Saturday, January 28, 2012

Let's Get Stoned!!!! It's Time for Stone Crabs!!!

STONE CRABS!!!!!!  Down here in the Keys we love 'em. Sooooo light and flakey, unlike any other crab you've had.In fact tomorrow I am going out on the water to see if my crab traps are full.  Each licensed angler is permitted to have up to 5 traps, and we can only harvest the claw, which must be a minimum if size. and you return the crab back to the water.  This way the little critters get to survive and grow some new ones.  The best bait is Pigs feet and you leave traps soaking for about a week or so.
This week is the Key Largo Stone Crab and Seafood festival and is always a lot of fun.


So, not to rub it in... we will be enjoying fresh stone crab while folks up North are.....shoveling snow!!!
Time for you to move on down!!!!


Put the Conchquistador to work for you! For more information on the outstanding real estate opportunities that exist in the Keys, call me at 305.439.7730 or email me at DropAnchor@TheRealEstateConch.com.

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Your Conchquistador is Named to the Board of Directors for The Florida Keys MLS, INC !!!

Honored is a light word for how I feel about being named to The Florida Keys MLS, INC's Board of Directors.

Professionally, to be recognized by your peers as having the requisite experience and background to be a custodian of the "spine" of our industry is certainly...humbling.

I would like to thank the Academy, my Agent, Harvey Weinstein...whoops...wrong honor.

All kidding aside, as a Board Member, I, along with my fellow members, will be involved with overseeing, maintaining, developing and improving, our Multiple Listing Service.  Of course as a Conchquistador, you know that I have strong opinions and ideas on how to make our MLS, the best in the Business.

In this new era of Zillow and Trulia, et al, REALTORS face new challenges with disseminating reliable and accurate information to their clients and customers.  It is incumbent upon us as the MLS to offer the best source of that information, REALTOR to REALTOR and REALTOR to Customer.

I look forward to the challenges at Hand!

Put the experience and expertise of The Conchquistador to work for you! For more information on the outstanding real estate opportunities that exist in the Keys, call me at 305.439.7730 or email me at DropAnchor@TheRealEstateConch.com.

Sunday, January 15, 2012

An Almost $1M Discount!! Just Closed in Prestigious Venetian Shores-The Conchquistador Deal of The Day 1.15.2012

136 San Remo Drive, Islamorada
2012 is certainly arriving with much gusto!!  And the heart of that real estate gusto is centered right on Venetian Shores.  Venetian Shoes has long been a popular and in-demand community here in Islamorada...and why not?  When this community was developed off Snake Creek, they had the foresight to dredge deep...really deep.  Venetian Shores is the best option for those hard and true boaters and fishermen with big burly. deep draft vessels and a channel that keeps them out of trouble as some other channels in the area are thin and sometimes traverse into skinny water.

Hey I like Venetian Shores because most of the streets have Italian names like Stromboli and Palermo.  Your Humble Conchquistador's last name in Italian, Marinelli, literally means "The Little Sailor"!  So as you can see I was destined to be by the water and Venetian Shores is idyllic, but I digress.

Today's Deal is Tropical...Elegance.

Congrats to my friend an colleague, here at American Caribbean, Leslie Leopold, for listing this home that has now just sold for $1,250,000.  Big and Beautiful, and perfectly situated, this remarkable home is one of the finest in the area.and was originally listed at $2,200,000!  Almost a $1M discount?? Now That's a bargain!!!!  Could have been yours!!!

The deals are out there folks, you've just got to grab them!

136 San Remo Drive, Islamorada

List Price: $1,495,000 / Sold Price: $1,250,000
Original Price: $2,200,000

6 Bedrooms / 3 Bathrooms

Mile Marker 86 Bayside

Description: Big and beautiful! Protected deep water dockage with instant ocean and bay access. Fabulous kitchen, pretty marble floors, 6 bedrooms, 3 baths, fireplace, pool, privacy. This remarkable home is one of the finest in the neighborhood Excellent rental income potential!

View Detailed Brochure with Photos

View Available Venetian Shores Homes

View Available Islamorada Waterfront Homes $1-2M


Put the experience and expertise of The Conchquistador to work for you! For more information on the outstanding real estate opportunities that exist in the Keys, call me at 305.439.7730 or email me at DropAnchor@TheRealEstateConch.com.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Walking The Walk - My Real Estate Walking Adventure in Paradise-The Florida Keys 1/15.

In an effort to keep in better shape, I have begun walking various routes here in the Florida Keys from about 1 to 4 miles.  The Scenery is spectacular and it actually helps keep me on top of the inventory!!  I have my iPhone loaded with Zillow and Trulia, a pocket full of business cards and away I go!!  It truly is walking in paradise!!
Today's Walk was in another great Key Largo Community, Sunset Point.  A Mix of Stunning Waterfront Estate Homes and cozy Keys-z Bungalows in the middle part of Key Largo on picturesque Florida Bay.
See today's .85 of a  mile route below:



View Larger Map

A Steal In Prestigious Waterfront Venetian Shores!!! Sold at $1,080,000...Originally $1,550,000 - The Conchquistador Deal of the Day 1/11/2012

127 Bayview Isle Drive, Islamorada
You have no idea how often I will be sharing my "Elevator Speech" with someone, and when they hear that I sell Real Estate in The Keys....DING, their eyes light up, their mouths water and their breathing becomes more rapid!  And then they utter it...like scripted dialog...a veritable Pavlovian Dog response, '"Let me Know if you run across and Steals!!"  " I've always wanted a place in The Keys"

Well Ladies and Gentlemen, here was your chance!  And though I recommended this home to quite a few buyers, alas, I did not have the opportunity to sell it, but I Know some lucky Buyer is Very Happy indeed.

