Miami Beach Upcoming Season Events

As we approach the High Traffic Winter Season in Miami Beach, pre-Thanksgiving celebrations, Art & Design Showscases, as well as Live Music concerts are just around the corner.Miami Beach Real Estate owners, visitors, and residents will be granted all access to the city's long schedule of performances and shows from local, national and international artists and musicians.

This global city with its international media, arts, entertainment, commerce, Miami Beach Real Estate and business offerings, will see an influx of tourists, holiday vacationers and visitors from all over the world. Miami Beach condos and South Beach hotels will accomodate these travelers as they arrive to enjoy the beautiful beaches, tropical climate, exciting nightlife and Holiday events. South Florida during Winter season is the ideal destination for many foreign buyers and second-home owners who want to buy or invest in Miami Beach.

South of Fifth Neighborhood Highlights in Miami Beach

The 1st Annual SoFi Dog Party. The dogs of Miami Beach's Murano Grande condominium invite the dogs of all the buildings South of Fifth to join them on Saturday, November 5 from 9am - 1pm at the Washington Avenue Bark Park. Free event with numerous pet friendly vendors scheduled.

Vic & Angelo's is hosting a special "Housewarming Party" for ICON and other South of Fifth residents on Thursday, November 10th from 7pm - 9pm. Enjoy complimentary signature cocktails and a selection of passed hors d'oeuvres. RSVP to Jacqui@vicandangelos.com.

Zuma has launched a prix-fixe menu in addition to their current á la carte offerings during lunch hours. The option will cost $24, and includes two starters and a choice of one entree from a selection of three regular items. http://zumarestaurant.com/

Kane is extending a 15% OFF the total bill (alcohol included) to all ICON residents. http://kanesteakhouse.com

Lolita Cocina & Tequila Bar will take over the old Nemo space. http://lolitamexican.com/

Amnesia (136 Collins Avenue) officially re-opened on South Beach. The nightlife venue has 26,000 square feet of multi-leveled internal space, and offers 70 VIP tables, 2 private VIP sections, and a 2nd floor mezzanine.http://amnesiamiami.com/

Philippe re-opens in SoFi on November 23rd at 36-40 Ocean Drive, in the former Taverna Opa space. http://philippechow.com/

FEATURED GREATER MIAMI & MIAMI BEACH ART SHOWS

The international contemporary design èlite arrive for the Winter edition of Art Basel Miami Beach. The art shows focus on a several types of artwork, like photography, paints, prints, or contemporary art, and other broader ranges. The premier art event, Art Basel, returns to Miami Beach on December 1-4, 2011. The below list is compiled of upcoming Art Basel satellite events throughout Miami Beach. http://www.artbaselmiamibeach.com/

Art Miami
http://www.art-miami.com
This premier fair celebrates its 22nd anniversary as it kicks off the opening day of Art Week. KNown for its extraordinary variety, quality and its stylish gallery-like decor, Art Miami showcases the best in modern and contemporary art from more than 100 international art galleries and prominent art institutions.

Design Miami
http://www.designmiami.com
Design Miami presents the best international design galleries exhibiting extraordinary historic and contemporary design. Designers, collectors, dealers and curators from around the world participate in lectures, exhibits and design installations.

Red Dot Art Fair
http://www.reddotfair.com
This art show features more than 50 international, modern contemporary art dealers from around the world. It includes painting, photography, sculpture and more.

INK Miami
http://www.inkartfair.com/
INK showcases notable publishers and dealers who exhibit new publications, projects and acquisitions by leading contemporary artists.

Arts for a Better World
http://www.artsforabetterworld.com
The second edition of Arts for a Better World takes place in a tent around the pool at the Surfcomber Hotel. It features International Galleries, Better World Museum, Van Gogh's Dream presented by Maison Van Gogh, Tous Ensemble Holocaust Remembrance & Tolerance Project, and live artistic happenings.

