Community Information

Last week I wrote about the many benefits of living in the Village of Pinecrest, currently celebrating their first 20 years as a municipality, but this week I have to turn to my home. I love Palmetto Bay, and it’s not just because I’m a long-time resident. The Village of Palmetto Bay, celebrating its 14th year as a municipality, truly is a wonderful place to live. With beautiful homes at a more reasonable price per square foot (especially when compared to other South Florida neighborhoods), A-rated public schools, great private school options, easy access to the bay and historic landmarks like Deering Estate, what’s not to love? Here’s another perk: an active Parks & Recreation Department that organizes scores of […]

This year has flown by, and I sincerely hope it has been a good one for you and your loved ones. I would like to thank my family, friends, clients and peers for your support and inspiration in making this a spectacular year. As the sun sets on 2015, Miami continues to rank among the most important real estate markets in the world. What makes Miami unique is its global appeal, enticing both domestic and international buyers with its mild weather, world-class dining, burgeoning arts scene and beautiful beaches. People want to live here and that’s a great thing for real estate. In keeping with recent years, resales of single-family homes remained strong through the third quarter of 2015, indicating […]

Out-of-town friends always ask me, “How do you get in the holiday spirit in Miami?” Temperatures hover in the low- to mid-80s, locals parade around in their summer best and, yes, some of us continue to enjoy a lazy afternoon or two by the pool well into the “winter” months (if it isn’t raining, that is). Life’s rough, isn’t it? That being said, I have to say Miami is a magical place over the holidays. And one of the more enjoyable ways to get into the holiday spirit is to explore our neighborhoods and take in the holiday lights on display. Wondering where to go? Here are some festive places in and around the greater Miami area that are sure […]

I’ve decided to venture into new territory today and dive into some really great food. Since Thanksgiving is just around the corner, favorite recipes and meal prep are a hot topic in my office at the moment. My team and I are huge fans of this holiday (and of eating), so we wanted to share with you some of our go-to Thanksgiving recipes. Seems odd to be getting recipes from a real estate blog, right? Trust us, you’ll thank yourself for giving these a try. And after you’ve had your fill of dirty mash and pecan pie, contact me to discuss current listings and explore South Florida’s hottest neighborhoods.   Lauren’s Unbelievable Brie Serves 8 Ingredients: 1 sheet frozen puff […]

The other day I read that over 46 million people in the United States (about 14.8%) are in poverty, including 15.5 million children under the age of 18. I’ll admit it: I was shocked when I read that statistic. The first thought that came to my mind was, “What can I do to help?” I firmly believe in the importance of giving back to the community, which is why I cherish my involvement with Big City Mountaineers and Miami Children’s Health Foundation. Now that we’re entering the season of giving thanks, it’s a perfect time not only to appreciate all that we have to be thankful for, but also to share what we do have with those who are less […]

Prospective homebuyers considering the Coral Gables area should not miss the upcoming Food, Wine & Spirits Festival. The sixth edition of this annual event, which has evolved into a sophisticated, well-run week of foodie fun and celebration, takes place November 9 to 15 in downtown Coral Gables (on Giralda Ave between Ponce de Leon Blvd and LeJeune). It’s a perfect opportunity to get a taste of the enthusiastic and diverse community that makes up the perennial favorite of the southern Miami suburbs. The first component of the event is the Food, Wine & Spirits Week (Nov. 9 to 13), with an interesting lineup of tastings, VIP dinners, new product intros, even a beer fest taking place each night (from 7pm […]

Halloween in Miami is a whirlwind of dance parties, costume nights, and theme cocktails on the party scene, but away from the nightlife, Miami’s southern suburbs offer some of the safest, most enjoyable trick-or-treating streets around.   Try the storefronts of Coral Gables’ Miracle Mile for a safe, all-in-one-place trick-or-treating destination. Enjoy story time at Books & Books, a photo booth at the Leica store, and live performances at the Actors’ Playhouse, plus plenty of parking at the surrounding garages.   Soak in beautiful views of Biscayne Bay while walking the equally beautiful streets of Palmetto Bay with your little ghouls. The Village of Parks is extremely family-oriented, so you can feel safe bringing your little ones here for some […]

Time does fly…. I am honored to say that this marks my 13th year hosting the BNI Charity Golf Tournament, which takes place on Friday, October 23. This event is dear to me for many reasons. First of all, 100% of the proceeds from the tournament go to the Big City Mountaineers. For those of you who are not familiar with this organization, Big City Mountaineers is a non-profit that was founded in 1989 by my father, who firmly believes that nature is a powerful teacher. The organization’s mission is to provide urban teenage youth in need of positive adult mentoring with a challenging and safe wilderness experience led by qualified adult volunteers. Believe it or not, through these expeditions, […]

  If you read the real estate coverage of the Miami Herald with any regularity, you have probably taken note of the big development plans on the horizon for the historically quiet suburb of Coral Gables.   Among the 16 proposed and approved new, high-density projects announced for the highly desirable enclave are the Mediterranean Village at Ponce Circle, a million square feet of hotel, condos and shopping across 6.7 acres south of the Mile on Ponce de Leon Boulevard; 33 Alhambra, a proposed 16-story residential tower to be built on the block behind the historic Coral Gables Elementary School; and the Collection Residences, a 10-story building with 270 luxury condos and 40,000 square feet of ground-floor retail.   This […]