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Archive for December, 2007

Giving to someone who was in need during the Holidays

Friday, December 21st, 2007

I was talking to a friend of mine the other night as we spent a little time going out for some cocktails as we usually do right before the holidays.We were talking about the subject of giving. He was telling me how he used to give a present to some unfortunate person he knew. The person was genuine and he felt bad for this person because they got along well and the person seemed honest and helpful as much as they could be towards him. Kind of like paying it forward. Well a light went off in my head and I started to tell him a story of a similar experience and I wanted to share it with others.

This was about 20 yrs ago in NY…seems like a lifetime but I still remember it. I was about 25 at the time and I wasn’t really looking for a career in Real Estate. I was still in the food and restaurant industry. I had taken a job in a coffee shop and was working behind the counter as a cook/hash slinger. It was a rough job…always running and listening to people screaming for their food. While I was worried about getting everyones burger cooked to perfection…I stood about 5 feet away from our dishwasher. Not a machine but this was our dishwasher and his job was to take all the dirty dishes and wash them off and put them through some contraption that supposedly ran at 180 degrees and sanitized those dishes with a shine so bright that you could see yourself.

His name was Julio. A middle age man and he was a nice guy who was very quite and basically kept to himself. He rarely said much while he was working and he worked like a dog and never heard one person yell at him to move his butt. Julio knew how to work and did the job the way he was supposed to with no questions asked. He never complained about anything. Sometimes it was so busy he would finish a big pile and then sneak in the back for a quick break…but then I would watch the waitresses just dump another pile of new dishes on the sink for him to clean. But he would just be like the Eveready bunny and just keep on going.

Everyday that I was running around like a chicken without a head….serving people listening to them tell me to give them a pickle or telling me their burger needed more fire….Julio would just stand there and smile at me while watching me get abused and I would just stand there and take it. Julio didn’t have to say anything…I knew what he was thinking. But he just kept working and then when they day was over he would just say”bye amigo…see you in the morning”.. and leave just to come back do it all over again the next day.I became friendly with him and but I never knew where he lived or what he did beyond work. He was kind and we laughed and talked about boxing a lot. I didn’t even know his last name and we worked together for quite some time. I then heard some talk that he was living in his car. I found this out when someone asked him his address and he said something like HJ9SO7 which was apparently his license plate number.

But then I found out later he was renting a room above one of the store fronts nearby. It was during the holidays that I was talking with a friend of mine who worked there as well… about the two of us chipping in and buying Julio a TV for the holidays. We felt like we needed to do this. We weren’t making a lot of money but between the two of us we purchased one for about $50 which at that time was a lot of money. We then hid it at the coffee shop and when he came in the next day we presented it to him after work.I’ve got to tell you that back then I probably didn’t appreciate it as much as I do now. You should have seen the surprise and the happiness in his eyes when we told him it was his to keep

Years have gone by and I never saw Julio again after I left the business and I never found out where Julio went after they sold the coffee shop but I know if he is still around….he remembers the gift we gave him that year.

Neal Bloom/Remax Hometown
2500 Weston Road ,Suite 103
Weston FL 33331
(954)608-5556
The Real Deal tells it Like it is in Real Estate-copyright © 2007-All rights reserved

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When you own investment properties you should find out who is responsible if the building gets condemned

Monday, December 17th, 2007

When you own investment properties you should find out who is responsible if the building gets condemned

Over the last few years up until the middle of 2007 I was actively buying investment properties. Some were purchased with one other partner and the others were with two others. I wasn’t the biggest fish but I could hold my own in the pond. Some of the properties we bought were in fair shape and were located in tough neighborhoods. But I saw some potential to make a little income…not a lot but just enough to pay the operating costs and a little left over to keep in the bank. We were also able to rent them out who qualified for Section 8 housing. The money was guaranteed and we ended up getting two reliable tenants who paid their rent on time.

We owned two in the same complex and we were able to get them really inexpensive. We paid cash for them so basically we were responsible for the maintenance and taxes. Renovations we did were adequate enough and we were lucky to have any major repair issues…it was most regular maintenance with a few broken switches.

I knew going in that this complex was not in the best of conditions and I guess they did the best they can. So we rode it out for few years. When we put the tenant into one of the units it took us about 4 months before we were able to get the door to the building replaced after it was ripped off the hinges. Then we find out the management office located on the grounds burned down from a fire.

A few months later I was thinking what is next and I thought….what would happen if the building burnt down or our section got damaged from the fire. We were fully covered for fire and wind insurance but I wanted to know what other surprises would happen. A few days later we were making our rounds and stopped by complex and we see two fire trucks that happened to be in from of our building. What do you think happened next? “NO” your wrong…there wasn’t the fire I dreaded would happen but it was as bad…..it was a FLOOD! One of the people living in the building right next to ours apparently their child turned on the bathtub and let it run for hours and the entire section of about 4 units were flooded out and we asked the property manager what he thought would happen and he said they would probably condemn that part of the building. We eventually decided that it was time to sell them as we saw the market start to take a turn. We ended up making a good profit and we held them instead of flipping them.