Scope Miami 2011
http://www.scope-art.com
The art show that has established its name by curating cutting-edge contemporary art from around the world proudly returns to Miami for its 10th year. Taking place in a 80,000 square foot pavilion across the street from Art Miami, SCOPE Miami's high-profile venue will bring together the finest talent in the art world.

Special Events & Dining Updates on Miami Beach

Live Music Month
http://www.livemiamimusic.com/
Live Music month features many performances, concerts, festival and a variety music events, from local and international Deejays, acts and talented musicians. The events will take place at live music venues in Greater Miami and Miami Beach throughout the month of November.

Miami Beach International Bridal Week
http://www.miamibridalweek.com
The Eden Roc is transformed into a fantasy fairytale wedding scene in white and crystal with thousands of exotic flowers from around the world for this two-day luxury consumer wedding event.

Miami Short Film Festival
http://www.miamishortfilmfestival.com
MSFF's goal year after year is focused on motivating directors, screenwriters, actors, and producers to make their films and share them with fellow film makers and industry professionals. The ultimate goal is to bring exposure to independent up-and-coming filmmakers.

23rd Annual Festival of Chefs
http://www.southflorida.easterseals.com
Great music, fine wine, and samples of signature dishes from South Florida's most acclaimed chefs along with Easter Seals’ Culinary Art Students is the essence of the Annual Festival of the Chefs. This event brings fine dining in a rousing display of creations to stimulate every taste.

Sleepless Night Miami Beach
http://www.sleeplessnight.org
Tens of thousands of cultural enthusiasts will gather on the vibrant streets and sands of Miami Beach for this unique all-night experience during Sleepless Night. The festival features 150 free performances, exhibitions and other cultural offerings at 80 locations spread throughout the city and the 13-hour night that marks the end of Daylight Savings Time. Free shuttle buses connect the four zones of activity and remote parking locations.

French Week Miami Beach
http://www.frenchweekmiami.org
French Week Miami is a unique event designed to emphasize and to promote the French presence in South Florida and Miami Beach. Numerous events showcase the best of French culture: the screening of great French movies, an international book fair, a “Beaujolais nouveau” wine tasting, and various artistic performances and educational activities. This year features the second edition of a new dimension, with French Spice offering maximum exposure of French restaurants in the Greater Miami area.

French Spice
http://www.frenchspicemiami.com
Experience a taste of France in November from Bistro to Gourmet restaurants to celebrate the diversity of Miami. French Spice, a fine dining promotion, offers specially priced three-course lunches and dinners.

SoundScape Cinema Series
http://www.mbculture.com
The SoundScape Cinema Series, an Arts in the Parks program presented by the City of Miami Beach, presents free, weekly outdoor screenings on the huge wall of the New World Center, 500 17th Street (near Washington Avenue) in Miami Beach on Wednesday nights. Bring blankets, beach chairs and picnics (but no glass please). No tickets required. Schedule subject to change.
Moulin Rouge - (11/9/2011)
The Maltese Falcon - (11/16/2011)
Raiders of the Lost Ark - (11/23/2011)

Greater Miami and Miami Beach Concert Performances

Jazz Meets Gershwin November 4 @ 8pm, Adrienne Arsht Center
www.arshtcenter.org

Boyz II Men with Keith Sweat and Faith Evans Nov. 5th @ 8:00 pm, at James L. Knight Center
www.boyziimen.com/

Taylor Swift November 13 @ 7pm, American Airlines Arena
www.taylorswift.com/

Jay Z & Kanye West November 25 @ 7:30pm, American Airlines Arena
watchthethrone.com/

Idina Menzel December 3 @ 8pm, Knight Concert Hall @ The Arsht Center
www.idinamenzel.com/

Janet Jackson December 5 @ 9pm, The Fillmore @ The Jackie Gleason Theater
www.janetjackson.com/

Miami Beach Luxury Homes Sales Update

In the past sixty days, there have been a total of twelve single family luxury homes sold in Miami Beach (closed sales over $1 Million). This represents an astounding 2000% sales volume increase in luxury homes sold from the same period in 2010! In just sixty days, over $58,000,000 (that's over Fifty Eight Million Dollars!) in Miami Beach single family homes sold in zip codes 33139, 33140, and 33140 versus just over $18,000,000 (Eighteen Million) for the exact same period last year.

