Tips For Removing Mold and Mildew - Check for Plumbing Leaks

From the familyhandyman.com

If you see mold near water pipes, waste lines, icemaker lines or plumbing fixtures, chances are the mold is feeding off a nearby leak. Let the water run while you check the pipes and surrounding area for damp spots. Remember that water can travel in any direction—down, sideways or even up when it wicks into absorbent material like drywall—so the actual leak may be some distance from the mold.

New hotel and condo proposed on Washington Avenue

therealdeal.com


Developer is grandson of Abe Resnick, who demolished art deco New Yorker 

Rendering of Andrew Resnick’s proposed building (via Curbed)

In an ironic twist, the grandson of developer known for demolishing the art deco New Yorker Hotel wants to build a new hotel and condo project on a block of historic buildings. Andrew Resnick, grandson of Abe Resnick, is proposing a large tower on Washington Avenue between Sixth and Seventh streets, home to a block of historic art deco buildings, according to Curbed. The project was previewed at a meeting of the Washington Avenue Blue Ribbon Panel on Monday. It is designed by Kobi Karp and would have 70 condos, 171 hotel rooms, and 40,000 square feet of office space above the ground floor retail, according to the site, which noted the project’s height exceeds current zoning would need a voter referendum. Condo developer Abraham Resnick bought the New Yorker Hotel, a 70-room, oceanfront hotel, only to tear it down in 1981, attracting the ire of preservationists. [Curbed] – Jennifer White Karp

Miami Events - November 2014

Miami.com

Events in South Florida in the month of November.

RIBFEST AT ZOO MIAMI
Oct. 31-Nov. 2
Where: 12400 SW 152nd St., Miami
www.miamiribfest.com
Carnivores will be in hog heaven at this three-day barbecue festival and cook-off. Chefs from across the nation will compete in several categories plus enjoy live music by bands like Molly Hatchet and country music star James Otto, classic car show and family fun.

SOUTH MIAMI ART FESTIVAL
Nov. 1-2
Where: Sunset Drive between U.S. 1 and Red Road

www.chambersouth.com 
Celebrating its 43rd year on the quaint streets of downtown South Miami, this juried fine art show features nationally recognized artists and brings in about 50,000 visitors.

BURGERLISCIOUS
Nov. 6
Where: Ponce Circle Park, 2800 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Coral Gables
www.burgerliscious.com
If burgers are your kryptonite, then this event that brings together some of Coral Gables' premier restaurants for a burger showdown is the place to be.

TIGERDIRECT TECH BASHNov. 7
Where: Marlins Park, 501 Marlins Way, Miami
www.tigertechbash.com
TigerDirect hosts its third expo of emerging technology and interactive entertainment with a bonanza of tech exhibits, demonstrations and large-scale activities.

COTTON'S 24 HOUR FASHION SHOWNov. 7
Where: 8th and Ocean Drive, Miami Beach
www.thefabricofourlives.com
E! Network stars Giuliana and Bill Rancic return to South Beach along with E! News’ Jason Kennedy at this 24-hour event that will feature a non-stop parade of fashion in its attempt to officially break the Guinness World Record in the category of world’s longest lasting fashion show.

TU DANCE
Nov. 8
Where: South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center, 10950 SW 211th St., Cutler Bay
www.smdcac.org
Dance troupe out of Minnesota founded by Alvin Ailey veterans combines modern dance, classical ballet, African and urban movement in innovative ways.

GREAT GROVE BED RACE
Nov. 8
Where: Bayshore Drive by Peacock Park, Coconut Grove

thegreatgrovebedrace.com
The Great Grove Bed Race brings together five-person race teams for a mad dash down the road all in the name of charity. This year the 40 racing teams raising money for Little Smiles, a charity that helps sick children.

MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW
Nov. 7-16
Where: Miami Beach Convention Center, 1901 Convention Center Dr., Miami Beach

www.miamiautoshow.net
Car lovers flock to this showcase of the latest models of cars, trucks, vans and SUVs from more than 40 of the world’s leading manufacturers.

