Regalia will be located in Sunny Isles, Florida. Regalia will be the most luxurious building in fast growing landscape of Sunny Isles real estate. With only one unit per floor, Regalia will offer the most private living you will find anywhere. Call Paul Hansen today for more information at 786-586-4778 or click here.

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BUILDING AND PROPERTY ATTRIBUTES
Oceanfront property w/ spectacular ocean views

Magnificently detailed ornamental iron entry gates

Exquisite tropical landscaping

Classically inspired lobby w/ imported marble flooring & architect-designed articulated ceiling.

Exquisite professionally-decorated common areas, including the use of Italian marble, rich wood, & carpet.

State of the art automated security system, 24-hour attendants

Hotel-style concierge services Media room & theatre

Billiard lounge w/ cigar salon, wine bar, & card-playing room o Residents' lounge with ocean, garden & pool views

Regalia Condo Sunny Isles

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Feb. 17 � Housing starts jumped 4.7 percent in January to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 2.159 million units, the highest pace in 21 years, the U.S. Commerce Department reported. January�s housing starts also were 11.6 percent above the pace of a year ago.

The pace of single-family home construction reached an all-time high of 1.760 million units. This was 2.7 percent above the December rate and 12.5 percent above January 2004.

"These numbers show that housing is continuing to lead the way in our rebounding economy. President Bush is committed to building on these accomplishments so that people from every walk of life can have the opportunity to become homeowners," said Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson. "The president's housing initiatives are breaking down the barriers and paving the way for more Americans, particularly minorities, to achieve that dream."

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History

In 1895, a record freeze enveloped most of the north of Florida, where Henry Flagler's railroads were disgorging thousands of rich and powerful northerners who were coming to stay at his hotels and resorts. The freeze wiped out citrus crops and sent vacationers scurrying, and legend has it that Julia Tuttle (who owned large tracts of property here and had approached Flagler with the offer of partnership in exchange for the extension of his railroad to Miami, which he'd refused) went into her garden, snipped off some flowers and sent them to Flagler, who hightailed it down to Miami to see for himself.

What he saw was a tropical paradise. Flagler and Tuttle came to terms, and Flagler announced the extension of his railroad. At that, thousands of people whose livelihoods had been wiped out by the big freeze, including citrus growers and service industry workers like doctors and merchants, began heading down to Miami in anticipation of the boom that was to come. Passenger train service to Miami began 22 April 1896; in that year the city of Miami incorporated and development kicked off. The wave peaked during WWI, when the US military established an aviation training facility here.

After WWI, the first full-fledged Miami boom (1923-25) was fueled not just by the area's idyllic beachfront location and perfect weather, but also by gambling and the fact that it never really took to the idea of prohibition - though it was illegal, liquor flowed freely throughout the entire Prohibition era.

But the boom was cut short by a devastating hurricane, which was immediately followed by statewide recession and national depression. In the mid-1930s, a mini-boom saw the construction of Miami Beach's famous Art Deco buildings, and this reasonably prosperous period continued until 1942, when a German U-Boat sank an American tanker off Florida's coast. The ensuing freak-out created a full-scale conversion of South Florida into a massive military base, training facility and staging area.

After WWII, many of Miami's trainee soldiers returned and settled, and the city maintained its pre-war prosperity. In the 1950s, Miami Beach had another boom, as the area began to be known as the 'Cuba of America': gamblers and gangsters, enticed by Miami's gambling, as well as its proximity to the fun, sun and fast times of Batista-run Cuba, moved in en masse. After the Castro coup in Cuba in 1959 Miami's Cuban population swelled.

In 1965, the two 'freedom flights' that ran every day between Miami and Havana disgorged over 100,000 Cuban refugees. Tension built up between Cubans and the town's African Americans, who were relegated to an area north of downtown known as Colored Town. Riots broke out, skirmishes and acts of gang-style violence occurred. In the late 1970s, Fidel Castro opened the floodgates, allowing anyone who wanted to leave Cuba access to the docks at Mariel. The largest flotilla ever launched for non-military purposes set sail in practically anything that would float to cover the 90 miles (145km) between Cuba and Florida. The Mariel Boatlift, as it was called, brought 150,000 Cubans to Florida (including 25,000 prisoners and mental patients), and the resulting economic, logistical and infrastructural strain on South Florida only added to still-simmering racial tensions, which would explode on 17 May 1980, when four white police officers, being tried on charges that they beat a black suspect to death while he was in custody, were acquitted by an all-white jury. When the verdict was announced, fierce race riots broke out all over Miami, and lasted for three days.

In the roaring 1980s, the Miami area gained prominence as the major East Coast entry port for drug dealers, their product and the unbelievable sums of money that went along with them. A plethora of businesses and buildings sprung up all over Miami, and the downtown was completely remodeled. But it was still a city being reborn while in the grip of drug smugglers: shootouts and gangland slayings by cocaine cowboys were common. The police, Coast Guard, Drug Enforcement Agency, Border Patrol and FBI were in a tizzy trying to keep track of it all. And then it happened: Miami Vice.