The National S & P/ Case-Shiller Home Price national data was just released, which showed the first signs of a national turn in housing. Our thesis for the past two years has continued to become more widespread - the overall lack of new construction in over five years is slowly drawing down the unsold inventory that accumulated during the real estate market downturn. Buyer demand for Miami Beach's the luxury housing market has been driven mostly by high net worth Foreign Buyers (especially Latin American and Eastern Europeans) as well as Northeastern "snowbird" clientele. We're also seeing the strongest demand in years for luxury condos in South Beach's South of Fifth waterfront condo buildings- such asThe Murano at Portofino, The Continuum on South Beach, Apogee, Icon, etc. I'll elaborate more on these Foreign Buyers, who are driving demand for Miami Beach luxury real estate (especially in South Beach's highly coveted Condo market) in our next Blog post.

Below are the actual sales comparisons between 2010 and 2011 of closed single family home sales ($1 Million and over) in Miami Beach for Zip Codes 33139, 33140, and 33141:

Miami Beach Real Estate owners, visitors, and residents are getting ready for peak season tourism- which is right around the corner, commencing in mid-November! Miami Live Music Month runs through the entire month of November, and also marks the prelude to the Miami Beach Art season. This month’s Miami Beach events set the stage for upcoming concert performances, art fairs and the highly anticipated Art Basel Miami Beach week in December. Visitors to Miami Beach will appreciate the upcoming music festivals and events from bands and artists from all over the country.

This is the time of year that Internationally-focused Real Estate Agents / Brokers, such as TheKleerTeam & Fortune International, take advantage to promote Miami Beach real estate. The wealthy national & international visitors come to our tropical oasis to enjoy the variety of concerts, festivals, family events, and nightlife activity and that's what makes living in Miami Beach (and most especially South Beach) so special!

FEATURED MIAMI BEACH MUSIC MONTH EVENTS

Music lovers on Miami Beach can enjoy the hottest live bands playing rock, jazz, blues, R&B, hip-hop, Caribbean reggae, Latin grooves, bossa nova and more. Miami Beach's multicultural and latin american vibe makes the city a perfect destination for the popular live music scene. The Miami Music Featival will feature performances from a wide variety of genres with artists and bands from Florida, across the U.S. and all over the world.
www.livemiamimusic.com/

Autumn Music Festival 2011
A three day camping event and free electronic festival in downtown Miami. Featuring a line-up of city and nationwide bands and DeeJays.
http://autumnmusicfestival.com/

Sleepless Nights Miami Beach
Thousands of cultural enthusiasts will take over the vibrant streets and sands of Miami Beach for this unique all-night experience during Sleepless Night. The festival features 150 free performances, exhibitions and other cultural offerings at 80 locations spread throughout Miami Beach and the city and the 13-hour night that marks the end of Daylight Savings Time.
http://SleeplessNight.org

NASCAR Live Music Event
The Lummus Park, Miami Beach event will feature a live musical showcase and entertainment presented by NASCAR to thank fans as the racing season comes to a close.
http://www.Nascar.com

Bayside Rocks Festival
Greater Miami will welcome Miami Beach residents and visitors to the downtown area for a special tribute to the life of Honorable Nesta Robert'Bob' Marley and 50 years of Wailers music. Also includes world music headliners from the Caribbean such as Bunny Wailer, Luciano, Tabou Combo, Cultura Profetica, Gondwana, Warrior King, Pato Banton, Connis Vanterpool and The Original Wailers, as well as other rising talent.
http://www.baysiderocksfestival.com

BLEAU LIVE Presents: Ricky Martin
Miami Beach Fountainbleau Hotel welcomes Ricky Martin performing live at one of Miami Beach's most exlcusive and popular nightlife venue.
http://www.Fontainebleau.com

