Wednesday, December 24, 2008

'Twas The Night Before Christmas...Keys Style!

My wife Michelle and I saw this this morning on Keysnews.com and just had to put it on here!!! So true to a Holiday in the Keys.
Please click on the beautiful wreathes to visit chartworksart.com, artist Margorie Smith's warm collection of Keys inspired art.

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the Keys,
Most of the anglers were enjoying a warm ocean breeze.
The rods were all rigged by the transom with care,
In hopes that big fish will soon leave their lairs.
The beers were nestled all snug in the ice,
While visions of hookups soon would be nice.
And mamma in her 'kini, and I in my Crocks,
Had just cast off lines from our Key Largo dock.
When out on the flats there arose such a splash,
I sprang from the helm to see a bright silver flash.
Away toward the clatter I drove in a dash,
The outboard's high revs ate up more of my cash.
The sun on the glass of the calm ocean seas
Gave the luster of the Caribbean to the coconut trees.
When, what to my Costa-clad eyes should appear,
But a monster, bearded permit, and eight tiny Key deer.
With a little old remora, so shiny and black,
I knew in a moment it was Christmas Jack.
More rapid than wahoo his coursers they came,
And he jumped, and breached, as he called them by name.
"Now Snapper! Now Grouper, Now Lobster and Wrass!
On Marlin! On Sailfish! On 'Cuda and Sea Bass!
To the top of the tuna tower! To the top of the mast!
Now swim away! Swim away! Swim away fast!"
As Jim Cantore before the mild hurricane arrives,
Christmas Jack rattles his gills, as tourism dies.
Then Jack to his namesake Alabama's he flew,
With a sleigh full of fritters and a few snowbirds too.
And then, with stars twinkling, I heard on the ocean
The jumping and splashing of a fish fighting commotion.
As I drew in my line, and was turning my reel,
Among the sea grass Jack swam right by my keel.
He was dressed in all scales, from his tail to his mouth,
Christmas Jack is the most popular holiday fish in the South.
A bundle of toys he had flung 'round his gills,
He looked like a sailfish school sharpening their bills.
His eyes, how they twinkled! His belly, how yellow!
There never has been a more merry pelagic fellow.
His droll little mouth had nibbled my hook,
And the remora on his chin gave me a very cross look.
So I removed the hook held tight in his teeth,
And returned my rod to its waterproof sheath.
Jack had a flat rounded face, and silver, metallic side,
That shook when he laughed as he swam away with the tide.
His crescent tail took him quickly toward the Continental Shelf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself.
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know that gamefish aren't meant to be dead.
He spoke not a word, but swam right round the boat,
And a small self-conscious lump arouse in my throat.
And laying a flipper aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up into the air he rose.
He shook side to side, to his Key deer he did whistle,
And away they all swam like a happy holiday missile.
But I heard him exclaim, 'ere he dove out of sight:
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good fight!"

Wishing you the happiest of Holiday Seasons from my family to yours!!

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

The Conchquistador Deal of the Day 12.22.08

65800 Overseas Hwy, Long Key
Florida Keys Beach House Perfection!
Wow, I was really excited when I saw this property. Just what you imagine about when you dream about a home in the Keys.
Beautifully situated on Long Key, just south of Layton, 100 feet of sandy beach on the ocean side on over 3/4 of an acre!!
The only thing to add is a dock.

List Price: $1,800,000 - Sale Price: $1,525,000 3Bedrooms/ 2 Baths - Lot 35,650 sf
Days on the Market: 150 - Mile Marker: 66
Original Price: $1.800,000

Description: The ultimate beach house! Nestled in professionally designed landscaping, this 3 bedroom and 2 bath estate is the Keys at it's finest. 100' of white, sandy beach lead you into the beautiful, pristine waters of the Atlantic to swim, snorkel, kayak or try your luck in some of the best fly-fishing waters anywhere. Priced to sell!

This was one very lucky, or more likely, astute Buyer.
Stunning 3/4 of an acre with 100 ft sandy beach on the Ocean, lovely house, super location, under $2,000,000??
People, there are deals to be had in Paradise!!
The Seller negotiated over 20% off the List price.
Please allow me to find you YOUR Dream Home in the Keys.
Put the expert to work for you!
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Click here: FloridaKeysWaterfrontExpert.com
For a quick Search of available Properties in the Florida Keys, click here: Keys MLS Search.

