South Florida Real Estate Blog

May 7

Equestrian Estates

Posted in Lifestyle, Pinecrest, South Florida Luxury Homes Comment

Crowds flocked to the Kentucky Derby this past weekend to join in on the annual equestrian festivities. This year was the 139th race, which was won by a horse named ORB in front 151,000 spectators. In the spirit of the Kentucky Derby we’re featuring the best listings in South Florida that would be a dream home for any horse lover.

15990 Griffin Road
Circle S Farm is an equestrian paradise. Situated on 50+ acres in the town of Southwest Ranches, this estate features nine bedrooms, six bathrooms, three barns with a total of 88 horse stalls, four furlong training tracks, an equestrian figure 8 pool and an equine surgery room. The property is considered a premier South Florida Thoroughbred Training Center and Breeding Farm.

Listed for $29,999,137. For more information on this listing visit: http://bit.ly/107a8aI

15430 SW 256 Street
Tucked away in the Redlands, sits on 2.5 tree covered acres and has a beautiful eight stall horse barn complete with feeding room and a tack room. The home has over 5,500+ square feet and sprawling lawns. It’s the perfect location to live the calm country life.

Listed for $500,000. For more information on this listings visit: http://bit.ly/12LVYcN

Feb 22

Sony Open Tennis Part of South Florida Active Living

Posted in Coral Gables, Key Biscayne, Lifestyle, Miami Beach, Pinecrest, Tennis Comment

A full house at the WTA women’s singles final in 2012. Photo courtesy of Sony Open.

The Sony Open Tennis takes place in just a few weeks and is a reminder of South Florida’s love for the international tennis community. The tournament is known as the “fifth slam” after Wimbledon, the U.S. Open, French Open and Australian Open.

Last year, the Sony Ericsson Open set an all-time attendance record for the fifth time in six years with 326,131 guests. Visitors came from all over the world, booking more than 14,700 room nights directly through the tournament, which also received 73.5 hours of domestic television coverage.

2012 was a banner year for other reasons as well: the tournament rebranded as Sony Open Tennis; the Tennis Center at Crandon Park received a $1 million dollar renovation for the player areas inside the stadium; and a majority of local voters approved a referendum on the November 6 ballot that allowed for a $50 million renovation of the facilities funded by private money and tournament proceeds.

The 2013 edition of the tournament will take place March 18-31. Visit Sony Open for more information.

LIVING THE TENNIS LIFESTYLE IN SOUTH FLORIDA

Key Biscayne, where the tournament takes place, is world renown as a great place to live for tennis enthusiasts. But other homes in South Florida are also designed for tennis lovers. Here are just five of One Sotheby’s current listings.

This home in gated Journey’s End sits on a 2-acre lot near Biscayne Bay and features a tennis court. The asking price is $8,450,000. Click here to learn more about the property.

A tennis court is nestled next to this waterfront home in Gables Estates. The home is listed at $6,995.000. Click here to learn more about the property.

This luxury estate in Parkland features a tennis court and sauna. The asking price is $3,650,000. Click here to learn more about the property.

This Pinecrest home features a court for tennis lovers living in this lushly landscaped area of Miami-Dade. The asking price is $1,599,000. Click here to learn more about the property.

This waterfront home faces west for gorgeous sunsets and features a tennis court with total privacy at the La Gorce Golf Club community in Miami Beach. The asking price is $9,950,000. Click here to learn more about the property.

To find more homes associated with the tennis lifestyle, visit One Sotheby’s additional listings.

– Maria de los Angeles is a freelance wordsmith based in Miami.

Jan 29

Coral Gables Farmer’s Market Brings Fresh Local Goods to City Beautiful Residents

Posted in Coral Gables, Lifestyle, Pinecrest, Uncategorized 1

Produce from Jerry's Here at the Coral Gables Farmer's Market.

Every January through March, the Coral Gables Farmer’s Market makes shopping a joy on Saturdays. Amid the luxury bridal shops of Miracle Mile and the swanky boutiques of Village of Merrick Park, there’s a chance during wintertime to get down to earth as well as provide for the cupboard.

It’s the height of South Florida’s agricultural season where most produce grows in the Redlands area, which is located southwest of the Coral Gables, about a 40-minute drive from downtown Miracle Mile.

Residents needn’t drive that far to enjoy the region’s bounty, however — although the drive is worth the occasional adventure – many Miami locals make the trek just for fresh strawberry shakes alone. Heirs to the Burr family, now long-time Coral Gables residents, still help support the Burr Berry Farm.

But closer to home, located just by City Hall — next to founder George Merrick’s statue — the Coral Gables Farmer’s Market features fresh grown produce as well as cottage industry breads, crackers, marmalades and treats to eat while shopping. Tai chi classes, as well as gardening workshops, complete the day. Ornamental plants are also on sale for those interested in sprucing up their home landscapes with local hardy foliage, including annuals and perennials.