Sun Life Stadium Music Festival Presents
For Greater Miami and Miami Beach resident, Sun Life Stadium presents the final Black Eyed Peas show for 2011 which features Marc Anthony, Cee Lo Green, Flo Rida, Jason Derulo, Sean Kingston and more.
http://www.SunLifeStadium.com

Live Music Venues on Miami Beach: The Clevelander www.clevelander.com/

The Setai Residences & Hotel: http://www.thekleerteam.com/Condos/Setai-South-Beach.htm

The Betsy Hotel: www.thebetsyhotel.com

Jazid: www.jazid.net/

The Florida Room at the Delano Hotel : www.delano-hotel.com

Dining & Event Updates on Miami Beach

Yardbird Southern Table & Bar (16th Street & Lenox Ave) A Southern Table & Bar restaurant on Miami Beach that serves classic Southern cooking, culture and hospitality, officially opened on October 3rd.www.runchickenrun.com

The South Beach Wine & Food Festival (February 23-26th, 2012) schedule of events have been published. Tickets go on sale October 24th.http://2012.sobefest.com/

The Tudor House is offering "Just Like Spice" until October 31st. A prix fixe 3-course lunch menu for $22 and a 3 course dinner menu for $35.00. www.tudorhousemiami.com/

The River Oyster House in Miami (650 South Miami Avenue) is reviewed by Miami New Times: http://www.miaminewtimes.com/2011-10-13/restaurants/the-river-seafood-oyster-bar-keeps-flowing/

The South Florida Auto Show returns on October 28 until October 31st at the Miami Beach Convention Center.
www.sfliautoshow.com/

Art Basel returns to Miami December 1-4, 2011. Check out the website and catalogue.
http://www.artbaselmiamibeach.com/

Performances

Euphoria Tour featuring Enrique Iglesias October 22nd @ 7:30pm, American Airlines Arena
www.enriqueiglesias.com/

The Addams Family MusicalOctober 25-30th @ 8pm, Ziff Ballet Opera House @ the Arsht Center.
www.theaddamsfamilymusical.com/

David Sedaris November 1 @ 7:30pm, The Fillmore Miami Beach
www.barclayagency.com/sedaris.html

Jazz Meets Gershwin November 4 @ 8pm, Adrienne Arsht Center
www.arshtcenter.org

Taylor Swift November 13 @ 7pm, American Airlines Arena
www.taylorswift.com/

Jay Z & Kanye West November 25 @ 7:30pm, American Airlines Arena
watchthethrone.com/

Idina Menzel December 3 @ 8pm, Knight Concert Hall @ The Arsht Center
www.idinamenzel.com/

Janet Jackson December 5 @ 9pm, The Fillmore @ The Jackie Gleason Theater
www.janetjackson.com/

High season is just around the corner for home and condo owners in Miami Beach. Halloween, OcktoberFest, Art Basel Miami Beach, Carnival Miami Parade & many more festivals top the list of this season's most coveted events. Miami Beach's high season will also see an influx of many international visitors, snow birds from the Northern states like New York City, Chicago, Boston, and vacationers from neighboring states such as Atlanta, Dallas, and Northern Florida, who come to enjoy South Beach's many attractions. Every year, during the Winter months, second home owners and buyers interested in investing in Miami Beach Real Estate come to the South of Fifth neighborhood to escape the harsh winters of the North. The City ofMiami Beach accomodates homeowners and visitors by having a full schedule of cultural, fashion, festival, fine cuisine and Holiday events for all to enjoy. All of the these varied attractions are what makes owning real estate and living in Miami Beach an exceptional experience!