NASCAR FORD CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND
Nov. 14-16
Where: Homestead-Miami Speedway, 1 Speedway Blvd., Homestead
www.homesteadmiamispeedway.com
Homestead-Miami Speedway hosts NASCAR during Ford Championship Weekend for the 10th consecutive year featuring five-time Champ Jimmie Johnson, South Florida resident Juan Pablo Montoya and fan favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr. racing for NASCAR's biggest prize: the Sprint Cup Trophy.

MIAMI RIVERWALK FESTIVAL
Nov. 15
Where: Miami Riverwalk between 315-335 S. Biscayne Blvd., Miami
www.miamiriverwalkfestival.com
Celebrate the history and enjoy the unique surroundings at the mouth of the Miami River. The event will also feature children's activities and food.

MIAMI BOOK FAIR INTERNATIONAL
Nov. 16-23
Where: Miami Dade College Wolfson Campus
www.miamibookfair.com
The annual literary event brings out authors and bookworms for a series of author events, plus the popular Street Fair Nov. 21-23 with hundreds of publishers and booksellers, live music and teater events.

WHITE PARTY WEEK
Nov. 26-Dec. 1
Where: Nightclubs and bars throughout Miami Beach

whiteparty.org
The 30th annual event raises money for AIDS service organization Care Resource by hosting lavishly themed dance parties at clubs such as Score, Miami, Space and Perez Art Museum. 

JUNIOR ORANGE BOWL PARADE
Nov. 30
Where: Dowtown Coral Gables
www.jrorangebowl.org
The 66th Junior Orange Bowl Parade is the highlight of the Junior Orange Bowl Festival Season, which consists of nearly 20 athletic, academic and cultural youth events in South Florida.

Media Mogul Ted Turner Lists Private South Carolina Island

BY LAURA VECSEY
ZILLOW

The 4,680-acre island includes a 5-bedroom main house and a caretaker’s cottage.

Looking for the ultimate South Carolina coastal getaway? Forget Hilton Head and look north just a few nautical miles. There you’ll find a pristine paradise fit for a king — of cable TV.

In fact, for the past 35 years, CNN founder Ted Turner has called St. Phillips Island off the coast near Beaufort his own, private Carolina getaway. It’s accessible only by boat and contains acres of white-sand beaches that front the Atlantic Ocean. For all these years, the island has been populated by no one else except Turner and the lucky friends and family he made a lot of memories with there.

Now, however, Turner said he is prepared to part with the island. With less time to enjoy the 4,680 acres of pure idyllic pleasure, Turner has listed the island for sale for $23.777 million.

In addition to beaches, ponds, marshes and more than 1,000 acres of uplands, the property includes a 5-bedroom main house that Turner had built after he bought the place in 1979, plus a caretaker’s house. The island has its own water and power supply, complete with generator.

Not everyone can afford their own island, but Turner has included a little enticement for potential buyers. With an easement from The Nature Conservancy that restricts use of the land, the island will largely remain undeveloped, no matter who might buy it. However, a provision allows for 10 additional dwellings.

“The value of the island is in the land, the natural maritime forests, the long white beaches, the location and the total privacy,” said Chip Hall of Plantation Services, Inc. “It is a place for a modern-day Robinson Crusoe.”

For Turner, the sale of the island would hardly leave him without places to hang his many hats. In addition to his pioneering work in television and his massive donation to the United Nations, Turner is the second-largest private landowner in North America with approximately 2 million acres of personal and ranch land.

Through Turner Enterprises, he manages the largest commercial bison herd (51,000) in North America on 15 ranches in Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

Photos courtesy of Plantation Services, Inc.

Simple Fixes for Common Appliance Problems - Air Conditioner

By the DIY experts of The Family Handyman Magazine

If you turn your central air conditioner on, off and then on again in rapid order, chances are you'll blow a fuse or shut off a circuit breaker or the air conditioner simply won't respond. That's because the compressor (in the outdoor condensing unit) may have stopped in a high compression mode, making it difficult to start until the compression releases. Older condensing units may switch the compressor on anyway, which causes the circuit to overload and blow a fuse. Newer, “smarter” condensing units will prevent this blunder by delaying the AC’s “on” function for a few minutes. It's easy to mistake this delay with a faulty air conditioner. Be patient and give the air conditioner about five minutes to come back on.

