Tips for a Safer Home

Few things are more exciting than moving to a new home, especially if it is your first home. And when it comes to what it’s ours, our family and our loved ones, there’s no such thing as “too many” security measures. In this article, we are going to give you some tips about security and how to keep your home safe in every possible way.

Neighborhood security has always been a priority for homebuyers, right next to finding an affordable home. Recent surveys have shown that 78% of the respondents felt like it was very important to replace or rekey their new home’s lock after moving in, which might sound a little bit obvious, but until the 1990s, only 50% felt this way. What changed? Is it a rising paranoia?

Justified or not, families keep investing in security measures every year and everywhere in America. Like we said, you can’t be “too safe” when it comes to your family’s wellbeing.

If you think that your home could probably be safer, here are some tips to finally achieve that peace of mind that you’ve always wanted:

1.      Paying a monthly fee for an alarm service can be a great investment to consider. It’s worth every penny, if you ask us.

2.      Make your home look occupied even when you are away. Use timers to turn the lights and the TV on and off at different hours of the day.

3.      Use warning signs even if they are not true. A little “beware of the dog” sign can do wonders against burglars who are always looking for the weakest house. If you want to go the extra mile, placing a dog food bowl near the back door can be a great idea.

4.      Light is essential. Make sure that your house is well lit on the outside and that there are no dark spots, especially near the entrances.

5.      Get to know your neighbors, even if you are not much of a people person. Having an extra pair of eyes right outside of your property can be very useful, and in case of an emergency, you can count on their help. And if you go on vacation, you can ask them to pick up your mail so your home won’t look empty.

6.      It doesn’t matter how safe your neighborhood might appear, always keep your valuables creatively hidden.

These are some simple pointers to consider whenever you move to a new neighborhood, or if you are already established in one and you would like to make your home a safer place. Most landlords and home sellers know about the importance of security, and they are already making some improvements to their properties to capture the interest of more and better buyers. If this is an important matter to you, remember to mention it to us at Gables Riches.

Top 5: Best Latin Food Restaurants

One of the best things about cultural diversity is the food. South Florida has become a sort of meeting center for all races; a place where there’s room for everybody. Particularly, the Latino influence is taking over the culinary arts. In Coral Gables and its surroundings, you will find some of the best Latin food restaurants in the world; here are our favorites:

Jaguar Ceviche Spoon Bar and Latin Grill: this delicious restaurant mixes flawlessly Mexican and Peruvian food. Every item in the menu will take you to the roots of Latino food with a lot of flavor, fresh ingredients (some brought from South America!), and colorful attention. You won’t eat a better Ceviche, and their mouthwatering “Chupe de Camarón” (shrimp soup) will present you with a whole new set of flavors for your palate. 3067 Grand Ave, Coconut Grove, Miami, FL 33133-5170.

Talavera: this is a little piece of Latin America in Coral Gables. Mexican food there is absolutely astonishing, and it’s actually the restaurant the Latino population in Miami always chooses because it offers authentic flavors from their countries. Be amazed by their wide selection of handcrafted cocktails and delicious shots, with real Latino seasoning. Another great thing about Talavera: special meals for vegetarians. 2299 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, Coral Gables, FL 33134.

Doggi’sArepa Bar: if you want to know what Venezuelan food really tastes like, you need to go there. Empanadas, arepas, yuka fries, and other traditional meals are all available there, and at a more than reasonable price. You can’t miss their Cachapas (traditional corn pancake, semi-sweet, with cream and organic white shredded cheese). 1246 SW 22nd St, Miami, FL 33145.

MesaMar Seafood Table: this Cuban restaurant features some of the best seafood and Latin food in the South of Florida. Have an unforgettable lunch or dinner with a soothing and relaxing musical background where all your senses will be involved. Try their unique lobster tacos or their Ceviche with Peruvian influence while drinking Prosecco. This is one of the best reviewed Latino restaurants in the area, and it only takes one bite to understand why. 264 Giralda Ave, Coral Gables, FL 33134.

PlomoTequila & Taco Bar: if you are looking for a fun place to have a delicious Mexican meal with your family or with some friends, you should definitely try Plomo Tequila. Try their delicious tacos while you watch how their staff, who are very knowledgeable about their craft, prepare and mix some of the best cocktails you’ll ever have. You’ll probably end up learning a thing or two about Latin American culture and maybe how to make some of the drinks at home.

Main picture: http://bit.ly/2xW2kgK

Decorate Your New Coral Gables Home

There are few things happier than decorating your new home; the excitement of shaping your house or your condo, filling it with color, technology, and every last piece of furniture required to express, through your home, who you are. Decorate your new Coral Gables home with these tips and with the help of the stores below.

