they're the foundation of our business.  We hope that you will continue to trust
us for your
real estate needs and for the needs of your friends and family.  If we can ever
be of
service, please don't hesitate to contact us.

THANK YOU - THANK YOU - THANK YOU!
-------------------------------------------------

5.  FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN STABLE ECONOMIES
Like US investors, non-US-based investors are always on the lookout for good
investments.  One of the top priorities for those investments is often
stability.  The USA
has traditionally been a stable marketplace and international investors have
continued to
be drawn to the US as a result.  Increased wealth in countries in the European
Union, South
America, and Asia have created an influx of investment dollars for the USA. 
Given the
relatively stable nature of real estate in our country, it is no surprise that
many of these
investors are putting their hard-earned Euros, Yen, and Pesos into US real
estate.

Needless to say, if we take a look at each of these 5 national trends, we see
that Florida is
strategically positioned in each and every case.  Florida's warmer climate,
beautiful
destinations, stable and increasing markets, international tourism industry,
plus Florida's
immigrant population and international reputation all point to continued growth
in our
real estate markets.  Of course, Miami and the surrounding area is uniquely
positioned
within Florida's economy to truly take advantage of these trends as well.

-------------------------------------------------
Looking for something in particular?
Want to get the best price for your current property?
Call or email us today and we'll be happy to help you.
Remember, all of our services are Guaranteed in Writing!

CHECK OUT OUR WRITTEN GUARANTEE
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/guarantee.htm
-------------------------------------------------

As always, thank you for the opportunity to earn your business.  If you or
anyone you
know is looking to buy or sell real estate in Florida, please keep us in mind.

Again, we hope you and yours have a wonderful and safe holiday season.

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

**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

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

The last few months have obviously been pretty amazing here in Florida.  Hu=
rricanes
Charley, Frances,Ivan, and Jeanne have all made their presences known acros=
s the state.
Luckily, we have so far been spared anything other than some minor inconven=
iences here
in the Miami area.  Our hearts go out to our friends and family across the =
USA who have
been affected by these storms.

As promised, our September Newsletter focuses on the mystical Credit Score,=
  thanks to
Coldwell Banker Mortgage's Mike Lutz and MSN MoneyCentral's Liz Pulliam Wes=
ton.  This
newsletter will give you a basic overview of where credit scores came from =
and how they
work. Our October newsletter will debunk some of the most common myths abou=
t credit
scores and what you can do to better them.

You may have noticed that Long Term Rates (30-year fixed, 15-year fixed) ha=
ve been
dropping while the short term rates (programs like the 3/1, 5/1, 7/1, 10/1 =
ARMs) have
been increasing. 30-year fixed rate mortgage rates have dipped back to the =
high 5s.  And
it appears that over the next couple weeks there may be little difference i=
n rate between a
short term rate versus a 30-year fixed program.

SPECIAL THANKS to all our customers who referred business to us in July and=
  August.

Thanks to you, we were named TOP REFERRING AGENTS in our Key Biscayne offic=
e for the
4th month in a row!  We were also named one of the top referring agent team=
s in the State
of Florida!

THANK YOU!!

------------------------------------------------
LISTINGS

LAST MINUTE PRECONSTRUCTION DEAL:
Available Immediately at Original Developer Price of $354,900 - contract fo=
r The Plaza on
Brickell for a 12th Floor 2-bedroom/2-bath condo with a Northern Exposure a=
nd partial
bay views, approximately 1200 sq ft + 120 sq ft balcony. Project is SOLD OU=
T, but this
contract just opened up. Last chance to get a unit at The Plaza!  CALL US f=
or details.
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/preconstruction/theplaza.htm

FOR RENT:
Beachfront Penthouse on Hallandale Beach with fantastic direct ocean and in=
tracoastal
views. Washer/dryer included, gym, pool/spa, tennis, private beach access, =
24-hour
security and valet, plus secure covered parking.  Available unfurnished for=
  $2900/month.
Did we mention the direct ocean view?!
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/rental/hallandale-beach.htm

FOR SALE:
Preconstruction resale in Ocean 4. Spacious 2-bedroom/2-bath/2-balcony E fl=
oorplan
with direct West intracoastal view.  15th Floor for $625,000 (REDUCED).  11=
th floor for
$600,000.
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/preconstruction/ocean4-1506.htm

VACANT LAND:
Punta Gorda Isles sailboat access building lot - almost 1/2 acre with room =
to spare in
exclusive Punta Gorda Isles. 50-feet of seawall and a brand new boat dock w=
ith direct Gulf
access and sailboat water. One of the last large waterfront lots in the are=
a. Priced to sell at
just $899,000.
http://www.investfloridarealty.com/listings/pgi.htm

Vacant building lot opportunities in Ocala, Florida with prices from $15,00=
0.
http://www.investfloridarealty.com/listings/ocala.htm
------------------------------------------------

NEW DEVELOPMENT ALERT - AXIS AT BRICKELL VILLAGE

Prices from the $190,000s

This new preconstruction highrise project will be located in Downtown Miami=
  and will
feature 2 residential towers with ground floor retail space. Pricing is ver=
y attractive and we
are currently taking reservations!  http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/prec=
onstruction/
axis.htm

------------------------------------------------

FICO SCORES

FICO® scores were developed by Fair Isaac & Company, Inc. for each of the c=
redit
repositories. The scores are: (Equifax) Beacon®, (Experian formerly TRW) Ex=
perian/FICO
and (TransUnion) Empirica®. They are simply repository scores meaning they =
only
consider the information contained in a person's credit file; they do not c=
onsider a persons
income, savings or amount of a down payment for a mortgage.

The scores were designed to assess risk. They are useful in directing appli=
cations to
specific loan programs and to set levels of underwriting, i.e. streamline, =
traditional or
second review. The scores are objective, consistent, accurate and fast.

Many people in the mortgage business are skeptical about the accuracy of FI=
CO scores.
Scoring has only been an integral part of the mortgage process in the past =
few years;
however, the scores have been in use since the 1950's by retail merchants, =
credit card
companies, insurance companies and banks for consumer lending.

---------------------------------------------------------
WE ARE CURRENTLY ACCEPTING NEW PROPERTY LISTINGS! 
Thinking about selling your property? Now is a great time to get top dollar=
!

Check out our Written Seller's Guarantee:
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/guarantee.htm
---------------------------------------------------------

The data from large scoring projects emphasizes the accuracy, the predictiv=
e quality of the
scores. Large portfolios have been scored for mortgage servicing and invest=
ment groups,
and again, they demonstrate that FICO scores work. The scores were develope=
d from each
repository's database using actual loan performance. A sample of over 750,0=
00 consumers
per repository was used. The repositories have each made great strides to i=
ncrease the
accuracy of their respective database through computer technology and inter=
nal
monitoring. There is a new standard reporting format for credit grantors to=
  use when
sending electronic information to the repositories; this is the critical fi=
rst step to providing
accurate data.

The scores use a multiple scorecard design. Each repository uses 10 individ=
ual scorecards,
and the models at each repository are the same. This increases accuracy and=
  optimizes the
predictive variables for each subpopulation. (For example, a borrower with =
two 30-day late
payments will be scored against a population with some minor delinquencies.=
) This feature
may cause a borrower with delinquencies to score in the same range as a bor=
rower without
delinquencies. Scorecards are reviewed and updated every twenty-four months=
.

