condosFlorida KeysIslamoradaLuxury CondosOcean Harbour November 27, 2018

Condo Spotlight – Ocean Harbour in Islamorada, Florida Keys

Not all condos in the Keys are created alike . . .
 
One of the biggest downside I hear from condo buyers is that many units feel like a box, with limited floorplans.

Not so at Ocean Harbour.  These units have unique floorplans, and are some of the most spacious units in the Upper Keys.  With two bedroom, three bedroom and even four bedroom units, these units break the norm and feel like a luxury home.

But it’s not just the units that are so attractive. The grounds are immaculate. The grounds consist of beautiful, lush green spaces, a large free-form swimming pool, a marina and boat ramp, an oceanfront clubhouse, a private gym, large oceanfront tiki with BBQ area and covered parking.

Tucked away in a private and gated community off The Old Road, these units all have endless Ocean views and views of the grounds. They feature large kitchens and master bedrooms with ocean views, a private master bath and a dressing are with walk-in closet.

Located in Islamorada, Ocean Harbour is close to everything you’ll need in terms of restaurants, shopping, medical needs, etc.

Learn more about Ocean Harbour at www.OceanHarbourIslamorada.com.

Affordable Keys HomeBig Pine KeyFlorida Keys Real EstateIslamoradaKey LargoKey WestMarathonTavernier November 19, 2018

What Can You Purchase in the Florida Keys for Under $250,000?

The Florida Keys have long been known as an ideal destination in South Florida, either as a place to vacation or a place to live full-time.

The perception is that most places to live in the Keys are out of reach for many buyers. While it is true that the Keys are home to some of the most expensive real estate in South Florida, there are also places you can find for under $250,000.

Here is a list of all the properties in the Keys, from Key West to Key Largo. Many of them are condos, but there are also some single family homes.

Which one interests you?

Click Here to View the Properties

Atlantic OceanboatingCanalfrontFlorida KeysOcean AccessTavernierTavernier Creek November 16, 2018

Listing of the Day – 903 Lobster Lane, Tavernier, Florida Keys!

This one is priced to sell!


Sure, a lot of ads say that, but I really do believe this one is an excellent value. 

Located in a popular Upper Keys neighborhood, this home has 2 bedrooms and 1.5 baths on the upper level and 2 bedrooms and 1 bath on the lower level.

It is nicely updated, has impact windows and doors and a metal roof. Ocean views are yours to enjoy from the covered porch just off the main living area.

As for boating, it is ideal. Just off the ocean for immediate ocean access, and near Tavernier Creek for easy Bay access. There is even your own cut-in boat slip and boat ramp along with davits.

Priced at just $675,000, this home will be under contract soon.  Call today for a showing.

Florida KeysIslamoradaKey LargoKey WestLuxury EstatesLuxury HomesMansionswaterfront November 13, 2018

Dream a Little . . . .

It’s no secret that the Florida Keys are home to some of the most breathtaking island homes.

The top ten luxury listings in the Florida Keys include open water homes overlooking either the Atlantic Ocean or Florida Bay, private compounds with multiple homes and even a private offshore island.

Here is a list of the top ten luxury homes currently listed in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). These magnificent estate homes are located throughout the entire island chain, from Key Largo to Key West.

Dream a little . . . . .

Click here to see the listings

Home For SaleIslamoradaJust Reducedsingle family home April 17, 2018

Just Reduced $75,000 – 126 West Pippin in Islamorada, Florida

This is a diamond in the rough!

It’s almost unheard of to have a home on such a large piece of property in the Upper Florida Keys.  This four bedroom home is sitting on a huge lot with just shy of a half an acre.  The neighborhood has an optional homeowners association that you can join that features a boat ramp, dockage and a private swimming pool.

Built in 1957, this home is concrete with truss roof.  Each level has a fireplace with shared/combined chimney.

The downstairs has terrazzo floors and wall unit air-conditioning, while the upstairs has tile floors, central air and heat an also has a large den that was once a screened porch.

Set just one lot away from the Bay, there is no noise from the highway, making this a peaceful retreat.

There is some work to be down to bring it back to it’s former glory, but there really is huge potential here. Other homes in the neighborhood have sold for considerably more, but without the sizable lot or the size of the home itself.

Now priced at $575,000.  Motivated seller and easy to show, call today for an appointment.

1st Quarter ComparisonFlorida KeysFlorida Keys Real EstateHurricane IrmaHurricane RecoveryMarket Activityproperty valuesRecent Sales April 13, 2018

First Quarter 2017 VS 2018: How did Hurricane Irma Affect The Real Estate Market?

As a real estate professional, I am asked the same question over and over: How’s the real estate market? Most of the time, it is just a curiosity that the person asking the question has about real estate in general.

Post Hurricane Irma, the question has changed: How did Irma affect the real estate market. Most of the time, the person asking the question has a look of caution, appearing to anticipate a grim answer.