To determine if you have a blown fuse, locate the special fuse block near the outside unit. Pull out the block and take the whole thing to the hardware store. A salesperson can test the cartridge fuses and tell you if you need to replace them.

Another simple reason your AC might not come on: You've signed up for a cost discount with your electric company in exchange for limited air conditioning during high-demand periods, and you're in an “off” period. If you can't remember, call your electric company to find out. You don't want to pay the repair technician to drive out and explain this program to you!

Check the fuses
If your AC won't come on, the thermostat may be saying no

Fuse block
Pull the fuse block and have them tested at a hardware store.

What is Interest Rate and APR?

From enlightenme.com

Mortgage interest rate APR is a key factor in determining your monthly mortgage payments and in determining how much you will pay for your mortgage over the life of your loan. While many people are familiar with mortgage interest rates, it is essential to understand exactly how mortgage interest rate APR works before originating a mortgage loan.

What is Mortgage Interest Rate APR

An interest rate is a fee that a person pays to borrow money. Any time you borrow money from a lender, whether it is to buy a home or car or when you make a purchase on a credit card, you must pay interest or that privilege. The money that you are borrowing is the lender’s capital or an asset that belongs to the lender. Assets can be in the form of cash, stock shares, items in finance lease agreements or consumer goods purchased through a goods for hire purchase. When a lender issues a mortgage loan, the lender is letting the borrower borrow cash assets. The lender does not have access to these assets while the borrower is using them. The interest rate is the fee the borrower pays for the convenience of having that asset.

APR, on the other hand, is the acronym for “Annual Percentage Rate.” The annual percentage rate is the yearly interest rate that is charged on the money you borrow. The APR can be nominal or effective. An effective interest rate is the actual rate of interest you pay if interest is compounded more than once a year (i.e. if you are charged interest on a monthly basis). The nominal interest rate is the interest rate stated in the contract that does not adjust to factor in inflation or compounding.

Types of Interest Rates

There are several different types of interest rates, including:

• Variable interest rates: An interest rate that changes at set intervals based on a financial index such as the LIBOR index. In mortgage terms, mortgages that use a variable mortgage interest rate APR are called adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs)
• Fixed interest rate: An interest rate that stays the same for the life of the loan unless the buyer refinances the loan.

Lenders must disclose the mortgage interest rate APR prior to finalization of the loan, and different lenders calculate the APR differently. Your APR is usually printed on the good faith statement from a mortgage company. You can compare the mortgage interest rate APR among lenders in order to determine which lender is charging you the lowest rate to borrow money to buy your home.

Kelly Ripa Sells SoHo Penthouse for $20 Million

AUTHOR:EMILY HEFFTER
ZILLOW

Source: IMDb

Talk show host Kelly Ripa and her husband, Mark Consuelos, have sold their New York penthouse for $20 million.

The 5-bedroom apartment in SoHo has high, stamped ceilings, a huge, eat-in gourmet kitchen, two dining rooms for easy entertaining and a big master suite. The living room has a dramatic staircase running up one side.

Upstairs, there is a media room, home gym, and an office — in all, the penthouse has 6,792-square-feet of indoor space. The more than 3,000-square-foot rooftop deck includes a grill area, a covered patio, a steam shower and a hot tub.

Ripa and her husband, who run a production company, bought the penthouse in 2005 for $9.5 million. They listed it in January for $24.5 million.

Adam Modlin and Raphael De Niro shared the listing with Douglas Elliman Real Estate.