------------------------------------------------
FEATURED PRECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

Axis at Brickell Village (from $190,000)
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/preconstruction/axis.htm

The Venture at Aventura (from $249,000)
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/preconstruction/venture.htm

Everglades on the Bay (from $278,000)
North Tower Available NOW!
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/preconstruction/everglades.htm
------------------------------------------------

The actual scoring process is proprietary, and the algorithms are copyright=
ed. We can
share the predictive variables, the portion of the credit file considered a=
nd the weight as
provided by Fair Isaac.

They are:

-Previous credit performance (35%)
   Trade line information specific to payment history

-Current level of indebtedness (30%)
   Current balance compared to the high credit

-Time credit has been in use (15%)
    Opening date

-Types of credit available (15%)
   Installment loans, revolving accounts, debit accounts

-Pursuit of new credit (less than 5%)

Inquiries
FICO has changed the way it factors credit checks or inquiries. These chang=
es should
minimize the "negative" effects that aggressive rate shopping or the normal=
  mortgage
process can have on a mortgage applicant. In the new Beacon version, the de=
-duping
process has been expanded beyond seven days. One variable counts the number=
  of days
within 365 days of scoring. If there has not been an inquiry, the de-duping=
  mechanism is
not activated. If there is a consumer originated inquiry within the past 36=
5 days from
mortgage or auto related industries, these inquiries are ignored for the fi=
rst 30 calendar
days from scoring; then, multiple inquiries within the next 14 days are cou=
nted as one.
Each inquiry will still appear on the credit report.

---------------------------------------------------------
Are you or anyone you know thinking about buying or selling?

We consider referrals to be the most sincere compliment
that our customers can give us.

Check out our Written Seller's Guarantee:
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/guarantee.htm

Is your house a TALKING HOUSE?
(if we're your Realtors, then it would be - FREE)
http://www.MiamiTalkingHouse.com
---------------------------------------------------------

Scores should not change significantly because the variable in the model us=
ing inquiries
contributes less than 5% of the predictive power of the model. According to=
  Equifax
statisticians, an average of 5% of the credit reports in the Equifax consum=
er credit
reporting database (over 200 million consumer files) will see a change in s=
core due to this.
Fewer than 5% of those will see a change significant enough to effect a loa=
n decision.

In order to get a score a borrower must have the following conditions in hi=
s/her file:
-No "Deceased" indicator on the credit file

-At least one undisputed trade line that has been updated in the last six m=
onths

-One trade line open at least six months

Scores range from 350 (high risk) to 950 (low risk). A scorecard of 660 wil=
l be 660 on
Beacon 96, Empirica and Experian/FICO if the data on each file is the same.=
  However, each
repository is likely to contain different data.

---------------------------------------------------------
Live in Miami-Dade or Broward County?
Thinking about selling your House?

Contact us for a FREE Video about selling your home.
mailto:branon@...?subject=TALKINGHOUSE-FREEVIDEO
---------------------------------------------------------

Every score is accompanied by a maximum of four reason codes. Reason codes =
identify the
most significant reason that a consumer did not score higher. They are not =
red flags.
Consumers with scores in the 800 range get reason codes just as consumers w=
ith scores
in the 500 range. The reason codes may be used in describing to the consume=
r the reason
for adverse action.

Scores are not part of the credit file and are not covered by the Fair Cred=
it Reporting Act.
Scores, if disclosed to the consumer, must be related to the credit file - =
using the reason
codes - since the score has no meaning in itself; the meaning or risk level=
  is assigned by
the lender and the investor. When applicants have erroneous information rep=
orted,
document the inaccuracies. The easiest way to do that is to have your credi=
t-reporting
agency upgrade the merged in-file to an edited mid-range report or to a Res=
idential
Mortgage Credit Report.

As always, thank you for the opportunity to earn your business.  We look fo=
rward to
hearing from you.

All the best,

--Branon A. Edwards, Licensed Florida Realtor®
--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

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

Can you believe it's almost September?!  Neither can we, but it's been
a great summer, and real estate sales continue to be brisk.

Last month, we discussed hurricanes and other named storms and how
they can affect your real estate closing.  This time, we'll cover a
question that we have been asked a lot lately – will this fantastic
real estate market continue?

Next month, we'll tackle one of the world's greatest mysteries… The
Credit Score!

CHECK OUT OUR NEW WEBSITE!
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com

---------------------------------------------------------
WE ARE CURRENTLY ACCEPTING NEW PROPERTY LISTINGS!
Thinking about selling your property? Now is a great time to get top
dollar!

Check out our Written Seller's Guarantee:
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/guarantee.htm
---------------------------------------------------------

** CONGRATULATIONS **

We would like to send our sincere gratitude and congratulations to the
following customers:

Lloyd from New York who is purchasing a gorgeous ocean view
2-bedroom/2-bath condo with a wraparound balcony at the Waverly at
Surfside, a beachfront condo conversion on Surfside Beach.

Patricia and Victor from Paris, France who are buying a spacious
4-bedroom/3-bath home in a lovely gated community in Homestead.

Jorge and Angeles from Argentina who rented a newly renovated condo in
the Towers of Key Biscayne.

John from Tampa who rented a beautiful condo in Oakwood on Biscayne
Bay in downtown Miami.

Diane and Jill from California who are buying a 2-bedroom/2-bath
direct bay view condo in 50 Biscayne, a new preconstruction project in
Downtown Miami.

Paulette from Cooper City who is buying a city view studio condo in 50
Biscayne, a new preconstruction project in Downtown Miami.

The Waverly at Surfside
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/preconstruction/waverly.htm

50 Biscayne
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/preconstruction/50biscayne.htm

---------------------------------------------------------
FLORIDA REAL ESTATE MARKET

Florida has enjoyed nearly a decade of steady property value
increases.  Property appreciation in popular areas has continued to
grow by as much as 20 or 25% per year.  CNN/Money Magazine even named
several zip codes in Miami as some of the hottest zip codes in the
United States because of greater-than-50% increases in property value
over several years.

According to the NAR (National Association of Realtors), more than
one-third of the 128 metro areas they tracked showed double-digit home
price growth in the second quarter of 2004. Only 9% showed a slight
decline in home prices, and none were in areas that have experienced
recent sustained periods of rapid growth. In the South, all of the top
price increases were in Florida including Sarasota, Ocala, West Palm
Beach, Boca Raton, Delray Beach, and of course, Miami.

What is fueling this growth?

According to the US Census, Florida's population grew by leaps and
bounds through an influx of immigrants and new births to those
immigrants.  Factor in the baby boomers planning for retirement and
you have the makings of a potential housing boom.  The Census Bureau
estimates that Florida's population will actually DOUBLE by 2020.

While those of us already living in Florida find it hard to imagine
twice as many cars on the road, the real estate market, especially
here in Miami, is already showing us the signs of this growth.  With
double the amount of people, we'll need quite a bit more available
housing units than we have currently.  Developers spotted this trend
some time ago and have been racing to add new condominiums and homes
to take advantage of this need.

Housing inventory in Florida is so short right now that most of
Florida is actually in what we call a `Seller's Market'.  A Seller's
Market occurs when there are more Buyers than properties available for
sale.  This shortage of available homes and condos for sale creates a
fantastic opportunity for folks who are interested in selling their
properties.  In many cases, we are seeing multiple offers the same day
or within just a few days of a property being listed for sale.  If the
property is priced correctly, there is often a flurry of activity when
it hits the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) with 3, 4, or more offers
coming in at asking price or even ABOVE the asking price.

