Fort Lauderdale plans new Las Olas plaza in the air

The city wants to extend the roof of the Henry E. Kinney Tunnel northward to put a small park/open space on the north side and push the tunnel wall further back  (Mike Stocker, Sun Sentinel / October 16, 2013) 

FORT LAUDERDALE—

If the city has its way, you'll soon be able to picnic atop traffic in one of the area's poshest locations. 

The Federal Highway entrance to Las Olas Boulevard is currently bleak and unsafe, with a wall from the U.S. 1 tunnel pushed up against its northern sidewalk.

Officials want to move the tunnel entrance 26 feet to the north and put a plaza — with park benches, shaded areas and a tourist kiosk — on top of its extended roof.

The plaza would make a fashionable entrance to Las Olas and could make it more inviting for visitors to check out businesses to the east and west. It could also lead to the creation of more popular outdoor cafes to the west.

And, as important, it would improve safety.

"We've all experienced trying to cross there and it's extremely difficult. The cars aren't sure who's there and the people aren't sure where the cars are," said Chris Wren, executive director of the Downtown Development Authority.

Commissioners say the plaza is a high priority once $840,000 in funding is found — possibly in the next year or two.

"For less than a million dollars, you're going to change the entrance to Las Olas," said Mayor Jack Seiler, an advocate of creating a park over the tunnel entrance since 2009.

While the city's proposal is fairly modest, the development agency is preparing a more ambitious proposal, one with lots of open space and sculptures. It would combine a larger plaza on the north side of Las Olas with open space to the south, next to the Cheesecake Factory.

"I want that whole area to feel like a nice, special public area," Wren said. "I think it should all get unified, that it should be a grand public space."

Wren said that proposal has a pricetag closer to $3.8 million. He will be contacting other agencies over the next several months seeking partnerships to help cover the cost.

The DDA is hoping to convince Broward County to use some of the $1.1 million it is reserving for its 2015 centennial celebration, possibly for a signature artwork that could be seen from U.S. 1.

The area is next to the Stranahan House, one of the county's earliest settlements, and as such is historically significant.

City commissioners said the scope of the final project will depend on the dollars available, but they're covinced the plaza project will move forward.

"I think there are funding sources and an opportunity to get that done before 2015," Seiler said.

Robert Pattinson Lists ‘Twilight’ Love Nest

Realtor.com    By: Neal J. Leitereg

The public can now sink their fangs into the Los Angeles home of sparkly “Twilight” actor Robert Pattinson.

The home, which once served as a love nest of sorts for Pattinson and expired flame Kristen Stewart, was previously shopped as a pocket listing, but recently came to market, showing up on the MLS. Curbed reports the property, located in the city’s Los Feliz neighborhood, is listed at the same price at which it was offered privately: $6.75 million.

Known as the Seyler House, it was designed by Stiles O. Clements in 1922 and is said to be “one of the first private residences built in the gentle hills above Los Feliz,” according to the listing notes. Sited on a sloping 1.5-acre lot, the classic Mediterranean has three bedrooms, four baths and approximately 4,000 square feet of room to move. It features a lagoon pool with a waterfall feature, various gardens, ornate tile work and wallpaper, and the one amenity no thespian should be without: a private amphitheater.

Rumor has it that Pattinson purchased the home for $6.275 million from none other than Los Angeles Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 2011. The list of past celebrity owners is also said to include the likes of “Falling Skies” actor Noah Wyle, cinematographer Robert Richardson and director Robert Luketic.

Besides supplying waves of tasty tabloid bits over the last few years, the relationship of “Twilight” stars Pattinson and Stewart also supplied plenty of real estate fodder. In 2012, following a much-publicized split from Stewart, Pattinson left the Los Feliz property and found solace at the dreamy Wallace Neff-designed Ojai compound of Reese Witherspoon. The ranch estate hit the market for $10 million shortly after Pattinson’s stay began, but has seen its asking price reduced to $5.9 million over the last year.

That Pattinson didn’t return to his Los Feliz home following his Ojai sabbatical could have something to do with the fact that Stewart decided to purchase her own home in the neighborhood. Instead of driving by a constant reminder of what once was, Pattinson opted to rent a mansion in an ultra-private enclave of Beverly Hills.