Top Woodworking Tips - Forward-facing hacksaw teeth

From The FamilyHandyman.com

Install blade so teeth face forward
Install the blade on a hacksaw so the teeth face forward. The saws are designed so the blade will cut when it's pushed (the forward stroke) rather than when pulled. Some blades have an arrow that shows the correct installation (the arrow points toward the handle). Install the blade so it's tight in the saw and won't bend. When you do a lot of cutting, the blade will heat up and expand, so be sure to tighten it if it starts to bend.

Halloween Miami 2014: Events for the whole family

Miami.com

Halloween events in Miami for old and young.

YAA Monster Mash! Halloween Party
Enjoy a range of colorful, art-filled and spooktacular activities with costumes, Halloween decorations, accessories and trick-or-treating, Halloween-themed music, the Hoffman’s Chocolate tasting kiosk, the national traveling exhibition Color Play and more.
3-8 p.m. Oct. 24 at Young at Art Museum, 751 SW 121st Ave., Davie; www.youngatartmuseum.org; $8-$14.

Jungle Island's Spooktacular
Calling all princesses, goblins, superheroes and angels for a day of trick-or-treating through the jungle, graveyard games, Halloween-themed arts & crafts, bobbing for apples plus the costume contest.
10 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 25-26 at Jungle Island, 1111 Parrot Island Tr., Miami;  $34.95, $5 for kids with paying adult.

Terror in the Jungle
Zombies and mutated animals take over Jungle Island for 20 nights of hair-raising scares at a pulse-pounding haunted attraction and trail experience.
7:30 p.m.-midnight Oct. 2-Nov. 1 at Jungle Island, 1111 Parrot Island Tr., Miami; $45 per person on non-peak days (Oct. 2-5, 9-12, 16, 19, 23, 26, 29 and Nov. 1) and $55 per person on peak days (Oct. 17, 18, 24, 25, 30, 31). Fast passes start at $20 per person. Tax is additional. Jungle Island also will offer childcare on a first-come, first-served basis for $5 per child, per night.

Ghost Tour: Be Your Own Investigator
Become part of the Paranormal Investigative Team at the Deering Estate and examine paranormal evidence at this historic location. 7-9 p.m. Oct. 23. 
The Deering Estate at Cutler is located at 16701 SW 72 Ave., Palmetto Bay; 305-235-1668, ext. 233; Spookover cost is $65 per person; Ghost Tour is $30 per person.

ZOO MIAMI

Dr. Wilde's Creepy House  
A 7,000-square-foot haunted house guaranteed to send chills up and down your spine. Parental discretion is advised for young children. Open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 17-31 (Friday-Sunday only).

Zoo Boo  
Kids can trick-or-treat in costumes, participate in costume contests, watch special performances, make Halloween crafts, see zoo animals get their Halloween goodies, and more!  Music and games with fun prizes will be provided by 97.3 The Hits and Radio Disney AM990. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 25-26.

Spooky Zoo Nights  
The night includes tours of Dr. Wilde’s Creepy House, spooky tram rides and a ghoulish carousel (for an additional fee). Goodies, roving street theatre and chilling story-telling will add excitement to the pathways. 7-11 p.m. Oct. 24, 25, 31.

Zoo Miami, 12400 SW 152 St., Miami; www.zoomiami.org; Admission to Dr. Wilde's Creepy House $5, plus regular zoo admission; $17.95, $13.95 kids 3-12, free for kids 2 and under and members. Admission to Spooky Zoo Nights is 
$10.95 and $9.95 for zoo members.

FuntaineBOO Halloween Bash
The kiddies can roam through the candy corn candy shoppe or pay a visit to Dracula’s Lair, play pin the nose on the jack-o-lantern, mini pumpkin decorating or a mystical encounter with a fortune teller. Kids will also groove to spooky dance beats and enjoy an abundance of sugary treats and stop by the photo station for a memory of your grueling Halloween celebration.

4-7 p.m. Oct. 25 at the Fontainebleau Hotel, 4441 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; fontainebleau.com/Halloween; $10, free for hotel guests.

Haunted Nights at Flamingo Gardens
Beware of creepy cast members and animatronic props throughout the Garden's West Arboretum and two haunted fun houses.  
7-9 p.m. Oct. 24-25 at Flamingo Gardens, 3750 S. Flamingo Rd., Davie; www.flamingogardens.org; $8.  

