Things To do Miami: Lazy BrunchBQ

 

 

 

Things To do Miami:  Lazy BrunchBQ

 

Looking for something fun to do this weekend?  Kick back and enjoy your Sunday as we unveil our LazyBrunchBQ series with live music from your favorite local bands featuring: Aura the Band, The Wynwoods, and Juke.

Delicious BBQ courtesy of Coyo Taco, and boozy, garden inspired sips created by The Airstream Apothecary featuring Sailor Jerry cocktails and a full bar.

Soak in the Sunday vibes with patio games provided by our friends at The New Tropic. 

 

WHEN:  Sunday, May 31, 2015 - 1pm-5pm
WHERE:  Canvas - 90 NE 17 St Miami
COST: Free

Visit Eventbrite to RSVP
 

Information Courtesy of the Rodriguez-Hamilton Realty Team.

 

History of Memorial Day

Memorial Day, an American holiday observed on the last Monday of May, honors men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings and participating in parades. Unofficially, at least, it marks the beginning of summer.

Early Observances of Memorial Day

The Civil War claimed more lives than any conflict in U.S. history, requiring the establishment of the country’s first national cemeteries. By the late 1860s Americans in various towns and cities had begun holding springtime tributes to these countless fallen soldiers, decorating their graves with flowers and reciting prayers.

Did You Know?

Each year on Memorial Day a national moment of remembrance takes place at 3:00 p.m. local time.

It is unclear where exactly this tradition originated; numerous different communities may have independently initiated the memorial gatherings. Nevertheless, in 1966 the federal government declared Waterloo, New York, the official birthplace of Memorial Day. Waterloo—which had first celebrated the day on May 5, 1866—was chosen because it hosted an annual, community-wide event, during which businesses closed and residents decorated the graves of soldiers with flowers and flags.

Evolution of Memorial Day

Memorial Day, as Decoration Day gradually came to be known, originally honored only those lost while fighting in the Civil War. But during World War I the United States found itself embroiled in another major conflict, and the holiday evolved to commemorate American military personnel who died in all wars.

For decades, Memorial Day continued to be observed on May 30, the date Logan had selected for the first Decoration Day. But in 1968 Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which established Memorial Day as the last Monday in May in order to create a three-day weekend for federal employees; the change went into effect in 1971. The same law also declared Memorial Day a federal holiday.

 

by The History Channel

 

Information Courtesy of the Rodriguez-Hamilton Realty Team.

 

Brazilians Lead List of Global Consumers Searching South Florida Real Estate

Brazilians Lead List of Global Consumers Searching South Florida Real Estate

The MIAMI Association of REALTORS (MIAMI), the nation’s largest local Realtor association, continues to see sizable increases in visitors to its website, a sign more consumers are searching for properties and information about the South Florida real estate market. The Miami real estate market continues to attract significant attention from both foreign and domestic consumers.

Visits to MIAMI Properties on Website Surged in February.

The MIAMI Association of REALTORS (MIAMI), the nation’s largest local Realtor association, continues to see sizable increases in visitors to its website, a sign more consumers are searching for properties and information about the South Florida real estate market. The Miami real estate market continues to attract significant attention from both foreign and domestic consumers.

MIAMI’s website, Miamire.com, registered 188,287 visits in February 2015--- a 42.6-percent increase from the amount of web visitors in February 2014. Miamire.com also had 62,527 unique visitors in the month of February, a jump of 33 percent compared to the same month a year ago.

Brazil topped the list of countries that conducted searches on the MIAMI site in February 2015. Brazilians have long been interested in Miami real estate, and regularly rank among South Florida’s top foreign buyers. In 2014, Brazilians registered 11 percent of all South Florida international real estate deals. Brazil had the third-most Miami and Broward Counties transactions among all foreign countries, trailing only Venezuela (16 percent) and Argentina (12 percent).

Top-10 Countries visiting Miamire.com in February:

2015	2014
1. Brazil	1. Brazil
2. Colombia	2. Colombia
3. Venezuela	3. Canada
4. Canada	4. India
5. India	5. Argentina
6. Argentina	6. Venezuela
7. United Kingdom	7. Bolivia
8. Russia	8. France
9. Philippines	9. United Kingdom
10. Italy	10. Russia

Top U.S. Markets for Miami
Miami is a top choice for consumers in many U.S. markets. Not including Florida, the top-10 U.S. states for consumers searching Miamire.com in February were:

2015: 1) California, 2) Georgia, 3)Texas, 4) New York, 5) Illinois, 6) Michigan, 7) Pennsylvania, 8) Virginia, 9) Ohio, 10) North Carolina

2014: 1) California, 2) Georgia, 3)Texas, 4) New York, 5) Illinois, 6) Michigan, 7) Pennsylvania, 8) Virginia, 9) New Jersey, 10) North Carolina

 

by Christopher Zoller - 2015 Residential President - MIAMI Association of Realtors®

Information Courtesy of the Rodriguez-Hamilton Realty Team.