Hiring a professional interior designer can be very expensive, and some of them don’t have the ability to translate your thoughts, emotions and feelings into actions to decorate your new place exactly the way you want to. That’s why, even if you would like to get someone’s help with this matter, there are a few things that you should know first and some concepts that you should be familiar with before getting started.

Work with a budget: knowing how much money you have to spend on furniture, painting, lamps, drapes, and every item used to decorate is actually quite important, because this way you’ll be able to make smarter choices and you’ll be able to unify more evenly every piece you decide to buy.

Don’t buy everything at once: there are certain items like couches, sofas, appliances and beds that everyone needs to buy first, but every professional designer recommends getting everything else more calmly. Shop around, get to know your local stores and what they have to offer, do online window shopping and let your entire home take the shape that you always dreamed of.

Define your color palette: knowing which colors and hues you want is essential to be able to make smart purchases at the local store. Define if you would rather have warm colors with wooden floors and furniture, or a modern, pale look with white hues and minimalistic items.

One of our favorite stores in Coral Gables is Fine Line Furniture &Accessories. You simply can’t go wrong with this boutique where you can be sure that you’ll find some of the finest pieces of furniture in the whole state. Another unbelievable boutique we always recommend to our clients is Morada HauteFurniture; Italian designs that will provide a luxurious, contemporary and cosmopolitan look to your home. On the other hand, if you are more into rustic and modern accessories and furniture, all handcrafted by professionals, Victoria’s Armoire is the perfect store for you in Coral Gables.

4 Great Places to Live in Miami

At Gables Riches, we are always looking for the next best neighborhood, and so far, this 2017, after doing our research, we’ve come up with a list of 4 great places to invest and live here in Coral Gables, Miami and its outskirts! In no particular order, you can find them below.

-Kendall: this is a wonderful suburb only a few minutes away from Miami’s urban experience. It’s very quiet and relaxed, with many outdoor cafés where people go to talk, meet new people, listen to some music, work on their laptops, or simply take some time off their routines. There are some beautiful residential buildings many investors are very interested in, and there are plenty of options if you are looking for a place to live at a very reasonable rent price. A condo’s rent price with many amenities (pool, tennis court, recreation room, etc) is about $1,500.

-Pinecrest: living there will feel like an everlasting vacation. This beautiful community, only a few minutes from the beach, offers many possibilities to investors because prices aren’t that high right now, and we are sure that they will skyrocket in a few years. A very cozy 800-sqft apartment in a very quiet area can cost you $170,000, with amenities like laundry room, pool, security, etc. Pinecrest Garden, one of the jewels of this community, features over 1,000 varieties of exotic tropical plants and trees, and it offers wonderful summer camps for the children of the house.

-Cutler Bay: located just west of Biscayne Bay, this town has some very beautiful lakes with beautiful houses around them in quiet neighborhoods. Only a few steps from beautiful beaches, Cutler Bay is full of people who want to relax and take a deep breath out of Miami. Some very luxurious properties are available there, but also lovely condos at reasonable prices can be found in great neighborhoods. Its tropical atmosphere will make you feel as if you were on vacation all year long.

-Homestead: between Biscayne National Park to the east and Everglades National Park to the west, this town is only 35 miles south of Miami; that’s minutes away from all the excitement of the big city. Green, clean and beautiful neighborhoods full of very welcoming communities enchant many investors every year, and if you would like a quiet condo with a beautiful backyard and a unique lake view, Homestead is for you. Rent median price is $1,100, and opportunities in this town don’t usually last very long.

If you would like to live or invest anywhere in these beautiful locations, contact Gables Riches anytime! We guarantee that we can find the perfect home for you and your family.

Photo taken at: http://bit.ly/2fYFOAk

Investing in Isles at Lago Mar

The Real Estate business in Florida is better than ever, and at Gables Riches we keep encouraging our clients to invest in the unique community of Isles at Lago Mar, in the heart of West Broward County, in the city of Sunrise. Extremely well located, this community features some of the best water views in the region; all homes border the elegant Lago Mar County Club and its beautiful lake.

 Isles at Lago Mar is only a block away from the world-famous Sawgrass Mills Mall; it’s also near the BB&T Center, Ikea, excellent restaurants, great shopping and amazing recreational parks. Immediate access to I-75, I-595 and the Sawgrass Expressway provides quick connections to the Fort Lauderdale and Miami airports, and prominent business centers throughout South Florida. This exclusive condominium complex was built between 1991-1994, and every year more and more investors decide to buy there because of the 6-7% return it provides. Another reason why investors are attracted to these properties is the fact that they come with a tenant in place with up to a year lease, which means that investors start having some cash flow from day one.

