This weekend marks the 24th year of the traditional Vintage Weekend here at The Reef. Vintage Weekend is a four-day celebration of antique and classic aircraft, automobiles and yachts.

It kicks off this Thursday, December 5th with registration starting at 10:00 am and a Welcome Tailgate Party at 6:00 pm.

This is a marvelous event that brings everyone together to appreciate the beauty and hard work that goes into maintaining these conveyances. 

We will be hosting a broker's open house for the beautiful 11B Landings!

When: Friday, November 1st from 12-1:30pm

Where: 11 Landings #B, Ocean Reef CLub, Key Largo, FL 33037

Lunch will be provided by Kessler's Kafe.

This 3BR | 3BA condo was just reduced to $1,835,000! This top floor condo is located in the desirable Landings of Fisherman’s Cove Neighborhood and has a 1 car garage with auto door, double cart room, covered parking, dockage for a 31’ boat and elevator access!. Community shared BBQ, pool and bath house. Great for families. Owner has architectural plans to flip the kitchen to the water side and make it an open floor plan that he will give to the buyer when contracted. Owner is motivated so bring all offers, PRICED TO SELL!

FEMA recently released the draft flood maps that have moved many property owners to a higher risk flood zone than what they were previously mapped in.  In Key West alone, over 2,000 properties may be moved from the X zone where flood insurance is not required by lenders into a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) where insurance will be required.

Fortunately for these property owners there is the "Grandfathering Rule" option. According to FEMA's website, when flood map changes occur, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) provides a lower-cost flood insurance rating option known as “grandfathering.” It is available for property owners who:

• Already have flood insurance policies in effect when the new flood maps become effective and then maintain continuous coverage; or
• Have built in compliance with the FIRM in effect at the time of construction.

Their website also says that timing is important because owners of most pre-FIRM buildings (built before the first flood map became effective) have only one chance to grandfather and lock in existing zone fore future rating. To read more about the Grandfathering Rule click here. 

To view the flood maps for your location, click here. 

Known for its great food, great service, and great location (who doesn’t love Buccaneer Island) the members of the Ocean Reef Club lost their favorite restaurant for a whopping 505 days after Hurricane Irma! (But who’s counting?) With a storm surge that engulfed the restaurant resulting in a total loss, post-hurricane recovery and rebuild included a complete gut and remodel of the beloved eating place.

  

Now, 505 days after Irma (again, who’s counting?), agents from our office were excited to attend the long awaited Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at the NEW Islander Restaurant of the Ocean Reef Club.

It was a beautiful happening where many gave words of gratitude including our Club Chair, Teresa Holmes, our new Club President, Serge Rivera, Member and PAC Chairman, Alan Goldstein, Monroe County Mayor, Sylvia Murphy, and Senior Vice President of Food, Beverage & Lodging Operations, Giovanni Melis.

Our favorite moment of the ribbon cutting, besides the actual cutting of the “ribbon” (a fishing net was used in theme), was when Giovanni ended his words with “Congratulations to you! This is YOUR restaurant!” The gathered crowed roared in applause and raised their champagne in a moment most won’t forget.

Now why do we think you should head over their now? Well:

1. You can’t beat the smell of a brand new restaurant.
And the décor? Breathtaking. The interior design of the restaurant seamlessly incorporates the relaxed feel of the islands with modern luxury. You'll want to get in there and sit in the cozy entrance lounge, just next to the new bar, and enjoy your favorite adult libation

2. The Sushi Bar.
Seriously. There is a sushi bar with the kindest sushi chefs in the biz behind the glass. When you sit at the bar, you may also enjoy the overhead mirror that allows you to view the entire sushi making process in real time.

3. This is YOUR restaurant.
To the members of the Ocean Reef Club: This is your club. Your support and love of this club is everything. Without you, none of this would exist. So get out there and enjoy YOUR restaurant.

    

We’re here to tell you that NEW is the new market trend! Nationwide, eager buyers are looking for newly built homes, says Dave Ramsey; recent real estate news suggests that the slow rate of new construction is contributing to the rising prices over the last few years. In fact, new home construction is projected to increase by 8% in 2019!

While the Ocean Reef real estate market typically sets its own trends, we seem to be following suit with the new construction bandwagon. New construction and recent renovations seem to be sold before the listing hits our MLS.

Take these recent pending beauties as examples: (Two of them didn’t even last a month!)

 
(Above: 17 Country Club and 23 Dilly Tree)

 
(Above: 7 South Harbor Drive and 50B Fairway Lakes)

As you know, hind sight is often 20-20 in real estate; especially at Ocean Reef. Buyers who are “new construction” homeowners are scoring the most desirable homes by acting quickly. 

Our recommendation is to act fast with an agent you trust; don’t suffer from “I'm Not the Buyer Remorse.” 

https://www.daveramsey.com/blog/real-estate-trends

https://realestate.usnews.com/real-estate/articles/what-to-expect-from-the-housing-market