When Miami Beach resident Nancy Hensel looks outside the window of her 19th-floor condo in the 2600 block of Collins Avenue, she sees workers driving bulldozers across the beach day and night.

They are moving piles of wet sand that has been pumped through a pipe extending from 13th to 26th streets. The results so far: a wider beach between the city's boardwalk and the lapping water of the Atlantic Ocean.

Over the summer, Hensel said, erosion had so depleted the sand that there was little room to spread a towel. Since Nov. 1, Miami-Dade workers have been delivering a sand bonanza to the most eroded spots, between 26th and 29th streets, and they are filling the eroded shoreline with new sand from South Beach.

The work is expected to be finished by Jan. 15, said Luis Espinosa, spokesman for Miami-Dade's Department of Environmental Resources Management, known as DERM. And last week, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers gave Miami-Dade permission to import foreign sand for long-term beach renourishment after more than a decade of negotiations and study.

With the federal renourishment project still in its early stages, locals like Hensel are concentrating on the work in their backyard. ''We're very happy the county is restoring the beach,'' she said. ``We pay high taxes for our location and our views. It's not right that we haven't had a beach to walk on.''

Espinosa said the county is pumping in 70,000 cubic yards to the area between 26th and 29th streets at a cost of $2 million.

Vanessa Arellano Doctor
http://luxurylivingrealty.net

place is surrounded with pristine and magnificent beaches, the best tropical paradise, and the friendliest and most accommodating residents. Miami, by all means, is one perfect haven to invest on a real estate property.

However, being a perfect place at that, real estate properties in Miami are undeniably very expensive. But with the right real estate broker plus the proper background as to how the real estate industry in Miami goes, you can easily find the perfect property that suits you right and serves you well.

A lot of people do not actually know that real estate rates can possibly be negotiated. There are a few ways on how you can cut down those highly-expensive property rates and one of them is to hire reduced-fee real estate brokers.

Why Should you Hire Reduced-Fee Brokers?

If there are reduced-fee brokers, then there are standard-fee brokers and instinctively, no real estate broker will own up to that particular statement simply because rates in the real estate industry are negotiable. This explains why a lot of real estate brokerages, like in Miami, are creating their own market niches in the hope of capitalizing their growing realization in providing clients with negotiable real estate property rates. This action additionally, is aimed at providing clients with money-saving properties, as well as rebate commissions to buyers.

Here are some examples on how discount real estate brokers operate.

Flat-Fee Listing

This type of real estate brokerage takes all those listing at flat rates, paying only cooperating fees on top of the original amount to the selling brokers. These said cooperating fees are paid by the sellers themselves. It is normal to find brokerage ads that offer to list properties at a given fee. However, most of these ads have tiny prints. These are the disclaimer that says the fees are exclusive only to the selling broker. Since this can be misleading, consumers must be wary about this.

Buyer Commission Rebates

You can also avail of real estate agents advertising that if you seek their help in finding you a home, the company will relatively credit the buyer a part of a percentage from the commission or even a flat-fee at closing. The money used basically comes from those fees that sellers pay to the brokers who present their possible buyers.

In general, a real estate company that provides its customers with some of their income does so in hopes that it can attract bigger volumes of the business.
Graduated Fee Policies- These real estate brokers offer more services and fees, but greatly depend on work required and the type of representations.

Why is it Better to Accept Reduced Services?

Buyers and sellers opt to accept reduced services to save money. That is primarily the major motivation.

There are a lot of discount brokers in Miami that can help you with your real estate concerns. If you wish to find one, you can go over the Internet. Take enough time in looking up the different companies and be careful in scrutinizing and studying well the services they can offer.

Vanessa Arellano Doctor
http://miamirealestateinc.com

Two tavern owners in a Wisconsin town have began offering a fun and safe transportation option for Heart of the Valley residents heading out for nights on the town.

Tavern owners Brian and Rick Schuh introduced the Road Crew drunken-driving prevention program after securing a $35,000 grant from the Wisconsin State Patrol's Bureau of Transportation Safety.