In hot areas with well-maintained properties, many sellers are holding
out for full price… and they're getting it.  Even properties that
would normally be considered `fixer-uppers' are being sold at or near
their asking price.  True, there are always bargains to be found, but
with so many buyers looking for homes, they tend not to last very long.

In short, if you find something you like, don't wait. The home you
looked at today and want to think about overnight may be the same
house that someone else looked at yesterday and will be buying today.
  As my father says, "If you snooze, you lose."  Obviously, buying a
home is a very serious decision and you should never rush into
anything blindly.  Make sure you take your time in the beginning to
really think about what you want, what you need, and what you'd love
to have, but can live without.

Preparation and thinking things through BEFORE you start looking will
help you save time and also help you make good solid decisions.  It's
much easier to find your dream home if you already know what it looks
like in your mind.  It's also a lot easier for us Realtors to help you
find your perfect home if we have definitive parameters and know what
is and isn't important.  The worst thing you can do is look at 5 or 10
homes, get confused by all the options, and simply make a decision
based on desperation.  Ok, back to the market.

In addition to seeing well-priced homes selling above market price, we
are also seeing that overpriced properties are sitting on the market a
bit longer – some as much as a year to 2 years.  The key is pricing
the property appropriately so you get interest and activity within the
first 30 days.  Properties under $1 Million seem to be moving the
fastest, but luxury properties are making a comeback.  We expect that
luxury properties will start moving quickly in the near term, provided
of course that they are priced correctly.

There are some markets that show no signs at all of ever slowing down.
  Key Biscayne is one of those markets.  As you know, our office is
located on Key Biscayne.  In the past, our office would maintain an
inventory of about 50-65 homes at any given time.  We're now averaging
about 20-25 homes, with most selling within 30 days.  Even luxury
properties and multi-million dollar estates move quickly.  Its quaint
atmosphere and exclusivity make the Key a very desirable place to call
home.

---------------------------------------------------------
WE ARE NOW MIAMI'S TALKING HOUSE REALTORS!!

In an effort to provide our customers with the best possible service
and the most expansive marketing opportunities, we have become Miami's
TALKING HOUSE Realtors.

TALKING HOUSE is a fantastic technology that allows us to market your
home for sale 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  TALKING HOUSE never sleeps!

The best part is that we'll add TALKING HOUSE to your home's
personalized marketing plan FREE!

If you live in Miami-Dade or Broward County and you are interested in
selling your house (or you know someone who is), we'll send you a FREE
VIDEO on selling your home. Email us for details:
mailto:Branon@...?subject=TALKING-HOUSE-FREE-VIDEO

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

What can you do?

If you're looking for your next home, the first thing to do is to hire
a professional, (obviously, we'd love to be your Realtors for life).
A professional Realtor can not only provide you with the most updated
and current information, but also can help guide you to opportunities
and steer you away from possible pitfalls.

For an overview of the Buying Process, click here:
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/buy.htm

The next thing you should do is to get pre-approved for your mortgage.
  Contact a reputable mortgage company, bank, or even a mortgage broker
and ask to be pre-approved. Pre-qualification is NOT the same as
pre-approval.  Pre-qualified simply means that based on your
preliminary information you will probably qualify for a loan.
Pre-approval means that the lender has actually pulled your credit
report and knows that, provided you give them all the proper
documentation, you will actually receive the loan.  Obviously, things
happen, but a pre-approval is definitely the way to go.

With the advent of technology, the days of pre-qualification are gone.
  As an example, you can be pre-approved with a 15 or 20-minute phone
call to Coldwell Banker Mortgage.  Once you've received the verbal
pre-approval, ask the lender to fax a Pre-Approval Letter to you or to
your Realtor (us).  Your Realtor (we) will include this pre-approval
letter with any offer you submit to strengthen your negotiating position.

---------------------------------------------------------
LOOKING FOR A GREAT MORTGAGE RATE, AN INTEREST-ONLY LOAN, OR
NO-DOCUMENTATION LOANS?
Guaranteed to beat any other lender's price and give you same-day loan
approval!
Call Coldwell Banker Mortgage at 1-888-240-2236
---------------------------------------------------------

Given the current Seller's Market, many sellers simply will not accept
ANY offer that does not include a pre-approval letter.  And who can
blame them?  Why should they take their home off the market for
several weeks while a buyer attempts to get a mortgage?  If you were
selling your home (we hope you'd call us if you were thinking about
it) and you received 2 identical offers with only one showing a
pre-approval, which one would you take?  Exactly, the one with the
pre-approval because you know there is less of a chance that the sale
will fall through, at least because of the financing.

We're now seeing homes in the MLS that state upfront that offers
without pre-approval letters will not be accepted.  Some are even
dictating the terms of the sale in the MLS such as `cash-only' or `no
100% financing' or `minimum 20% down payment'.  It sounds crazy, but
with a market as hot as this, sellers are realizing they can make up
their own rules.

---------------------------------------------------------
FEATURED PRECONSTRUCTION CONDOMINIUM UNITS
CURRENTLY FOR SALE

Everglades on the Bay – Downtown Miami
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/preconstruction/everglades.htm

50 Biscayne – Downtown Miami
http://www.InvestFloridaRealty.com/preconstruction/50biscayne.htm
---------------------------------------------------------

So, will this hot market continue?

We've read a lot of articles by numerous leading experts in a variety
of fields, and it appears that a market slow down (if any) is a long
way off.  Granted, no one can definitively predict the future, and
there are a million different things that affect the real estate
market (economy, interest rates, housing inventory, relocation and
industry, employment rates, stock market peaks and valleys, etc).
However, with the economy back on the upswing, property values
continuing to increase, the volatility of the stock market, and
Florida's ever-increasing population, many investors and experts still
see real estate as the best place to put their money.

The key to investing in real estate is making informed decisions.
Watch for trends, but don't bank on hype – do the research.  Let your
Realtor use their extensive toolbox to provide you with whatever
information YOU need to make a logical decision.  And when you can, do
your own research and of course, follow your gut feelings.

When we're working with our customers, we try to learn as much as we
can about their needs, their goals, and their expectations.  Armed
with this information, we then research the various options to find a
few good matches.  We'll then offer as much information as we can so
that our customers can make a solid business decision – even if
they're buying their primary residence.  No matter what they're
buying, it should make sense for them.  We'll research surrounding
properties, pull tax and deed records, calculate costs and expenses,
and take a long hard look at the real potential of a particular
property or area.  Only then will we make our recommendations.

Have questions?  That's why we're here.  Give us a call or send us an
email, we're happy to help you in any way we can.

Know anyone who is thinking about buying or selling real estate in
Florida?  Even if they're not in Miami-Dade or Broward Counties, let
us know.  We'll be happy to refer them to a competent real estate
professional in their target area.

As always, thank you for the opportunity to earn your business.  We
look forward to helping you sell your current property or to find your
next home or investment.

All the best,

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

Branon Direct:  786-417-4910
mailto:Branon@...?subject=NEWSLETTER-CONTACT

Jelena Direct: 786-417-4911
mailto:Jelena@...?subject=NEWSLETTER-CONTACT

Our Private Fax:  786-524-5747

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

UNSUBSCRIBE:
mailto:branon@...?subject=UNSUBSCRIBE-INVESTFLORIDAREAL=
TY

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

We hope you're enjoying your summer!  June was a fantastic month for
us, and July is already off to a great start. With Florida's hurricane
season already underway, we thought we would talk about these summer
storms and how they can actually affect your ability to buy or sell
real estate.