Entryway Organization 101

Sneakers, jackets, backpacks, cell phones, lunch boxes, books, MP3 players. Any numbers of these things are at one place at one time in your home — the entryway. But never fear, you can prepare for the inevitable disorganization that everyday life brings to your home. And this year, hopefully, these ideas will help you avoid any kind of entryway chaos.

 

Cubbies

Much like a locker room, a built-in like this one from Better Homes and Gardens provides a place to hang jackets and bags, store shoes, and stash a plethora of gloves, hats and scarves. Color-coordinated and cheerful, an arrangement like this becomes an attractive mudroom rather than an eyesore.

Piece by piece

If built-ins aren’t really in the cards for your home, try assembling storage areas piece by piece, such as this one from HomeTalk. Start with a useful mirror hung on top, then layer on a rail with handy hooks. Follow up with a bench that includes storage (whether the items are out in the open or stashed in sturdy baskets), and you have a place to sit while tying up those sneakers.

Mudroom

If one entry to your home has a completely separate entrance — such as a laundry room — you can turn a section of this room into entryway storage and not worry about tracking in dirt from the yard or clumps of mud from the soccer field. This Southern Living Showcase house from Houzz.com is a great example of how to blend organization in seamlessly with other components in your home.

Sophisticated

If all you really need is a place to stash your shoes and bags, try large decorative baskets underneath a console table that is elegantly decorated, like this one from the Amanda Carol At Home blog. This will keep the clutter completely out of sight, and if your console table has drawers built in, you can even hide away your keys, smartphone, etc.

Bookcase

Finally, one of the simplest solutions from the Lookie What I Did blog: Turn a bookcase into a command center for all your stuff. With baskets and hooks, all your items can be stored away, leaving a few shelves for shoes you wear most often. Bring everything together with matching labels and stand this mini-mudroom inside your back entryway or just inside the garage door.

 

by HellaWella

Information Courtesy of the Rodriguez-Hamilton Realty Team.

Need to Cool Off? Try These 5 Fan Tricks

High temps are breaking records left and right this summer. And if you don’t have central AC, your house is probably feeling like a sauna these days. Enter your savior: the classic fan.

This basic, inexpensive appliance can be the difference between misery and comfort, so don’t just set it down anywhere – maximize its potential! By using a few strategic tricks, your home will drop a few degrees in no time.

 

Don’t thank us, thank your fan.

 

Create a Crosswind

Creating a crosswind is a refreshing one-two punch: you’ll get hot air out while also pulling cooler air in. The first step is to close up your house during the day – close windows, drapes, blinds, everything. You don’t want any sun-warmed heat getting in. Note: This will make your home darker, so if you’re partial to a lot of natural light, you may want to choose being warm over a dark room.

When the sun sets, swing open your windows and grab two standard fans. Place one fan facing out of a window in the room you want the coolest. Then, use a second fan to create a strong flow of air towards that fan. Do this by setting up fan #2 so it’s facing inwards, and is either in front of a second window or pushing air into the room you’re trying to cool. This setup will remove stale, hot air out and bring in fresh, cool air.

Use Tall Windows

This trick is all about getting hot air out. If you have tall windows (lucky you!) place your fan as high up as possible, facing out of the window. A shelf, ladder or stool can help with this. Remember, hot air rises, so the goal is to push as much hot air out of the house as possible.

Switch Directions (of Your Ceiling Fan)

If you have a ceiling fan, switch the fan direction so that it moves clockwise instead of counterclockwise. That way, instead of blowing warm air around the room, it will circulate heat up and away. Be safe and make sure you turn the fan off before adjusting. Ceiling fan a little dirty? Read: Clean Your Ceiling Fans.

Make a DIY AC Unit

Don’t have an air conditioner? Make one! This quick project will have you reaching for a sweater in no time. Place a standard fan on the ground (or as low as possible). Put a large bucket of ice directly in front of the fan. The fan will blow air over the ice, cooling it in the process. It may not be pretty, but it’ll keep you cool. If a big bucket of ice sounds like a lot of work, a wet washcloth will do roughly the same time – just place it over the front of the fan.Tip: Keep one window open so hot air can escape.

