Put Your Cell Phone On ICE Marie Story, Broker Associate with Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate in Pinecrest, has kicked off her public service campaign to encourage people to enter an emergency contact number in their cell phone's memory under the heading "ICE" (In Case of Emergency).  Law enforcement and medical personnel know to look for this information.     According to Story, "Your chances of surviving a medical emergency can improve if those providing care know more about your physical condition and medical history.  This contact information will give paramedics, firefighters and police officers the ability to contact your designated family members or friends in the event of an emergency."  Em... 10/01/2007

I heard this today and I just couldn't help passing it along....In today's world, I would be...   First born   Second wife and   Third REALTOR.Marie Story, Pinecrest, Florida     09/29/2007

The Village of Pinecrest is a beautiful eight square mile city within Miami-Dade County.  Pinecrest was officially incorporated in March of 1996.  During the 1950's and 1960's many ranch style homes were built on acre lots.  Today, many of these homes have been updated or are being replaced with gorgeous mansions and lovely gardens.  Pinecrest has its own governing council, police department and newspaper. Location, location, location...Pinecrest is adjacent to Coral Gables and though no major roads run through Pinecrest, we are very conveniently located to the expressways and the turnpike.  The metro rail system is also a wonderful option we Pinecrest residents have to go downtown or to bayside.  We're just minutes from hospitals, universities, downtown Miami, the Miami International A... 09/23/2007

We are still in a declining market here in Pinecrest but not as a steep decline as was seen in 2006.  Here are some quarterly figures I want to share with you: January - March: 35 homes sold with an average price of $1,422,624 price per s.f. $335.93 April - June: 44 homes sold with an average price of $1,393,122 price per s.f. $308.98 July - Sept. 14th: there have been 34 homes sold with an average price of $1,293,544 price per s.f. $293.46 As you can see, the sales price and price per foot are still coming down put steadily every quarter more homes are selling. Buyers, this is a real good time to be buying.  There are some good homes for sale and there is more negotiating room.  Sellers, in this market you either have to have your home in turn key condition or you will need to make adj... 09/16/2007

PINECREST, Florida   20062007Date6-Aug7-AugFor Sale2871239736Sold17531007Pended19621104Months of Inventory based on Closed Sales16.439.5Months of Inventory based on Pended Sales14.636Avg. Active Price628559Avg. Sld Price431487Avg. Sq. Ft. Price280279Sold/List Diff. %9592Days on Market77111Median Price300305 The numbers speak for themselves!  It seems the inventory continues to grow, average price per square foot remains the same while average sold price has increased!  An unpredictable market in my estimation!Source of information is the Multiple Listing Service for Miami Dade County.    09/16/2007

Home of Miami-Palmetto Senior High School, ranked in the top 100 public schools in the country by Newsweek Magazine, the Village of Pinecrest has long recognized how important the quality of the public schools are in bringing people to live here.  Since the Village incorporated in 1996, they have given $10,000 grants to each of the five public schools in the Village each year.  These grants were used for beautification and technology and had been a boost to the school's budgets in a state that places low emphasis on the amount of funding it provides the public schools.  In their upcoming September 11 Village Council meeting, the council will hold the first of two public hearings on their proposed budget, which does not include the $50,000 for the individual school grants.  The second pu... 09/01/2007

Pinecrest is well known for its excellent publicand private schools and now that school is back in session it is clear why.  However, in Florida, where the weather is great all year round (except for an occasional hurricane) there are so many things to do that you feel like you are on vacation even though you have to work or go back to school!I Love South Florida and one of the reasons why is the Village of Pinecrest.  It is an un-suburb suburb in the middle of everything.  It is close to shopping and marinas, but it is the Village itself rather than what it is close to, that makes it such a fun place to live and visit.   It used to be home to the Parrot Jungle, a long-time tourist attraction that has since re-named itself and moved to Watson Island in the City of Miami.  When the Villa... 09/01/2007

Sometimes you write about something other than Real Estate.Ralei Sealey is a great kid. At Gulliver Schools he is a star basketball, football and track star. More importantly is the fact that he is a kind, polite and intelligent young man 15 years of age, well liked by all of his student friends and teachers at Gulliver.Ralei Sealey is Dead. Last Saturday while swimming at Key Biscayne with friends he developed cramps. He was about 100 yards from a boat and his friends pulled him as far as they could. He went under and never came up.Later, Coast Guard divers found his lifeless body and transported him to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.My reason for writing about Ralie is not to ask for donations for his family, although they would be thankful, but rather to ask everyone to th... 08/23/2007

