Ellen Mitchel's Blog

Ellen R. Mitchel with RE/MAX Executive Realty has recently received the RE/MAX Hall Of Fame Award, which honors successful agents who have earned more than $1 million in commissions during their careers with the company. Only 16 percent of all RE/MAX agents earned this prestigious award in 2009.

Mitchel is co-owner of RE/MAX Executive Realty, a  2011-12 Director for the Florida Realtors Association (FRA), 2012 FRA Affordable Housing Committee member, a 2012 FRA Communications Committee member and a 2011-12 Director Broward Board of Governors for the Miami Association of Realtors.

Mitchel has earned numerous real estate designations including the Certified Residential Specialist (CRS), Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) and Certified Investor Agent Specialist (CIAS).

Mitchel also teaches a HUD Approved Home Buyer Course every month in both Dade & Broward Counties providing great information about foreclosures & free government monies to prospective home buyers, as well as, holding foreclosure prevention workshops.

RE/MAX has nearly 100,000 agents in more than 75 countries who continue to out-produce the competition, averaging more sales than other real estate agents. With one of the most recognized brands in the world and one of the most trafficked web sites, www.remax.com, RE/MAX leads the industry with experiences, professional agents – agents who are trained and educated through the award-winning RE/MAX University.

Contact information:

Ellen R Mitchel, CRS, CDPE, CIAS
RE/MAX Executive Realty
954-292-6412
ellenbithell@remax.net

Do you know kids currently in college, or maybe one who is about to graduate high school who are interested in a possible real estate-related career?

Florida Realtors® Education Foundation Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation established to provide real estate-related educational scholarships and grants for Florida high school seniors who will be attending an undergraduate college or university; students currently enrolled in an undergraduate college or university; and students pursuing graduate studies.

Scholarships to be awarded may range from $1,000 to $4,000. Criteria to be considered includes: academic achievements, financial need, relationship to a Realtor family, and contributions to family, school and community.

Scholarship FAQs. (I’ll add this doc to the website and link it here.)

Get your application here. Deadline is February 28.

I am a Director for the Florida Realtors Association and proud to be a part of announcing such a great opportunity to assist families in helping to send their children to college.

Search all South Florida and Miami Real Estate And Homes For Sale.

The Prestige Properties Team has over 30 years of real estate experience from the US to Canada and speaks seven languages including English, Spanish, Polish, German & Russian.  We are a woman owned minority business that does extensive community outreach.  We are viewed by ourselves and others as a shining example of an unstoppable team that others are drawn to.  We seem to grow and excel beyond all expectations and we value each other and support each other both professionally & personally.

The Prestige Property Team is a leader in the South Florida real estate market. The team assists buyers looking for Miami real estate for sale and aggressively markets South Florida homes for sale. They are also Certified Distressed Property Experts (CDPE), committed to helping families in financial hardship find options to foreclosure. For more information you can visit EllenHelpsHomeowners.com.

You can reach the Prestige Property Team by calling 954-292-6412 or email. 

Just as fashions and car styles change from year to year, so do home features that head the “most wanted” list of potential buyers of South FL real estate. Where wall-to-wall carpeting was once the rage, hardwood floors, now reign supreme, and a formal, center dining room is often viewed as a negative feature rather than a positive one.  And style preference has certainly changed; replacing the McMansions on the “must-have” list are arts and craft bungalows, mid-century homes, and residences with Old-World charm and character.

WHAT’S IN:

• Green features:  Energy-efficient appliances, air-tight windows, heating systems, etc., have become expected features..
• Sustainable materials:  The use of stone, terra cotta, bamboo, and cork are popular choices.
• Storage areas:  A garage, preferably a 2 car, is a must, as are walk-in-closets, pantries, and an abundance of storage space.
• Condition:  No fixer-uppers for this year’s buyers.  They are looking for a move-in-ready, well-maintained piece of South FL real estate.
• Layout:  The open layout with few walls is still the most popular, as it allows for casual dining, family gatherings, and large-scale entertaining.
• Luxury touches and the amenities that convey luxury:  High dollar finishes, granite counters, stainless steel appliances, tile baths, counter bars and stools are all desired.
• Outdoor Living:  Screen porches, outdoor kitchens, two-way fireplaces, and the all-important deck or patio add to a home’s appeal.
• Specialized space:  Reflecting today’s lifestyle, high on the wanted list are media and workout rooms.  Some type of foyer or entrance space is also a necessity for today’s buyers.
• Quality bathrooms:  Definitely more than one!  Pedestal sinks; soaking, jetted, and claw foot tubs; and a separate shower and tub are also very popular in the bathroom right now and are what most buyers are going for.