Trick Mosquitoes

Okay, so maybe mosquitoes don’t make a room hotter, but they certainly make a sticky, sweaty day worse. To stop mosquitoes from bothering you, hang out directly in front of a fan. If you have a patio, bring the fan with you! Mosquitoes can’t land in a crosswind and hate flying against it, so they’ll avoid breezy areas.

by Brightnest

Information Courtesy of the Rodriguez-Hamilton Realty Team.

 

Mother's Day History

Mother’s Day is a holiday honoring motherhood that is observed in different forms throughout the world. The American incarnation of Mother’s Day was created by Anna Jarvis in 1908 and became an official U.S. holiday in 1914. Jarvis would later denounce the holiday’s commercialization and spent the latter part of her life trying to remove it from the calendar. While dates and celebrations vary, Mother’s Day most commonly falls on the second Sunday in May and traditionally involves presenting mothers with flowers, cards and other gifts.

MOTHER’S DAY: HISTORICAL PRECURSORS

Celebrations of mothers and motherhood can be traced back to the ancient Greeks and Romans, who held festivals in honor of the mother goddesses Rhea and Cybele, but the clearest modern precedent for Mother’s Day is the early Christian festival known as “Mothering Sunday.” Once a major tradition in the United Kingdom and parts of Europe, this celebration fell on the fourth Sunday in Lent and was originally seen as a time when the faithful would return to their “mother church”—the main church in the vicinity of their home—for a special service. Over time the Mothering Sunday tradition shifted into a more secular holiday, and children would present their mothers with flowers and other tokens of appreciation. This custom eventually faded in popularity before merging with the American Mother’s Day in the 1930s and 1940s.

Did You Know?

More phone calls are made on Mother’s Day than any other day of the year. These holiday chats with Mom often cause phone traffic to spike by as much as 37 percent.

MOTHER’S DAY: EARLY INCARNATIONS

The roots of the modern American Mother’s Day date back to the 19th century. In the years before the Civil War (1861-65), Ann Reeves Jarvis of West Virginia helped start “Mothers’ Day Work Clubs” to teach local women how to properly care for their children. These clubs later became a unifying force in a region of the country still divided over the Civil War. In 1868 Jarvis organized “Mothers’ Friendship Day,” at which mothers gathered with former Union and Confederate soldiers to promote reconciliation.
Another precursor to Mother’s Day came from the abolitionist and suffragette Julia Ward Howe. In 1870 Howe wrote the “Mother’s Day Proclamation,” a call to action that asked mothers to unite in promoting world peace. In 1873 Howe campaigned for a “Mother’s Peace Day” to be celebrated every June 2. Other early Mother’s Day pioneers include Juliet Calhoun Blakely, a temperance activist who inspired a local Mother’s Day in Albion, Michigan, in the 1870s. The duo of Mary Towles Sasseen and Frank Hering, meanwhile, both worked to organize a Mothers’ Day in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Some have even called Hering “the father of Mothers’ Day.”

MOTHER’S DAY: FOUNDING BY ANNA JARVIS

The official Mother’s Day holiday arose in the 1900s as a result of the efforts of Anna Jarvis, daughter of Ann Reeves Jarvis. Following her mother’s 1905 death, Anna Jarvis conceived of Mother’s Day as a way of honoring the sacrifices mothers made for their children. After gaining financial backing from a Philadelphia department store owner named John Wanamaker, in May 1908 she organized the first official Mother’s Day celebration at a Methodist church in Grafton, West Virginia. That same day also saw thousands of people attend a Mother’s Day event at one of Wanamaker’s retail stores in Philadelphia.
Following the success of her first Mother’s Day, Jarvis—who remained unmarried and childless her whole life—resolved to see her holiday added to the national calendar. Arguing that American holidays were biased toward male achievements, she started a massive letter writing campaign to newspapers and prominent politicians urging the adoption of a special day honoring motherhood. By 1912 many states, towns and churches had adopted Mother’s Day as an annual holiday, and Jarvis had established the Mother’s Day International Association to help promote her cause. Her persistence paid off in 1914 when President Woodrow Wilson signed a measure officially establishing the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day.
Anna Jarvis had originally conceived of Mother’s Day as a day of personal celebration between mothers and families. Her version of the day involved wearing a white carnation as a badge and visiting one’s mother or attending church services. But once Mother’s Day became a national holiday, it was not long before florists, card companies and other merchants capitalized on its popularity.
While Jarvis had initially worked with the floral industry to help raise Mother’s Day’s profile, by 1920 she had become disgusted with how the holiday had been commercialized. She outwardly denounced the transformation and urged people to stop buying Mother’s Day flowers, cards and candies. Jarvis eventually resorted to an open campaign against Mother’s Day profiteers, speaking out against confectioners, florists and even charities. She also launched countless lawsuits against groups that had used the name “Mother’s Day,” eventually spending most of her personal wealth in legal fees. By the time of her death in 1948 Jarvis had disowned the holiday altogether, and even actively lobbied the government to see it removed from the American calendar.

