Pinecrest Florida Real Estate and More...

Pinecrest is best in South Florida for quality of life.

South Florida Business Journal by Kevin Gale, Editor in Chief

Date: Tuesday, December 6, 2011, 2:38pm EST

Pinecrest, Key Biscayne, Parkland, Coral Gables and Weston are among the 10 best places in Florida when it comes to quality of life, according to a new On Numbers analysis by The Business Journals.

The 20-part rating formula includes strong economic bases, housing stocks and effective educational systems.

No major city factored in the top 10 of the index for Florida.  Weston, with a population of 64,148, was the largest city.

Pinecrest, which ranked second statewide behind Central Florida's Lake Butler, has a median household income of $107,756 and a 2.34 percent unemployment rate for those ages 25 to 64.  The median housing value is $827,200.

Nearly all of the adults in the city (97.13 percent) have a high school degree, while more than two-thirds (67.04 percent) have a bachelor's degree and a one-third (33.59 percent) have an advanced degree.

Realtor.com has just published Florida Markets Dominate REALTOR.com Top Ten Turnaround Report.  I am currently working on the Pinecrest Florida year end real estate market report and I see Pinecrest Florida is have another strong real estate sales year.  Year-to-date, only 18% of homes sold in Pinecrest have been short sales or foreclosures.  This is way below Miami-Dade County where 58% of the homes sold year-to-date have been distressed sales.

Here is an excerpt of the REALTOR.com report:

Though the past four years have seen many cities suffering from large numbers of foreclosures and a loss in home values, ten of these real estate markets are now leading the nation towards a general recovery and stability of the housing sector.

Realtor.com’s Top 10 Turnaround Town Report, based on third quarter 2011 data, includes six Florida markets: Miami, Orlando, Fort Myers-Cape Coral, Fort Lauderdale, Sarasota-Bradenton, and Lakeland-Winter Haven.

Each of these markets has experienced positive year-over-year median price appreciation, reductions in year-over-year median age of inventory and inventory counts, while also experiencing lower unemployment rates on a year-over-year basis.  Florida’s success can also be tied to foreign buyers; the number of foreign buyers purchasing homes there increased from 10 percent in 2007 to 31 percent in 2011.

Miami, FL: The number one town on the report, Miami has gone from being one of the first victims of the subprime crash to having a healthy inventory that is only half the size from a year ago.  Today, Miami is only reporting one foreclosure for every 407 homes, compared to the national rate of one per every 213.  And, condo sales have increased 79 percent in the first five months of this year, largely due to an influx of foreign investors.

Read more: Florida Markets Dominate REALTOR.com Top Ten Turnaround Report | REALTOR.com® Blogs 

There are so many wonderful restaurants in Pinecrest Florida!  Pinecrest is a municipality within Miami-Dade County and Miami is a very culturally diverse city; the selection of restaurants in Pinecrest reflects that diversity.

I wrote Pinecrest Restaurants on my website to share with you all the restaurants I have been to in Pinecrest and what I have had to eat there.  Most restaurants in Pinecrest are along South Dixie Highway (US 1).  If you have been to a restaurant in Pinecrest, liked it, and think I would also enjoy it, just email me or give me a call – I’m always ready to try a new restaurant!

Pinecrest Florida residents, please remember that we are still under water restrictions.  Irrigation watering is restricted to twice a week and only during the hours of 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 a.m.  

For homes and businesses with even addresses, Thursdays and Sundays are permitted watering days.

For odd addresses, the permitted watering days are Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Every once in a while I am asked “How many homes are there in Pinecrest”?  Here’s the answer; there are 5,108 single family homes, 762 condominiums, 132 duplexes and 89 townhomes.  And if you are interested in any of these – just let me know!

Miami is an International city – it is a food lovers’ city!  Sometimes you will be driving around and you can just smell all the foods in the air.  An out of town friend once asked me, how can you possibly stay in shape here? 

Pinecrest Fl restaurants will not be left behind.  I have not been to every Pinecrest restaurant – yet!  But I do want to share with you my experiences with the Pinecrest restaurants I’ve been to.