A Spooky Symphony 
The Miami Youth Symphony and the Alhambra Orchestra host a free family concert with thrilling excerpts from "Pirates of the Caribbean," "Lord of the Rings" and "Scheherazade" plus orchestral highlights from "Peter and the Wolf." Kids are encouraged to dress in their Halloween costumes.

4 p.m. Oct. 26 at The Olympia Theater at the Gusman Center for the Performing Arts, 174 E. Flagler St., Miami; free.

Halloween Bash at Tongue & Cheek
Tongue & Cheek hosts a fun-filled Halloween-inspired brunch for the whole family with complimentary à la carte kids menu (for all children under the age of 12), plus fun activities and entertainment throughout the afternoon including pumpkin painting, costume contests and balloon artists.  
11 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 26 at Tongue & Cheek, 431 Washington Ave., Miami Beach; 305-704-2900.

House of Horrors
South Florida's largest haunted house with 10 terrifying rooms, 20 amusement rides, carnival games, food, fun attractions like “Malice In Wonderland” 3D Experience, Hulk Hogan’s Microchip Championship Wrestling, escape artist Michael Griffin from “America’s Got Talent."  Runs through Nov. 2.

Miami International Mall, 1455 NW 107th Ave., Doral; www.houseofhorrorpark.com; $25; $15 kids 6 and under.

Howl-o-Ween
Explore the garden and celebrate Halloween with your dogs. Costumes are encouraged.
9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Oct. 31 at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, 10901 Old Cutler Rd., Coral Gables; fairchild.org; $25; $18 seniors; $12 kids 6-17; free for members.

MiChiMu's Halloween
Enjoy original performances, take a walk through our not-so-scary haunted house, create some spooky arts and crafts and play ghostly games.  
10 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 31 at Miami Children's Museum, 980 MacArthur Cswy., Miami; 305-373-5437; Admission $18
Florida Resident $14, Children under 1 year FREE, Members Complimentary.

GrossOut Science Halloween
Bring the kids for some creepy fun with bugs and slimy snakes, plus the Mad Scientist Electricity show, pumpkin bowling, a costume contest and more. 
6 p.m.-9 p.m. Oct. 31 at Museum of Science and Discovery, 401 SW Second St., Ft. Lauderdale; $14 Adult; $13 Senior; and $12 Child (2-12).

Miami Seaquarium
Monster Splash Daytime Splash & Nighttime Bash returns with trick-or-treating at Sharky’s Sweet Tooth Station, kiddie rides and bounce houses at the Little Monsters Play Area, the Monsters in the Mangrove Haunted Walk, Flipper’s Dance Party and the only place in Miami to enjoy Halloween themed marine animal shows.   
2-10 p.m. Oct. 24-26, 31 at Miami Seaquarium, 4400 Rickenbacker Cswy., Key Biscayne; www.miamiseaquarium.com; Admission for Daytime Splash $41.95 and $31.95 for children (ages 3-9); Nighttime Bash (after 5 p.m.) $24.95 plus tax adults, $19.95 plus tax for children (ages 3 to 12 years). 

Iconic downtown Miami building set to go office condo

BY MARTHA BRANNIGAN 

MIAMIHERALD.COM

A 1952-vintage office building in downtown Miami designed by revered modernist architect Morris Lapidus is going office condo.

One Flagler, a 15-story building at 14 NE First Ave., is well along in some $10million in upgrades, mostly to the interior of the structure previously known as the Ainsley building and the Foremost building.

Miami developer Harvey Hernandez’s Newgard Development formed a joint venture with Midgard Management, the building’s owner and manager, to convert the iconic building to office condos.

Over the years, the building — an example of MiMo, or Miami Modern, architecture — has had an array of tenants from the Cuban consulate and the Miami Athletic Club to the Israel Discount Bank and various federal offices. It currently houses a branch of Continental Bank and various law firms and investment firms, among others.

