Miami Florida, The "Magic City"

Miami Florida is also known as the “Magic City.” Located in Miami-Dade County on the Miami River, between the Florida Everglades and the Atlantic Ocean, Miami was incorporated in 1896. The City of Miami, known for its diverse culture and ethnicities is the largest municipalityin Miami-Dade County. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 362,470. By the year 2010 the population in the City is projected to rise to over 390,000.

Miami is the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida, and the 8th most populous county in the United States, with a population of 2,500,625. A well-known global city, Miami is a major center, and a leader in finance, commerce, culture, media, fashion, education, film, print media, entertainment, the arts and international trade. Known as The Gateway to the Americas, Miami is a major international center, an important leader in entertainment, education, media, music, fashion, film, culture, print media, and the performing arts. The City of Miami is governed by a Mayor and 5 City Commissioners who oversee the five districts in the City.

The City has grown tremendously over the years, transforming it into one of the world's renowned centers where people work, live and play while enjoying a high quality of life amid warm temperatures and sunny skies. Janet Dugan, a fairly recent transplant from Miami to Longboat Key says, "I miss the vibrancy of the place. You don't know how much you like it until you've lost it."

Centrally located in a bustling urban area that is bursting with new real estate development, residential homes and eye catching attractions, Miami is truly a world class destination and Miami happily welcomes all comers; visitors, business people atending conferences or new residents. All are welcome into this diverse community.

Recent Sarasota Home Sale Stats Offer a Rare Bargain Opportunity

Sarasota home and condominium sales statistics for September 2010 look very much like August 2010 and in fact almost exactly the same as occurred in September, 2009.

Sarasota Florida area real estate sales in September 2010 stood at 547, compared to 567 in August and 554 in September of 2009. The September median sale price of single family homes was $155,000 and $150,450 for condominiums, very close to last month’s and September, 2009 levels.

There were 404 single family home sales and 143 condo sales in September demonstrating that, even as a high level of distressed properties remain on the market, there is a continued and stable level of interest among singles, families and retirees considering buying in the Sarasota – Bradenton real estate market while prices remain at substantially depressed levels.

The Sarasota real estate market has essentially stood still for the past 12 months, with minor fluctuations in prices from month to month, according to Janet Dugan, a well-known Sarasota golf homes expert. She said, "Yes, there was the expected spike in sales during the period of the federal $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit, but, basically we’ve seen a high level of market stability this past year and that has been a welcome trend."


While times are tough for those forced to sell at these prices, it is really good news for prospective buyers that the median sale price of distressed property sales continues to be less than half as much as for normal arm’s length sales. In some cases, distressed property sales are selling for only a third as much.

Recognize, of course, says Bob Henley, a Sarasota Florida real estate agent, that "buying a distressed property requires more patience than an arm’s length purchase as the slow-moving short sale or foreclosure sale process unfolds. But, at the end of the process, there are real bargains out there that are well worth the wait."

So, if you are seriously considering, (or even just pondering the notion) of owning a home or condo in Sarasota Florida, there will never be a better time than right now to get involved. You can get involved very simply by requesting my Hot List of Sarasota Short sales and Foreclosure Properties. For even more immediate service, though, you may want to call me directly on my cell phone at 941-228-2321.

Ask a Sarasota real estate agent who is an Accredited Buyer Representative to work with you to assure that you get the very best Buyer’s Agent representation possible.

Visit the Chihuly Collection Exhibit in St Petersburg

If you are a visitor or a new resident of Tampa Bay Florida and you are not familiar with Dale Chihuly's unique, and gigantic, glass works, you should pay a visit to this outstanding display. You'll be amazed at what you see.

A pioneer of studio glass art movement, Chihuly is credited with transforming the methods of creating glass art leading the development of complex, huge multi-part glass sculptures and environmental art. He has created a number of memorable installations including “Chihuly Over Venice” with the sculptures installed over the canals and piazze; "Chihuly in the Light of Jerusalem”, attended by more than a million visitors, and the “Chihuly Bridge of Glass” in Tacoma, Washington.

The Chihuly Collection is now permanently located in a new 10,000 square foot exhibit hall at 400 Beach Drive, St Petersburg in St Petersburg's downtown waterfront at the heart of the most vibrant tourist area. The exhibit is within walking distance of the Vinoy Resort and Golf Club, the St Pete Pier, the Museum of Fine Arts, a multitude of galleries, restaurants and shops, and in January, 2011 the new Salvador Dali Museum.

 
The Chihuly Collection includes Chihuly’s spectacular large-scale installations such as Ruby Red Icicle Chandelier created specifically for the Collection along with several popular series of his works including Macchia, Ikebana, Niijima Floats, Persians and Tumbleweeds which have thrilled audiences around the globe.

This presentation is the first installation anywhere of Chihuly's art in a building designed specifically for this purpose. The facility has been designed so the art and architecture work together to create a visitor experience unlike any other exhibition of Chihuly’s art. The entrance to the Collection has an iconic 20-foot sculpture created especially for the site.

The Collection is open seven days a week for your convenience.
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 10am–6:00pm
Thursday, 10am–8pm
Sunday, Noon–6pm
Closed only on Thanksgiving and Christmas day

Docent-led tours are every hour on the half hour. The last tour begins at 4:30pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and at 7:15pm on Thursdays.

Single day passes for Adults start at $15.00 while seniors over 55 pay $13.00. Student's and children's prices are lower. For those who expect frequent visitors during the upcoming holidays and snowbird season, ther is also an annual pass for unlimited entrances for a full year priced at $99.00