The show, about two outrageously expensively (yet pastel) clad narcotics detectives driving around in a Ferrari and million-dollar cigarette boats, was responsible for Miami Beach rising to international attention in the mid-1980s. The show's slick look, soundtrack and music video montages glamorized the rich life in South Florida, and before long people were coming down to see it. By the late 1980s, Miami Beach had risen to international Fabulousness. Celebrities were moving in, photo shoots from all over the world were being shot here, and the Art Deco District was going through a renovation that turned the city into a showpiece of fashion and trendiness.

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Attractions

Miami Beach
Most people come to Miami Beach for its beaches, clubs and bars, and to witness one of the most spectacular redesigns in modern architectural history. The Art Deco Historic District, a collection of bright pink, lavender and turquoise buildings dating from the 1920s, is one of the largest areas on the US National Register of Historic Places. Its protection and renovation has been one of the major reasons for the rebirth of Miami as a top notch tourist destination. The Deco district is in the heart of funky South Beach (SoBe), the southwestern section of Miami Beach.

For a city beach, Miami Beach is one of the best around. The water is clear and warm, the sand relatively white and, best of all, it's wide enough and long enough to accommodate the throngs. The Promenade is a Deco-ish, wavy ribbon of concrete at the Beach's westernmost edge. If you've ever looked at a fashion magazine, you've seen it: it's the photo shoot site. If you show up early in the morning, you're likely to see shoots in progress. This is also the hot spot for in-line skaters, bicyclists, skateboarders, dog walkers and people watchers to mill about bumping into each other.

Miami Beach has a strong Jewish culture mixed with a dash of Latin flair: there's even a Cuban-Jewish Congregation. The city's Holocaust Memorial, in the middle of Miami Beach, was created through the efforts of Miami Beach Holocaust survivors. It's an elaborate, exquisitely detailed and moving memorial. Like the Kaddish, the Jewish prayer for the dead that does not once mention death but rather speaks only of life, the Memorial is a testament to humankind's perseverance and the hope for a better world.

Miami Beach is 12 miles (19km) long and attached to the city of Miami, 4 miles (6km) to its west, by a series of causeways.

Little Havana
After the Mariel Boatlift, the section of town to which Cuban exiles had been gravitating for years blossomed into a distinctly Cuban neighborhood, now known as Little Havana. Spanish is the predominant language here, and you'll run into plenty of people who speak no English. The heart of Little Havana is Calle Ocho (KAH-yeh AW-cho), Spanish for SW 8th St (actually it's Spanish just for 8th St, but what the hell). The entire length of Calle Ocho is lined with Cuban shops, cafes, record stores, pharmacies, and clothing and (most amusing) bridal shops.

But while the wall-of-sound-style speakers set up outside places such as Power Records are blasting salsa and other Latin music into the street, Little Havana as a tourist attraction is elusive. It's not concentrated like a Chinatown; it's actually not really a tourist attraction at all. It's just a Cuban neighborhood, so except during the occasional street fair or celebration, you shouldn't expect Tito Puente and Celia Cruz to be leading colorfully attired, tight-trousered men and scantily-clad women in a Carnaval parade. You're more likely to see old men playing dominoes in M�mo G� Park.

Little Havana occupies 10 square blocks, centered on Calle Ocho, southwest of downtown Miami.

Key Biscayne
South of downtown Miami, along Biscayne Bay's shore, lie a number of the city's best attractions. They're spread out, but if science and animals intrigue you, it's definitely worth heading this way.

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When to Go

The boundaries of 'season' in Miami - which used to be limited to winter - have been blurred by the huge number of people moving to the area and the stampede of fashion and film shoots. But the most popular time to come here is still between December and May, when temperatures average between 60-85�F (16-30�C), and average rainfall is a scant couple of inches. Miami's Carnaval, which takes place in early March, is the biggest and best reason to come, and hundreds do, so book early and prepare for the parading masses.

Summer can be summed up as very hot and humid, with thunderstorms every day at 3pm. August is the hottest month, with average temperatures between 78-89�F (26-31�C). Remember that it feels a lot hotter than 89�F when there's 90% humidity. However, the advantage of coming during the early summer, despite the higher temperatures and increased rainfall, is that you get more of the place to yourself.

The hurricane season - June to November - can be a perfectly pleasant time to visit, but be aware that it only takes one little hurricane to ruin a holiday.

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It used to be called 'God's Waiting Room'. And even today, if you mention Miami to someone who hasn't been here or read about it lately, they might conjure up a blurry memory of octogenarians mingling poolside while Aunt Sadie implored them to wait half an hour after eating before going into the water. Today the old folks mingle with fashion designers, bikini models and Cuban �gr� and a city that once had the highest murder rate in the US attracts more than 11 million tourists a year.