Brian Schuh owns Little Chute's Pine Street Bar. His father, Rick Schuh, owns the Schuh Shanty Bar and Grill in Kaukauna. On Thursday through Saturday nights, a bar patron can be picked up at home by limousine, taken to taverns throughout their service area and returned home later that night. It costs $20 per person and $30 per couple. One-way rides are offered for half the cost. They'll also bring the baby sitter home once the night is through. Road Crew has given more than 2,700 rides since its debut.

Early successes led organizers to expand the program to Thursday nights. While organizers are pleased by their progress, the program still faces some significant challenges. Lykke Jome-Weigman, director of the program, said Road Crew used up its grant funding and organizers are in the process of finding additional sponsors to keep their limousines rolling.

Organizers are also hoping the always busy holiday season will help them build a bigger customer base. "We're hoping people will use it more frequently," she said.

Jome-Weigman said they still get a number of riders trying the program for the first time. Their customer base has primarily been those 28 and older, though they've also had many younger riders.

Vanessa Arellano Doctor
http://miamilimo.biz

The future New Zealand Prime Minister could race to rugby tests in the same Hydrogen-powered BMW limousine that actor Brad Pitt uses to get to movie premieres.

Having just won the government limousine contract, BMW has offered ministers an exclusive test-drive of the BMW Hydrogen 7 in Melbourne next month.

The Hydrogen 7 is the German company's next step in "green" cars from the 34 diesel-powered limousines ministers and other dignitaries will soon be ferried about in.

The Hydrogen 7 is much-hyped - the 100 produced have been loaned or leased to high-profile "green ambassadors" such as Brad Pitt, who took one to the Oceans 13 premiere in Hollywood this year.

They are not for sale and have no shelf-price. The hydrogen engine is a step away from fossil fuels, and the cars discharge almost nothing but water vapor. They require hydrogen stations to fill up - and New Zealand has none.

BMW New Zealand spokesman Piers Scott said it had invited Government ministers and Opposition members to try the car, although he would not give names. Government officials, environmental opinion-leaders and media would also be invited.

Vanessa Arellano Doctor
http://browardlimo.com

Some Miami Beach residents are questioning whether a proposed retail project at Fifth Street and Alton Road in South Beach will create ''a traffic nightmare'' in the area.

Berkowitz Development, which is planning an 185,000-square-foot retail project scheduled for completion in the fall of 2009, provided an update on the project last week at a meeting of the Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club.

''They're reassuring us that traffic is going to be easier and that planning is giving them the result they wanted, which is hypothetical,'' said David Kelsey, moderator of the meeting, which meets informally every Tuesday. ``Everyone is just concerned that this is just going to be a traffic nightmare.''

Jeff Berkowitz, CEO of Berkowitz Development, told the 30 residents gathered at 8:30 a.m. at David's Café II, 1654 Meridian Ave., that the site will include a 1,100-space parking garage, which should alleviate some of the traffic. He said the development group is hoping that people entering the city will use the garage as a starting-off point for other places they want to visit, such as Ocean Drive, Lincoln Road and Washington Avenue.

''We believe, and the city believes, that there's an opportunity to cut off some of the clubgoers who are heading from the mainland to the Beach, and we are hoping to get them to park at the perimeter lot,'' Berkowitz said. ``We are working with the city to get some shuttle to work with us.''

Berkowitz said the company so far has executed leases with Publix Supermarket, Best Buy and Staples, meaning neighboring residents won't have to travel far for their groceries or other needs. Berkowitz expects other retail stores to join in once they see what kind of potential the project has, he said.

Vanessa Arellano Doctor
http://miamirealestateinc.org

Whether Upper Eastside residents like it or not, and more of them do than don't, the Northeast 66th Street section of Legion Park will be hosting a farmers market beginning Jan. 12.

"The city decided there wasn't enough opposition or reasons not to have it," said Millie Santana, vice president of the Shorecrest Homeowners Association, during the group's November meeting.

Claire Tomlin, who has organized such markets in downtown Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Miami Beach, said at one of two recent public-input meetings that only food and plants will be sold at this one. It will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays until April 1. If successful, the market will return a year later.

