B2B Coral Gables

One of the great new organizations with which I am involved is "B2B" Coral Gables.... B2B is an acronym for business to business and Coral Gables is the group with which I am assiciated. B2B is the brainchild of local entrepreneur Wilson Alvarez...About 2 years ago Wilson wanted to engage his business associates in a weekly breakfast where they could get together in a collegial (versus competitive) environment. The popularity of the group breakfast has caught on quickly as its networking value became apparent. Today we had our weekly meeting in the Gables with most of the discussion revolving around the opportunities now available in local real estate. B2B information is available on the web by going to miamibusiness.com. Groups are active in West Dade, Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest, South Miami, Doral, and Brickell as well as Coral Gables. More to follow regarding this great group.

Charlee Homes For Children

After spending way too many years exclusively supporting business causes such as Chambers of Commerce,etc. I was asked by Nancy Hector to help at Charlee Homes for Children of which she is the Chair Person...In case you are not aware the Charlee organization in Miami supports approximately 1,000 children who have been separated from their families.... The magnitude of the problems facing the youngest youngest and most fragile members of our community is overwhelming... Anything that I can do to assist these individuals and the hard working professionals who handle the many problems besetting the kids (0-21) will be worth it to me.... This morning we had about 45 caring members of our community in to show them our office and to explain 1st hand what we do.... All in all this is one of the better days I have had in quite a while....

Well, I did exactly what you are not suppose to do when you start blogging which is to disappear for several months... Unfortunately that time period was, as so well put at the beginning of A Tale of Two Cities..... "It was the best of times ....It was the worst of times".... At least I am through that period now, and I am hopeful that my family's life will get back to normal.... On the business front residential sales seem to be coming back in Miami- Dade County.... If you compare sales of the final 1/4 of 2007 with the final 1/4 of 2008 single family residential sales are up 55% and condo sales are up 43 %.... Our activity reflects this change especially in Coral Gables, FL. So, if you are considering buying a home in the Greater Miami area, now is the time to start looking...

Coral Gables & South Miami

Though my wife, Susan, my son, James, and I do a majority of our work in the Coral Gables, High Pines, and South Miami markets, I have included a 5 minute presentation regarding the entire Miami market. I believe you will find it interesting and more in depth than the news reports we are constantly hearing.

Real Estate in Coral Gables and South Miami

I have been lucky to have lived in the Coral Gables/South Miami area for the past 40 years, and I have seen the two towns transform from the typical southern suburban village to a major part of the vibrant Miami community.... Miami unfortunately carries negative connotations from former associations with the drug culture popularly outlined in the TV show Miami Vice 20 years or so ago.... No longer is Miami like that, but it is still at times saddled with that image. Now we are truly the "Capital of Latin America" as well as the "in" spot for the international "jet set" on Miami Beach. Our arts and cultural influence continue to grow, and we are the home each December for Art Basel which is the largest and best art show in North America......

Susan, my son, James, and I are realtors working together as "The Heatleys" with Esslinger Wooten Maxwell commonly called "EWM" out of the Coral Gables/South Miami Office. EWM is the largest real estate company in South Florida and is part of Berkshire Hathaway....Home prices have dropped substantially the past year and though "price" is the key element in home sales now, location always has been and will continue to be the most important part in determining the price of a home....

South Miami and Coral Gables have long been one of the most desirable locations in Miami, and we happen to have three listings in the South Miami area which will appeal to three different types of buyers..... 7821 SW 54 Ct. is a recently completed luxury home (see above) built by the well known local builder, George Prendes..... In downtown South Miami at 7440 SW 59 Place we have a great condo built in 2005.... It is a beautiful unit in a topnotch building..... If you want to live in the downtown convenience of the City of South Miami, then this is the place for you. Our third home is a single family home at 7555 SW 59 Place. This house is a moderately priced single family residence on a well manicured canal front lot convenient to Ludlam Elementary School, South Miami Hospital, and the University of Miami.

Chose any one of these residences, and you will be able to appreciate living in the South Miami/Coral Gables area...If you have any other questions about Coral Gables or South Miami, please contact me.

Getting Started

I thought I would start a blog to let you know what has been going on in our life in Miami... We, Susan and I, have been enjoying Miami for the last 40 years, and I thought you might be interested in finding out what we have been doing... Little did I imagine that my first posting would occur after the death of her father, Tom Taulbee, in North Palm Beach, Fl. ...

We went to the funeral, and I got to visit with some of our Texas relatives who I don't get to see often enough... I enjoyed my luncheon with Dixon and Carl Glaze who among other things have what seems to me a large farm northeast of Dallas where they raise longhorn and short horn cattle and seem to be in a never ending contest with the local wildlfe which includes bobcats, coyotes, raccoons, and an occasional panther......

I only got to talk a short time with our cousin Katherine Lyle who came in from Dallas to officiate at the service. She did, as she always does, a fantastic job and took care of getting everyone through the entire weekend.