Swiss chard in multi-color variety at Coral Gables Farmer's Market.

Argentine-style empanadas serve up some Latino flavor at the Coral Gables Farmer's Market, cooked up The Empanada Lady. Variations include spicy, grass-fed beef as well as cheese and mushrooms.

Bahamian-style conch comes from Caribbean neighbors just east of South Florida.

German-born Crackermancrackers.com makes delicious breads and crackers from organic ingredients and is part of the The Real Food Project.

Vegan crackers from Tom at Paradisefarms.net.

Cycads were the passion of former Coral Gables resident and botanical collector Robert Montgomery. He was instrumental in founding Fairchild Botanic Tropical Garden and his namesake is now part of a research center. Cycads, which are exotic, prehistoric plants, are sometimes available for sale at the Coral Gables Farmer’s Market by KreativeGardens.com.

With no shortage of chain supermarkets, Coral Gables still has roots in its humble agricultural origins. Founder George Merrick’s father, Reverend Solomon Merrick, operated a plantation near Granada Golf Course where avocados, oranges and grapefruits were harvested in the early 20^th century. Today, lushly landscaped homes, parks and public spaces are still a testament to George Merrick’s vision of a beautiful place to live.

While South Florida’s pioneering farmers may have moved southward, the market brings the idea of earth’s bounty back to life, with fresh and healthy food available to all at affordable prices. Many top Miami chefs take advantage of locally grown ingredients; home gourmands can do the same.

More information about the farmer’s market is available at citybeautiful.net.

You can pre-order produce from Mr. Green Dean, who also offers great recipes about what’s growing just south of Coral Gables. Sign up for the mailing list for more information.

Also, don’t miss Edible South Florida for editorial on fresh, local eats as well as Slow Food movement news.

– Maria de los Angeles is a freelance wordsmith based in Miami.

Jul 11

Miami Dog Parks

Posted in Aventura, Coconut Grove, Key Biscayne, Lifestyle, Miami Beach, Pinecrest Comment

The Magic City offers some great playgrounds for dogs. Here’s a list of select dog parks in ONE | Sotheby’s neighborhoods.

MIAMI BEACH

Beach residents love to spoil their canines. On Lincoln Road, residents bring their small pampered pooches in strollers. Even local businesses on cater to furry friends by providing water bowls outdoors.

Although man’s best friend isn’t allowed to frolic on local beaches, the City of Miami Beach has six designated dog parks spread out over the entire barrier island. Each park features fenced in areas for small and large breeds as well as drinking fountains.

dog-park-fountain-south-point-miami-beach

South Pointe Park in Miami Beach.

Miami Beach Bark Parks include Washington Avenue, Flamingo Park, Belle Isle and the North Shore Open Space Park. Surrounded by luxury condos, South Pointe Park features a waterfront view of Government Cut – the channel where cruise ships and freighters head to port from the Atlantic. Pinetree Park faces Indian Creek, also affording waterfront views with some of Miami’s most iconic hotels in the distance.

Find additional details about Miami Beach Bark Parks on the city’s website.

AVENTURA

Further north, dog owners in the City of Aventura can bring their pets to Waterways Dog Park, which features 1.5 waterfront acres for dogs to play leash-free and cool off with doggie showers.

PINECREST

To the south, the Village of Pinecrest allows leashed dogs at the Veteran’s Wayside Park. The passive urban park is 4.5 acres and includes picnic benches, shaded areas and a freshwater lake.

COCONUT GROVE

Grove residents enjoy access to two dog parks. Blanche Park on Virginia Avenue has fenced-in areas for dogs to exercise and neighbors to mingle. The Dog Chow area at Kennedy Park is open to Biscayne Bay’s fresh breezes. For more information visit City of Miami Parks and Recreation.

KEY BISCAYNE

The island’s “Dog Beach” is just past the tollbooth at the entrance of the Rickenbacker Causeway. Newly renovated with paved strolling paths, the beach is popular with dog owners who wish to play fetch with their pets in the shallow grassbeds.

For a list of additional dog parks in Miami-Dade County, visit the county’s parks and recreation site.

– Maria de los Angeles is a freelance wordsmith based in Miami.

PHOTO CREDITS

David McKevley on Flickr; Brent Ozar on Flickr.

Jun 30

Summer Activities in the Village of Pinecrest

Posted in Pinecrest Comment

Recognized for its spacious homes, manicured sprawling lawns and top schools, Pinecrest is one of Miami’s most family-friendly areas. Unlike the more urban areas of South Florida, residences in Pinecrest are usually located on large lots and its tight-knit population offers a community center for residents with a gym, a park complete with bike trails and a nearby public library. This area boasts the best of tranquil suburban living, while still being located to Miami’s major metropolitan districts.