Following this news, real-estate agent Chad Hanna, manager of the plush 1928 Illuminata Estate, 986 NE 84th St., told association members that owner Rene Aguiar seeks a zoning change, which would allow a New Age spiritual group to buy the place and open a prayer and meditation center there.

Hanna's audience didn't warm to the idea. 'I don't want to see any residential property in my neighborhood rezoned to `church' or 'school' or anything else,'' resident Jack Spirk said.

Association member Mina Kuhn circulated copies of a petition, which will be presented to Miami-Dade Commissioner Marc Sarnoff, opposing such a change and requesting that all residents -- not just those within 500 feet of a particular property -- be notified of future zoning-change proposals.

Talk of how much traffic a meditation center would attract got Northeast 81st Street resident Debra Sinnett onto the need for traffic-calming devices on her street. ''People just zoom up and down like crazy,'' she said. ``I feel like going out there with a checkered flag. It's like NASCAR.''

Vanessa Arellano Doctor
http://realestatepress.org

The art of purchasing a new home is an exciting and major decision that most people will experience. Since this is a major decision, it is imperative that home buyers need to make the right decisions when deciding the best home options.

The city of Miami is considered as one of the most unique and vibrant locations in the country. It is often called "America's Playground", because of the proximity of the area's famous white-sand beaches and resorts, and the "Gateway to the Americas".

Explore The City For Competitive Home Options

If you want to live in the city center, or close to it, you can find a condo or apartment that suits your needs in well-established areas like Brickell, in Downtown Miami, where nightlife, entertainment and dining establishments are nearby, and only minutes from the world-renowned Miami Beach. And there are also many suburbs that have just as much to offer: luxurious homes and canopied streets in Coral Gables, gated waterfront villages in Miami Lakes, and new booming areas like Doral, which are home to world-class golf courses.

Do Miami Homes Cost That Much?

One of the most common myths regarding Miami’s real estate properties, is that it costs entirely too much. In a way, it quite does, since buyers are going to have to pay a premium for a home in or around this city, however, this is because the properties are located in a very desirable location.

Home buyers are reminded that whatever you pay for your home now, you will get more back when you go to resell it some day. Most analysts see a future uptrend in the value of real estate, despite the recent downturn of the market, and this definitely should work out to the advantage of the buyer. As this is the buyer’s market, more opportunities abound.

Would It Be Possible To Get A Discount?

For those looking for a full-time home, or vacation getaway, there are many homes on the housing block offered, and these range from preconstruction properties, resale homes and newly-completed condo units.

There are also plenty of apartments, condos, and waterfront houses for rent. Many housing experts see buying Miami real estate as a great idea these days. Buyers should be able to find something in Miami that they would like; anyone can go online and search for MLS listings, as there are over 40,000 homes for sale in the city at any given time.

Most MLS listings and brokers would also be glad to assist buyers with the required paperwork, and could even give buyers appreciable discounts on some specific property choices, as well as finding you the most reasonable mortgage options.

It would be a really stress-free experience if you work in tandem with a local real estate broker, because a broker will assist and guide you in all the aspects of buying a home. First, you need to think and write down all the criteria you need in a home, and tell your real estate broker about, so that they will find the appropriate one in the market that suits your preferences.

In addition, take time to visit a few homes in the area, and ensure that the home you like is in good condition, by conducting a thorough home inspection. If things turn out well, make an offer and then close the deal. Making balanced and well-informed decisions helps in allowing you to get the best home deals in Miami.

Vanessa Arellano Doctor
http://miamirealestateinc.com

In a property tax paradox, Broward County is looking at a way to find extra money in the budget, by collecting less of it.

The County Commission will decide on Tuesday whether to stop issuing property tax bills to people who owe less than $30. These tax bills are often for property such as carports and sheds attached to mobile homes or for businesses run inside homes, Property Appraiser Lori Parrish said. And the county argues that it spends more money sending tax notices to those property owners than it collects in taxes.