There are 368 units in this community, and you may choose between 2-bedroom or 1-bedroom apartments. Interior features include large open breakfast bar with separate dining area, fully equipped kitchens with contemporary-style cabinetry, full-size washer and dryer, study/solarium with golf course and sparkling water views, spacious walk-in closets and pantries, vaulted ceilings and assigned parking.

Being close to some of the best schools and universities in South Florida might also be appealing to some investors, but what captivates the most hearts are the many amenities available. And since they are simply way too good to ignore, here they are: 37-acre tropical landscape, exquisitely designed clubhouse, BBQ/picnic areas and pergolas, two indoor racquetball courts, fully equipped fitness center, two glistening swimming pools and spa, two privately lighted tennis courts, on-site management, bike racks and plenty of guest parking spots.

As Jeff Greene once said, “In real estate, you make 10% of your money because you’re a genius and 90% because you catch a great wave” and this opportunity here, in Isles at Lago Mar, is truly a great wave. Visit our website: www.gablesriches.com to find all the information about the units available in this quiet, safe, exclusive and beautiful condominium complex in Broward. If you have any doubts or if you are interested, feel free to contact us anytime.

Some Great Spots for You and Your Beloved Pets

Having a pet is one of the most rewarding experiences in the world. These little friends (sometimes not that little) are important members of our families, and we all love to spend some quality time with them, but they’re not welcome everywhere. Luckily for us, there are some great pet-friendly spots in Coral-Gables and Miami where we can enjoy some fun time and even delicious meals together!

Dogs aren’t usually allowed in restaurants, but there are some exceptions here in Coral Gables. These are our favorite pet-friendly restaurants in the area:

Fritz and Franz Bierhaus: this German pub is a great choice if you want to have a few drinks (they serve German beer of course), enjoy some food and have a good time! They are famous for their fantastic service and guess what? Fido is allowed! (60 Merrick Way, Coral Gables, FL 33134-5319)

Uvaggio Wine Bar: the perfect spot to grab a bite and enjoy the best wines, perfectly located and dog-friendly. This restaurant features some of the best tapas in town, and it’s great for any occasion, any hour of the day. (70 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables, FL 33134)

Taco Rico Tex-Mex: if Mexican food is your thing and you are visiting Coral Gables, you can’t miss Taco Rico! And the best part is that you can bring along your canine friends, because they are very welcome. Definitely some of the best Tex-Mex plates in South Florida. (473 S Dixie Hwy, Coral Gables, FL 33146)

One of the greatest parts of having a dog is being able to take them to the beach. But as respectful citizens, we need to know which beaches our furry little friends are allowed in. There are some great options for us pet-lovers, and they are all near you if you reside in Coral Gables, Miami or their surroundings.

    Bark Beach at North Shore Open Space Park: jogging trails, picnic pavilions, and one of the most beautiful sunsets in South Florida. This is a magical place to have an amazing time with your dog.

    Haulover Beach Park: shade trees, picnic tables, and drinking fountains for both dogs and humans make this beach the perfect place to go and relax next to your furry little friends.

If you have pets of any kind, let us know and we will find the perfect place for you and your beloved animals. Contact Gables Riches and start planning your future! www.gableriches.com

Is a Short-Term Rental a Better Choice For Me?

We won’t deny that hotels can be really great; all the comfort, amenities and services can be very attractive for tourist and visitors, especially for those on vacation wanting to relax, take some time off and rest. However, on some occasions, a short-term rental can be the best choice for you and your family (or companions).

The first thing to consider when choosing between a hotel and a short-term rental is the number of days you are going to stay in the same place. If you are spending 30 days or more, the most reasonable and affordable option is probably a short-term rental. If you are staying for less than 30 days, you might want to consider a couple more factors before choosing. For example: the number of people you are traveling with. If you are taking a trip with some friends or if you have a big family, it might be cheaper for everyone to rent a house or a condo. The perks? Having a kitchen where you can cook (and probably save some money, too), more room for everyone, and more quality tim

e with your traveling companions.

If you are traveling not only for vacations but to find a place to live, learn about the area and get to know its community, a short-term rental is the perfect choice. In a hotel, your neighbors would probably be tourists just like you, but if you rent a house or a condo, your neighbors would probably be residents from the area, and getting to know them would give you a pretty good idea of what it’s like to live in that particular neighborhood and in the city.

Hotels give you a more superficial experience of the place you are visiting, but before choosing you need to ask yourself: do I want to feel like home during my vacations? Do I mind having domestic responsibilities? Am I going to cook at all? How much space do I need?

Investing in a place to lease anywhere in Miami, Gables or Doral is a great idea. Know that long-term rentals aren’t your only choice. Renting your property for a short period of time can be very profitable and it would make your place available for you as well. Short-term rentals go from 1 week to an entire season (like the summer) and every year more and more tourists and visitors consider this as a much better choice.