Next time, we'll tell you about general market conditions in Florida.

---------------------------------------------------------
WE ARE CURRENTLY ACCEPTING NEW PROPERTY LISTINGS!
Thinking about selling your property? Now is a great time to get top
dollar!

Check out our Written Seller's Guarantee:
http://www.scubahh.com/guarantee.htm
---------------------------------------------------------

** CONGRATULATIONS **

We would like to send our sincere gratitude and congratulations to the
following customers:

- Sandi from Punta Gorda for purchasing a bayview 1-bedroom
preconstruction condominium in Blue Condos on the Bay.

- Josephine and Vito from New York for purchasing a 1-bedroom
convertible condominium in Olympus Condominium in Hallandale Beach.

- Richard and Johanes from Sunny Isles Beach for purchasing a city
view 1-bedroom preconstruction condominium in Everglades on the Bay.

- Susan and Gabriela from New Jersey for purchasing a city view
1-bedroom preconstruction condominium in Everglades on the Bay.

- Ann and Arthur from Pennsylvania for purchasing an intracoastal view
2-bedroom preconstruction condominium in Ocean IV.

- Bernadette and David from Illinois for purchasing a bayview
2-bedroom preconstruction condominium in Everglades on the Bay.

---------------------------------------------------------
HOW SUMMER STORMS CAN DO MORE THAN RAIN ON YOUR PARADE

While in California on business some months back, the fact that I live
in Florida came up in conversation.  This Californian was shocked that
I would want to live in `the hurricane state'.  I quickly reminded him
that with hurricanes, we often have weeks of advance notice and
California has wildfires, mudslides, and earthquakes – none of which
provide any advanced warning.  I also explained that I have lived
through over half a dozen hurricanes – most of which while living in
North Carolina.

Ok, so we know that living in a temperate zone has certain caveats,
hurricanes being one of them.  But how can a hurricane possibly affect
your ability to buy or sell real estate?

I know what you're thinking… if a hurricane blows the house away, then
I won't be able to buy it, right?  Well, that's a bit extreme.  Even
if a hurricane never gets within 100 miles of Florida, it can still
affect your ability to buy a property.  Sound surprising?  Let me explain.

When tracking storms, weather watchers have created an invisible grid
that covers the Caribbean region from about the middle of the Atlantic
all the way to Mexico.  Folks at the Weather Channel start getting
excited anytime a storm makes its way into this grid.  But they're not
the only ones.  Insurance companies also watch the grid, and that's
where the issues start.

---------------------------------------------------------
FEATURED UPCOMING PRECONSTRUCTION OPPORTUNITIES

Ocean V – Sunny Isles Beach
(Announcements coming this month)
http://www.scubahh.com/preconstruction/ocean5.htm

Beach Club III – Hallandale Beach
(Announcements coming in August)
http://www.scubahh.com/preconstruction/beachclub3.htm

Trilogy at Aventura – Aventura near Williams Island
(Now accepting reservations!)
http://www.scubahh.com/preconstruction/trilogy-at-aventura.htm
---------------------------------------------------------

Once a storm reaches a certain strength, the National Weather Service
actually names the storm.  This naming process starts with the letter
A – so the first storm of the season will have a name that begins with
A – like Andrew that hit Homestead in 1992 – the second storm's name
starts with B – like Bertha that hit the Carolina Coast in 1996, and
so on.

Anytime a named storm enters the grid; insurance companies immediately
freeze the issuance of all new policies in areas that have any risk of
being affected, even if those risks are minimal.  In other words, even
if the weakest storm possible is just in the far Southeast corner of
the grid and even if it looks like it will turn toward South America,
insurance companies will immediately stop issuing policies in Florida,
Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, South Carolina, North Carolina, etc.

Furthermore, the insurance companies won't begin to issue policies
again until EVERY named storm has exited the grid.  If you have ever
watched the weather systems in the summer time, you know that often
one storm will immediately be followed by another, and another, and
another.  There are often weeks at a time when there are storms in the
grid.  And even though those storms may never get anywhere near the
USA, insurance companies will not issue a single policy until every
single one of them has left the grid.

Now this doesn't sound like a big deal at first, until you realize
that if you are trying to buy a house during hurricane season and it
so happens that on the very day of your closing a named storm waltzes
into the grid, your closing may be postponed.  Things get more
complicated if you've already moved out of your previous house, and
the Seller has also already found a new place to live.  Suddenly those
other closings can be affected as well.

Why?

Whenever you get a mortgage on a property, the mortgage company will
require that you properly insure the property to protect their
interests.  The mortgage company wants to make sure that even if the
property burns down tomorrow, they're going to be repaid.  If there is
no insurance in place, they won't issue the loan.  If they won't issue
the loan, then you can't close.  And if you can't close, you can't
move in.

It's amazing how many real estate agents don't bother to share this
little tip with their customers.  I've spoken to closing agents who
have told incredible horror stories of having a buyer and seller
completely ready to go and literally hours before the closing, a named
storm entered the grid and shut down the insurance companies.  They
then had to wait days, sometimes weeks before all of the storms had
exited the grid and the insurance companies started issuing policies
again.

Imagine having a truckload of your furniture on its way to your new
home only to find out that you cannot move in for weeks because of a
few storms!  Imagine the extra expense of staying in a hotel, of
storing your belongings, of having to compensate the seller for lost
time, etc.  Needless to say, this is not a pretty picture.

---------------------------------------------------------
EVERGLADES ON THE BAY – Preconstruction for immediate sale

Everglades on the Bay - Downtown Miami - Biscayne Bay views:
http://www.scubahh.com/preconstruction/everglades.htm

PENTHOUSES - just released!

PH1 - 2 levels, 48th & 49th floors
3-bedroom/3.5-bath
Level 1 - 1970 sq ft + 242 sq ft terrace
   (family room, kitchen, breakfast room, great room, dining room)
Level 2 - 825 sq ft
   (Master bedroom, spa)
Total Square Feet = 2795 + 1458 sq ft terraces
Northeast PH - $1.85 Million
Southeast PH - $2.2 Million

PH2 - 3 levels, 48th, 49th & 50th floors
3-bedroom/4.5-bath
Level 1 - 1386 sq ft + 208 sq ft terrace
   (family room, kitchen, great room, dining room)
Level 2 - 1408 sq ft +208 sq ft terrace
   (master bedroom, guest rooms, study)
Level 3 - 3287 sq ft + 986 sq ft terrace
   (rooftop solarium, terrace, spa, family room)
Total Square Feet = 2795 + 1700 sq ft terraces
West PH - $1.75 Million
East PH - $2.2 Million
----------
1-bedroom/1-bath - LINE 7
Direct East View of Biscayne Bay!
881 sq ft + 104 sq ft terrace
21st Floor @ $435,000

2-bedroom/2-bath - LINE 3
Northeast Corner with direct East and direct North views
Both bedrooms and living room will have East view of Biscayne Bay
Master bedroom will also have North view
1195 sq ft + 63 sq ft terrace
12th Floor @ $470,000
27th Floor @ $550,000
38th Floor @ $700,000

1-bedroom/2-bath  - LINE 8
Southwest Corner with City views
1181 sq ft
15th floor - $368,000

2-bedroom/2-bath - LINE 8 mid
Southwest Corner with City views
1357 sq ft + terrace
30th floor - $481,000
33rd floor - $490,000

2-bedroom/2-bath - LINE 2 mid
Northwest Corner with City views
1357 sq ft + terrace
31st floor - $465,000
33rd floor - $475,000
---------------------------------------------------------

The solution to hurricane insurance woes?