MOTHER’S DAY: CELEBRATIONS AND TRADITIONS
While versions of Mother’s Day are celebrated throughout the world, traditions vary depending on the country. In Thailand, for example, Mother’s Day is always celebrated in August on the birthday of the current queen, Sirikit. Another alternate observance of Mother’s Day can be found in Ethiopia, where families gather each fall to sing songs and eat a large feast as part of Antrosht, a multi-day celebration honoring motherhood.
In the United States, Mother’s Day continues to be celebrated by presenting mothers and other women with gifts and flowers, and it has become one of the biggest holidays for consumer spending. Families might also celebrate by giving mothers a day off from activities like cooking or other household chores. At times Mother’s Day has also been a date for launching political or feminist causes. In 1968 Coretta Scott King, wife of Martin Luther King Jr., used Mother’s Day to host a march in support of underprivileged women and children. In the 1970s women’s groups also used the holiday as a time to highlight the need for equal rights and access to childcare.

by the History Channel

Information Courtesy of the Rodriguez-Hamilton Realty Team.

 

 

 

Miami Residential Sales, Prices Continue Upward Trend in March

The Miami real estate market, one of the most popular in the nation with international and domestic buyers, continued to gain momentum in March, as single-family home transactions registered double-digit growth year-over-year and existing condominium sales rose despite an increase in new condo construction.

Note: The MIAMI Association of REALTORS® and the Southeast Florida Multiple Listing Service are the sources for statistics reported by the National Association of Realtors and Florida Realtors.

 

Miami – The Miami real estate market, one of the most popular in the nation with international and domestic buyers, continued to gain momentum in March, as single-family home transactions registered double-digit growth year-over-year and existing condominium sales rose despite an increase in new condo construction, according to a new report by the 35,000-member MIAMI Association of REALTORS® (MIAMI) and the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS) system.

Sales Rise for Single-family Homes, Condos
Single-family home transactions — which set an all-time Miami annual record in 2014 — increased 10 percent year-over-year in March 2015, from 1,129 to 1,242. Existing condominium sales — which posted the second best year in Miami history last year— rose 4.2 percent from 1,413 in March of last year to 1,472 last month. Combined, Miami-Dade County residential real estate sales increased 6.8 percent to 2,714 last month compared to 2,542 a year ago.

“Miami continues to attract international and domestic home buyers looking to live in a global city with world-class amenities and a diversified economy,” said Christopher Zoller, a 27-year Miami-based Realtor and the 2015 Residential President of the MIAMI Association of REALTORS. “Buyer demand in Miami properties is leading to more sales and higher sale prices.”

Single-family home prices, which again increased in March, remain at affordable 2004 levels despite more than four years of consistent year-over-year increases. Condo prices also increased in March 2015, marking 45 months of growth in the last 46 months. The median sale price for single-family homes increased 10.6 percent, up to $260,000 in March 2015 from $235,000 in March 2014. The average sale price for single-family homes increased 3.2 percent to $473,677 last month from $459,102 during the same time period last year.

The median sale price for condominiums surged 7.5 percent in March to $215,000 from $200,000 a year ago. The average sale price for condos increased 5.8 percent to $398,994 from $377,290 in March 2014.

Miami Real Estate Continues Selling Fast, Close to List Price
Miami single-family homes and condominiums continue to sell close to asking price, reflecting a strong consumer demand. The median number of days on the market for single-family homes sold in March 2015 was 54 days, an increase of 14.9 percent compared to the same period in 2014. The average percent of original list price received was 94.6 percent, down a negligible 0.3 percent from a year earlier.