“The building needed to be renovated, and we said: ‘How can we renovate this building but at the same time make some business sense?’” said Hernandez, who describes his role as “the development partner doing the conversion for the venture.”

“The upgrades we have been making are very systemic, but we have been paying attention to details and leaving the most historic features,” said James Goldstein, CEO of Midgard.

Midgard acquired the property in 2010, by acquiring a defaulted note and negotiating a turnover. The company expects to continue managing the building once it goes condo.

“We love the building,” Goldstein said. The condo conversion will help preserve the building “for future generations,” he added.

Likely buyers are investors and businesses that plan to be owner-occupants, Hernandez said.

Miami’s downtown office vacancy rate has been declining from the yawning levels hit when the Great Recession collided with the delivery of a spate of new office space in the Brickell area. The office vacancy rate there is still about 20 percent — quite high by historic standards. Hernandez says he isn’t fazed by the volume of empty space in the area.

Hernandez, whose company has been focused on new residential condo construction, said he thinks investors will jump at the opportunity to buy commercial office space in a downtown building designed by a famous architect. Investors in many cases would be able to acquire space already occupied by a tenant and could expect a return of “in excess of 4.5 percent,” he said.

The 62-year-old building is a contributing historic structure in a historic section of downtown, he said. “We’re going through the process of making it designated historic.” Lapidus is best known for the Fontainebleau and Eden Roc resort hotels in Miami Beach.

Hernandez said the space in the building currently rents for $26 to $28 a square foot, compared to $38 to $40 a square foot in the Brickell area.

Plans call for offering 14 floors of office condos, totaling 143,000 square feet of space.

Renovations have been under way for months, including upgrades to the air-conditioning, plumbing, electrical and fire systems, according to the developer.

“We’re going to start demolishing the lobby in the next few weeks and build the new lobby,” Hernandez said.

Newgard’s projects include Brickell House, a tower that is expected to be delivered to buyers in the next few weeks, and Centro, a loft project with no on-site parking garage is going up at 151 SE First Street, not far from One Flagler.

Hernandez said he thinks the office condo trend is poised for a comeback.

In August, The Solution Group said its development affiliate, Ofizzina 1200, bought a site at 1200 Ponce de Leon Blvd. in Coral Gables with plans to build a new office condominium. Construction is expected to start in the fall of 2015. The Gables’ project is slated to have 47-units in a Mediterranean-style building with 97,000 square feet of Class A office space, plus space for retail and parking.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/article2537730.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/article2537730.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/article2537730.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/article2537730.html#storylink=cpy

Jake Gyllenhaal Lists Hollywood Hills View Home

AUTHOR:EMILY HEFFTER
ZILLOW

Source: IMDb

Actor Jake Gyllenhaal has listed his Los Angeles mid-century modern, asking $3.5 million for the 3-bedroom, 3-bath home in Cahuenga Pass.

Gyllenhaal, known for “Jarhead,” “Donnie Darko,” and “Brokeback Mountain,” among other films, bought the gated compound in 2005 for $2.5 million.

The home’s great room offers views of the city — “sensational panoramic views,” according to the listing — and the outdoor space includes a patio, private yard and pool.

The home, which is perfect for entertaining, sits on nearly two acres near the Hollywood Hills and is protected by a security system.

Denny Kagasoff of Prudential California Realty holds the listing.

Simple Fixes for Common Appliance Problems - Dryer

By the DIY experts of The Family Handyman Magazine

Our expert repairman responds to many “dryer-not- heating calls” only to find that the machine is set to “fluff air”—a non-heat setting. Avoid the embarrassment. Check the settings first.

Another common cause of poor drying is a clogged lint filter. The filter may look clean, but it may actually be covered by a nearly invisible film caused by dryer sheets. This film reduces airflow and forces the thermostat to shut off the heat before your clothes are dry. Test your filter by pouring water into it. If the filter holds water, it's past time to clean it. Pull out the filter and scrub it in hot water with a little laundry detergent and a stiff kitchen brush.