Friday, December 19, 2008

The Conchquistador Deal of The Day 12.18.08

405 Mahogany Circle, Key Largo
It looks like Buyers are getting the message that there are great deals to be found in the Keys.
Located near Lake Largo, this super clean waterfront property sold in just 3 weeks.
List Price: $799,000 - Sale Price: $775,000 - 3 Bedrooms/2 Baths - Lot: 7,800sf
Days on the Market: 21
Original List Price: $799,000

Description: Meticulously Maintained Oceanside Home!! This home offers solid concrete construction, beautiful wood & tile floors, granite counter tops, subzero refrigerator, thermador range, wine chiller. Everything in this home is top of the line quality and in like new condition. Wireless alarm system up and down. 2bed/2bath upstairs, and guest quarters downstairs with legal bath downstairs and storage.
Click Here to view a detailed brochure.
Now, although I say it sold in 3 weeks, I must clarify that that was since they put it back on the Market. It had been off the Market for about 4 months. It was previously listed for about a year at a starting price of $1,089,000!!
Obviously these sellers got wise to the market and Bam! as Emeril likes to say...lol.
Great Home, Good Price, Astute Sellers, Wise Buyers...the perfect mix.
I would be happy to enlighten YOU to other great waterfront opportunities in the Keys.
Put the expert to work for you!
Call me at 305.439.7730 or
visit FloridaKeysWaterfrontExpert.com for all of your Keys real estate needs!
Click here: FloridaKeysWaterfrontExpert.com

For a quick Search of available Properties in the Florida Keys, click here: Keys MLS Search.

Florida Keys MLS Property Search

With the current real estate market in transition, exceptional Florida Keys real estate opportunities are presenting themselves daily. NOW is an excellent time to Buy in the Keys!!
I would personally be honored to assist you with purchases from Key Largo to Conch Key, just north of Marathon. For properties from Marathon to Key West, my dedicated network of Lower Keys property professionals are at your service.

All of the available Keys listings at your fingertips!

Please click on the banners below to view real estate search results in the following categories or click on the bottom banner to create your own custom search.

Should you have any questions, remember that I'm just a phone call away at 305.439.7730.


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Please visit FloridaKeysWaterfrontExpert.com for all of your Keys real estate needs!

First State's Big Pine Branch to Open on Monday

Contrary to what the media may like to report , it is not ALL doom and gloom in the Financial Sector. First State is about to open a new branch on Big Pine Key this coming Monday. That being said, I am sure that they will be eager to make an abundance of Home loans for properties here in the Keys.
I came across this article in Keysnet.com this morning:

"First State's Big Pine branch to open on Monday
By Margaret Menge
mmenge@keynoter.com

It is a sign - a welcome one - that all in the banking world is not quite as universally dour as one would think after watching television news.
First State Bank has spent $2 million on a new branch on Big Pine Key, set to open Monday at the traffic light on U.S. 1.
"We were very, very happy to get that location," says First State spokesman Don Lanman. "It's prime location. It's so convenient and it's so efficient."
First State renovated the old Century 21 building, where Wilder Road and Key Deer Boulevard meet U.S. 1, adding two drive-through lanes that will allow customers to make deposits 24 hours a day.
And they've taken a "green" approach to the new branch.
"We could have razed the building and bought a new one," says Lanman. "But we chose to keep it."
Green features include a copper roof; copper having one of the highest recycling rates of any metal. There are also energy efficient light fixtures, landscaping that includes only native plants, and plants that don't require much watering and a sign made from recycled metal. The furniture from the old Century 21 office was given to the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Big Pine Key. First State Bank will be celebrating the grand opening of the new branch all next week with free tours, coffee, holiday cookies and a drawing for a chance to win a gift card.
The new building will give the bank better visibility on this most populous island in the Lower Keys. But First State already has two other branches here: one inside the Winn Dixie grocery store, and another the bank calls the 'annex' - a very small space in the building across the parking lot, on the southwest corner of the Winn Dixie shopping plaza.
The bank planned to close the annex for good on Friday and move employees over to the new building to start work on Monday. The branch in the Winn Dixie will remain open for about another 90 days, says Lanman. Branch manager Shana Casey will oversee both locations, and employees will go back and forth between the two.
For customers of First State on Big Pine Key, the new branch means not having to park and get out to do your banking. And it also means having a place to meet with a loan officer in a private office. One loan officer will be moving to the new Big Pine branch from another location to accommodate potential lenders.
Key West architect and designer Michael Ingrahm, a principal in the firm MBI/K2M, did the redesign of the new First State branch, using millwork and other details that his firm designed for First State Bank when they were hired to do design work at the bank's main branch on Simonton Street.
Headquartered in Key West, First State Bank of the Florida Keys is a locally owned and operated community bank with 13 branches and 32 ATMs throughout the Keys. The bank was founded in 1955. "