Under the proposal, about 21,000 tax bills would fall into the category. About 28,500 people already do not receive tax notices because they owe less than $1 in tax.

The proposal would reduce tax collections by about $380,000. But the county would save the about $528,500 is spends appraising those properties and sending tax notices.

Some tax-burdened homeowners called the plan a wonderful idea, and critics call it "madness" that would punish the poor. Local elected officials said the proposal, which is far from assured of passage, would hobble their municipalities because it would impose a ceiling on their ability to tax and spend.

Vanessa Arellano Doctor
http://miamirealestateinc.org

Over the objections of dozens of residents, the Davie Town Council voted early Thursday to move ahead with a new 28-acre residential and commercial project.

The $70 million project known as Trotters Chase would be built on Griffin Road between Davie Road and Florida's Turnpike. The site was once a horse farm. At a Wednesday night council meeting that stretched past 1 a.m. Thursday, some residents wore T-shirts that read, ''Less Is Better . . . Keep Davie Green.'' They said the development would increase traffic, noise and crime.

Their arguments didn't sway council members Susan Starkey, Marlon Luis and Mayor Tom Truex, who voted for the project. They liked the promise of miami-based Amadi Company, the developer, to set aside 20 percent of the residential units for workforce and affordable housing.

Councilman Bryan Caletka was the sole ''no'' vote. Councilman Michael Crowley, who represents the district where the proposed project will be built, did not attend. He recently became the father of twins. A final vote on the issue is scheduled for 7 p.m. Dec. 19 at Town Hall, 6591 Orange Drive.

One opponent of the proposed mega-development pointed to the town's logo and said, ``Last time I checked, there was a horse on the town seal, not an apartment building.'' That was resident and horse owner Elyse Swalley, whose one-acre homesite will overlook the project's sewer station. ''I'm just numb,'' she said of the council's decision.

A handful of residents spoke in favor of the project, but some were employees of the company, said the developer's attorney, Dennis Mele.

Vanessa Arellano Doctor
http://realestatepress.org

The slow housing market has pushed Florida's foreclosure rate to new highs in the third quarter, as thousands of mortgages continued to reset to higher monthly payments and even homeowners with fixed-rate loans had trouble selling in time to avoid foreclosure, according to an industry report.

In Miami-Dade County, 20,475 foreclosures have been filed -- roughly one of every 32 homes. That's up from 9,814 foreclosures filed in all of 2006, according to court data.
In Broward County, 20,812 foreclosures have been filed -- that's about one of every 30 homes.

''There are too many foreclosures, but it's reality,'' said attorney Stuart Gitlitz, who has filed foreclosures on behalf of lenders for more than 20 years. ``It's all these loans that were refinanced during the last six years or so as interest rates came down, and stayed down.''

Aside from mortgage fraud, Gitlitz said, adjustable-rate loans ``are the single largest culprit of what is happening here because interest rates really haven't gone up.''

For the state, new foreclosures filed in the three months ending Sept. 30 for all types of mortgages rose 49 percent from the previous three months to 1.09 percent, up from .73 percent of all outstanding loans, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's quarterly delinquency survey.

Vanessa Arellano Doctor
Miami Real Estate

Are you planning to visit miami for a trip with loved one but only have a day to spare? You can book for a limousine service in order to avoid stress and hassles.

In booking a limousine service for a trip in miami with loved one, you can have 100% time together; you can both simply enjoy and have fun with your day. In booking a limousine service, you do not have to drive, to think about parking, searching for locations, directions and so on. The limousine driver will take good care of these situations.

So as you visit and go around miami, you and your loved one can have 100% quality time together. And if this trip is your way to show you treasure her or him, then you can have 100% attention to her or him, since you do not have things to worry and think about. All you have to do is sit back and enjoy.

If you’ve been busy for long period of time, so it is high time for you to make you loved one happy even for a day by visiting miami with the use of limousine service. You can definitely have wonderful time together by booking a limousine.

There are plenty of beautiful places in miami that you and your loved one can go and enjoy at.