Also check the outside dryer vent for any lint that may have built up there. The louver door–style vent covers are notorious for lint buildup, which traps heat and turns the heat off in the dryer. Pull the cover completely off to get to these clogs.

Wrong setting?
Before calling the repairman, check the dryer settings—just in case.

Dryer sheet residue 
If your clothes are still damp after a normal cycle and you use dryer sheets, check the filter

House Closing Expectations

From the Superpages.com

Every house closing is a little different from the next, but the main elements remain the same across the mortgage industry. While an excellent home mortgage representative will often try to keep the underwriting and approval process as seamless to you as possible, closing your mortgage with the title company can add an extra layer of difficulty to the communications. Because this is the final part of the lending process, it’s important you know what to expect the day of closing. It’s even more important to know what not to expect.

Title Company Function

In addition to performing your house closing, the title company performs a number of tasks behind the scenes crucial to the mortgage. Before your lender can file their lien on the property, they must verify the title is clear. Rather than requesting this information direct from the county, the title company that later closes the loan performs this service. When issues exist on the current title, such as unpaid property taxes or IRS liens, the title company works with the county to get the details needed to perfect the title. If it is something you must take care of yourself, they relay this information to your mortgage representative to pass along to you.

After the mortgage closing, a title company employee coordinates transferring the funds to the seller and sending the closing costs they collect from you to your lender. The title company then files all the requisite paperwork with the county to transfer legal ownership to you. In some cases, you may receive keys to the property during the house closing.

Title Company Limitations

Title companies perform more than one house closing each day, so the closers are familiar with the document format for various types of mortgage loans. This, however, does not make the employee an expert on your particular mortgage. Rather than waiting until your closing to ask questions about your loan, contact your mortgage representative in advance. If a question that hinders your ability to sign the agreement with confidence arises during closing, you must wait until the lender returns your call with clarification. A lengthy response time can mean postponing your closing for another day.

Also, keep in mind that the title company can allow only so long for each house closing if they hope to stay on schedule. Although you may enjoy a genial relationship with your mortgage representative, the title closer does not have the same amount of time to chat. In fact, a busy title company may encourage closers to keep the conversation focused on the documents on the table. You may dislike the hurried approach, but it will get you out of the mortgage closing and onto enjoying your new home sooner.

Jay Z and Beyonce Rented This Holmby Hills Mansion

AUTHOR:EMILY HEFFTER
ZILLOW

Music super-couple Jay Z and Beyonce camped out this summer at this 16,000-square-foot rental, spending about a month in the luxurious spec house before moving on to Paris.

Variety first reported their stay in the Holmby Hills home, which has been on the market since April, originally offered for $48 million and now listed for $45 million.

Variety reported that the rent was somewhere in the neighborhood of $200,000 for the month. That’s nothing for Jay and Bey, whose On the Run tour packed hundreds of stadiums across the country this summer. The tour was dogged by reports that their marriage was on the rocks.

Like the stars, the big, boxy modern is larger than life. It has a decidedly European flair, having been built by Estate Four, a London firm that designed part of the Milan fashion district.

The entryway has 20-foot ceilings, and common rooms are framed by walls of glass. Inside, there are 7 bedrooms and 8.5 bathrooms, plus a tennis court, pool and exercise room.

The Agency‘s David Parnes and James Harris hold the listing.

Top Woodworking Tips - “On the level” table saw

From The FamilyHandyman.com

Use duct tape to mark a level spot

You've finally got your table saw on a mobile base so it's easy to pull out and put away on the weekend. Finish the job by finding a level spot on the floor that's also convenient for sawing boards without obstruction. Mark the wheel positions with bright-colored duct tape and now you can roll the saw to the same flat spot every time you saw.

The Edge on Brickell launches unit sales

BY MARTHA BRANNIGAN 

MIAMIHERALD.COM

A rendering of The Edge on Brickell, a 130-unit condominium tower slated for development on the south bank of the Miami River.RAFAEL ARAGONÉS

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/article2434222.html#storylink=cpy

Developers of the Edge on Brickell project, a 58-story tower planned for the south bank of the Miami River, have launched sales of units.