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For a quick Search of available Properties in the Florida Keys, click here: Keys MLS Search.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Commercial Air Service Returning to Middle Keys This Week

This is really exciting, as this will open the door for more service to the Middle Keys. Vacationing homeowners will have even easier access to the Keys.
I saw this article in KeysNet News:

"Cape Air's first Marathon landing schedule for Friday
Airline will fly Cessnas to Fort Myers
By RYAN McCARTHY
rmccarthy@keynoter.com
Posted - Wednesday, December 17, 2008 07:01 AM EST

Finally, commercial air service is returning to the Middle Keys this week.
Cape Air is scheduled to begin serving Florida Keys Marathon Airport on Friday.
It's the latest in a long line of airlines to give it a go in the Middle Keys. The Massachusetts-based plans to fly three times daily to Fort Myers through mid-April.
Airport Manager Reggie Paros said Cape Air's first flight is scheduled to land around 1 p.m. Friday and that the public is welcome to visit with company officials.
"We've got plans under way for a welcome reception for the inaugural flight. We want everyone to be able to ask questions," Paros said. "We have a good feeling this will be a dependable airline, and it'll be up to us to make it work."
The county pulled out all the stops to welcome Delta Airlines in February 2007 -- including fire hoses, a jam band, hundreds of onlookers, blowing conch shells and a host of officials. But Delta was gone just five months later, citing a runway too short to allow the airline to fill planes to capacity.
Prior to American Eagle discontinuing flights in April 2000, carriers including US Airways Express, Com Air, Gulfstream and Florida Air have served the airport.
But Paros said he believes Marathon may have found the right fit this time around.
"I think this is the right size for a startup operation. I believe their dependability rate out of Key West is ... over 98 percent," he said.
Cape Air has been flying into Key West International Airport for more than 15 years and has a fleet of nearly 60 nine-passenger Cessna 402 airplanes.
Cape Air has a code share agreement with Continental Airlines and will actually be operating as Continental Connection. Tickets for passengers aboard Cape Air flights out of Marathon will read Continental Airlines.
On Sept. 17, the County Commission decided to give Cape Air a $250,000 revenue guarantee, without which the carrier would have walked away.
The final hurdle for Cape Air was lifted in October when the U.S. Transportation Safety Administration gave the OK for passengers to be reverse-screened in Fort Myers. "

As long as the carriers operate smaller planes, I'm all for it. The community just needs to legislate that runway expansion stays in check.

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For a quick Search of available Properties in the Florida Keys, click here: Keys MLS Search.

Lower Keys Sales Stats January thru November

Here are some very interesting Statistics for Single Family Home Sales in the Lower Keys, excluding Key West. from Jan thru Nov.


To view the charts larger, place your cursor over the chart, right-click and choose save picture as. After saving to your computer, open the file and size to your preference.

The telling aspect here is the quantity of waterfront sales. Although not as robust as in previous years, still some very healthy activity. With navigable waterfront sales as low $235,000, there are some very astute buyers out there that are recognizing and capitalizing on the opportunities that this Buyer's Market presents.
And now with the drop in interest rates...the timing could not be better for those who have waited for and wanted the perfect market/financing mix.
Call me at 305.439.7730 to discuss the available options to help you realize your waterfront dreams.
Put the expert to work for you!
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For a quick Search of available Properties in the Florida Keys, click here: Keys MLS Search.

Welcome to The Florida Keys Real Estate Conchquistador!

What can I say? I just LOVE the Keys! From the incredible waterways to the funkiness of Key West and Fantasy Fest, the Keys are one of this Country’s true treasures. Some of my fondest and earliest precious memories involve dining at the Coral Grill, fishing off the catwalk on the Cardsound Bridge, running in the inaugural 7 mile bridge run, my high school graduation party at the Cheeca Lodge and lobstering off Indian Key (and yes we only kept the legal ones...lol).

Now as an Adult, I am privileged to be able to market and sell stunning waterfront properties in the area that I love most!

Within this Blog, I aim to share with you pertinent real estate info as well as off the wall and irreverent items of interest for both residents and wishful residents of this incredible island chain.

Please visit my website Floridakeyswaterfrontexpert.com for a comprehensive listing of available properties throughout the Keys. There, you can view available properties, view photos, see maps and even schedule an appointment to view your next dreamhome.

Thank you for visiting and

Welcome to the Conch Republic!!!