Featured Annual Events in Miami Beach

Miami Beach Attractions of the Month
A diverse selection of family-friendly activities and excursions for Greater Miami and Miami beach residents. Features great indoor and outdoor events, exotic adventures, water sports and exploration, and much more.
http://www.everyonesakid.com/

Annual Miami Beach Antique Jewelry & Watch Show
Three days of the finest art, antiques and luxury jewelry showcased at the Miami Beach Convention Center. The most elegant gems, precious stones, diamonds rare vintage, antique, and estate jewelry and watches and much more will be exhibited for attendees and collectors.
http://www.miamibeachantiquejewelryandwatchshow.com/

Carnival Miami Parade & Festival
one of the most popular events in Miami and Miami Beach. Carnival celebrates Caribbean and Latin culture with music, food, arts & crafts, and an outrageously colorful mardi gras-style parade that also feature calypsonians from the islands, live bands & performances and thousands of visitors from across the United States.
http://www.miamicarnivalonline.com/

Miami Fashion Festival
A weekend of Citywide events for Greater Miami and Miami Beach residents and visitors featuring runway shows, styling clinics, retail promotions, fashion photo shoots, in-s tore retail promotions and appearances by top fashion designers. Presented by Jones Magazine.
http://www.miamifashionfest.com/

The South Beach Wine & Food Festival
A national, star-studded, four-day destination event showcasing the talents of the world's most renowned wine and spirits producers, chefs and culinary personalities.
http://2012.sobefest.com/index.php

Funkshion: Fall Fashion Week Miami Beach
Miami Beach hosts top world designers and fashion brands who will showcase their new lines in individual fashion shows to media, celebrities, international buyers.
http://funkshion.com/

South Florida International Auto Show: Miami Beach
One of the largest and most prestigious in the nation, the auto show showcases more than 1,000 new car, truck, van and SUV models from more than 40 of the world's leading manufacturers.
http://www.sfliautoshow.com

Miami Beach Halloween Half Marathon
A fun run event that builds of the excitement and anticipation of the Halloween festivities. The stellar ocean side 13.1 mile course runs Starts at Parrot Jungle, Parrot and finishing at South Pointe Park with Fabulous & Stunning Miami Beach Views.
http://www.halloweenhalfmarathon.com

Halloween on Lincoln Road, Miami Beach
Locals, tourists, and residents of the South of Fifth neighborhood explore and engage in the spooky all-night long entertainment events filled with live music, costume parties, great food, and shopping to celebrate Halloween. Halloween Sunday will begin with trick or treating for Children to collect sweets from Lincoln Road storefronts. Clowns, magicians, and stilt walkers will line the streets to dazzle and entertain and give away free sweets.
http://lincolnroadmall.com/

Halloween Spooktacular at Jungle Island
Located on Watson island, between Miami and Miami Beach, Jungle island presents Halloween fun-filled days of spooky fun for children with the furry and feathered friends who live on the island.
http://jungleisland.com/halloween/

Dining & Nightlife Activities in Miami and Miami Beach

Miami New Times Presents Iron Fork: Chef vs. Chef
Chef's Battle to create delicious bites from dozens of Miami' and Miami Beach's best restaurants, from Barton G's famous restauran on Miami Beach's West Avenue to Hakkasan in South Beach. Includes chef competition, food sampling, open bar and live entertainment.
http://microapp.miaminewtimes.com/ironfork/2011/

Tudor House (1111 Collins Ave) www.tudorhousemiami.com Highlights values and quality. Read More: http://www.miaminewtimes.com/2011-09-08/restaurants/tudor-house-puts-quality-over-quantity/

Egg & Dart (4029 North Miami Ave) www.egganddartmiami.com New Greek restaurant on Miami Beach aims to embody Greece in all aspects, from the menu, the decor and the name. Read More: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/07/22/2326023/new-greek-restaurant-egg-dart.html#ixzz1Yhz94H00

Kane Steakhouse (431 Washington Ave) www.kanesteakhouse.com
Located in South Beach’s booming “South of Fifth” area, offers fine cuisine, modern design and seductive ambiance with upscale steakhouse fare Read More: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/09/15/2406561/kane-another-decadent-meat-palace.html

