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Paris Love Lockets in Kendall

Rocio Casales1 Comment

love lockets

You might have heard of the famous love lockets that cover up two bridges in Paris, France (Pont de Arts and Pont de l’Archevêché). If not, allow me to do a quick story telling:

Couples in love and wanting to share their devotion for each other go with their locket and write their names or initials on it and lock them on the bridge and then throw away the key in the water symbolizing their eternal love.

No one really knows how it started but there are countless of theories of its start. Nonetheless, it has become a phenomenon in Paris, France and it has spread around the world.

The bridges are completely covered in lockets and at times hard to find a new spot to add a new locket because of their popularity among soul mates. Now this tradition has slowly begun to take over a bridge here in Kendall! love lockets

If you go to The Palms at Town and Country right across Cadillac Ranch restaurant, you will see a lovely bridge overlooking the lake and its’ nice to look at water fountains. As you approach the bridge you will start noticing locks on the rails of the bridge. If you get closer you will be able to read couples names. Some are very faint to read or have completely been erased due to weather but the locks still stay as a symbol of everlasting love. Some lockets are simple while others are decorated to stand out.

Next time you take a nice romantic evening stroll at The Palms at Town and Country, make sure to cross over the bridge and take a quick look at the love lockets. Even if you don’t add your own love locket it is a nice feeling seeing other couples expression of love.

Club House Beach Everglades National Park

Mario AvalosLeave a comment

Club House Beach Everglades National Park is nothing short of a spectacle for the light hearted. What do I mean? When I shared my story and pictures with family and friends…they all had a common response: “you are nuts”.

So here is my end of the story. You will read the words mud and flood often. The trail is 6 miles one way and 6 miles back. The end point? Club House Beach. Sounds cheery? Far from it.

I have walked this trail twice. Once in August 2012 and November 2013.

Don’t go in the summer! Mosquitoes were not brutal, but they did give us a run for our money. And pack lightly. Whatever you are thinking of, cut it in half for you will not need it. And whatever is left in your backpack, get rid of half of it. Trust me.

See…when I went in November, although it was cooler…it had rained plenty. So most of the trail was flooded and or muddy. I would dare to say that the terrain in November was rougher than August. But the key element here was what I was carrying. In 2013 I took a 1/3 of what I took in 2012. WHAT A DIFFERENCE!

Forget the weather conditions, mosquitoes, length of walk, etc. These elements were super manageable given light weight in hand.

What I took in my bag:

Cell phone, 2 energy bars, small flashlight with batteries (no extras), hammock to sleep (see pic), rain cover, Swiss knife (also used as a utensil), mosquito face net, mosquito repellent, food (two tuna pouches, a few crackers, and two apples), 100 ounces of water, mini moist towels, and a rain coat.

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What I wore: Long sleeve shirt, pants, hiking shoes, socks, and a hat.

Walk to the beach is about 3-4 hours. And the only cell reception is from AT&T…and it’s weak and spotty. Signal goes off and on.

So what’s the story behind this club house? Absolutely nothing your eyes may have not already seen.

The beach is ugly. There is barely any sand…and its full of seashells. So walking barefoot is a pain in the rear. Mosquitoes also live at the beach. And you shouldn’t get into the water due to sharks. Lovely isn’t it?

So why have I gone twice? Because of the adventure and the feeling of accomplishment. This walk is considered one of the most difficult in the Southeast U.S. It’s a great feeling to just get out there onto something new and wild with your buds. And yes…I plan on doing it again in 2014.

Plan on going? Let me know!

3 Traits Of An Effective Negotiator

Mario AvalosLeave a comment

Working in the real estate field, I have come to find out that everyone and their mom knows how to negotiate. And it’s quite amazing how far from the truth most people are in knowing how to effectively handle the back and forth with the other party.

Now. Am I an expert negotiator. Maybe…maybe not. But what I do know is that I am very good at communicating with other people that have at a minimum…enough motivation to get the deal done. With the latter in mind, here are three traits I am always conscious of when negotiating.

  1. Be quite. More often than what you may think, the other party will propose a reasonable start to the negotiation process. And even if they start with a low ball offer, so what. Be quite and listen. You cannot control what other people will offer you. But what you absolutely have control over is your response. And if your response includes the “giving of full attention” for what the other person has to say, the end result will be a reach of agreement or a smooth “end of talks”. In the worst case scenario, you leave an amicable door open just in case the other party reconsiders a new offer.
  2. Get out of the way. I am a firm believer that the biggest obstacles between a motivated seller and a motivated buyer are the middle people with a lack of control of emotions. So as long the back and forth is all within win-win grounds, why throw a curb ball? Now. If the balance (negotiation) is unfairly tilting one way, then yes. Control your emotions and get in the way.
  3. Given what you asked? Take it and run. I have been involved is so many deals where we have offered everything the other party wanted with a cherry on top…and bang! We still hit a wall.  Why. Because the grass is always greener? That’s just dumb. Not taking what you want tells me you are not motivated. And what do non-motivated sellers attract? Low ball, non-motivated or see-what-sticks-on-the-wall type of buyers.

