The look of the future: An office condo at wired-up Biscayne Centre

Time to Buy

Expect to see lots of TV ads followed by radio ads in the next few weeks, promoting the fact that this is a good time to buy and sell real estate. The National Association of Realtors, one of the largest professional organizations in the country, just launched a national $40 million advertising campaign scheduled to run through November. The NAR is targeting various audiences: buyers, sellers, FSBOs, owners of commercial real estate and those looking for commercial space or property. They are also focusing on Hispanics, with 558 ads booked to run on TV channels Univision, Telemundo and Galavision.

Altogether, NAR will fund 5,859 network radio spots, 2,600 insertions on cable TV and 336 spots on network television including 41 in prime time, most notably on ABC’s Extreme Makeover, which will feature ads six times over the life of the campaign. ABC’s Good Morning America, which will run as many as four ads per week, CBS’ The Early Show and Late Show With David Letterman will be prime sites for NAR’s message. The NCAA basketball tournament (through the elite eight subsequent rounds are closing in on the Super Bowl, ad-price wise) and the major league baseball playoffs will also be cashing NAR checks. Local radio is slated to run about 25,000 spots during the 10-month campaign.

The promotion could take on a local angle beyond the ad buys paid for by NAR, as all ads including the TV spots can be customized and used by local real estate firms in their own campaigns. It’s also possible the NAR-inspired word will spread through its membership to print advertising.

Keeping Up With Home Design

Like clothes, fashion in home design changes frequently; last year’s hot items are cold stuff this year (making it totally tough on builders of new developments who work two years ahead on interior design features).

Mark Nash, a Chicago-based real estate broker and author of the 2004 guide 1,001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home (Thomson/South-Western), asked nearly 1,000 real estate pros around the country to comment on home features that are “in” and “out.”

In the current buyers’ market, homes in move-in condition rule. As for actual features, a reality check showed that stainless steel appliances, glass-front cabinets and vessel-style sinks are hard to keep clean and despite their good looks, are falling out of favor. Ditto spiral staircases, not so much for the cleanliness factor as the inconvenience for popping up and down stairs, especially for young children.

On the “in” list, Nash found buyers like glass tiles in bathrooms and kitchens; wood floors except bamboo (gloriously “green” but not as durable as anticipated); lots of extra storage space such as linen closets, pantries and luggage rooms; and his-and-her completely “wired” home offices.

In a recent interview on CBS’ The Early Show, Nash identified some of the features emerging as home selling points: upscale garages, decked out with cabinet and storage systems, durable-but-residential-looking flooring, and even mini-fridges, insulation, heating and air conditioning; and “Man & Mom Caves,” meaning personal, dedicated space where each person in a household can work on projects or simply chill out without being disturbed. In some households, “Snoring Rooms” sound like a must-have. These are smaller, second bedrooms located adjacent to master bedrooms where partners can snore away — out of range.

Condo Commandos Update

The actions of the Eldorado Towers Condominium Association Board of Directors were described as “arbitrary and capricious” in a ruling last week. At an arbitration hearing, a summary disposition by the Division of Florida Land Sales, Condominiums and Mobile Homes (Department of Business and Professional Regulation) backed a unit owner who challenged the board’s ruling that buyers must put down 20 percent of the purchase price of a unit before being accepted as owners. The condo association also floated a rule requiring that renters pay a deposit of $2,000 to the association, without putting the matters to a vote of owners to amend the documents. Attorney Eric M. Glazer of Glazer & Associates, P.A in Hallandale, who specializes in representing condominium and homeowners associations, represented the unit owner who prevailed.

Models flanking Alicia Cervera, president of Related Cervera Realty Services, and George Giebel, VP and managing director of the Related Group of Florida, show off the latest Fendi fashions. 

Champagne and Couture

For a developer building a deluxe condominium and hotel development across the street from a deluxe shopping center, it makes sense to reinforce the relationship with exclusive events. Last week a collection of brokers, prospective buyers and Fendi customers gathered in the sales gallery of the St. Regis Resort & Residences for champagne, hors d’oeuvres and a sneak peek at the spring and summer 2007 collection from the Fendi store at Bal Harbour Shops. This event was one in a series that the Related Group is presenting to connect St. Regis Resort & Residences, Bal Harbour with the designer boutiques and upscale jewelers in Bal Harbour Shops.

Buzz

Brothers Samuel and Michael Konig, principals of SMK, have departed from the high-profile office-condo conversion of Biscayne Centre, at 11900 Biscayne Blvd. in North Miami, to actively pursue other projects.

Cape Horn partners Eduardo Romero and Eduardo Covarrubias now wholly own the project and are proceeding with renovations of the eight-story, 156,000-square-foot Class-A building into offices ranging from 1,000 to 25,000 square feet, priced from the $300s. There are also 450 parking spaces in an attached five-story private garage.

Developer change — expect to see a new developer and new name for a prestigious Aventura project when a sales deal for the property is finalized next week. Two years ago, a 24-story, 70-unit, boutique-style condominium was announced for the waterfront site but never came out of the ground. Stay tuned for future plans….

Helen Hill is a freelance writer specializing in real estate and lifestyle topics.

Please send news items on Miami-Dade real estate to hhill@miamisunpost.com.