David Gray of Partners Trust is the listing agent.

Affordable Improvement: Closet organizer

You don't have to spend a fortune to have a neat closet. Wire shelving systems are inexpensive, practical and easy to install. They increase your storage space and simplify cleaning too. Almost everything hangs on the walls, keeping the floor clear for easy vacuuming. And the wire shelving  won't collect dust like solid shelving does.

A novice can install a system with only a drill, a level, a hacksaw and basic hand tools. Begin by measuring your closet dimensions. At home centers, you'll find basic kits with a full complement of shelves and clothes rods priced from $50 to $75. If you want a more elaborate system, either begin with a kit and then add accessories, or build a custom system from readily available parts. Visit a home center to see a complete selection of parts and get arrangement ideas. Then plan your system by laying out all the shelves and other components using masking tape on the back of your closet wall. You can also draw up a plan on paper, but measure carefully if you use this method. Often manufacturer Web sites have planning guides.

Most brands have solid, drill-and-tap-in wall anchors that work well even in drywall. Use a hacksaw to cut the heavy wire shelving to fit your layout.

Finally, check for accessories like shoe racks, tie and belt racks, and baskets to expand storage options and make the best use of leftover space.

Cost: $200 for the closet system shown.

Time: Half day to remove old shelves and install the new system.

Make the most of closet space with wire shelving and accessories. You can outfit an entire closet in one morning. Photo courtesy of ClosetMaid

A Good Title Company is a Real Asset

What do they do?

 When making a real estate purchase, a title company performs several vital roles. They are a necessary partner in any real property transaction.

When the wheels are in motion to purchase a property, a title company is contracted to conduct a title search, formally known as an “abstract of title.” The information the abstract produces contains:

• The legal owner of the property
• Any liens or judgments against the property, or any taxes that need to be addressed before a sale or purchase can take place.
• Provide details of any easements, restrictions, or leases that may affect the property.

Once the abstract of title is completed, the title company composes an “title opinion letter” and presents it to the lender and the buyer. If a title insurance policy will be issued, a “Commitment of Title Insurance” will be prepared and given to the appropriate parties.

These two documents will explain in detail everything that needs to addressed and completed, and any problems that need to be corrected before the buyer can purchase the property and receive “good title.” It is the title insurance company’s responsibility to complete all the required documents and endeavor to correct any problems. Once this work has been completed, the parties involved can begin the process of closing.

At closing, the title company the purchase money from the buyer and lender as well as all settlement costs from all involved parties. With these monies, the title company pays all transaction expenses, existing mortgages (if any), and remits to the seller the net proceeds of the sale, in accordance with the Housing and Urban Development 1 settlement statement.

Following closing, the title company records the deed, mortgage, assignments, and other legal documents at the county courthouse and returns the originals to the rightful party. New owners receive the deed. The lender gets the original mortgage documents which are held until the mortgage is paid. Once discharged, the lender releases the lien against the property at the courthouse.

In brief, a title company performs almost all of the tedious, behind-the-scenes legwork of real estate transactions. A good title company keeps the process moving smoothly along so any issues can be addressed that may impede the sale.

Original Article found at SuperTips on Superpages.com

Madonna Sells Beverly Hills Mansion

The ‘Material Girl’ has shed one of her biggest material possessions.

After selling a luxury duplex on the Upper West Side of Manhattan for $19 million in May, Madonna recently made another big score, parting ways with her Beverly Hills mansion. TMZ was first to report news of the transaction and Lauren Beale of the Los Angeles Times confirmed that Madonna has indeed sold the prized property.

Madge’s 17,000-square-foot palace was originally shopped privately last year as a pocket listing. It was offered publicly in July, debuting on the MLS with a price tag of $22.5 million — ultimately selling for $3 million less, at $19.5 million.

Details of Madonna’s mansion are scarce — even when the pop icon listed the home publicly, she did so without interior or exterior shots of the home. The realtor.com listing had a lone picture of the property, an aerial view showing the residence, its tennis court and pool.

The Times notes that the mansion was extensively expanded and updated during Madonna’s reign. The private celebrity compound sits on 1.25 acres, sheltered from the outside world behind a 500-foot tree-lined driveway and other mature foliage.