It's simple, really.  If you're planning to buy a property in Florida
(or any coastal state on the Atlantic or Gulf of Mexico) and your
closing is going to be during hurricane season (June through
November), take the time to buy your homeowner's insurance policy the
moment the ink is dry on the purchase contract.

By buying your policy in advance, the insurance company issues a
binder.  Once the binder is issued, the insurance company cannot
refuse to issue the policy, even if there are a dozen Category 5
hurricanes in the grid.  Simple, right?

Simply contact your insurance company; tell them that you'd like to
purchase and prepay for your policy, but want it to be effective as of
the closing date.  This way, you're not paying for policy days when
the house doesn't yet belong to you.  Your insurance company will
usually allow you to prepay for 6 months or 12 months of the policy.
Just make certain you're covered through the end of hurricane season.

Of course, you'll need to let your closing agent know that you have
prepaid for your insurance policy so that they don't escrow additional
funds to cover the first term of the policy.  They'll also need proof
of that the policy has been issued and prepaid.  Some lenders may ask
you to escrow a year's worth of insurance premiums, by the way, so
your mortgage payments may still include a portion for insurance.

It's amazing that this one simple step can save your closing, isn't
it?  If you've purchased a property in the Southeastern United States
between June and November, did your real estate agent give you this
insight?

If we were your Realtors, then the answer is definitely, "Yes!"

---------------------------------------------------------

Beach Club I and II – Hallandale Beach Preconstruction
http://www.scubahh.com/preconstruction/beachclub2.htm

The Beach Club I - Resales

A MODEL - Direct Ocean View
2-bedroom/3-bath + Den
1841 sq ft
9th floor - $695,000
39th floor - $706,900 (original developer price!)

B MODEL - Direct Ocean View
2-bedroom/3.5-bath + Den
2078 sq ft
North - 18th floor - $780,000
North - 38th floor - $885,000
South - 21st floor - $945,000

C MODEL - Intracoastal and Ocean View
2-bedroom/2-bath
1782 sq ft
North - 17th floor - $645,000
North - 38th floor - $895,000
South - 11th floor - $665,000
South - 18th floor - $675,000

D MODEL - Intracoastal View only
1-bedroom/1-bath + Den
1086 sq ft
11th floor - $369,000
20th floor - $378,000
38th floor - $450,000

E MODEL - Intracoastal View only
2-bedroom/3-bath + Den
1571 sq ft
9th floor - $489,000
32nd floor - $550,000
Penthouse - $675,000
___________________________________

The Beach Club II - Resales
All units (except F model) will have ocean views. B Models will have
Direct East Ocean Views and F Models will have Direct West
Intracoastal views.

B MODEL - DIRECT EAST OCEAN VIEW
2065 sq ft
2-bedroom/3-bath + Den
25th Floor North - $850,000

C MODEL
1675 sq ft
2-bedroom/3-bath + Den
22nd floor - $649,000
38th floor - $668,000

D MODEL
1733 sq ft
2-bedroom/3-bath + Den
34th Floor - $692,000

E MODEL
2-bedroom/2-bath
1458 sq ft
10th floor - $555,000
32nd floor - $585,000

F MODEL - Direct West Intracoastal View
871 sq ft
1-bedroom/1-bath
22nd floor - $360,000
37th floor - $350,000 (underpriced)

G MODEL
844 sq ft
Studio with Den
South - 16th Floor - $350,000
South - 45th floor - $375,000
North - 17th floor - $345,000
North - 33rd floor - $380,000
NorthEast - 21st floor - $379,000 (closer to ocean)
NorthEast - 24th floor - $400,000 (closer to ocean)
NorthEast - 41st floor - $450,000 (closer to ocean)
NorthEast - 44th floor - $455,000 (closer to ocean)

H MODEL
1-bedroom/2-bath + Den
1294sq ft
25th floor - $520,000
42nd floor - $585,000

J MODEL
2-bedroom/2-bath + Den
1584 sq ft
21st floor - $665,000

---------------------------------------------------------

Ok, now you know how to keep a hurricane (or any named storm) from
raining on your parade.  How about some hurricane survival tips and
general information?

General Information About Hurricanes:
http://hurricanes.noaa.gov/prepare/title_basics.htm

Red Cross Hurricane Preparedness Information:
http://www.redcross.org/general/0,1082,0_587_,00.html

Know anyone who is thinking about buying or selling real estate in
Florida?  Even if they're not in Miami-Dade or Broward Counties, let
us know.  We'll be happy to refer them to a competent real estate
professional in their target area.

As always, thank you for the opportunity to earn your business.  We
look forward to helping you sell your current property or to find your
next home.

All the best,

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

Branon Direct:  786-417-4910
mailto:Branon@...?subject=NEWSLETTER-CONTACT

Jelena Direct: 786-417-4911
mailto:Jelena@...?subject=NEWSLETTER-CONTACT

Our Private Fax:  786-524-5747

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

---- Office Information ----

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

**Greetings from Branon A. Edwards and Jelena Panfilova:

In trying to keep our investors updated, we will occasionally send out
these broadcasts to make you aware of exceptional deals on various
preconstruction units as they become available.

The developer of Everglades on the Bay has offered us a few last
minute deals on some of their luxury condominums.  As they are
advancing through the contract stage for the South Tower, these units
have become available as an owner has moved up to a larger unit, or a
second deposit may not have come in.  In any event, these units are
immediately available for contract at great pricing - most with
instant equity over the higher pricing of the upcoming North Tower.
If interested, please contact us as soon as possible.

About the Project:  Everglades on the Bay
http://www.scubahh.com/preconstruction/everglades.htm

CURRENT SOUTH TOWER AVAILABILITY: (subject to change without notice)

WEST VIEW Units overlooking the city
Unit # 2006
1-bedroom/1-bath
Approximately 881 sq ft
$258,000  (North Tower Price: $325-$425k)

Unit # 3106
1-bedroom/1-bath
Approximately 881 sq ft
$284,000  (North Tower Price: $325-$450k)
--------------------------------

SOUTHWEST VIEW overlooking the city (partial bay view in the distance)
Unit # 1708
1-bedroom/2-bath + Den
Approximately 1146 sq ft
$374,000  (North Tower Price: $425-$525k)
--------------------------------

EAST VIEW Units - Fantastic Direct Biscayne Bay View - most popular
view!
Unit # 2907
1-bedroom/1-bath
Approximately 881 sq ft
$380,000  (North Tower Price: $350-$450k)

Unit # 1207
1-bedroom/1-bath
Approximately 881 sq ft
$395,000  (North Tower Price: $350-$450k)

Unit # 1009
2-bedroom/2-bath +Den
Approximately 1191 sq ft
$485,000  (North Tower Price: $495-$595k)

Unit # 4807
Lower Penthouse
2-bedroom/2.5-bath
Approximately 1419 sq ft
$690,000  (North Tower Price: $650-$750k)
--------------------------------

Also available are select Flats
563 sq ft from $197,000 - $249,000
629 sq ft from $219,000 - $229,000
754 sq ft from $249,000 - $259,000
1096 sq ft from $439,000 - $449,000
--------------------------------

Timeline:
10% Deposit at Contract (now)
10% Deposit - Spring 2005
80% at Completion in 2007
--------------------------------

Again, if you are interested in any of these units, please contact us
as soon as possible as we don't expect these to be available for very
long.