The answer may surprise you.  Here is how the first quarter of 2017 and the first quarter of 2018 compare, broken down by property type.

Single Family Homes, Non Waterfront:
2017: 46 sales, with an average sales price of $400,493
2018: 40 sales, with an average sales price of $427,510

Single Family Homes, Canalfront, Lakefront and Plugged Canal:
2017: 36 sales, with an average sales price of $909,694
2018: 41 sales, with an average sales price of $1,063,280

Single Family Homes, Open Water:
2017: 12 sales, with an average sales price of $2,189,583
2018: 14 sales, with an average sales price of $1,978,250

Condos, Townhomes and Condotels:
2017: 32 sales, with an average sales price of $358,806
2018: 41 sales, with an average sales price of $417,558

With the exception of open water homes, most segments of the market saw an increase in average sales price. Open Water homes dropped a little, but more of them sold in the first quarter of 2018 than 2017.

It is important to note that these figures are from the Upper Keys market, from Mile Marker 74 to Mile Marker 106.  This area stretches from north end of Key Largo to the south end of Islamorada.  I’ve limited it to this area because this is my primary marketplace. Without a doubt, the numbers will be considerably different than in areas harder hit by Irma, such as Cudjoe Key and Big Pine Key. Many areas in the Lower Keys are still in recovery and rebuilding mode.

The next hurricane season is just 49 days away. The season is predicted to be slightly above average, with 14 named storms, 7 hurricanes, with 3 hurricanes predicted to be intense.

closed salesFlorida KeysFlorida Keys Real Estate MarketHurricane IrmaHurricane RecoveryIrmaNew ListingSold Listings October 20, 2017

Post Irma Real Estate Market – A Look at the Numbers

Venetian Shores in Islamorada, the day of Hurricane Irma

While Monroe County continues its recovery after Hurricane Irma made landfall in the Florida Keys on September 10th, the local real estate market continues to recover as well. Here is the real estate activity that has taken place since Irma.

In the weeks since the storm, 230 properties have been listed for sale. Some of these are properties that were on the market prior to the storm, but were withdrawn or cancelled due to needed repairs and cleanup prior to being offered for sale again.

Of these new listings, 18 are currently under contract and 8 have closed and transferred to new owners.

Many of the properties that were under contract prior to the storm have gone ahead and completed the sale, with 156 closings Keyswide since September 10th.  However, not all properties that were under contract have made it to the closing table. Of the properties that were under contract prior to Irma, 45 of them are back on the market after buyers or sellers decided not to move forward with the purchase and sale.

Numerous listings that were offered for sale prior to the storm are no longer on the market, with 193 listings being removed from the available inventory of properties for sale, with nearly half of those properties located between the Lower Keys and Duck Key.

While this is typically the slower part of the year in advance of our season, we are still receiving calls from buyers that are interested in purchasing in the Keys. Many of these calls have been buyers that were looking to score a deal on property that sellers may be wanting to sell quickly due to damage. However, these buyers are finding that most property owners are not looking to “unload” their property for bargain prices, but will continue to sell at market value after repairs are made.

Many areas of the Keys will need time to rebuild, particularly those in the hardest hit areas of the Lower Keys. But the residents of the Keys are a resilient group, with #KeysStrong and #Can’tDrownAConch popular themes throughout our entire island chain.

CondominiumsFlorida BayFlorida KeysKey LargoMoon BayOpen Water Viewsproperty for sale October 11, 2017

New Listing at Moon Bay in Key Largo – Offered at $430,000



Moon Bay . . . a gated, private condo community located in the heart of Key Largo at mile marker 104.3. This complex has a resort feel to it, with landscaped grounds and ample dockage in the private marina.

Amenities at Moon Bay include a large heated swimming pool and adjacent wading/children’s pool, two lighted tennis courts, marina with deeded slips and bayfront tiki, spacious club house with rooftop deck, boat ramp, as well as picnic & BBQ areas. 

The complex is located on the Overseas Highway and has an electronic gate for added security.  Each unit has assigned parking.

Located just an hour south of Miami, some of the best-known restaurants, dive shops, and snorkeling and deep-sea fishing charters in all the Keys can be found within a 1 mile radius of Moon Bay.  It is also the closest private resort to the most popular park in all the Keys, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park which offers boat rentals, scuba and snorkeling tours, glass bottom boat tours, and more. 

Weekly rentals are allowed in the complex, making this a perfect investment in the Keys that can use to generate income.

This Moon Bay condo has it all – deeded boat slip, covered parking and a solid rental income history! Offered totally turn-key, including well established website with bookings already in place, you’ll be earning income as soon as you purchase. Split bedroom floor plan with a beautifully remodeled kitchen. Resort-like amenities include gated entry, pool, clubhouse, tennis, marina and more!





Florida KeysHomes for SaleHurricane IrmaIslamoradaKey LargoLower KeysMonroe Countyreal estate marketTavernierUpper Keys September 29, 2017

The Real Estate Market After the Storm


In the short three weeks since Hurricane Irma visited the Florida Keys, life is already beginning to return to “normal” for many in the area. Stores are open, schools are back in session, and the cleanup crews are working tirelessly to clean up our island home.