The home has nine bedrooms and 15 bathrooms, as well as a pair of detached guest houses. Highlights include a two-story dining room, a junior dining room, a chef’s kitchen, a full-size movie theater and screening room, and a pair of private offices, as well as staff rooms and designated assistant offices.

The multimillion-dollar sale comes just months after Madonna parted ways with the 41 Central Park West duplex she purchased with then-husband Sean Penn in 1985. Madge originally listed the six-bedroom, eight-bathroom co-op in Harperley Hall for $23.5 million. However, like her Beverly Hills mansion, the pop princess didn’t get her asking price —  she sold it to a hedge fund manager for a reported $19 million.

Kurt Rappaport of Westside Estate Agency and Barry Peele of Sotheby’s International Real Estate were the listing agents.

Original article found on Celebrity Real estate at Realtor.com

Affordable Improvement : Backyard oasis

Canopy anchors
Screw-in ground anchors are the best
defense against strong winds.

Two elements make for a great backyard retreat—shade from the sun and protection from irritating insects. The good news: You can now choose from a wide range of screened canopies (also called gazebos) that handle both sun and insects. They're easy to put up and maintain, you can plant them in almost any flat spot, and they're reasonably priced, typically $200 to $500, depending on the size. Typical sizes range from 10 x 10-ft. to 12 x 12 ft. You can create a comfortable sitting area in just a few hours. Look for screened canopies at home centers and outdoor furniture dealers.

A grass floor is inviting, but it'll wear out fast. If you don't have an existing deck or patio that's suitable, we recommend building a paver patio for the floor. Brick and concrete pavers are durable, handsome, and available in many styles and colors. And you don't need special skills or experience to lay them successfully. Even a novice can do a first-class job and complete a small project in a weekend. OK, it is hard work. You'll have to dig a bit and rent and operate a heavy plate compactor. Look for pavers at home centers and patio and garden centers.

Screened canopy

Photo courtesy of Home Depot

Begin by choosing a canopy style and size. Then make your patio slightly larger to accommodate it. Or consider an even larger patio, leaving part of it open.

Cost: $150 and up for a screened canopy; about $3.50 per sq. ft. for a paver patio.

Time: Two hours for a canopy; a weekend for a small patio.

From the Family Handyman - Affordable Home Improvement Ideas

Market Update : Monthly Distressed Market Summary - August 2013

Monthly Distressed Market Summary - August 2013

Coming soon to Miami: Qatar Airways

BY HANNAH SAMPSON

HSAMPSON@MIAMIHERALD.COM

Miami’s reach is about to grow.

Qatar Airways will start flying between Miami and Doha
in June using a Boeing 777-200LR, shown in this photo. 

Already the second-busiest airport in the country for international passengers, Miami International Airport on Monday will announce the addition of a new far-flung destination: Qatar, the oil-rich Persian Gulf state.

Starting June 1, Qatar Airways will fly four times a week between Doha and Miami. The destination will be the airline’s sixth in the U.S.

“This is huge because Qatar Airways serves a part of the world, quite frankly, that we don’t have much access to,” said Miami-Dade Aviation Director Emilio T. González. The airline also offers connections to Eastern Europe, India, China, Japan and other destinations Miami has been eyeing.

South Florida hasn’t had direct service to the Middle East since late 2008, when El Al cut its Miami-to-Tel Aviv route. Qatar Airways plans to use a Boeing 777-200LR that can carry about 260 passengers; officials in Miami have said they hope the airline will increase frequency beyond four times a week eventually.

The announcement comes about six months after the airline starting flying to Chicago and five months after it announced the April 2014 start of service to Philadelphia. Later this month, Qatar Airways is set to become a full member of the Oneworld alliance, which means it will coordinate routes and allow passengers to earn and redeem frequent flyer points on partnering airlines.

“Miami was a clear choice for us,” Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker said in an email. “It’s a large international travel market, both inbound and outbound, and Qatar Airways’ membership in Oneworld gives people in the U.S. many more options for international travel.”

For Miami business and political leaders, the new air service reinforces the area’s strength as a base for doing business with emerging markets in Latin America.

“I think it shows our place as the gateway to the Americas and shows that we are rapidly becoming a global city of significant importance,” said Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez.

Barry Johnson, president and CEO of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, said the new route in combination with expanded service to Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean make Miami more attractive as a global business center.

“Increasing routes like these and hopefully others to Asia and other parts of the world will further solidify the position,” Johnson said.

In recent years, Miami has seen significant investment from Asian and European real estate developers, and convenient air access is considered crucial to opening up more business and tourism opportunities.

A study by the Miami-Dade Aviation Department showed that the new flight is expected to bring 536 jobs and more than $78 million in anticipated business revenue to the county.

González, the aviation director, said he believes the route has great potential for cargo business as well.

“We expect their planes to go back with full bellies,” he said. “This is a very exciting time for us because it’s a long time coming that we were able to get an airline with their caliber and their reach.”

The 16-year-old airline has more than 250 planes on order, worth more than $50 billion. Skytrax, the airline rating and review site, gives its long haul service five stars and named Qatar Airways the “world’s best airline” in 2011 and 2012.

While Qatar is small — home to an estimated two million residents, according to the CIA World Factbook — it is also wealthy, boasting the world’s highest per-capita income.

William Talbert III, president and CEO of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, said Miami is eager to welcome “high-end visitors” who might want to visit to start a business, take a luxury vacation or host upscale meetings. At a dinner earlier this year with representatives from the Miami-Dade business community and the airline, Talbert said much of the discussion focused on luxury travel and Miami’s assets.

He said the bureau and the airport are busy selling the destination to other airlines as well.

“This is not the only one — it’s the first, and what a sweet one,” he said.

González said he has trips planned in the near future to Japan, Israel, Turkey and South Africa with the goal of establishing more international routes.

“It’s a lot of cultivation, a lot of handshaking, a lot of business,” he said. “You establish the relationships first and they do the math.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/10/18/3697667/coming-soon-to-miami-qatar-airways.html#storylink=cpy

Report: Rihanna Renting Manhattan Apartment for $39,000 a Month

By Erika Riggs 

Rihanna's NY apartment

Source: IMDb

In a city of 8 million people, even a well-known celebrity can find a bit of anonymity. At least that’s what Rihanna is hoping for. The Barbados-born singer recently left L.A. for the Big Apple, where she’s renting a swanky Chinatown apartment, according to the New York Daily News.

Rihanna just purchased her Los Angeles-area home less than a year ago, but a recent incident with a stalker left her wanting the security of a New York high-rise. On Sept. 29, a man threw a chair through a glass door at the star’s Pacific Palisades home. It wasn’t the first time he was caught prowling around the property, and Rihanna recently requested a restraining order against him.

The singer’s California home boasts state-of-the-art security, but regardless, a penthouse with doorman-controlled entry is going to be a greater deterrent to future break-ins.

Reportedly, Rihanna is paying $39,000 a month for the 4,660-square-foot penthouse. Like her place in L.A., the home is overly modern with two stories of clean interiors featuring custom, concrete flooring and enormous windows throughout. A separate 2,400-square-foot terrace can be transformed into a private entertaining space. The penthouse includes a grand living room with 13-foot-high ceilings and a wood-burning fireplace, as well as a “sumptuous” master suite with views of the Empire State Building, a dressing room and huge walk-in closet.

The home is currently on the market for $14.6 million, so in the off chance RiRi wants to make the move East permanent, she has an easy option.

Affordable Improvement: Trim and paint

By adding two simple lines of trim—a chair rail and a crown molding—you create the perfect framework for any handsome two-color wall combination. This is one of the secrets of fast, easy redecorating.

To have the biggest color impact, paint your trim.  This also simplifies installation. You don't have to cut perfect joints, because a little filler and paint will leave them looking sharp and crisp. You can also use less expensive materials.

The trim combination we show looks best in rooms with at least 4-1/2-in.-tall baseboards. If your baseboard is narrower, consider replacing it or choosing a different wall decorating technique. 