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

The Conchquistador Deal of the Day 12.17.08

161 Indian Mound Trail,
Plantation Key
Cream of The Crop!!!
A true slice of Paradise, this home is magnificent.
Directly on the Bay in Indian Harbour, just south of Tavernier Creek on over 1/3 of an acre.

List Price:$3,750,000 - Sale Price: $3,000,000 - 5 Bedrooms/5 Baths - Lot: 17,325 sf
Days on the Market 216 - Original List Price: $3,900,000.

Description: Big, lovely direct bayfront home with deepwater dockage, swimming pool & spa. Professionally landscaped & beautifully, comfortably furnished! Home is fully concrete including roof and has been completely updated.

Click Here for a detailed brochure


This was a very good opportunity for the Buyer, as the key here was not only the gorgeous home , but the significant lot square footage as well.

Let me help you find YOUR slice of paradise
Put the expert to work for you!
Please visit FloridaKeysWaterfrontExpert.com for all of your Keys real estate needs!
Click here: FloridaKeysWaterfrontExpert.com

For a quick Search of available Properties in the Florida Keys, click here: Keys MLS Search.

The Conchquistadore Deal of The Day 12.16.08

25 Bonefish Avenue, Key Largo
This home is the perfect lowcost getaway home in the Keys!!

I have always liked this little neighborhood. Nice homes, a really pretty homeowners park that has a very well maintained boat ramp. Also being just past Adam's Cut, it makes getting to the Bay side by boat a breeze.
Value wise you should usually look for non-waterfront homes that have access to boat ramps in a homeowner's park. Public boat ramps are scarce in the Keys and marinas can charge pricey fees for launches.

List Price:$ 225,000 - Sale Price $225,000 -2 Bedrooms/1 bath - Lot Size:5,100 sf
Days on the Market: 37
Original Price: $225,000 - Mile Marker: 103

Description: Original owner has lovingly maintained this beautiful concrete home in X Zone. Mint condition, just waiting for you to enjoy. 2 bedrooms plus bonus room (office or sewing room) and very large screened porches. One of the nicest homeowners parks in Key Largo. Boat ramp, beach, swimming area, recreation areas, Barbecue, and easy ocean or bay access.

As you can see this one sold pretty quickly in just over a month and at full asking price.
Great deals abound in the Keys!
Put the expert to work for you!
Please visit FloridaKeysWaterfrontExpert.com for all of your Keys real estate needs!
Click here: FloridaKeysWaterfrontExpert.com

For a quick Search of available Properties in the Florida Keys, click here: Keys MLS Search.

Monday, December 15, 2008

Middle Keys Sales Stats January thru November

Here are some very interesting Statistics for Single Family Home Sales in the Middle Keys from Jan thru Nov.

Again we find some very telling numbers:
Waterfront single family homes that sold for a low as $330,000 with a Median Price of $830,000 and
Non-Waterfront single family homes for as low as $250,000 with a Median of $380,000.
I was just chatting with a colleague the other day and we were both still in awe of what is available to Buyers in this current Market.
And don't let the "Mortgage Meltdown" scare you. There are still great lenders out there with very competitive products are are ready, willing, and able to lend.
Please call me at 305.439.7730 for more information on insightful Buying opportunities in the Keys.

Put the expert to work for you!
Please visit FloridaKeysWaterfrontExpert.com for all of your Keys real estate needs!
Click here: FloridaKeysWaterfrontExpert.com
For a quick Search of available Properties in the Florida Keys, click here: Keys MLS Search.

Florida Keys Webcams...Check it out!

This is a SUPER COOL service proved by FloridaKeys.com and Keysnews.com, which btw is a great resource for all types of news down here in the Keys.
They offer the ability to view ... in real time over 2 dozen webcams throughout the Keys!


Brought to you by FloridaKeys.com

So, when you absolutely need your Keys fix, just click on the banner above.

Put the expert to work for you!
Please visit FloridaKeysWaterfrontExpert.com for all of your Keys real estate needs!
Click here: FloridaKeysWaterfrontExpert.com

For a quick Search of available Properties in the Florida Keys, click here: Keys MLS Search.

Key Largo Conch House & Coffee Bar

We recently discovered this really enjoyable restaurant. Great for breakfast with exceptional gourmet coffees, charming tropical atmosphere, and a bit quirky, just how we like it. My wife Michelle and I love discovering out of the way, unique restaurants and bars in the Keys, the proverbial "Hole in the Walls".
Located in Key Largo at Mile marker 102 Oceanside.
Check out the video below (remember to first pause the Conquistador Soundrack to the left!)







Put the expert to work for you!
Please visit FloridaKeysWaterfrontExpert.com for all of your Keys real estate needs!
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For a quick Search of available Properties in the Florida Keys, click here: Keys MLS Search.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Traffic Stop Yields Illegal Sea Catch

I really can't stand to see when people abuse the catch laws. Deputies have been really cracking down this year on lobster violations. I have breakfast quite often with a marine patrol friend of mine and he says some of the violations they have seen this season have been some of the worst.That being said, I do miss the days when conch were plentiful and you could easily grab a meal and a beautiful souvenir with a quick jump in the water.

I saw this article in Keysnews.com this morning.

"Traffic stop yields illegal sea catch

By CITIZEN STAFF

Sheriff's deputies confiscated illegal sea catch and arrested a man in a traffic stop Friday afternoon, according to the Sheriff's Office. A 45-year-old man from Marathon was charged with four counts of violating saltwater fishing regulations, all misdemeanors. Deputies reportedly found in a cooler 410 lobster tails, 382 of which were too small, a goliath grouper and an undersized stone crab claw. It is illegal to catch goliath grouper.A deputy had stopped the man about 2:20 p.m. at Mile Marker 88 for allegedly passing in the center turn lane and weaving in and out of traffic. As the officer approached the 2005 Toyota Tacoma, he saw the driver trying to hide something behind his seat, reports say.The man allegedly admitted that he had lobster in the cooler and said he was going to sell it in Miami.Another deputy arrived as backup, and the two reportedly found the illegal catch in the cooler.The man was arrested and booked into jail."

Put the expert to work for you!
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Saturday, December 13, 2008

Boat Parades Light Up Keys Waters

My family loves boat parades around the Holidays. One of the special treats that living down here enables us to enjoy! We are going to raft up this year near the Caribbean Club and watch the festivities.
I found this article in the Citizen online and it gives a nice rundown of the various parades.


"Boat parades light up Keys waters
By Citizen Staff

Florida Keys waters will be lit up with holiday cheer this weekend, as several municipalities celebrate their annual holiday boat parades.
• Key West's event is at 8 tonight in the Key West Bight.
The Schooner Wharf Bar/Captain Morgan Lighted Boat Parade will proceed around the Historic Seaport and harbor areas, with the judges' stand at the Schooner Wharf Bar, 202 William St.
Before the parade, at 6:30 p.m., the Gerald Adams Elementary School Steel Your Heart Band will welcome spectators with songs of the season. During the parade, Howard Livingston and the Mile Marker 24 band will blend rock with island rhythms and a little country until midnight. Prizes will be awarded to the most creatively bedecked boats.
• Key Colony Beach will have its boat parade beginning at dusk Sunday.
The parade route begins at the Seventh Street canal and winds in and out of neighboring canals. The best public-viewing locations include the Sadowski Causeway at Mile Marker 53.5, oceanside, and the area behind City Hall, where the boats will pass three times.
• Key Largo celebrates "Groovin' in the '60s" starting at 8 tonight.
Boats will proceed from the bayfront area of Blackwater Sound, at about Mile Marker 103. Boats will line up at the headpin to Dusenbury Creek and continue north along the shoreline to the tip of Stillwright Point. Viewing and libations are to be found at Sundowners, Senor Frijoles, the Marriott Key Largo Bay Resort and the Caribbean Club."

Please visit FloridaKeysWaterfrontExpert.com for all of your Keys real estate needs!
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Friday, December 12, 2008

The Conchquistador Deal of the Day 12.12.08

112 5th Lane Key Largo

This Waterfront Home was a really good buy!
$376,000 for a Waterfront Home!!!
Navigatable Water, Good Condition, Granite Counters...Wow!
Another case of Foreclosure Opportunity.
I prefer these so much more than Short Sales.

List Price: $399,900 - Sale Price: $376,000 - 2 Bedrooms/2Baths - Lot Size: 6,900 sf
Days on the Market: 230
Original List Price: $569,000 - Mile Marker: 102

Description: BANK OWNED REO. CASH OFFERS ONLY. Quiet location, beautiful clean free flowing canal, convenient to Miami. Good condition. Screened porch. Main living level has kitchen with granite counters, living/dining area and dockside screen porch and 1 full bath. 3rd floor has extra large master with water views , extra large bath, 2nd bedroom and wrap around balcony

Call me at 305.439.7730 and I will tell you how you could have purchased this or a similarly priced home for as little as 3.5% down!

