Halloween Safety Tips for Children

If you have been a reader of my blog, you probably know that it is usually about real estate. You also probably know that it is about other topics as well. One of the things that is really important to me is helping parents find their missing kids. Halloween is a holiday that many people love to celebrate, but unfortuantely can also be very dangerous if we are not careful. Below are some Halloween safety tips for children from the Missing Kids website.

1. Be sure older children TAKE FRIENDS and younger children are accompanied by a TRUSTED ADULT when "Trick or Treating."
   
2. Accompany younger children to the door of every home they approach and make sure parents and guardians are familiar with every home and all people from which the children receive treats.
   
3. Teach children to NEVER enter a home without prior permission from their parents or guardians.
   
4. Teach children to NEVER approach a vehicle, occupied or not, unless they are accompanied by a parent or guardian.
   
5. Make sure all children wear reflective clothing and carry a glow stick when out at dusk and at night.
   
6. Make sure children are able to see and breathe properly and easily when using facial masks. All costumes and masks should be clearly marked as flame resistant.
   
7. Teach children to NEVER approach a home that is not well lit both inside and outside.
   
8. Teach children to stay alert for any suspicious incidents and report them to their parents, guardians, and/or the proper authority.
   
9. Teach children if anyone tries to grab them to make a scene; loudly yell this person is not my father/mother/guardian; and make every effort to get away by kicking, screaming, and resisting.
   
10. Consider organizing or attending parties at home, in schools, or in community centers as a good alternative to “Trick or Treating.”

HAVE A SAFE AND FUN HALLOWEEN!

Amit Bhuta
Real Estate Helper
Kendall Village Homes
(305) 439-3031
www.DadeCountyMLS.com

September 2008 South Florida Real Estate Stats

Here are some quick stats on the South Florida (Miami-Dade County) real estate market from September 2008. Contrary to what we hear in the media, sales are actually not that bad. Between single family homes and condos, there were 1,009 closed sales that took place in September. There were also 1,666 homes and condos that were placed under a sales contract and are just waiting to close. The months of inventory of homes for sale is 42.1 months. This number is still pretty high but a lot less than some recent months when there were over 70 months of inventory. For those homes that sell now days, the average amount of days they are on the market before a closed sale takes place is 120 days. The price that the home sales for is 90% of the last price it was on the market for.

Amit Bhuta
Real Estate Helper
Kendall Village Homes
(305) 439-3031
www.DadeCountyMLS.com

Quick Mortgage Fraud Stat

Florida leads the nation in mortgage fraud, accounting for about a quarter of the nation's fraudulent loans, according to industry trade groups. Many people think that South Florida is number one in the nation for mortgage fraud. Although it would seem to make sense to assume this because South Florida had some of the greatest price appreciation during the housing boom and had very lax lending standards, Fort Myers is number one in the nation in mortgage fraud per capita. Because there are so many ways that innocent buyers or sellers get trapped into mortgage fraud without knowing it, it only makes sense to use an experienced Realtor, who is familiar with mortgage fraud, when entering into a real estate transaction.

Amit Bhuta
Real Estate Helper
Kendall Village Homes
(305) 439-3031
www.DadeCountyMLS.com