But what effect will the storm have on the real estate market?

Some believe the images of high winds, ocean surge and damage to homes, boats and landscaping being broadcast on television and social media sites may make buyers hesitant to purchase in a hurricane prone area. When looking at these images, it is important to remember that those are the images the media want you to see. They want you to see damage. They want you to see distraught people. What they don’t show are the many areas of the Keys that are still fine. They won’t show the undamaged homes or the relieved locals that suffered little damage because those images don’t sell newspapers or news magazines. 

Costs to purchase, such as insurance, may have a factor in how the market does. Insurance costs may rise, which will add to the cost of owning a home here. Most condominiums will have special assessments to cover costs of cleaning up common areas within the complex. 

There are also plenty of people who are rethinking the decision to live in the Keys, and these people may be putting homes on the market in an effort to leave the area. Reasons people are considering leaving are the already high costs of living here, which are bound to become higher and the uncertainty of when the next storm will come.  

Still, there are buyers that were under contract to close prior to the storm and many of those buyers are still going to close on the property, particularly in areas that were not hit as hard as others, such as the Upper Keys. 

What I’ve been seeing in the MLS is a lot of properties are being taken off the market, either temporarily or permanently. I expect many of them will come back on the market after repairs have been made and landscaping is back in place.  What I’m not seeing is a lot of new listings coming on the market.

I believe Irma  created a fresh awareness of hurricane protection. Such as the desire to have impact windows, hip roofs, better drainage, the age of the roof ect. Also higher risk factors will be noticed more and we may lose some buyers with higher wind risk. We may also see an avoidance of wood frame homes due to the fear of them being weaker in storms, accurate or not fear is a strong factor. Many of the old majestic homes in Key West are wood frame and have weathered many storms and are still standing strong. 

The fact is, people love to come here for the weather (most of the time), the fish and the diving.   The desirability of that will not decrease.  And my personal opinion is that the Florida Keys will remain more attractive even though hurricanes will still pass through from time to time. 


Uncategorized September 28, 2017

How Do Hurricane Deductibles Work?



I’d like to thank Tracie Sihle of Sihle Insurance Group for this information about hurricane deductibles. Many homeowners across South Florida will be making claims post-Irma.


Most homeowners policies have an “all other peril” (AOP) deductible for losses caused by perils such as vandalism, fire, lightening, and theft and a separate deductible for hurricane losses.

The hurricane deductible is mandated by Florida statutes.

The hurricane deductible is expressed as a percentage, typically 2-5%, but higher percentages are available. It is a percentage of the coverage amount, not a percentage of the loss.

For an example, a structure insured for $200,000 with a two percent deductible would have a deductible of $4,000 for damage caused by a hurricane.
The hurricane deductible applies only for a hurricane as defined in the statutes. According to Florida Statute 627.4025, a hurricane means a storm system that has been declared a “hurricane” by the National Hurricane Center or the National Weather Service. Note that a named tropical storm does not trigger the hurricane deductible.

According to the statutes, the duration of a hurricane in which the hurricane deductible would apply includes the time period:

  • Beginning at the time a hurricane watch or warning is issued for any part of Florida by the National Hurricane Center.
  • Continuing for the time period during which the hurricane conditions exist anywhere in Florida; and
  • Ending 72 hours following the termination of the last hurricane watch or hurricane warning issued


The deductible applies on a calendar year basis.  Using the earlier example of the $4,000 hurricane deductible, that $4,000 applies for all losses during the calendar year for losses due to hurricanes. For example, in 2004 some areas of Florida were hit by three major hurricanes in about 40 days. This calendar year deductible applies only if the customer was insured by the same company during all hurricanes. Assume that a hurricane causes $40,000 in damage; the claim is paid less the $4,000 deductible. If there is a second hurricane during the calendar year, the $4,000 hurricane deductible does not apply; instead the AOP (all other perils) deductible applies.

In a different example, suppose that the first hurricane causes damage of only $3,000. Due to the $4,000 deductible, nothing is paid by the carrier and you pay $3,000 of the deductible. If a second hurricane were to cause $35,000 in damage the claim is paid less a $1,000 deductible ($4,000 hurricane deductible less the $3,000 that applied for the first hurricane, leaving $1,000 deductible). If a third hurricane were to cause damage in the same calendar year, the AOP deductible would apply.

Many, if not most, insurance policies require that the customer report all hurricane losses, even those that are clearly below the deductible.

Policies are different; it’s key to read the specific policy in question to see how deductibles are structured. 
For example, non-admitted insurance carriers will not comply the same as admitted carriers with some of the state’s regulations regarding hurricane deductibles.

Hurricane deductibles on policies typically can only be changed at the renewal date of the policy.

For questions and more information, please contact Traci Sihle: