Just before the end of the year a 12th floor unit sold at Portofino, which is located at 77 South Birch Road, Fort Lauderdale. This building sits directly on the intracoastal waterway, on the beach side, close to beautfiul Las Olas. It is a great smaller building with only 52 units all of which go through the building, east to west.

Most have a partial ocean view on the east side (some have been partially blocked by new constrcution over the years) and a downtown, intracoastal view on the west side. In most units the western view is from the kitchen area of the units.

Over the years since its constructon in 1982 the building has been beautifully maintanined and renovated. The pool area, gym, and lobby have all been redone. The building does have dock…

Just prior to the end of the year a 2 Bedroom condo sold in the Illini Tower for $395,000.

These units are approximately 1600 square feet, and this relates to a sales price of about $246 per square foot.

In April of 2007 a unit sold for $795,000. On the surface it looks like prices have dropped almost 50%. This is not true.

The unit that sold for $795,000 had received a total, spectacular renovation that I would estimate today would cost today over $150,000.

This would place the price decrease from 2007 to 2010 at approximately 30%. This is a much more realistic number for this superior location.

The Illini is all about location, and it is not for everyone. It is located on a triangular piece of property where A1A's North and South bound…

Here we go again, a new real estate cycle visable on every corner that will lead us to the next cycle. Who said the next cycle of dropping real estate prices had to be rising real estate prices. All over Fort Lauderdale rental housing is being built, weve been down this road  before. When sales fall off, people start renting, rents go up, and builders build new rentals, when sales start to rise they convert them to condos and sell out, and we get to start all over. How long the cycle lasts is never perfectly clear unless you're watching the news, as they all seem to have the answer. But one fact is clear major real estate developers still believe in the Fort Lauderdale area, they are building rentals all over town, to service the people still moving here…

Sorry Everyone They Don't Exsist - No time has ever been made more aware, that when we all read newpaper stories and read between the lines, a different set of realities results. So let me help you see a clearer realty about the Fort Lauderdale area market through the Ft Lauderdale MLS. Think of your home town, think of the best street in town, think of the best view in town, think of a beautiful street. Visualize it, the best address in your home town. In Fort Lauderdale this for many will be any street along the ocean, or other water ways. Now think of finding a distressed property in that area of your town. Use the numbers they talk about where you live, I know we have all read them. 1 in 300 as the media says in our city, let's look for that one…

Its been a long time since I wrote and this is one of things I am going to try and commit to do more often. Believe me there is no lack of suggestions or interests just a lack of time. It goes back to the article "I want to buy a steal" where I discuss that everyone still wants one. Well guess what they still do and the media has convinced them that there are 100's of ocean front condos, in foreclosure with a view, in beautiful resort properties sitting along the coast for $100,000. Guess what they don't exsist, but great Fort Lauderdale Condos for Sale do. I am so happy that in this market Realtors or real estate consultants ( how I prefer we be called ) become so much more valuable to these consumers. We can save then so much time, energy, and money. We…

Fort Lauderdale Realtor Originally Published this Article in 2009

I want to buy a "steal"...

This is a line that many Fort Lauderdale Realtors will tell you they hear almost everyday in this new real estate market. Personally I take solace in the fact that we are all hearing it everyday. I am not sure I fully understand the definition of a “steal”, but I find comfort in knowing there are so many potential buyers out there interested in South Florida all looking for one, in Fort Lauderdale Real Estate. With this in mind a link directly to the Fort Lauderdale MLS is called for.

I have asked many clients to help me define a steal. Sometimes it leads to the word foreclosure. So just maybe a “steal” is a property that has been on the market, nobody…