Please visit FloridaKeysWaterfrontExpert.com for all of your Keys real estate needs!
Click here FloridaKeysWaterfrontExpert.com

Florida Keys MLS Property Search

With the current real estate market in transition, exceptional Florida Keys real estate opportunities are presenting themselves daily. NOW is an excellent time to Buy in the Keys!!
I would personally be honored to assist you with purchases from Key Largo to Conch Key, just north of Marathon. For properties from Marathon to Key West, my dedicated network of Lower Keys property professionals are at your service.

All of the available Keys listings at your fingertips!

Please click on the banners below to view real estate search results in the following categories or click on the bottom banner to create your own custom search.

Should you have any questions, remember that I'm just a phone call away at 305.439.7730.


Please visit FloridaKeysWaterfrontExpert.com for all of your Keys real estate needs!

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Judge Offers Foreclosure Help

Foreclosures... probably THE real estate story of 2008. It is truly a shame that the abundance of these Foreclosures even exists. That being said...these conditions have created unprecedented opportunities for buyers that are liquid and willing to look at the long term picture. I saw this article in the Keysnews.Com and thought it really spoke to the heart of the matter.

"Judge offers foreclosure help
By STEVE GIBBS
Free Press Staff
A circuit judge has appointed five mediators to help stem the rising tide of uncontested home foreclosures.
Monroe County judges have heard 1,612 foreclosure cases so far this year, according to 16th Judicial Circuit Judge Luis Garcia, which is almost double last year's 932 cases.
"The cases we heard in 2007 were way up from cases in 2006," Garcia said. "I just want to get the word out to homeowners facing foreclosure not to give up."
About 95 percent of the foreclosure cases are uncontested, Garcia said. So he has made a move to remedy what he sees as a premature surrender: If homeowners come to the hearing and show a willingness to work with their lender, he will appoint a mediator at no charge to the homeowner.
"I called the local [Florida] Bar association and within minutes I had five attorneys volunteer to serve as mediators," Garcia said. "People simply do not show up at the foreclosure hearings. For those who have tried everything but have not given up, come to the hearing. There may still be hope for you to keep your home."
Nick Mulick is one of the attorneys who has volunteered.
"We can facilitate the negotiation of a feasible workout by bringing the decision-makers to the table with the property owners," he said. "I will serve as a moderator to ensure that the parties don't get bogged down."
Mulick said lenders are willing to negotiate.
"Banks and other lenders don't want to get bogged down with nonperforming loans," he said. "They want to avoid that at all costs."
A mediator can help by persuading the mortgage-holder to reduce interest rates, defer payments for a year or change the terms of the loan, he said.
Dirk Smits, regional managing member of Vernis & Bowling, has volunteered to mediate foreclosure cases.
"People are terrified of court, but there is relief out there, especially if you have found a buyer," he said.
"If you have a $500,000 home and come with a buyer offering $300,000, chances are good the bank will take that offer. They will have to sell [your home] anyway. With a buyer they get a chunk of their money and are better off than trying to sell it on today's market."
Besides Smits and Mulick, Russ Cullen, Tim Thomes and Bill Crispin have volunteered their services.
"Hopefully we can save some homes and help keep the banks solvent," Mulick said.
sgibbs@keysnews.com"

Please visit FloridaKeysWaterfrontExpert.com for all of your Keys real estate needs!

Jewfish Creek Boaters

I came across this article in the KeysNews.com. I hope they keep the old feel of the Keys. We quite often launch our boat out of Gilbets and/or Marley's so we see these guys all the time.

"Jewfish Creek Boaters
By STEVE GIBBS
Free Press Staff
KEY LARGO — The boat anchorage on the west side of Jewfish Creek is a mixed bag of boating vacationers, a source of local affordable housing and a quick stopover for world travelers.
More than that, it is a close-knit community that offers the freedom of being able to move on at will.
But leaving is the last thing some of the 30 or so live-aboards have in mind. Besides being a safe hurricane hole, the proximity of welcoming resorts on both sides of the creek, where dinghy dockage and warm showers are available at a nominal cost, make it that much more attractive to boaters.