The median number of days on the market for condominiums sold in March 2015 was 60 days, an increase of 1.7 percent compared to the same period in 2014. The average percent of original list price received was 93.5 percent, a 0.7 percent decrease.

National and State statistics 
Nationally, sales of existing single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums, and co-ops increased 6.1 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.19 million in March from 4.89 million in February—the highest annual rate since September 2013 (also 5.19 million), according to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). National sales have increased year-over-year for six consecutive months and are now 10.4 percent above a year ago, the highest annual increase since August 2013 (10.7 percent).

Statewide closed sales of existing single-family homes totaled 24,811 last month, up 24.6 percent over March 2014, according to Florida Realtors. Statewide sales of condominiums totaled 11,083 last month, up 13.7 percent compared to March 2014.

The national median existing-home price for all housing types in March was $212,100, which is 7.8 percent above March 2014. This marks the 37th consecutive month of year-over-year price gains and the largest since February 2014 (8.8 percent), according to NAR.

The statewide median sale price for single-family existing homes last month was $190,000, up 9.2 percent from the previous year, according to Florida Realtors. The statewide median price for townhouse-condo properties in March was $152,000, up 8.6 percent over the year-ago figure.

Miami’s Cash Buyers Represent More than Twice the National Average
Cash deals represented 54.2 percent of Miami’s total closed sales in March 2015, down from 60.5 percent in March 2014. Nationally, just 24 percent of all national housing transactions are made in cash. Since 82 percent of foreign buyers in Florida purchase properties all cash, Miami’s high percentage of cash buyers continues to reflect South Florida’s ability to attract international buyers.

Condominiums comprise a large portion of Miami’s cash purchases as 67.3 percent of condo closings were made in cash in March compared to 38.6 percent of single-family home sales.

Short Sales Continue to Decline in Miami
While traditional sales remain strong, distressed property transactions declined in Miami due to fewer short sales. In March 2015, only 28 percent of all closed residential sales in Miami were distressed, including REO (bank-owned properties) and short sales, compared to 31.6 percent in March 2014.

Short sales and REOs accounted for 5.6 percent and 22.4 percent, respectively, of total Miami sales in March. Short sale transactions decreased 42.6 percent year-over-year while REOs increased 13 percent. Nationally, distressed sales were 10 percent of sales in March, down from 14 percent a year ago.

Active Listings on the Rise
Seller confidence continues to result in more properties being listed in Miami. Active listings at the end of March increased 8.2 percent year-over-year, from 16,879 to 18,266. Active listings remain about 60 percent below 2008 levels when sales bottomed. Inventory of single-family homes increased 0.4 percent from 6,074 active listings last year to 6,096 last month. Condominium inventory increased 12.6 percent to 12,170 from 10,805 listings during the same period in 2014.

At the current sales pace, there is a 5.3-month supply of Miami single-family homes, a decrease of 4.8 percent from 5.6 months in March 2014. There is a 9.0-month supply of condominium inventory, up from 7.5 months in March 2014, an increase of 18.8 percent. A balanced market between buyers and sellers offers between six and nine months supply of inventory.

New listings of Miami single-family homes increased 3.1 percent from 2,090 in March of last year to 2,155 last month. New condominium listings increased 6.0 percent to 3,228 last month, compared to 3,045 during the same time period in 2014.

Nationally, total housing inventory at the end of March climbed 5.3 percent to 2.00 million existing homes available for sale, and is now 2.0 percent above a year ago (1.96 million). Unsold national inventory is at a 4.6-month supply at the current sales pace.

March 2015 New Construction Market Update 
Strong sales in the preconstruction condominium Miami market east of Interstate 95 continue to reflect significant demand for new properties, according to the latest New Construction Market Status Report released by Cranespotters.com and MIAMI.

Since 2011, 12 towers with 1,771 units have been completed in Miami-Dade County east of I-95. There are 73 towers with 9,588 units under construction in Miami east of I-95, according to Cranespotters.com and MIAMI’s April 20 report. About 74 towers with 11,354 units are planned, but have not begun development. There are also 56 towers with 8,978 units that have been proposed in Miami east of I-95.

Overall in Miami-Dade County, developers have announced 215 towers with 31,691 units since 2011. Of the above projects in Miami-Dade:
                  ▪101 projects with 117 towers comprising 17,043 units are currently selling.
                  ▪70 percent of units have been sold.
                  ▪The mean minimum price per square foot of these units is $952, compared to $907 last month.

Information Courtesy of the Rodriguez-Hamilton Realty Team.