The Greater Miami Area, which includes Miami and Miami Beach as well as distinctive neighborhoods like Little Havana and Little Haiti, is a melting pot that America's founding fathers would be proud of. Half of Miami's population is Hispanic, and its immigrant communities focus on what's happening in Havana or Caracas as much as they follow events in Washington DC, giving the city an international outlook. For the casual visitor this means a city peppered with the flavors of Latin American food, language, music, politics and spirit.

Most visitors head for Miami Beach, a city built on a sandbar across Biscayne Bay from Miami. Many of the beach's locals are imports from New York, people tired of sitting through five hours of snarled traffic on their way to the Hamptons, who decided that Miami Beach made a lot more sense. They brought with them a fledgling art and culture crowd whose numbers included many younger artists.

Destination Facts

Population: 600,000 in City of Miami; 95,000 in Miami Beach; Greater Miami 2.1 million
Area: 45 sq mi (117 sq km)
State: Florida
Time Zone: Eastern Standard Time (GMT/UTC minus 5 hours)
Telephone area code: Metropolitan Miami: 305; Miami and Miami Beach: 786

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Feb. 10 �The Porto Bellagio Development in Sunny Isles, Florida is inviting dogs and their owners to spend a day at Porto Bellagio condominiums, enjoying the view, eating gourmet treats and drinking bottled water, Saturday, Feb. 19th at 11:00 AM.

With the condo boom in South Florida, developers are searching for ways to attract buyers. While other developers are showcasing live models and wild theme parties to show off their condos, Porto Bellagio concentrates on showcasing their luxury condominiums in a pet friendly environment. Most developments say no to pets, but not Porto Bellagio. The development has a strong pet friendly stance and it is helping their sales--over 30% of Porto Bellagio owners are dog lovers.

What attracts pet residents? The Porto Bellagio is equipped with conveniently located "doggie potties" within the bay-front walk ways and grass areas. The doggie potties feature trash cans, pooper scoopers and plastic bags to make cleaning up easy. The grounds are perfect for a day-time walk, dog retreat or to relax in the private courtyard.

"It is a rarity to find a luxury, waterfront condominium that not only allows pets over 20 lbs., but also, caters to them," said, Mike Pappas, Keyes Co. CEO/president. "With a variety of pet amenities and an array of dog activities, such as The Four Paw Event, The Porto Bellagio Development is attracting the vastly expanding quantity of dog owners searching for an affordable and comfortable home."

The Four Paw Event at Porto Bellagio will include: Gourmet treats, Training Tips, Doggie Boutique, A Staged Dog Presentation, Pet Taxi, Artist Renderings, Socializing, Dog Mind-Interpreters, Dog Walking Service and Dog Trick-Trainer. For more information, please call Paul Hansen at 786-586-4778 para informacion en Espanol Carole Ramirez-Hansen 786-586-4780

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Feb. 10 � Sales of existing condominiums and cooperatives hit their ninth consecutive annual record in 2004, while the pace of sales activity in the fourth quarter eased but remained the third highest quarter on record, according to the National Association of Realtors�.

There were a total of 970,000 existing condo and co-op sales last year, up 8.0 percent from the previous record of 898,000 units in 2003.

The sales pace slipped 3.0 percent in the fourth quarter to a seasonally adjusted annual rate* of 972,000 units from a 1.00 million-unit pace in the third quarter. Sales were 3.4 percent above the 940,000-unit level of sales activity in the fourth quarter of 2003; quarterly records were set in the second and third quarters of 2004.

David Lereah, NAR's chief economist, said the sales performance underscores the significance of condo sales in the overall housing market. "The condo market has clearly matured over the last decade, accounting for a market share almost as big as the new home market, and has been appreciating faster than single-family homes," he said. Given this growth, NAR will now include condo sales in its monthly track of overall existing home sales, beginning with the January report.

In the fourth quarter, the median existing condo/co-op price was $203,200, which is 16.7 percent higher than a year ago. The median is a typical market price where half of the units sold for more and half sold for less. By comparison, the typical single-family home cost $187,500 in the fourth quarter, 8.8 percent higher than a year earlier.

NAR President Al Mansell, CEO of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Salt Lake City, said the reputation of condos as an investment has changed dramatically. "In much of the 1980s and early 90s, condos earned a reputation for slow price growth, in many cases because there was an oversupply on the market," he said. "With the maturation of this market segment, condos have been appreciating faster than single-family homes for the last four years. In the past, affordability was a bigger factor in condo sales � now, lifestyle choices have emerged as a driving force in their growing popularity."

For all of 2004, the median existing condo price was $193,600, up 17.0 percent from a median of $164,100 in 2003. At the same time, the typical single-family resale home price rose 8.3 percent to $184,100.

According to Freddie Mac, the national average commitment rate on a 30-year conventional fixed-rate mortgage was 5.73 percent in the fourth quarter, down from 5.89 percent in the third quarter; it was 5.92 percent in the fourth quarter of 2003.

In the Northeast, condo/co-op resales rose 1.2 percent between the third and fourth quarters to a 168,000-unit pace, and were 9.1 percent above the fourth quarter of 2003. The median price in the Northeast was $234,800, up 23.0 percent from a year ago.

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