PINECREST2006     2007DateJULY 6JULY 7For Sale207253Sold1614Pended1310Months of Inventory based on Closed Sales12.918.1Months of Inventory based on Pended Sales15.925.3Avg. Active Price18091867Avg. Sld Price11811594Avg. Sq. Ft. Price352308Sold/List Diff. %9392Days on Market8169MEDIAN10801138Pinecrest is one of the wealthiest suburbs in South Florida.  During the 1950s and 1960s the area flourished with the development and construction of ranch-style houses on 1 acre lots which laid the foundation for the community's rural and lushly landscaped residential character.  These one acre lots were transformed into some of the most stately residences in Miami.   Pinecrest is home to many celebrities and prominent families in the area.  Pinecrest is served by the Dade County Public School syste... 08/21/2007

Buyers are definately out there!  And that is good, we have a very good inventory to choose from.  If you would like detailed information about the Pinecrest market, click here www.MarieStory.com and then go to "What's Sold" or to "33156 Stats" 06/17/2007

Looking back at growing up in South Florida we where like the Cleavers with a good Tan.  I realize now how hard my father worked and how important his family was to him.  There was never a weekend that went by that we did not spend it at Kings Bay Country Club either on the tennis courts or at the pool. (now it is just a memory of what once was in South Florida)                                                                                    (My Dad with his L&M Reds playing with me pool side with my Mom)                                              Isn't amazing the older I get the wiser my Dad becomes?  Now that I am father myself I really can appreciate everything my dad has done and continue's to do for me.These are just some of best memories growing up with my DadGoing to Dixie F... 06/16/2007

MOLD TESTING in South Florida- Sampling & Testing Methods TESTING METHODSBulk/Surface Sampling. A certified inspector, trained in appropriate sampling methodology, performs bulk or surface sampling. Bulk/Surface sampling should be performed if the building inhabitants are suffering from health problems, which are or may be associated with fungal exposure. Bulk/Surface sampling should also be performed to identify the presence or absence of mold if a visual inspection is equivocal (e.g. discoloration, and staining). Bulk samples are collected from visibly moldy surfaces by scraping or cutting materials with a clean tool into a clean plastic bag. Surface samples are collected by wiping a measured area with a sterile swab or by stripping the suspect surface with "Bio Tape lift". Carpet cas... 05/23/2007

The beautiful Pinecrest Gardens in our lovely South Dade Village of Pinecrest is hosting it's annual Eggstravaganza. The event will be from 10AM - 1PM on Saturday, April 7, 2007 Egg hunts start at 10AM sharp so be on time!  The egg hunts are for kids 10 and under. There will be 3 different age group hunting areas to keep things fair and fun for the little ones.  3 hunts will take place in each area at 10AM, 11AM and 12AM.  That's 9 hunts altogether.  What fun! In addition to the egg hunts you can enjoy rides, face painting, arts & crafts, and visits with the Spring Bunny (I didn't change his name.  It's this way on their flyer). Admission is $6 for adults and $4 for kids.  And remember, apart from special events like these, entrance to the lovely and relaxing Pinecrest Gardens is always... 04/06/2007

Last week I had the opportunity to revisit the beautiful Pinecrest Gardens in Pinecrest.   Pinecrest Gardens sits on 14 acres of lush land.  Parrot Jungle used to be there until 2003, when Pinecrest Gardens was dedicated by the Pinecrest Village Council.  The foliage you'll see there is incredibly beautiful.  From the massive banyan trees to the humble water lily.  There's so much to see and enjoy!   There are running streams and bubbling brooks everywhere you walk.  You can't get away from the sound of running water.  It's quite relaxing.   Even nicer is the fact that it doesn't cost a penny to get in and enjoy these sights.  It's free!  They also make their facilities available for weddings and other celebrations.  There are different lawn areas available for rental.  The entrance to ... 03/21/2007

Village of Pinecrest Pinecrest is a village located in Miami-Dade County, Florida. It was incorporated in 1996 and just had it's 11th birthday this month.  Pinecrest is governed by a five member Village Council and operates under a Council-Manager form of government with a Mayor at it's head.  The physical boundaries of Pinecrest are US1 to the west (US1 is called Pinecrest Parkway along the stretch where it flanks Pinecrest), 57th Avenue to the east, 136th Street to the south and just a little further north of 88th Street (Kendall Drive).  Here's a map of Pinecrest.  It is just a hop, skip and a jump away from beautiful Biscayne Bay. Driving along the streets of Pinecrest you will notice the abundance of mature trees with huge canopies!  There is so much green in Pinecrest and it reall... 03/21/2007