If you’ve been to a Pinecrest Florida restaurant you think I should try; just let me know ~ I would love to!

Pinecrest Gardens in Pinecrest Florida , listed in the National Register of Historic Places, is one of the most beautiful public parks in South Florida; it's located at 11000 Red Road,Pinecrest Florida.

Pinecrest Gardens is adjacent to the Pinecrest library and community center. Pinecrest Gardens is located on what used to be Parrott Jungle. Parrot Jungle moved to Watson Island; which is on the causeway between Miami and Miami Beach.  I like to spend time walking around Pinecrest Gardens; it's a quiet lush tropical oasis. 

Several clubs meet at Pinecrest Gardens and there are activities held there year round.  Facilities are available to rent for private functions such as meetings, birthday parties, wedding, etc.  I held my niece's 10th birthday party at Pinecrest Gardens; there are some nice children's play areas there too.

On Sunday mornings, the Pinecrest Florida Farmers Market is held in the parking lot of Pinecrest Gardens.

There are homes for sale in Pinecrest Florida within walking distance of Pinecrest Gardens.  Just imagine, being able to take a daily walk through these gardens!

Howard Drive Elementary School in Palmetto Bay Florida is located at 7750 SW 136 Street, Palmetto Bay, Florida 33156, phone  (305) 235-1412.  Howard Drive Elementary School is an “A” rated elementary school in the Miami-Dade Public School system.  Howard Drive Elementary School serves the southern part of Pinecrest Florida and the northern part of Palmetto Bay Florida.  The Howard Drive Elementary School boundary is:

Begin at Biscayne Bay and SW 136 Street - West to Old Cutler Road - North to Chapman Field Drive - Northwest to SW 132 Street - West to SW 77 Avenue - North to SW 128 Street - West to U.S. Highway #1 - South to SW 144 Street - East to SW 67 Avenue - South to SW 152 Street - East to Biscayne Bay - North to SW 136 Street, point of beginning.

Palmetto Elementary School in Pinecrest Florida is a consistently “A” rated school in the Miami-Dade Public School system.  Palmetto Elementary School is located at  12401 South West 74th Avenue, Pinecrest, Florida 33156, phone (305) 238-4306.  The Palmetto Elementary School boundary is:

Begin at SW 104 Street and SW 72 Avenue - West on SW 104 Street to U.S. Highway #1 - South to SW 128 Street - East to SW 77 Avenue - South to SW 132 Street - East to Chapman Field Drive - Northwest to SW 62 Avenue - North to SW 116 Street - West to SW 67 Avenue - North to SW 112 Street - West to Canal - North to Canal until it comes to a second canal - West on canal to SW 69 Court - North on SW 69 Court to SW 108 Street - West to SW 70 Court - North to SW 107 Terrace - West to SW 72 Avenue - North to SW 104 Street, point of beginning.

Pinecrest Elementary School in Pinecrest Florida is the only school in Miami-Dade County to have received an “A” rating for 9 years in a row!  Pinecrest Elementary School in Pinecrest Florida is located at 10250 SW 57 Avenue, Pinecrest, FL 33156, phone (305) 667-5579.  The Pinecrest Elementary School boundary is:

Begin at Biscayne Bay and SW 96 Street – West on SW 96 Street to SW 52 Avenue (Schoolhouse Road) - North to SW 88 Street - West to SW 57 Avenue and Snapper Creek Canal - West on Snapper Creek Canal to U.S. Highway #1 - Southwest to SW 104 Street - East to SW 72 Avenue - South to SW 107 Terrace - East to SW 70 Court - South to SW 108 Street - East to SW 69 Court - South to Canal (including house 6950 on cul-de-sac) - South to SW 112 Street - East to SW 67 Avenue - South to SW 116 Street - East to SW 62 Avenue - South to Chapman Field Drive - Southeast to Old Cutler Road - South to SW 136 Street - East to Biscayne Bay - North to SW 96 Street, point of beginning.