Located in Islamorada's prestigious Venetian Shores on Bayview Isle Drive, the last waterfront street in Venetian Shores before the Bay, and interestingly enough the only waterfront street without an Italian name.  This multi level home was originally listed for $1,550,000 before selling at $1,080,000.  A deep 31% discount from its original price.   A Steal Indeed!  And a prefect first Conchquistador Deal of the Day for 2012.

127 Bayview Isle Drive, Islamorada

List Price: $1,147,000 / Sold Price:$1,080,000
Original List Price: $1,550,000

4 Bedrooms / 3 Bathrooms

Mile Marker 86 Bayside

Description: Beautiful 4 bdrm, 3 bath plus office or nursery. CBS waterfront pool home with 70 ft. of concrete dockage, 12,500 lb boat lift and shore power. Second floor features an open floor plan with living room, dining room & kitchen, 2 bedrooms & 1 bathroom with steam shower.

View Detailed Brochure with Photos

View Mapped Location

View Available Venetian Shores Homes

View Available Islamorada Waterfront Homes $1-2M

Put the experience and expertise of The Conchquistador to work for you! For more information on the outstanding real estate opportunities that exist in the Keys, call me at 305.439.7730 or email me at DropAnchor@TheRealEstateConch.com.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Exquisite Real Estate, Food and Wine - What a Great Way to Spend a Mid Week Afternoon!

What a great way to spend a mid week afternoon!

A Tantalizing Combination of Exquisite Real Estate, Food and Wine!


One of the great tools that we, as Realtors, use are Brokers' Open Houses also known as Caravans, though there is a slight difference.  Brokers Opens are open usually for a few hours, while Caravans are progressive and are open for 15-20 minutes, then everyone piles on to the next one, like a roving band of property selling Gypsies

Brokers Opens are well...an Open House, but geared primarily to Brokers and by that we mean agents too.  The Public is of course welcome, but the gist of these Opens are to give Agents an opportunity to preview a property so when that magical moment arises when a buyer asks them for a particular type of property, the agent can confidently chime, "Why I know the perfect home, i just saw it.".  At which point the agent looks like a star, contracts are written, boat loads of money are exchanged and everything is right in the world.  OK, I exaggerate a bit, but in reality, in my almost 20 years of selling homes, I find Brokers Opens to be one of the most effective tools in my marketing arsenal.  Of course to get those Brokers to visit, you MUST bribe them with food!!! Schnorers that we are (old Yiddish word - a Polite and benign cross between Opportunist and Freeloader), Agents smell free food like sharks pick up blood in the water!

So come on out and enjoy some of the Best Islamorada has to offer!

Put the experience and expertise of The Conchquistador to work for you! For more information on the outstanding real estate opportunities that exist in the Keys, call me at 305.439.7730 or email me at DropAnchor@TheRealEstateConch.com.

Monday, January 9, 2012

Celebrate the Flagler Centennial with the Keys Community Concert Band!

Did you Know that this year makes 100 years that have spanned since Henry Flager took his inaugural ride on his Overseas Railroad across the Florida Keys???
Everyday I drive through our magical chain of Islands, I pay respect to those rugged individuals who had this enormous ....Vision to transpose our 120 or so miles of coral rock, limestone and mangroves into a majestic railroad spanning both Gulf and Sea

Celebrate the Flagler Centennial with the Keys Community Concert Band!


Always a fun, family event
I am Certain they will be featuring music from that bygone era when it was Mosquito and Native Americans that ruled the Keys!!

Put the experience and expertise of The Conchquistador to work for you! For more information on the outstanding real estate opportunities that exist in the Keys, call me at 305.439.7730 or email me at DropAnchor@TheRealEstateConch.com.

It's Time for The January Edition of The Real Estate Resource Report!

Wow, This year is only a week old and it is KICKIN"!!!  I have been Super busy with Buyers and new properties and it should get prettttttty interesting if this is an indication of where the year is going.
Now, January is traditionally one of, if not The busiest of months for properties going under contract, but it has been some time since I have witnessed a January like this.
I am always getting asked about the local real estate market and what is selling, so in an effort to  keep you updated I am providing a monthly report that shows the sales activity in the Upper Keys.
I hope you find this information useful and interesting.


Work with an Agent who Knows the Numbers!!  Put the experience and expertise of The Conchquistador to work for you! For more information on the outstanding real estate opportunities that exist in the Keys, call me at 305.439.7730 or email me at DropAnchor@TheRealEstateConch.com.

Ready to create your own no-hassle shopping cart of available Properties in the Florida Keys, with multiple search capability? Click here: ConchMLS.com.

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

New Venetian Shores Sales Comparison Stats 2010 vs 2011

January 3, 2012
Here is a comparison of 2010 vs 2012 Venetian Shores Waterfront Home Sales.
As you will see we had Increases in both the Quantity of sales AND in the Median Sale Price!  
As one of only a handful of agents who had sales in Venetian Shores in 2011, I like to keep my readers up to date with the latest trends. 

Work with an Agent who Specializes in Venetian Shores. Put the experience and expertise of The Conchquistador to work for you! For more information on the outstanding real estate opportunities that exist in the Keys, call me at 305.439.7730 or email me at DropAnchor@TheRealEstateConch.com.