Then make the new chair rail 60 to 70 percent of the width of your baseboard. Use a two-piece combination that mimics a windowsill (stool) and its apron (the trim underneath) if you have this type of trim. Otherwise, use trim similar to your window trim with a 5/8- to 3/4-in. strip on top. Center your chair rail at about one-third the wall height. Choose crown molding that's 30 to 40 percent of the width of the baseboard. Painted trim requires less skill, time and expense than stained and varnished trim. To create wall stripes, apply easy-release masking tape over a light base color.

Finding colors that work well together and go well with the existing room furnishings can be challenging. We suggest that you take full advantage of pictures in magazines and the combinations recommended by paint manufacturers that you find at every paint store. Take photos of rooms you like (or clothing combinations you like!) and work with a paint dealer to match colors. Most home centers and paint dealers now offer small paint samples. You can try them directly on the wall or paint a 2 x 2-ft. scrap of drywall or cardboard instead. That way you can view the samples in different parts of the room. Then look at the colors both in daylight and with your lights on at night. (Some colors change dramatically under different types of light.)

TIP: Prepaint the trim and paint the walls before you put the trim up. Touch up afterward.

Cost: 6 gallons of paint—$180; 80 ft. of chair rail and crown moldings—$200.

Time: Two to three days.

From the Family Handyman - Affordable Home Improvement Ideas

A Good Loan Officer is More Important than the Lender

What Does a Mortgage Loan Officer Do?Working with a qualified mortgage loan officer can, in many ways, be more important than partnering with a good lender. While a lender works for a lending institution and is interested in making money off of providing loans, a mortgage loan officers works with multiple lenders to help you find the best deal. Furthermore, a lender will not always go out of his way to help you get a home or qualify for a mortgage if you have bad credit or special circumstances, while a qualified mortgage loan officer will.

A mortgage loan officer may work for a private bank or may work independently and help to connect you with multiple lenders. Mortgage loan officers are usually experts on evaluating your credit and on finding intricate deals and savvy financing options to help you qualify for a mortgage.

Specialized loan offers may work with homeowners who have proven delinquent on other accounts. These officers understand the consequences of low credit scores and other risk factors, and they can salvage deals between borrowers and lenders that might otherwise fail. For example, a loan officer may be able to work out a collateral agreement in which you put up an asset to secure a loan or to act as collateral on the loan. If you fail to make your payments, the bank can then seize the asset, so the loan is less risky for them.

Benefits of Working with a Mortgage Loan Officer

Lenders may be less interested in the particulars of your situation and more interested in how they are going to come out on top. Since a loan officer usually works on commission, it is in his best interests to make sure you find a loan you can qualify for; private lenders do not have this incentive.

Furthermore, there are literally hundreds if not thousands of lending institutions available from private banks to credit unions to online lenders. If you are unschooled in the logistics and financing of loans, you can end up paying a higher interest rate than necessary, or being unable to find the right loan at all.

When you work with an informed mortgage loan officer, on the other hand, you can connect with more appropriate lenders, who can provide the most optimal rate possible given your credit history and risk factors. The money you may save in interest payments is, in many cases, far more tan the commission you will have to pay your mortgage loan officer.

Original Article found on Super Tips at Superpages.com

Rosie O’Donnell Picks Up Florida Home for $5 Million

AUTHOR:ERIKA RIGGS

Source: IMDb

When Rosie O’Donnell sold her Star Island home, by no means was she done with Florida. A few months ago, she was in contract to buy Olivia Newton-John’s Palm Beach home, but after a suicide on the property, O’Donnell got cold feet and backed out of the deal.

However, this didn't mean she was backing out of Florida. The comedian and actress began home shopping in the Sarasota area and last week closed on a home in Nokomis, just down the road from author Stephen King, according to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Her $5 million purchase price represents the highest purchase in Casey Key this year.

The newer-built home sits right on the Gulf of Mexico and features an indoor-outdoor floor plan, with several decks, patios and seating areas, plus  a full outdoor kitchen with a barbecue area, flat-screen TV and bar.

Inside, the home is just as luxe, with imported French oak floors, custom lighting and woodworking. The home was constructed in 1998, but the sellers did a complete renovation of 4,647-square-foot home in 2009.

O’Donnell will likely use the home as a getaway with her wife and five children.