More tips on negotiating?

Say you are talking to the buyer that is making you an offer. After they are done talking, repeat what they said is one or two sentences. This ensures them that you listened and understood what they said. That you are with them on the same communication page. And this helps them get on “your side”. You’ll be surprised the lengths the other party will compromise simply because you acknowledged them.

Does Size Matter Among Real Estate Companies?

Mario AvalosLeave a comment

 

kendall shopping

Who to choose in the event of selling is a million dollar question for many homeowners?

The quick answer is: it doesn’t matter.

The real answer: companies don’t sell homes. Agents do.

So I recently listed a client’s home for sale by the Calusa area in Kendall. This is a prospect that simply went online and found three real estate agents. Appointments were made with each, and I was the lucky chosen one to represent the seller.

According to the seller, I was competing against an agent from Remax and an agent from Coldwell Banker. During the interview, the seller asks me; “Who the heck are you? Never heard of your company name.” And I replied; “K&A Realty…family business.”

His next question was; “why should I hire you if you are unknown?”. I replied; “all you need to feel is convinced that the agent you hire will sell your home for the highest possible price within your time expectations. As for branding, logos, company names, the car I drive, cologne I wear…all that might as well go down the drain”.

There are a few other compelling reasons I provided to the seller as to why it does not matter if you hire a big or small company, but I’ll leave that for our appointment (yes…you reading this).

Am sure most of us have seen big realty companies advertise on TV during prime time. Ever seen your home address included in those ads? Nooo!

See, what big companies do want you to “feel” is that you are hiring a corporation with bells and whistles to handle the sale. And real estate agents from big companies drill this “feeling” at appointments with one goal in mind. Get the listing.

Watch out. Don’t be fooled by this. You may be hiring a part time Realtor that sold two listings in the past twelve months. And one of them was their own home 🙂

Lastly, half of the top agents nation wide run their own show under their own name. And I am one of them. Why would that be?

What $300,000 Gets You

Mario AvalosLeave a comment

15230 sw 100 ave kendall fl 33157Don’t worry. You have options.

So today I had a good friend call me to help him, his wife and two kids find a single family home for under $300,000. So here is the lowdown based on my search.

West of the Florida Turnpike, and from 8th street all the way to 120th street, you’ll easily get a home with a small or medium size yard. One car garage (maybe two) and most likely no association. And living space hovering 2,000 square feet. And possibly with a pool.

Now..say in between the Florida Turnpike and Palmetto Bay? Bells and whistles begin to get chopped. Now you are looking at a small lot, or a medium sized home under 2,000 square feet under AC. And most likely the home will be in need of a considerable repairs or upgrades (five years of roof left, replacement of AC, kitchen in need of gutting, etc).

And most likely you will only be able to buy it cash of via a conventional loan. No FHA. And its not that the homes don’t qualify for FHA. Its the competition (other buyers). They are strong and willing to put down the necessary “mula” to get the deal done…not just 3.5% down payment.

East of Palmetto Bay? Good luck. Unless you have $300,000 in cash. Only then will your be able to buy a property in need of major repairs…to the point where the home is not finance-able. Or you can always settle for land 😦

Times are changing and changing quickly. Prices are moving up and not just in our neck of the woods, but also throughout the United States. And although rumors are that prices will flatten out in 2014…they are only a rumors.

Killer Mindset For Today’s Market

Mario AvalosLeave a comment

White LionBuyer mindset for today’s market. What’s it like? How must you think to score the right deal given an opportunity?

The only way I can describe what you must be: patiently aggressive. Now…what the heck is that?

Today’s market consists of a historic low inventory. Add to that the portion that is made up of foreclosures and short sales. These type of properties are usually priced from fair market value up to 10% below it. This combination has created an outrageous demand for good homes in good areas.

Patiently aggressive buyers are like tigers hunting for deer after months of hunger. They wait for the right deal to cross their way because they know its coming. And once it comes, they don’t think. They act. They don’t plan. They execute. They don’t compare, analyze or start pondering if there is a better deal out there.

And in today’s market, for you the buyer, this is the right mindset you must have in order to score on a great deal. Ever heard of the saying, ” the deal of the century comes once a week”. Well, in this market, its coming once a month. So you must be ready.

Off-course, nothing is ever done without the right preparation. And where do you start? With a real estate agent?

Before stepping onto your car to view a single property, a real estate agent must explain to you three factors and not just simply throw you into a safari with a blessing. The three factors are:

  1. Expectations of how the market is, or how are other buyers’ conduct in buying properties so that you know how to compete in order to score a deal. Yes…as much as you may not think…this is competition. You are competing with other buyers.
  2. The process of making an offer within 24 hours from viewing the property.
  3. What are all your “ways out” of a contract after you submit an offer to a seller.

In conclusion, the above explanation is for buyers that claim they want a “hot deal”. And most buyers do. The problem is that lost of buyers and or their real estate agents are not aggressive by nature.