Thank you for the opportunity to earn your business.  We look forward
to hearing from you.

All the best,

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

Branon Direct:  786-417-4910
mailto:Branon@...?subject=NEWSLETTER-CONTACT

Jelena Direct: 786-417-4911
mailto:Jelena@...?subject=NEWSLETTER-CONTACT

Our Private Fax:  786-524-5747

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

---- Office Information ----

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

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

Some of our customers and investors have expressed concern about
rising interest rates.  (Some of us remember when new mortgage loans
were 18%.)  In an effort to keep you informed and provide you with
options, we have included a recent article that speaks to this issue.
  To view our previous newsletters, click here:
http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/miamirealty/messages

Of course, if you or anyone you know is considering buying or selling
real estate in Florida, please let us know.  We will be happy to
contact them directly.  We consider referrals to be the most sincere
compliment that we can receive from our customers - THANK YOU!  You
can also direct them to our extensive website at:
http://www.scubahh.com

---------------------------------------------------------
WE ARE CURRENTLY ACCEPTING NEW PROPERTY LISTINGS!
Thinking about selling your property?
Check out our Written Seller's Guarantee:
http://www.scubahh.com/guarantee.htm

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

We would like to send our congratulations to Richard of Miami for
reserving a great preconstruction unit in The Plaza on Brickell, a
luxury high-rise that will be located in the heart of the Brickell
Financial District.  Both towers are nearly sold out.

We would like to send our congratulations again to Richard of Miami
for buying a fantastic preconstruction unit in Beach Club 2, a luxury
high-rise that will be located beachfront in Hallandale Beach.  Only a
few select units remain.

---------------------------------------------------------

WHAT TO DO WHEN MORTGAGE RATES ARE RISING
Source: www.HSH.com (HSH Associates)

We've enjoyed basement-level interest rates for a while, but now rates
are rising -- and no one knows if the era of low mortgage rates is
over. If you're at the mercy of rising rates, you still have options
to keep your rates and payments low. Here are seven things you need to
know when rates are rising (or have risen); you might be able to help
yourself to some savings. (Revised 5/25/04)

First: don't panic.
Mortgage rates are notoriously fickle, following the whims of the bond
market. While it's true that interest rates rise much more quickly
than they fall, even a sharp jump in one day or week can be erased
over the next week or two. The current 30-year fixed rate mortgage
(http://www.hsh.com/statrel.html), now just over 6% (as we write
this), still ranks among the low points of the past several years.
Plus, keep in mind that even a one-half percent rise (from 5.5% to 6%)
is only a $32/month increase for a $100,000 loan -- and since most of
your early payments are tax-deductible interest, you'll recoup some of
that on April 15.

Pay down your ARM.
If you have an ARM which will be subject to higher interest rates in
the months (or years) ahead, you can offset the at least some of the
effect of higher interest rates by having them apply against a smaller
loan balance. For example, a $100,000 5/1 Hybrid ARM at 5% will have a
remaining balance of $91,829 at the 61st month. If the rate should
rise to 6%, your payment would leap from $537 to $592. However, if you
had paid down the loan by an additional $50 per month for the first
five years, your balance at the time of adjustment would be $88,829 --
and your monthly payment would only rise to $572. Send an extra $100
per month during that time and your payment lifts only to $553. (Note:
to keep your payment the same at 6% as it was at 5%, you would need to
have paid the loan balance down to $83,319 -- about a $142-per-month
prepayment pace). Of course, every additional dollar in principle you
send today is one where no interest will be charged tomorrow, so don't
wait.

Consider another loan product.
Today's mortgage market features a wide array of products, from
long-term fixed rate (FRM) to short term adjustable rate (ARM). If a
6% 30-year FRM might bust your budget, a 5/1 'Hybrid' ARM will fit the
bill. These have a fixed interest rate for the first five years at
more than a full percent below the 30-year fixed. That way, you get in
at a rate you can afford -- but after that, your rate (and payments)
will change annually, so keep an eye on rates and watch for chances to
refinance into a real FRM. Or, possibly, into another hybrid ARM;
they're also available in 3/1, 7/1, and 10/1 flavors. The longer the
fixed period, however, the lesser the interest rate savings.

What about a '2-1' buydown?
Buydowns are among the oldest loan gimmicks around. You start with an
interest rate that is about two percentage points below the market
rate for the first year. After that, the rate steps up by 1% in the
second year, then rises again by 1% a final time for the 3-30-years.
The catch: The final interest rate usually ends up about one-half
percent above today's rates. So, rather than getting 6% today, you get
4.5% in the first year, 5.5% in year two, then 6.5% for the remainder
of the loan. Of course, you could refi before that happens if rates go
your way.

Pay more points to lower the rate.
You can pay additional discount points to lower the interest rate.
Each point will cost you 1% of the loan amount, so it's not a cheap
option -- but each point you pay should lower your interest rate
between 1/8% and 1/4%, depending upon the product you choose. For
example: you pay two points ($2,000 on a $100K loan) to lower that 6%
rate to 5.5%. You'll reduce your payment by $32 per month, so you'll
break even in about 5 years.

You'll probably need some spare cash (say, in a rainy-day fund) to do
this -- but the lender may let you instead add the cost to the amount
you're borrowing, especially if it's a refinance.

Take a shorter commitment period.
One of the lesser-known facets of mortgage pricing (rates) is that
lenders offer a wide variety of commitment periods, ranging from 30
days to 60 days and even longer. The committment period is simply the
time expected to close the loan, and mortgage lenders often quote an
"average" one, like 45 days. If your paperwork is in order, and if
your credit record is good, you might be able to close your loan in
only 30 days. As a reward, your rate will be slightly lower as a
result of the shorter commitment period. This may be worth asking
about as lenders get less busy, since closing times may be starting to
get shorter again.

Offset the rise in rates with a bigger downpayment.
You can still keep your monthly costs down if you can afford more
upfront. That $100,000 mortgage at 5.50% has a monthly payment of
$567.78; with a 6% rate, you'll only be able to borrow $94,701, which
means you'll need to come up with an additional $6,300 to keep your
payment level. If you're cashing stocks to generate your downpayment
anyway, you might consider this option.

Get a "floatdown" option.
Think rates might be lower by the time you close, but are too afraid
to let your rate really "float"? A floatdown option may be the best of
both worlds. You can pay a small fee (one-eighth to one-quarter point
is common) to have access to lower rates if they fall during your
commitment period. Another method sets limits of how high or low your
rate can travel during the commitment period, but you may start at a
rate that is higher than market to start with (i.e. 6.125% with a
floatdown option to 5.75% versus 6% with no floatdown option).

Try a "Second Mortgage" instead.
In some circumstances, you might find a local bank, thrift or credit
union offering Home Equity Loans at very attractive rates, which you
may be able to use to replace your first mortgage. Lenders usually
write these loans for their own portfolios, meaning that there are
wide ranges of rates in most markets, so you'll need to shop around.
Of course, most equity loans aren't made with terms of 30 years, but
are usually available in 10 and 15- year flavors, so if you started
with a 15-year loan, or if you're deep into your mortgage -- more than
ten years in -- you can possibly replace your exising loan at a lower
rate or even shorten the term a little with no real rise in monthly
payment. Be wary of using a home equity line, though, especially if
you think you'll be in this mortgage for a long time. As these are
variable rate products, usually tied to the Prime rate
(http://www.hsh.com/idxhst.html), the prospect of higher interest
rates in the years ahead makes this a viable option for "holding
periods" of three years or less.

---------------------------------------------------------
LOOKING FOR A GREAT MORTGAGE RATE, AN INTEREST-ONLY LOAN, OR
NO-DOCUMENTATION LOANS?
Guaranteed to beat any other lender's price and give you same-day loan
approval!
Call Coldwell Banker Mortgage at 1-888-240-2236

---------------------------------------------------------

As always, thank you for the opportunity to earn your business.  We
look forward to helping you sell your current property or to find your
next home.

All the best,

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

Branon Direct:  786-417-4910
mailto:Branon@...?subject=NEWSLETTER-CONTACT

Jelena Direct: 786-417-4911
mailto:Jelena@...?subject=NEWSLETTER-CONTACT

Our Private Fax:  786-524-5747

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

---- Office Information ----

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

**Greetings from Branon and Jelena Edwards at Coldwell Banker!

As promised in our last issue, here is part two of our series on Florida
Real Estate Taxes.  To view previous newsletters, click here:
http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/miamirealty/messages

Of course, if you or anyone you know is considering buying or selling real
estate in Florida, please let us know.  We will be happy to contact them
directly.  We consider referrals to be the most sincere compliment that we
can receive from our customers - THANK YOU!

Of course, they can also contact us via our newly remodeled website:
http://www.ScubAHH.com

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

We would like to send our congratulations to David and Bernadette of
Illinois for reserving 2 preconstruction condo units at Everglades on the
Bay, a new luxury highrise to be built across from Bayfront Park in
downtown Miami.

Also, congratulations to Sandi from Punta Gorda for buying a
preconstruction condo in Blue Condos on the Bay, a new luxury highrise
being built on Biscayne Bay at NE 36th Street.

----------  FLORIDA TAXES ----------

HOW DO THEY CALCULATE PROPERTY TAXES
         AND HOW TO SAVE UP TO 5% ON YOUR PROPERTY TAX BILL:

Most real estate in Florida is subject to various property taxes or 'ad
valorem taxes'.  'Ad valorem' simply means according to value... in other
words, you pay taxes based on the value of the real estate involved.

Typical taxes include a county tax, a city tax, and/or a school board
assessment tax.  State law caps the tax rate for each entity at 10 mils or
1%, which means your property tax could be as high as 4% annually in some
areas.  Keep in mind also that the tax bill you receive in November is
being billed in arrears - in other words, the tax bill is from the previous
January through December 31st, but they don't bill you until November.

HOW DO THEY CALCULATE MY PROPERTY TAX?
The tax assessor's office uses a variety of methods to determine a 'just
value' for your property including cost, appreciation, depreciation, sales
comparison, and income approaches.  Generally speaking, the tax value of
your property is less than the actual market value.  However, a recent sale
can prompt the tax appraiser to re-evaluate your property value and raise
your assessed value.  Some counties are actually moving toward using the
most recent sales price to determine the assessed value.

Once the local government has assigned a value to your property, they then
deduct any exemptions you may have, such as the Homestead Exemption.  For
more information on the Homestead Exemption and its many benefits, see our
February Newsletter.

Example:
Let's assume your home has an assessed value of $500,000 and since it is
your primary residence, you have claimed (and properly filed for) the
Homestead Exemption.  Let's also assume you live in a nice area where the
county, city, and school board all ask for their full tax rate of 10 mils
(a total of 30 mils or 3%).

$500,000 assessed value
-$25,000 Homestead Exemption
---------
$475,000 taxable value
X       0.03 tax rate
---------
$14,250 total annual property tax

---------------------------------------------------
WHAT IF I DON'T AGREE WITH THE ASSESSED VALUE OR MY TAX BILL?

Lucky for all of us, if we disagree with our tax bill and primary the
assessed value that has been assigned to our property, we have several
options to remedy the situation.

1)  Seek an adjustment by contacting the County Property Appraiser's
Office. (hint: this is best done in person).  Property owners have 25 days
after the assessment notice is mailed to them to protest the assessment and
request an adjustment.  If you have a valid argument, they will usually
make the adjustment.

2)  If your adjustment request is not accepted, you can petition (appeal)
to the Value Adjustment Board, which is made up of 3 county commissioners
and 2 county school board members.  If the board agrees that the assessment
is too high, they can adjust it directly.  If they feel the assessment is
valid, then you move to step 3.

3)  File suit against the county property appraiser and the county tax
collector.  You can pay the taxes under protest and file for a 'certiorari
proceeding', which simply means a review by the courts.  The court cannot
directly reassign a value, but they can specify which appraisal methods are
used to calculate your assessment.  Of course, this is a last resort step
and suit must be filed within a specific time period (see local laws).
Since legal fees can be extensive, be sure to consider the amount you might
save versus the amount you may spend in court.
---------------------------------------------------
THE TAX BILL TIMELINE

November 1st - tax bills issued

December 31st - current tax year ends

January 1st - new tax year begins, property may be reassessed, a lien is
placed against your property for the November tax bill.  This is the
earliest you can apply for a Homestead Exemption for this tax year.

March 1st - last day to file for the Homestead Exemption for the current year.

April 1st - property taxes for previous year become delinquent
---------------------------------------------------
SAVING UP TO 5%
Ok, so we promised to tell you how to save up to 5% on your taxes, right?
It's simple.  Just pay your tax bill early.  Most taxing authorities
actually give you a discount if you pay your taxes before they have to file
a lien against your property.  Some will even provide a graduated discount
with different discounts based on the date they receive your payment.  If
you pay your bill right away, you will generally receive the full discount,
which can be as much as 5%.

THERE'S A CATCH:
If you have a mortgage on your property, your lender probably requires that
a portion of each month's payment be set aside in an escrow account to pay
the taxes when they become due.  Unfortunately, some lenders don't pay this
bill right away and will often wait until the last minute to pay your tax
bill, so you lose the discount.  HOWEVER, if you call your lender directly
and ask them to pay your taxes as soon as you receive the bill, most will
honor your request.  The added benefit here is that by doing so, you may be
left with additional money in your escrow account with the lender at the
end of the year.  When they reevaluate your account at the beginning of the
year, they may adjust your payment downward to reflect the overage - a
win-win situation for you!

SAVE OUR HOMES LAW
Because of ever-increasing tax bills, the State passed the Save Our Homes
law, which limits property tax increases to 3% per year on properties with
the Homestead Exemption.  So, if property values suddenly skyrocket in your
neighborhood, the most your taxes can increase (if you have the Homestead
Exemption) is 3% per year.  If you don't have the Homestead Exemption,
there is no cap on property tax increases, which means vacant lots,
vacation/2nd homes, and properties other than your primary residence do not
carry this protection.

Ok, that's it for this edition.  Our next newsletter will feature details
about taking advantage of the Preconstruction Investing Boom currently
underway in Florida.

As always, thank you for the opportunity to earn your business.