If you are both nature lovers, you can both go to Biscayne National Park. Both of you can go on diving, fishing, boating, picnicking, camping and even wildlife watching. These are just few of the things that you and your love one can go in this national park. Definitely, both of you will have wonderful time together at Biscayne National Park.

If you both feel hungry, you can ask your limousine driver to bring you to a fantastic restaurant. Azul, miami is one of the finest and great restaurants where you can bring your loved one. Absolutely, our loved one will enjoy at this wonderful restaurant. There are a lot of fine dishes that you and your loved ones can choose from such as Braised Shank Bastila and Feta, Raw Tuna, Tempura Avocado, Asian Sauces with Ossetra Caviar, Grilled Chop and Loin of Colorado Lamb with Harrisa, Charred Eggplant and many more.

When you and your loved one want to relax, simply ask your limousine driver to bring you to a hotel. You can ask the driver to bring you both at Fairwind Hotel and Suites in miami Beach. You will definitely enjoy and can absolutely relax at this hotel. The rooms here are set with in-room safes, dial-up Internet access, complimentary toiletries and cable television. It also possesses dining premises and bar, so you can definitely enjoy your night at this hotel.

Yes, hiring a limousine service can make your trip a romantic and memorable one. So if you have plans to go on a vacation, better to book a limousine service ahead of time to find and have the great services you need.

Eliza Maledevic Ayson
http://www.browardlimousine.com

miami is one of the most sought after real estate in the market, which is why a lot of people consider it as one of the best places to live or vacation in. miami, which is situated in Florida, is teeming with a lot of different places where people can reside in or go to. It is surrounded with a lot of white sandy beaches due to its location near the Florida keys.

miami’s beaches, which is a sandbar lined with hotels, restaurants and shops, are just some of the reason why people are attracted to go there. Aside from its beaches, miami is also boasts of the largest Latin American population in the U.S., providing a unique cultural mix of different influences. This is also where the region’s business center is situated, where most of the regions diverse and popular dining and entertainment scenes can be found.

miami is considered as one of the hottest spot for action and excitement, which means that there are a lot of different events and activities that can be enjoyed by people, everything from festivals to fairs, from showcases to a variety of cultural celebrations. What makes the area so appealing is that you will not need to travel very far to go from one happening event to the next since there are activities that happen all over the city. miami is teeming with leisure sites, depending on what your preference would be.

miami Beach is one of miami’s top leisure site simply because the place is mainly known for its pristine beaches. miami Beach offers its visitors a long stretch of white sandy beaches which is lined with hotels, shops and restaurants, offering people some other form of activity aside from swimming in the beach. miami Beach also offers a lot of activities that people can enjoy while in the water. Aside from swimming, it also offers people a chance to go fishing, which is a great activity for people who wish to enjoy the beach in a more relaxing way. The beach also offers people a chance to enjoy some water-based sports, such as water skiing, jet skiing, sailing, scuba diving, and other similar activities.

Another top leisure site in miami would be its different and delectable restaurants. The diversity in cuisine makes miami such a wonderful place to dine in, giving everyone a chance to find a certain cuisine that will suit their taste, even though Cuban, Caribbean and seafood cuisine is prevalent in the area. Not only that, but most miami restaurant’s kitchens are being handled by world-renown chefs, giving people a taste of their culinary masterpieces. Miracle Mile is one of these miami restaurants that offer a world class dining experience.

Parks, such as the Everglades National Park, offer people a different type of activities such as hiking, kayaking, biking, and canoeing, making them another recreational site to visit. What’s even nice is that miami’s mild climate stays the same the whole year through, which means that you can continue to enjoy these activities anytime.

Although shopping is not entirely on people’s minds initially when they are in miami, once they visit miami’s shopping centers, such as the Bayside Marketplace, Caribbean Marketplace, including miami’s Miracle Mile, they will be thinking of shopping as one of their favorite recreational activity to do.

miami’s downtown is also the best recreational site for people who wants to experience a night out in the town, especially since it has a load of bars, nightclubs, dance clubs, lounges and live music venues perfect for your whole nightlife experience.

Vanessa Arellano Doctor
http://miamirealestateinc.org