The 130-unit project is being developed by Mexican-born architect Rafael Aragonés and developer Alberto Espinosa and will include a 300-foot dock with private boat slips.

The 631-foot highrise — which is to be located at the former site of the Big Fish restaurant at 55 SW Miami Avenue Road — will have a 600-foot illuminated glass mural design by Dutch artist Jan Hendrix on its facade.

The developers expect to begin construction in 2015 with completion projected for the spring of 2017. Amenities include a pool deck on 15th floor, a children’s entertainment room, and a ground floor restaurant.

The Edge on Brickell will include two- and three-bedroom units and two-story penthouses, with prices ranging from $648,000 to more than $4 million.

The project is using the buyer deposit model that has fueled the current boom in Miami. The deposit schedule calls for buyers to put up 20 percent of the purchase price at contract, another 20 percent at groundbreaking, 10 percent when the top slab is poured and the balance at closing.

Veronica Cervera Goeseke, CEO of Cervera Real Estate, which is heading sales and marketing for the project, said prices start in the “very high $400-per-square foot’’ range with “a majority of units in the $500-per-square-foot” range.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/article2434222.html#storylink=cpy

American Airlines – New Flights From MIA To Austin, Salt Lake City, Kansas City, & San Antonio

By exMiami Staff 

American Airlines is launching daily service to four new cities from MIA in March.

All four of the new flights will depart Miami within minutes of each other every day, and each will be operated with a 737-800.

• Austin
• Kansas City
• Salt Lake City
• San Antonio

 American Airlines To Launch New Domestic Service From Miami Next SpringNetwork Expansion out of Miami Connects Customers to Austin, Texas; Kansas City, Missouri; Salt Lake City and San Antonio

FORT WORTH, Texas, Oct. 2, 2014 — American Airlines will offer more domestic service from Miami International Airport (MIA) next spring, further strengthening one of American’s key hubs and providing more access for customers across the airline’s growing global network.

New service between Miami and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), Kansas City International Airport (MCI), Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) and San Antonio International Airport (SAT) will launch on March 5, 2015. Customers may begin booking travel on these flights on Sunday, Oct. 5.

“We are very excited to announce these new routes, which will give our customers more travel options to and from Miami and better opportunities to connect to our vast network in Latin America,” said Marilyn DeVoe, American’s Vice President – Miami. “As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of our Miami hub, these new routes further underscore Miami’s importance and our commitment to its growth.”

“Congratulations to our partners at American Airlines on an exciting day that includes the launch of new daily Miami-Cap-Haitien service and the announcement of future daily service from MIA to four exciting U.S. destinations,” said Miami-Dade Aviation Department Director Emilio T. Gonzalez. “MIA’s partnership with American Airlines is a strong one and together we are connecting Miami to more of the world than ever before.”

With these new routes, American will serve more than 130 domestic and international destinations from its Miami hub, providing customers ideal connections to Mexico, the Caribbean, Central and South America.

These new routes will be served with Boeing 737-800 aircraft and will operate on the following daily schedule (all times local):

MIA-AUS

Departs AUS at 6:10 a.m. CT

Arrives at MIA at 9:58 a.m. ET

Departs MIA at 7:50 p.m. ET

Arrives at AUS at 9:58 p.m. CT

MIA-MCI

Departs MCI at 6 a.m. CT

Arrives at MIA at 10:09 a.m. ET

Departs MIA at 7:55 p.m. ET

Arrives at MCI at 10:05 p.m. CT

MIA-SLC

Departs SLC at 12:59 a.m. MT

Arrives at MIA at 7:50 a.m. ET

Departs MIA at 7:55 p.m. ET

Arrives at SLC at 11:11 p.m. MT

MIA-SAT

Departs SAT at 6:10 a.m. CT

Arrives at MIA at 10:03 a.m. ET

Departs MIA at 7:50 p.m. ET

Arrives at SAT at 9:58 p.m. CT