Pinecrest Gardens

This summer the Village of Pinecrest has activities and events scheduled for the whole family. Here’s what’s on our radar:

Horticulture Lecture Series at Pinecrest Gardens- July 11th, July 26th, August 8th. Learn how to better care for you plants and garden at this lecture series that showcase topics such as ‘Caring for your Garden Pond’, ‘Home Landscape Management’ and ‘Orchid Care 101.’ Each lecture is open to the public and free of charge. For more information visit the Village of Pinecrest.

Pinecrest Gardens will be offering an 'Orchid 101' Workshop on August 8th.

‘Become Personal Trainer’ Workshop at Pinecrest Fitness- August 3-5: Pinecrest Fitness will be offering a Personal training certification course. For more information visit Pinecrest Fitness.

The Pinecrest Community Center also offers numerous fitness classes throughout July and August as well as a summer camp for children. For more information on their ongoing activities visit the Pinecrest Community Website.

Currently ONE Sotheby’s International Realty’s has several spectacular listings in Pinecrest, visit our website to browse through the inventory: Pinecrest Listings

ONE Sotheby's listing in Pinecrest

May 23

Local Farmer’s Markets in Coconut Grove, Coral Gables, S. Miami and Pinecrest

Posted in Coconut Grove, Coral Gables, Pinecrest, South Florida Community 1

All over South Florida, people are heading to Farmer’s Markets for organic produce and natural products sold by local vendors and farmers. These Farmers Markets are offering everything from handmade original crafts to delicious fresh baked bread and pastries and offer a place for the local community to gather with friends and family to enjoy music and other fun activities. Here’s a list of our favorite Famer’s Markets in Coconut Grove, Coral Gables, South Miami and Pinecrest.

COCONUT GROVE ORGANIC MARKET
Residents of the Grove can purchase fresh produce every Saturday at the organic market located at 3300 Grand Ave. The market is open year-round from 10am-7pm.
o Saturdays 10am-7pm
o Year-Round
o 3300 Grand Ave
o More Info: Coconut Grove Organic Market

CORAL GABLES FARMER’S MARKET
The Coral Gables Farmer’s Market is located at 405 Biltmore Way in from of City Hall. It is open every Saturday from 8am-1pm during the months of January through March. Shoppers can enjoy gardening workshops, children’s activities and chef samplers by area restaurants.
o Saturdays 8am-1pm
o January through March
o 405 Biltmore Way (in front of City Hall)
o More Info: Coral Gables Farmer’s Market

SOUTH MIAMI FARMER’S MARKET

The South Miami Farmer’s market is a vibrant community marketplace where shoppers can find fresh, healthy, local foods, arts and crafts, sustainable living and entertainment. The Market is open every Saturday, year round from 9am-2pm.
o Saturdays 9am-2pm
o Year-Round
o 6103 Sunset Drive
o More info: South Miami Farmer’s Market

PINECREST GARDENS FARMERS MARKET
Named the “Best Farmer’s Market in Miami” by the New Times, the Pinecrest Garden’s Farmer’s Market offers everything from handmade jewelry, artisan breads, eco-friendly items, rare honey and even local good eggs! The Markets is open every Sunday from 9am-3pm, at Pinecrest Gardens,
o Sundays, 9am-3pm
o Year Round
o 11000 Red Rd.
o More info: Pinecrest Farmer’s Market

Apr 21

Village of Pinecrest a Lush, Tropical Haven for Residents

Posted in Pinecrest Comment

Lush greenery awaits at Pinecrest Gardens.

The Village of Pinecrest, one of Southeast Florida’s most beautiful residential neighborhoods, lies close to Biscayne Bay. Its namesake refers to pines that are native to the area and the fact that the land slopes upward from sea level — the Atlantic ridge is an outcropping of limestone, which is still visible on some properties in Pinecrest.

But it’s what’s above ground that makes the municipality boast spectacular greenery. With 10,000 trees planted since 1997, Pinecrest has earned the status of Tree City USA from the Arbor Day Foundation.

Private residences also add to the Village’s curb appeal with lushly landscape yards. High-rise development is the exception, not the rule, in this neighborhood of single-family homes, where the minimum lot averages at 15,000 square feet. Only the trees and beautiful homes dominate the scenery and with many winding, quiet streets, the Village is ideal for those who desire to live safely and luxuriously among nature.

Pinecrest’s reputation as a tropical haven began in the 1930s, when one of Miami’s most famous tourist attractions, Parrot Jungle and Gardens, opened to visitors from around the world. Founders Franz and Louise Scherr planted tropical trees on the 20-acre property, which today forms Pinecrest Gardens and the Pinecrest Community Center.