The South Beach Wine & Food Festival (February 23-26th, 2012) http://2012.sobefest.com/ A culinary extravaganza in Miami Beach featuring the most renowned wine and spirits producers, chefs and culinary personalities. Tickets go on sale October 24th. Read More: http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/shortorder/2011/09/south_beach_wine_food_festival_3.php

Other Highlights in Greater Miami & Miami Beach

The Miami Heat's first pre-season game is scheduled for October 11. View their full schedule here: http://www.nba.com/heat/schedule/

Sleepless Night Miami Beach - November 5 An all night, free art event has become quite popular and draws visitors from everywhere. http://sleeplessnight.org/?cat=5

Art Basel returns to Miami December 1-4, 2011. Check out the website and catalogue here: http://www.artbaselmiamibeach.com/

Performances and Concerts in Miami and in South Beach

Euphoria Tour w/ Enrique Iglesias Sept. 22 @ 7:30pm American Airlines Arena: www.enriqueiglesias.com/

Chris Tucker Sept. 24 @ 7:30pm Fillmore Miami Beach @ The Jackie Gleason Theater: www.christucker.com/

Adele Oct. 14 @ 8pm American Airlines Arena: www.adele.tv/home/

Chris Brown Oct. 5 F.A.M.E. Tour featuring T-Pain and Tyga: www.chrisbrownworld.com/

Guns N' Roses Oct 29 American Airlines Arena: web.gunsnroses.com/

Josh Groban Oct. 26 BankAtlantic Center: www.joshgroban.com/

Are you considering selling your Miami Beach waterfront home or condominium? I strongly recommend hiring a local real estate agent who has the in-depth knowledge of Miami Beach's neighborhoods, and has the marketing strength and resources to bring qualified buyers who are ready, willing, and able to purchase. In today's buyers market environment, a technology savvy Miami Beach specialist is crucial to getting a listed property WORLDWIDE exposure, which involves implementing a strong marketing plan with true GLOBAL reach. Also, given today's challenging buyer-driven market environment, the negotiating skills and experience of the listing agent is CRITICAL to getting a seller the highest possible price for their condominium property.

Not only must your listing agent have strong negotiation skills, but they must also be attentive on an ongoing basis to the many DETAILS of marketing a luxury property in today's challenging Real Estate market. For example, LISTING SYNDICATION involves making sure that property pictures and text descriptions present the listed property in the best way possible to potential buyers and cooperating brokers. By working with TheKleerTeam, a homeowner will be getting a highly disiplined and professionally managed TEAM of experienced agents who bring a combination of both "traditional" and "new tech" real estate skills and experience. We have over 20 years of combined real estate expertise and experience, incorporating a managed team approach to selling Miami Beach real estate, where we specifically specialize and have a strong track record selling luxury waterfront homes and condominiums in Miami Beach.

As part of TheKleerTeam's comprehensive marketing approach to property promotion, we will feature and market your Miami Beach home or condominium on an ongoing basis. This requires a TEAM approach, so that each task is done by a marketing specialist that is in charge of such mundane (but critical) tasks such as having high quality pictures, making sure MLS and Listing syndication data on Trulia, Zillow, Realtor.com, and the various KleerTeam dedicated web portals and sites are filled out accurately and completely. With the large supply of listed homes and condos currently on the market for sale, it is CRITICAL for today's sellers to have a strong locally specialized TEAM of agents giving their property the continual attention and exposure to financially capable Miami Beach buyers.

When giving a Miami Beach Real Estate Agent the Marketing Exclusivity (Listing Agreement) to a particular property, what are some of the things that a seller should look for? Successfully selling Miami Beach waterfront homes or condominiums requires QUALIFYING potential buyers and other real estate agents.

Why qualify potential buyers, and agents representing buyers, before showing a property? Our #1 rule in real estate is to not waste time and to have a focused approach to marketing properties. There's nothing worse than having a seller clean, get ready for a showing, uprooting their family, and have a buyer (perhaps with a buyer's agent) show up to a house or condo that is listed for sale, and decide that "it's not what they are looking for". This leads to frustration, anger, and disappointment for all concerned, and demonstrates a lack of targeted marketing, as well as a breakdown in communication in the marketing and sales effort.