The Anchorage Resort and Yacht Club sits on the south bank of Jewfish Creek, near the boat anchorage behind it. The resort's president, Robert Cummings, says the only complaint he hears from tenants is about whirring of generators, an energy source for several of the anchored boats.
The owners of Gilberts Resort on the north side and Marley's Bayside Grill Restaurant on the south side of the creek provide boat slips, showers and a parking space for those living on the hook. Slips at Marleys cost $140 a month.
Reinhard Schaupp and his wife Karina are the owners. He says they want to cultivate the seafaring tradition.
"Live-aboards are what the Keys are all about," he said. "We are building a new resort, but we want to keep the old Keys style. This is what people come here for."
In the morning shadow of the 65-foot-high Jewfish Creek Bridge, boats swing on their anchors as the aroma of coffee fills the air, followed by workers rowing or motoring their dinghies ashore.
Kim and Georgette Duncan live aboard a 55-foot Cross trimaran sailboat, "Calypso Poet." The 50-something couple owns and operates a custom marine canvas and sail repair shop located at mile marker 103.
"This is a safe anchorage," Georgette said. "The mangroves in Key Largo make excellent hurricane holes."
They gather with other boaters and land friends at the outdoor bar at Gilberts, even though Kim, an electronics whiz, has given up alcohol.
"This is a great bar and restaurant," Kim said. "The fishing is great and this is a great spot to run into your old sailing friends."
Georgette describes the area as a "thoroughfare for boaters" who stop here on their way to the Bahamas and elsewhere.
They have befriended a retired couple with homes in Baja, Mexico, and on the shores of Lake Sinclair in Georgia.
George and Karen Musson are spending a second winter on their modern houseboat in a private slip at Gilberts. George is a retired corporate executive and Karen is a published novelist.
On a recent late afternoon they head for their boat with cocktails in hand.
"We love it here at Gilberts," George said.
"It's so relaxed here. It's so 'on,'" Karen added. "The neighbors are wonderful. People are so helpful."
Like many of the boating residents here — whether on the hook or snugged into a private boat slip — they do a lot of fishing.
"We had been having our lines snapped by big fish so we upgraded from 12-pound test to 40-pound test line," George said while relaxing on the fantail of their houseboat. "We had no idea what kind of fish we had been missing, when, lo and behold, she caught a big tarpon."
Karen said she loves being in the Keys.
"I wish the year was longer, so we could spend more time here," she said.
George was mildly surprised by the local live-aboard demographic.
"There's still a lot of hippies down here," he said.
Maybe he was referring to Brian Taylor, a 40-ish refugee from Bloomington, Ill. Taylor lives in a rented houseboat out on the hook. One evening last week, he was enjoying a few sunset beers with a knot of men at the end of the dock.
"Where else can you live and be so close to nature?" he offered.
Indeed, that's a main attraction for most boaters here.
"I have a swimming pool around me and I don't have to cut the lawn," said retired railroad engineer Mike Gallagher. The Green Bay native lives aboard an anchored 38-foot 1965 Chris Craft motor yacht. "The sunset is right there in my backyard."
Gallagher has spent 10 years on the hook. His biggest concern is the careless — and often clueless — boater who anchors improperly or roars through the anchorage. He told of one boater who had no previous boating experience when he cruised into the anchorage a few months back.
"I questioned him when he threw out a small anchor. It didn't look like it would hold in any wind. He told me that he knew what he was doing and to mind my own business," Gallagher recalled. "That night he slipped anchor and drifted into the mangroves. I had to knock on his hull to wake him."

Lisa Lardinos, 47, a Wisconsin native who has lived in the mountains of Montana and Wyoming, resides in a houseboat named, "Little House on the Water." Even though she has lived on the water for almost three years, she says she still can't sleep through the night.
"I can't seem to sleep for more than two hours at a time," she said. "I don't worry about my boat. I worry about someone crashing into me in the night, and there are so many abandoned boats out there."
She also complains about boaters who race through Jewfish Creek.
"There should be more boater education," Lardinos said. "People rip through here and throw a wake. They don't seem to understand what they're doing."
But she is adapting to her home at sea level.
"I have no mortgage, and if I don't like my neighbors I can move," she said. "When I was in the mountains I had the same feeling of freedom. They are both wide open, beautiful and there's plenty of space between neighbors."
Boat dwellers must have an independent streak, Lardinos said.
"You're 100 percent self-reliant living on the hook," she said. "If your electricity goes out, you can't call Florida Power & Light. If you don't have water, you can't call the Aqueduct."
But it is a lifestyle she loves.
"It's the most beautiful thing you can imagine walking up in the morning," she said. "It's peaceful, quiet and serene. The only thing I'd change would be to put a few mountains over by the sunset."
The Duncans agree that living at anchorage is special.
"We meet a lot of people here. Boating people are the most considerate," Georgette said.
"It's a humble life," added husband Kim. "

Please visit FloridaKeysWaterfrontExpert.com for all of your Keys real estate needs! Click here FloridaKeysWaterfrontExpert.com

January Thru November Sales Stats for the Upper Keys

Some very interesting Sales Statistics for the Upper Keys:



As you can see, there are some incredible opportunities out there!
Waterfront Homes that sold for as low as $375,000!
Non-Waterfront as low as $140,000!
This is a great time to take advantage of this very strong Buyers Market.