What recourse does an owner of investment properties have if they are told the building is being condemned?

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Hollywood FL condos for sale-Canadians are flocking to Hollywood Beach FL

Tuesday, December 11th, 2007

Hollywood FL condos for sale-Canadians are flocking to Hollywood Beach FL

Hollywood Beach FL

Hollywood FL condos near the beach

This month is the start of when our snowbirds and tourists return to our sunshine state. Snow fall will be forthcoming and this is the time for them to start their holiday vacations and what better than to spend it in our very warm and comfortable climate. Our weather here has been fabulous for weeks. The temperature in Hollywood Beach FL has been mostly sunny in the 80’s with virtually no humidity.With such an inflated amount of condos for sale in Hollywood FL…..”it is an excellent time buy a home.” Prices have come down quite a bit over the last 2 years and inventory levels have reached all time highs. But there was one thing we discovered. Although there aren’t many buyers looking to purchase condos right now…we have been lucky enough to have closed a few deals this year in other areas with our Canadian clientele. I have been currently spending my last few days helping a couple from Toronto looking to find a vacation home that will eventually be where they will retire. They will be visiting for the next few weeks and we have found a few prospects they are considering to buy. We want thank you for all of your support!For example…..we looked at a 2 BR 2 BTH condo about 1350 SQ. FT. 7th Fl-corner unit with an inter-coastal view was listed at $249,000. The unit needed a lot of work but it has a large terrace that had 3 entries and direct inter-coastal view. We saw a 1BR 1.5 BTH. unit on the 16th Fl- totally redone with a direct ocean view across Ocean Drive for $200,000. The reason this unit is relatively inexpensive is because the transaction will be negotiated as a short sale. Banks look to do short sales to save thousands of dollars from taking the owner to foreclosure.

When we looked today…it showed that the Canadian dollar exchange rate have been holding right around at $1.00. That is still good news for our past,present and future clients. In general ..”it is a great time to buy a home in Hollywood Beach FL.” Currently..there are over 40,000 homes on the market throughout Broward County…… 23,428 are Condos/Town-homes.

If you were to cross over to the west side of A1A you will find a different perspective of a premium location. By having the beach on the east side as well as the the awesome west side with views of the intercoastal waters.

Trade in the ice and snow for palm trees. This is the place you can call your winter home.

Come visit the beach of Hollywood FL today.

You will be glad you looked at all the opportunities available.

If you are interested in moving to our area ……then we strongly urge you to visit Hollywood FL- you can also preview condos for sale here.

If you like reading different stories about Real Estate then please visit my blog The Real Deal tells it like it is in Real Estate

For more information please contact Neal The Real Deal Bloom-Realtor® /Remax Hometown 2500 Weston Road ,Suite 103Weston FL 33331(954)608-5556The Real Deal tells it Like it is in Real Estatecopyright © 2007-All rights reserved

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Pembroke Pines FL Homes 2007 Market Report 10/1/07-12/1/o7

Sunday, December 2nd, 2007

Pembroke Pines FL Homes 2007 Market Report 10/1/2007 - 12/1/2007

Pembroke Pines FL Real Estate

Pembroke Pines FL Homes

2007 Market Report

10/1/2007 - 12/1/2007

Pembroke Pines FL Homes for sale as of Dec. 2007

1387 Homes-Pembroke Pines FL -includes manufactured Homes
1366 Condos/Town-homes-Pembroke Pines FL

Pembroke Pines FL Homes pending as of -Dec 2007

59 Homes-Pembroke Pines FL
92 Condos/Town-homes-Pembroke Pines FL

Pembroke Pines FL Homes that have closed as of -Jan 2007-Dec. 2007

801 Homes- Pembroke Pines FL
659 Condos/Town-homes-Pembroke Pines FL

Other Pembroke Pines FL Related Stories:

Pembroke Pines Florida Real Estate- Grand Palms Golf and Country Club

Pembroke Pines FL Real Estate For Sale-Towngate- A Local Place to Live with Family Values

Pembroke Pines Florida-Resident and Visitors local News and Activities

Past Area Market Reports

Pembroke Pines Florida-Towngate Real Estate Market Report thru August 2007

Pembroke Pines Florida-Grand Palms single family home Real Estate Market report as of July 2007

TOWNGATE 3RD QUARTER 2007 CLOSED AND PENDING SALES

Pembroke Pines Florida Real Estate For Sale-Towngate Market Report as of Oct. 7th For more information please contact Neal The Real Deal Bloom-Realtor® /Remax Hometown 2500 Weston Road ,Suite 103Weston FL 33331(954)608-5556The Real Deal tells it Like it is in Real Estate-copyright © 2007-All rights reserved

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