All the best,



--Branon A. Edwards, Licensed Florida Realtor®
--Jelena Panfilova Edwards, 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.ScubAHH.com

---- Office Information ----

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

Statewide Websites:
http://www.floridamoves.com/branon.edwards
http://www.floridamoves.com/jelena.panfilova
http://www.coldwellbanker.com/for/edwards

**Greetings from Branon and Jelena Edwards from Coldwell Banker!

As promised, here is our latest MiamiRealty Newsletter update on Florida
Real Estate Taxes.  This time, we are going to discuss the three taxes that
are part of most real estate sales/purchase transactions.

Of course, if you or anyone you know is considering buying or selling real
estate in Florida, please let us know.  We will be happy to contact them
directly.

Of course, they can also contact us via our newly remodeled website:
http://www.ScubAHH.com

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

We would like to send congratulations to Jan and Eddie and their toy
yorkie, Mollie.  We helped them close on their new Cape Coral home two
weeks ago and just closed the sale on their previous Punta Gorda townhouse
this morning.  CONGRATS ON YOUR NEW HOME!!  Enjoy that new jacuzzi!

----------  FLORIDA TAXES ----------

'DOC STAMPS'
This phrase is actually used to describe two separate real estate taxes
called Documentary Stamp Taxes.

1) SELLER'S DOC STAMPS
This is the tax that sellers pay whenever they sell a property in Florida.
The tax rate is 70 cents per hundred.  To determine the tax on the sale of
your property, simply divide the sales price by 100 and then multiply the
result by $0.70.  But there's a catch, if you get any portion of a decimal
when you divide by 100, you have to round up to the next dollar.

Example:
Sales Price = $110,000
110,000 divided by 100 = 1100
1100 x 0.70 = $770

Sales Price = $110,940
110,999 divided by 100 = 1109.40  (don't forget to round up)
1110 x 0.70 = $777


2) MORTGAGE DOC STAMPS
Whenever a mortgage or loan is taken against a property (either a new loan
or a loan assumption), the state collects a mortgage documentary stamp tax,
which is 35 cents per hundred.  The same rounding rule applies.  This tax
is only paid on the amount of the mortgage, not the total sales price.
This tax also applies to home equity loans.

Example:
Sales Price = $110,000
Loan Amount = $88,000  (typical 80% loan to value)
88,000 divided by 100 = 880
880 x 0.35 = $308


3) INTANGIBLE TAX
Whenever a NEW mortgage or loan is created, the state collects yet another
tax, called an intangible tax, which is 2 mills (0.002) of the loan amount.
This is paid IN ADDITION to the Doc Stamp Tax on the loan.  This tax is
easy to figure out since it is a simple tax rate on the total loan.  You
don't have to divide by 100 first.  This tax also applies to home equity
loans.

Example:
Sales Price = $110,000
Loan Amount = $88,000  (typical 80% loan to value)
88,000 x 0.002 = $176


ADDING IT ALL UP
On a typical real estate transaction, all three of these taxes are paid.
The seller pays doc stamps for selling the property, and the buyer pays doc
stamps on his loan, plus the intangible tax because it is a new loan.  If
the buyer was assuming an existing loan, the buyer would NOT have to pay
the intangible tax.

So, on this $110,000 Sale example, the government picks up a total of $1,254.

Next time, we'll talk about annual property taxes and how you can make up
to a 5% discount on your total property tax bill.

As always, thank you for the opportunity to earn your business.

Cordially,



--Branon A. Edwards, Licensed Florida Realtor®
--Jelena Panfilova Edwards, 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.ScubAHH.com

---- Office Information ----

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

Statewide Websites:
http://www.floridamoves.com/branon.edwards
http://www.floridamoves.com/jelena.panfilova
http://www.coldwellbanker.com/for/edwards

Greetings,

Don't forget to SPRING FORWARD today.  As is the custom, we set our
clocks ahead one hour to 'save daylight'.

As we move our clocks ahead, many people start thinking about moving
forward with their plans to buy or sell real estate.  If you're
thinking about making a move, keep us in mind.  Not only can we help
you get the best possible price for your current home, but also we can
help you make a great deal on your next property as well.

We'll be updating our website this week with some great new features
and will keep you posted when they're ready.  In the mean time, you
can search all of the multiple listings in Florida through our
FloridaMoves site:  http://www.FloridaMoves.com/Branon.Edwards

Happy Spring!

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

Branon Direct:  786-417-4910
Jelena Direct: 786-417-4911
Private Fax:  786-524-5747
mailto:Branon@...
mailto:Jelena@...

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

Office Phone:  305-361-5722 extension 876
Toll free:  800-905-2683
Office Fax:  305-361-6555

Visit Us at:
http://www.ScubAHH.com

**Hello group!

Just a quick reminder that the deadline to file for your Florida Homestead
Exemption is March 1st.

Why file?
Firstly, if granted, you receive an automatic $25,000 exemption from your
property's assessed value.  In other words, if your property's assessed
value is $500,000 and your tax rate is .015, then your annual property
taxes would normally be $7500.  However, with a homestead exemption, your
taxes would be only $7125 - a savings of $375 per year ($500,000 - $25,000
= $475,000 x .015 = $7125).  A 2% tax rate means property tax savings of
$500 per year - well worth filling out the one-page form.

Further, having your home classified as your homestead protects your home
from ever being sold to pay off debts from credit cards, judgements, etc.
Of course, tax liens and mortgage liens and resulting foreclosures still
apply.

Requirements for Homestead Exemption:
Apply by March 1.
Own the property on January 1.
Reside on the property on January 1.
You must be a permanent resident of the State of Florida on January 1. (no
previous residency required)
You must be a US citizen or have been granted a Permanent Resident Card on
or before January 1.

Other points of interest:
Widows and widowers receive an additional $500 exemption.
Disabled veterans with service-related disability can receive up to an
additional $5,000 exemption.
Disabled persons can actually be TOTALLY exempt from property taxes.
If you're over 65 and meet certain income requirements, you may also
qualify for total exemption.

How to apply?
Contact your County Property Appraiser's Office (in the government section
of your phone book).  Some counties even allow you to apply online!

Thanks for being a member of our FREE E-newsletter "Miami Realty".  We hope
you find this information useful.

Of course, if you or anyone you know is looking to sell or buy property in
Florida, please keep us in mind!

Cordially,

--Branon and Jelena

--Branon A. Edwards
Licensed Florida Realtor®
Direct Phone:  786-417-4910
Private Fax:    928-395-5204
mailto:Branon@...

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

Main Phone: 305-361-5722 extension 876
Toll free:    800-905-2683
Fax:            305-361-6555

Visit Me at: http://www.FloridaMoves.com/Branon.Edwards

**Hey there...

Just a quick note to welcome you to the newly created MiamiRealty
group at YahooGroups.  Don't worry, you're not on a spam list.  We
simply added you to our mailing list to receive important updates and
real estate information.

As you may know, Jelena and I have joined Coldwell Banker Residential
Real Estate in Key Biscayne - an exclusive island community in the
Miami area.  While our offices may be located on Key Biscayne and our
primary market is Miami, we can still help you with real estate
inquiries and listings just about anywhere in Florida.

If you have any questions or would like additional information, just
drop us a line.  We're always here to help.

All the best,

--Branon

-----------------------------

Branon A. Edwards
Florida Licensed Realtor
Phone:  786-417-4910
Fax:    928-395-5204
Email:  Branon@...

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

Main Phone: 305-361-5722
Toll free:  800-905-2683
Fax:        305-361-6555
Website:    http://FloridaMoves.com