Call me at 305.439.7730 for more info or
Please visit FloridaKeysWaterfrontExpert.com for all of your Keys real estate needs!

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Wednesday, December 10, 2008

TIB (The Islamorada Bank) gets lending money

This article is From the Key West Citizen:

"TIB gets lending money
By Robert Silk Citizen Staff

TIB Financial Corp. will receive a $37 million capital infusion from the U.S. Treasury Department under a deal that closed last week.
The money will help TIB's nine Florida Keys branches continue lending to individual homeowners and small- and medium-sized businesses.
"It will allow us to continue without interrupting our mission," TIB Bank President/CEO Mike Carrigan said. "So far this year, we have never stopped lending."

The funds come as part of a program authorized by Congress' $700 billion economic rescue package, approved in early October. Carrigan stressed that this portion of the package, called the Capital Purchase Program, is available only to banks that federal regulators deem to be sufficiently healthy.

"This is an investment. It is not a gift. It is not a bailout," Carrigan said.
Under the deal, the Treasury Department will purchase $37 million worth of preferred TIB stock with an annual dividend of 5 percent for the first three years and 9 percent in the ensuing years.
In addition, the government is to receive warrants for $5.5 million in common TIB stock at $5.22 per share. The warrants can be turned in for actual stock shares at the government's discretion.

TIB was trading at $4.50 per share as of late Monday morning, down slightly more than half from its 12-month high of $9.47.
Carrigan said TIB has not been immune to the economic crunch that has afflicted financial institutions across the country, but it has doled out $150 million in residential mortgages for homeowners and $90 million in commercial loans to businesses this year, he said. About half of those business loans have been provided in the Keys, he said.
TIB reported losses of $2.2 million in the third quarter, compared with a profit of $494,000 during the same period last year.
The total value of its commercial loans increased by $20 million from the end of June to the end of September and its residential loans increased by $17 million.
The company holds $1.23 billion in total loans, of which $27 million are either in default or nearly there.
TIB Financial Corp. is the parent company of TIB Bank, The Bank of Venice and Naples Capital Advisors. It has 17 banks in the Keys, Homestead, Naples, Bonita Springs, Fort Myers, Venice and Sebring.
Founded in Islamorada, the bank now has its company headquarters in Naples, and two branches in Key West, one in Big Pine Key, two in Marathon, one in Islamorada, one in Tavernier and two in Key Largo.
As of Friday, only two other Florida banks were in the queue to receive a capital infusion under the Treasury's $250 billion Capital Purchase Program, according to The Wall Street Journal."

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The Conchquistador Deal of The Day 12.10.08

The Conchquistador Deal of The Day

183 Pearl Ave Avenue , Plantation Key

Though not a waterfront home, this was a very good deal for the buyers.

The property was a Short Sale ( I will be posting the ins and outs of Short Sales and what they are very..um pardon the pun... shortly)

List Price: $349,000 - Sale Price $270,000 -2 Bedrooms/2baths - Lot Size 5,500 sf
Days on the market: 193 - Mile Marker: 90.5

Description: SHORT SALE! Seller has already talked to bank. Bank wants offers! Adorable home in a great neighborhood! Neighborhood park has boat ramp & 72 hr dockage. Up is 2/1 with large, open kitchen and wonderful screened porch. Down is non-conforming efficiency, currently rented for $825. Outdoor shower and lots of trees.

For More Info Please call me at 305.439.7730

Please visit FloridaKeysWaterfrontexpert.com for all of your Keys real estate needs!

Welcome To The Real Estate Conchquistador!

What can I say? I just LOVE the Keys! From the incredible waterways to the funkiness of Key West and Fantasy Fest, the Keys are one of this Country’s true treasures. Some of my fondest and earliest precious memories involve dining at the Coral Grill, fishing off the catwalk on the Cardsound Bridge, running in the inaugural 7 mile bridge run, my high school graduation party at the Cheeca Lodge and lobstering off Indian Key (and yes we only kept the legal ones...lol).

Now as an Adult, I am privileged to be able to market and sell stunning waterfront properties in the area that I love most!

Within this Blog, I aim to share with you pertinent real estate info as well as off the wall and irreverent items of interest for both residents and wishful residents of this incredible island chain.

Please visit my website Floridakeyswaterfrontexpert.com for a comprehensive listing of available properties throughout the Keys. There you can view available properties, view photos, see maps and even schedule an appointment to view your next dreamhome.

Thank you for visiting and

Welcome to the Conch Republic!!!