WHAT’S OUT:
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“Millions and millions of homeowners in the United States spent 2011 under a cloud of uncertainty caused by missed payments on an unmanageable mortgage,” said Ellen Mitchel with RE/MAX Executive Realty.

Mitchel’s message to financially strapped South FL homeowners: “the expertise and resources to ensure that 2012 gets off to a far more positive start is close at hand.”

A Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE), Mitchel is knowledgeable foreclosure avoidance alternatives and is adept at negotiating with major banks and helping financially strapped homeowners to regain peace of mind and a sense of stability for the future.

Ellen Mitchel’s free report entitled, “Tipping the Scales Toward Foreclosure: Resolve to Shed the Weight of an Unmanageable Mortgage in 2012,” is accessible from her website, http://www.EllenHelpsHomeowners.com.  

“As the report points out,” Mitchel says, the recovery of the U.S. housing market, hinges on huge reductions to the current glut of foreclosed homes, and as such, all major players have taken foreclosure-prevention efforts up several notches.”

“The most important fact for financially distressed South FL homeowners to keep in mind: the sooner help is sought, the better,” Mitchel emphasized.
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I receive hundreds of emails daily and do my best to read everything I can on the housing market (particularly the Miami real estate market) to keep up with the constant changes that we are experiencing.   I am often dismayed at all of the gloom and doom that is reported and at the total lack of focus on the good news and opportunities that are out there.

I am pleased to pass on some œgood news: Click Here To Read YOUR MONEY It May Be Time To Think About Buying  A House

I always like to share timely information so I am going to add a weekly post œfrom my inbox and write about an email I have received.

If there is any information you would like to see, please don™t hesitate to contact me directly!

Ellen Bithell, CREO, CRS, SSS (Short Sale Specialist)

SELLING SOUTH FLORIDA

P.S.

If you are looking for a deal in the Miami market check out our FREE MLS  (the bank owned properties (foreclosures) are listed in there as well) and see what you can find. If you can™t find what you are looking for give me a call at 954-862-2631!

* Email the author *    

Foreclosures are up across the country, but the Miami real estate market has been hit particularly hard.   Florida is consistently one of the top five states for number of foreclosures.

In order to help consumers avoid foreclosure I have been educating myself by earning my Certified Real Estate Owned (CREO) and Short Sale Specialist (SSS) designations and by becoming a loss mitigation specialist.

What does all of this really mean?   It means that whether you are facing foreclosure, want to purchase a foreclosed property or simply want to modify your loan, I can help.

In December alone I am working with the Hollywood Council of Civic Associations   (HCCA); a foreclosure team including attorneys and negotiators; and AmeriFirst   to put on three FREE Workshops to help you save your home.   If you don™t know your rights, you won™t know your options

We are covering the following topics:

• How to REALLY Modify your Mortgage

• Secrets to Successful Short Sales

• Identifying Truth-in-Lending Violations in your Mortgage

• Your Lender May Actually Owe You Money!

• The Truth about the Federal Government™s œBailout Bill

• Refinancing your Home if You Are Upside Down on your Loan

• Strategies for Investors Facing Foreclosure

We are planning more seminars in the future and I will post the dates but if you want to purchase a foreclosed home use our FREE MLS  and if you need assistance please email me or call me today at 954-862-2631.   It would be my pleasure to be of service to you!

Ellen Bithell, CREO, CRS, SSS (Short Sale Specialist)

SELLING SOUTH FLORIDA

Email the author * FREE MarketSnapShot

How long am I going to live there? – If you are planning on being around the area you buy (Miami or otherwise) for 5 or more years, you will more than likely be in a different real estate market by then.  

What is my real goal? – Many people buy real estate as an investment. Others buy it so they can have somewhere to live. You need to determine what your goal is.  