Therefore, one of the FIRST things we do is QUALIFY all buyers/real estate agents who inquire about a listing. We QUALIFY all potential parties by asking about the price range of the buyer, what kind of home or condo they may be looking for (contemporary, traditional, size of property, waterfront or non-waterfront, etc.), and we ask the agent working with them how long they have been working with this client, and whether they have seen other homes or condos on the market. For example, for a Miami Beach waterfront home on Palm Island, a listing agent should know if the buyer is interested in a guard-gated community, and if they are willing to pay a premium for this? Also, the buyer's agen needs to know the minimum price point of their client, and make sure that they are financially qualified to purchase in the price range of a Palm or Hibiscus Island waterfront home currently on the market.

We realize this process takes a little extra time, effort, and diplomatic tact (especially with the real estate agent representing the potential buyer). However, it is the feduciary duty of the listing agent to bring the seller QUALIFIED buyers, and to generate the best possible offer at the highest price. As always, the goal is to have a pending contract that has a high probability of closing - otherwise the seller will be forced to place their home or condo back on the market, having wasted time, energy, and financial resources with an unqualified buyer!

Almost every day, I'm getting phone calls and emails from new buyers looking to take advantage of the price declines that have occurred in the past few years here in South Beach. I'd like to highlight a few of the key attributes to look for in a strong Miami Beach Real Estate Agent who can get you that Amazing Deal:

- They should have long-term experience working in this market / neighborhood. Whether it's a condominium South of Fifth Street in South Beach or selling waterfront homes on Miami Beach's Venetian Islands, the agent you're working with needs to should have at least ten years of market experience. Ten years is the minimum to have the negotiating and market skills to competently represent a buyer in this market.

- Attention to follow-up and detail.This is perhaps an obvious one, but something that I have found sorely lacking among many local agents. This means having a specific SYSTEM in place for following up with all due diligence items- such as title issues, inspections, lender/mortgage broker approval, title issues that may come up, closing attorneys, and potential code violations, open permits, condo association approval process, and making sure that the agent representing the seller is also doing his job. I've seen many buyers lose out on great deals, only because the buyer's agent they were working with dropped the ball, opening the window of opportunity for another buyer to come in and "steal" the deal away.

- The agent should stay current with today's business headlines- both local, national, and international real estate and financial trends. Your real estate agent must be current with what's happening both locally and nationally with market liquidity, local inventory levels, and the financing issues that may come up for a qualified buyer.

- The agent should be well informed as to what's happening with both short sales and foreclosures in the immediate neighborhood, whether it's a condo building, nearby condo buildings, or with sales of waterfront and non-waterfront homes in a neighborhood. I've encountered many agents, especially in South Beach, in the recent past that pretend that somehow the condominium buildings or neighborhoods where they routintely work are not impacted by today's market realities. This is just not true. These agents not doing a good job on behalf of their sellers, and the buyer's agent needs to know how to navigate this situation.

- The agent should know the most recent closed sales in the specific condo buildings and single family neighborhoods that they work. Any buyer today (and also the lender) will not be willing to overpay- this means that the agent must understand the closed sales of the past two months. Again, many agents I've recently dealt with like to pretend that the latest sales are somehow not valid comparables. If it's a closed sale, it's a comparable sale that must be taken into account in making an offer.

- The agent should look, act, and conduct themselves professionally at all times. I know of several long-time agents that do not dress professionally, much less act in a civil manner to others, and in the process poorly represent their clients. Often times, first impressions do tell the whole story.

- The agent should embrace today's technology and business trends. Life and business today moves at a fast pace- lenders, attorneys, title companies, clients, mortgage brokers, etc. usually expect a fast response during certain critical moments in putting a deal together. If the agent does not, as a minimum, have a smart phone and respond to your emails and phone calls in a timely manner (within 12 hours) then this should be cause for concern.