There are now more than 19 million residents in Florida, according to estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. Florida, whose population grew by 1.36 percent from April 2010 to July 2011, has the fourth-most residents of any state in America. New York grew 0.45 percent in the same period, and continues to have the third-most-populous state. The U.S. population grew by 2.8 million in the 15-month period.

After a long lull, South Florida foreclosure filings are beginning to pick up, despite another decrease last month.

The improvement is not readily apparent in the numbers, but upon closer examination, the rate of decline slowed considerably last month, according to data from RealtyTrac.

While the number of properties with foreclosure filings in South Florida fell 27 percent last month compared to November 2010, the November 2011 figure is a drastic reduction from a nearly 60 percent average drop each month since the summer, and 41 percent in October.

“I would say that’s a significant shift,” said RealtyTrac spokesperson Daren Blomquist. “We had a 14 percent nationwide year-over-year decrease in activity, and that was the lowest year-over-year decrease we’ve seen this year.”

Statewide, Florida saw a 7 percent increase in initial default notices compared to November 2010, the first time in 20 months that the state had an increase in that number.

“That is another sign to me that the lenders are ramping up and processing some of those delayed foreclosures,” Blomquist said.

The foreclosure slowdown came in large part due to the freeze imposed by banks following the robo-signing and fraudulent document scandal of a year ago. 

There were a total of 9,157 properties with some form of foreclosure filing in South Florida last month, led by 4,044 properties in Miami-Dade County.

Broward County had 3,196 properties with foreclosure filings, and there were a total of 1,917 in Palm Beach.

Pending home sales rose strongly nationwide in October, increasing by 9.2 percent year-over-year, according to the October pending home sales report from the National Association of Realtors, released today.

The Pending Home Sales Index, which measures signed real estate contracts for existing single-family homes, condominium and co-op units, rose to 93.3 in October from 84.5 in September. In October 2010, the index was 85.5.

The Pending Home Sales Index in the South surged 8.6 percent to 99.5 in October and was 9.7 percent above October 2010′s index. An index of 100 equals contract activity from 2001.

“Home sales have been plodding along at a sub-par level while interest rates are hovering at record lows and there is a pent-up demand from buyers who normally would have entered the market in recent years,” said Lawrence Yun, chief economist at NAR.

Yun also indicated that record low default rates and a decline in inventory due to less building after the recession hit could be factors driving the optimistic numbers.

Yun was also cautious. “Although contract signings are up, not all contracts lead to closings,” he said. Many potential buyers make mistakes with their credit while applying for mortgages and are not approved. Tighter regulations for mortgages surely contribute. – Guelda Voien

Source: http://therealdeal.com/miami/articles/us-pending-home-sales-rise-sharply-according-to-the-national-association-of-realtors

A 10-bedroom home at 3 Indian Creek Drive in Miami Beach has been listed for $60 million, according to Miami Today. The home, which was designed by architect Rene Gonzalez, has 30,000 square feet and a 100-foot pool. The home is located on Indian Creek Island, which has its own private police force and golf club.

To view the property please call 786-276-2451

Out of all of the private island residential communities and investment opportunities in the world that exist today, properties located on Florida’s exclusive Fisher Island have to represent amongst the brightest.

Fisher Island is an exclusive private gated community located just a few minutes by auto-ferry, helicopter or boat from Miami’s South Beach. There is no causeway or road connecting it with the Florida mainland. It constitutes a haven of peace, tranquility that offers a complete contrast with the hustle and bustle of downtown Miami – It is often described as a little Floridian Monaco without the high rise buildings. The people that live there enjoy peace and safety that one would associate with Switzerland. It is a place where the sun shines most of the year and everyone is smiling !

Once owned in the 1920’s by the influential Vanderbilt family as well as Miami Beach’s pioneer Carl G. Fisher, the island’s tiny surface area amounts to no more than 0.343 square miles. In the US Census of 2000, Fisher Island was recorded for having residents with the highest per capita income within the whole of the United States.

It is not surprising that the rich and famous from all over the world are drawn to this paradise isle of coconut palms and mangroves because it benefits from the presence of every conceivable luxury – The island offers country club resort living with a tennis club and 18 illuminated courts, a 250 sq. meter spa, an elementary private school with an excellent reputation and education, Fisher Island’s championship golf course is a 35 par nine-hole golf course designed by architect P.B. Dye and two deep sea water marinas accommodating yachts up to 200 ft., private beaches overlooking the Atlantic and restaurants of high standard service and cuisine.

For those inclined to travel to Fisher island by helicopter, there is even a helipad. There is also a very tastefully and recently decorated luxury hotel – The Fisher Island hotel – a member of the Small Leading Hotels of the world.

Security is paramount and crime is non-existent. This is an international community where it is said that up to approximately 43 different nationalities reside. Many people are from Central and South America, Europe, Canada and ‘snow birds” from the northeast United States call Fisher Island their primary or 2nd or 3rd home. It is an ideal place for families to live and relax and for children to play.

In fact many people never actually leave Fisher Island throughout an entire 4 week holiday. This is an immaculately manicured island with over 500 employees that service the island where there are sandy beaches overlooking the Atlantic ocean, swimming pools virtually every where one turns, few cars because people get around mainly on golf carts, that come with each apartment. The difference between this island and other exotic island refuges is that everything works like clockwork here – you are in the United States !

There are around 700 midrise apartments and approximately 12 estates on the island. They are all designed impeccably in a Spanish mediterranean style and to a uniform standard of excellent quality. Few of the island’s residents live there all of the year round although it would not be unreasonable to ask them why because it is a land for lotus eaters !

Ironically there are few British investors – perhaps because the British are unaware of its existence. This is surprising especially as an apartment (or as condominium as they are known locally) can now change hands for as little as $500,000 for a one bedroom apartment when this time two years ago the same apartment would have sold for twice that amount. At the other extreme of pendulum, there are very large 4 and 5 bedroom apartments that are now selling at around $2,500,000 – $ 3,000,000 (to £ 1,820,000) whereas a couple of years ago the same apartments would have been selling easily for upwards of $ 5,000,000 -6,000,000 (£ 3,636,000). There are even super-luxurious villas where asking prices have dropped from $9,000,000 to $5M.

The quality of life here is exceptional and any future resident would be well advised to become an Equity Fisher Island Club member. Fisher Island Club membership preserves the island’s very exclusive appeal and ensures that the infrastructure of the island is maintained to a very high standard.

The world economic crisis has even affected Fisher Island but that can be interpreted to mean that now is the time to buy if you want to buy a piece of exclusive paradise – especially if you are paying in sterling or euros as the exchange rate is still very beneficial for those in that position.

For more information, contact Karla Abaunza, resident and Fisher Island specialist. She speaks English, Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese. Karla is the broker/owner of Luxury Living Realty, a boutique real estate firm dealing in the high end residential real estate market in South Florida. Located at 1111 Lincoln Road, Suite 400, Miami Beach, Florida 33139 (Telephone 001 305 343 5830) Karla can also be contacted by e-mail at info@luxurylivingrealty.net should you wish to take a first step in pursuing your island dream in Florida contact the expert.