Does it benefit me financially to own a home? – In some cases people are paying large tax bills to the government because they don’t have anything to put down on their taxes as a deduction. Are you in this group of people? A qualified tax professional can answer this and if you need a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) we can refer you to one.  

Can I afford to buy? – Sometimes buying doesn’t cost much more than the place you rent. Only a loan professional can help you with this question and it is more reliable than the online calculators. If you need one, we can refer you to a loan professional as well.

Does your rent keep going up every year? – If rent goes up every year it can be a real pain. Many of the mortgages  today are fixed for 30 years. How does rent fixed for 30 years sound? It is good to have answers to these questions prior purchasing a home. If you don’t have the answers, we will be happy to meet with you to discuss what is most important to you and to help you determine how to proceed.  

You can contact us at anytime at 954-862-2631.      Or visit us  for more information on homes in the Miami area.  

Click Here For A Free MarketSnapshop  

Ellen Bithell, CREO, CRS

SELLING SOUTH FLORIDA!!

As the media keep reporting about the abundance of inventory and declining prices in the real estate market, it is good to see some positive news about the Miami Market. I was interviewed for the following article:  

http://www.thedestinlog.com/articles/real_7052___article.html/estate_releases.html

How do you tell what the market activity is like for your neighborhood? Our market snapshot tool will allow you to track exactly what is going on where you live.

Just  fill out  the information on the bottom of  this page to get your very own market snapshot. We will even make sure you keep up to date on the market value of your home every month!

Ellen Bithell, CREO, CRS
SELLING SOUTH FLORIDA!!

A couple of weeks ago we said our final goodbyes to our beloved boxer and family member, Faith.   Our other boxer, Buster, along with the rest of our family, has been mourning her loss.

The children, as well as Buster and my husband and I, have been having thoughts about adding another four-legged friend to our family.

Due to the abundance of real estate foreclosures in South Florida, families had to surrender many wonderful dogs when they were forced to move out of their houses into no-pets-allowed apartments or the crowded residences of relatives.

Although both of our dogs were pure boxers, we had rescued both of them and want to find another rescue dog to adopt.   Last week my daughter Heather, son Kevin and I headed to The Humane Society of Broward County    located in Southeast Broward between Miami and Fort Lauderdale.   We saw lots of wonderful dogs, but did not find the dog we were looking for.   Next we headed to Broward County Animal Care   the building not as pretty as the Humane Society or as conveniently located, but with tons of wonderful cats and dogs looking for homes.   We did not find a new family member there either.   Finally we headed over to Puppy Palace, a puppy store, to get a better idea of the breeds that would fit well into our family.   We love boxers, but were thinking that maybe we would prefer a smaller breed for our new family member.   Heather and I both really liked the Shih Tzus but Kevin maintained he was not a Shih Tzu kind of kid, so we were figuring out what we did not want, but were no closer to what we did want.

On Sunday Heather asked if we could again visit the Humane Society and Animal Care.   We made plans to head out but I checked Boxer Rescue on-line first and saw that Coastal Boxer Rescue was actually showing some of their boxers at Canine Oktoberfest at TY Park Boxer Rescue  which is right down the street from us.

Heather and I grabbed Buster and headed out.   As we entered the park we could see tons of dogs of every shape, size and breed.   We visited with the pug rescues, the labs, some mixed breeds, and they were all great, and then we reached the boxers.   Cecilia was there from Coastal Boxer Rescue  .  We visited with two lovely females, a brindle named Chloe, who is 18 months old and a two-year-old fawn named Pebbles.       We really adored both dogs, although Heather had an immediate bond with Pebbles, and Buster played with both of them, as he had not with any others.

We rushed home to bring back my husband, Philip, and he fell in love as well.   Now we had to apply to be accepted as a great home for Pebbles and arrange for Kevin to meet her to give his stamp of approval.

We took lots of photos and Kevin agreed as soon as he saw them.   We are now just waiting to hear back from Coastal Boxer Rescue and I will keep you updated on our progress.

Hope you all had a great weekend as well!

P.s. If you are looking for a great deal on a foreclosure use our Ft. Lauderdale MLS http://getsouthfloridalistings.com or call us today at 954-862-2631 and we will be happy to help you with your search.

Ellen Bithell, CRS, CREO

SELLS SOUTH FLORIDA

Ellen Bithell  http://www.homeinsouthflorida.com