The parrots are long gone, but the flora remains with breathtaking botanical specimens. The shaded grounds offer plentiful strolling along a brook, play areas and a water park for small children, camp activities, an organic farmer’s market and more – not to mention one of the largest Banyan trees in all of Miami-Dade County, which spans nearly an acre.

The famous Pinecrest banyan is too big to be photographed fully from any one angle.

The Pinecrest Community Center features a state-of-the-art fitness center and a diverse curriculum of enrichment programs for children, adults and senior citizens. Nearby, a jogging path along Red Road flanks Snapper Creek and passes by a Pinecrest mainstay – Wayside Market Place – a gathering place for locals who enjoy the fresh-pressed juices, homemade baked goods, organic produce, gourmet deli salads and the famous strawberry shake.

It's not uncommon to find peacocks and wild macaws in this tropical haven.

In 1996, local citizens moved to incorporate the Village of Pinecrest. Today, the municipality is self-contained and offers residents many perks. While secluded from the hustle and bustle of U.S. 1, Pinecrest has great location appeal. Residents are just a stone’s throw away from major retail, hospitals, restaurants, yoga studios, a Whole Foods and every imaginable convenience. It’s no wonder Pinecrest ranked second as the best place to live for quality of life all of Florida by The Business Journals.

Six parks and top-rated schools also make Pinecrest an appealing choice for families who also benefit from the free Pinecrest People Mover, a bus that connects neighborhoods and schools.

To learn more about the Village of Pinecrest, visit the official website.

– Maria de los Angeles is a freelance wordsmith based in Miami.

Mar 12

Local Communities Oppose Matheson Hammock Park Marina Development

Posted in Cocoplum, Coral Gables, Pinecrest Comment

An artistic rendition of the park via iPhone on Instagram.

A group of concerned citizens gathered on March 4 at Matheson Hammock to take photos of the beautiful 630-acre park as part of a social media campaign designed to create awareness about a proposed dry dock facility in the marina.

The proposed concrete structure is five stories high at 62,000 square foot capacity for over 300 boats. At issue is the potential for pollution, noise, additional traffic – seabound and vehicular – as well as the destruction of pristine mangrove environments in an environmentally sensitive area.

The proposed project, spearheaded by Aqua Marine Partners, is actually a beautiful building that would work better in a different location, but not at a pedestrian-friendly park already burdened by heavy boating activity.

A NOTE ON LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

Architect William Lyman Phillips designed Matheson Hammock, Miami-Dade’s first park, which opened in 1930. He also designed adjacent Fairchild Tropical Botanic Gardens. Although both of the spaces appear as if mother nature had carved them out of her fancy, in fact, much thought went into the layout of both the park and the gardens.

Phillips was inspired by the three point perspectives, sweeping vistas and intimate corners of the gardens of Versailles in France. Wherever you see a row of palm trees in symmetrical alignment and experience a sense of wide, open nature or cozy shelters in the mangroves, oak tree fields and palm groves, think of what Phillips had in mind — outdoor spaces for personal enjoyment and no building structures other than small scale, vernacular facilities.

(Note: the park and gardens are separate entities.)

A photographer exploring the mangrove nature trail.

WHAT NEIGHBORS ARE DOING

To date, over 7,500 people who have signed the petition against the boat storage facility appreciate the current state of Matheson Hammock Park.

Matheson Hammock is a premier site for birding in Miami-Dade County and the only respite from urban congestion in the area. This section of Coral Gables is free from tall buildings — a truly tropical haven for nature lovers, families, joggers and cyclists. The park boasts a romantic restaurant, Redfish Grill and offers water sports concessions for kiteboarding and paddle boarding. Numerous nature trails and a stunning picnic area shaded by live oaks draped in Spanish moss make this park paradise up close and personal.

The following communities oppose this development; all have studied the proposed project and some have even met with the developers in community hearings: Gables By the Sea, Pinecrest By the Sea, Old Cutler Bay, Gables Estates, Matheson Hammock Yacht Club, Hammock Oaks, Tahiti Beach, Journey’s End as well as City of South Miami and City of Pinecrest.

WHAT CAN I DO?

There’s still time to prevent this development from going forward.

Sign the petition, send emails or letters to Coral Gables government officials, interact with others on the Facebook page and follow @savemathesonHP on Twitter.

See a video from PHOTO DAY on Vimeo.

– Maria de los Angeles is a freelance wordsmith based in South Florida.

Jan 31

Welcome Clemente Sanchez

Posted in Coral Gables, Miami Beach, OneSir Press Room, Pinecrest Comment