Thursday, July 7, 2011

Opalocka, Florida Real Estate Market

There are many reasons to consider Opa-Locka, Florida as a relocation destination or a fun and exciting place to enjoy an active retirement.  The real estate market continues to be on the rise, with many options for buyers of all budgets.  A few attractive items are no state income taxes, no inheritance tax, and warm weather most of the year.  Opa-Locka has wide paths for relaxing afternoon strolls through its historic downtown area, as well as bike lanes and shopping at quaint boutiques.  The Atlantic Ocean’s beautiful views are a short distance away to make Opa-Locka a fantastic place to invest in real estate.

Not far away from Opa-Locka are exciting cities in Florida, such as Fort Lauderdale, Davie, Cooper City, Hallandale, Plantation, Pembroke Pines & Dania Beach.  These cities and the surrounding areas are excellent places, whether you’re looking to visit or a place to call home.  Opa-Locka is within close proximity to culture and nightlife options whether you seek a relaxing tree line sidewalk cafes, a late night jazz clubs or exclusive boutique stores.  Opa-Locka is located south of Fort Lauderdale and Dania Beach, east of Davie & Pembroke Pines north of Hallandale.  The city is close to great and scenic stretch of the Atlantic Ocean meeting its shores.

Opa-Locka was settled, as much of the area, around the 1920's.  This gives the town some old world charm, but still features contemporary attitudes and a small town feel.  Luxury high rise buildings tower east of Opa-Locka along the beach, and upscale homes have been developed along the Intracoastal Waterway.  A re-vamped downtown offers live jazz, sushi bars and art galleries.  At the same time, there are plenty of sports bars and casual spots amenities as well.

According to recent reports, 569 condominium or town home units in the Opa-Locka area.  Because 24 are bank owned, there are many affordable options for first time homeowners or those snowbirds looking for retirement options.  Other figures include the 69 condos that are under short sale arrangements, and 476 are from regular equity sellers.  The same area within Opa-Locka also  has 205 sold condos in recent, and out of those, 57 were bank owned, 27 were short sales and 121 regular sales.

Short sales are interesting number's game, to some a gamble.  Regular sales typically surpass bank owned sales by a slide.  There is an abundance of housing inventory options available, however.  There are a few reasons that regular sellers compete with bank owned properties and going head to head with current market values to take advantage of the lower prices.  But the arrangement is still a gamble.

Top Opa-locka, Florida Restaurants

Opa-Locka, Florida is an excellent city that is in close proximity to some of the finest restaurants and casual eateries in the region.  Little Havana Restaurant is at 12727 Biscayne Boulevard in nearby North Miami.  The Cuban food is delicious, with large portions, and the service is friendly, kind, and helpful.  House specialties include the Chicken Steak with Mushrooms and Onions.  Most dishes are accompanied by the standard rice, beans, and plantains, which are wonderfully cooked.  The Tres Leches Cake is a fantastic option for dessert.  The restaurant features a beautiful décor that focuses on its Cuban heritage with vintage Cuban posters.

Cote Gourmet is another exotic cuisine, and this spot focuses on French style and cooking.  The Eggplant mousse with strawberry coulis is an excellent appetizer option.  Guests rave about the fresh caught Tilapia entree served with balsamic glaze, rice topped with fresh dill, and lemon wedges.  Fresh, hot baguettes are complimentary for diners.  The prices at Cote Gourmet are quite reasonable prices:  Entrees range from $12 to $16, the amazing Crepes are around $10 and sandwiches are under $10.  One must-have item on the menu is the Seafood Linguine drizzled in Lobster Bisque.  The bisque is buttery, subtle, and packed with flavor.  The mussels mingling in the linguini are perfectly done, as are the jumbo shrimp and sweet scallops.  For dessert, try the Chocolate Mousse, served on a bed of crushed hazelnut pieces.  This is a light and not too sweet ending to a perfect meal.

At Cote Gourmet, the atmosphere is cozy and romantic, with a laid-back and comfortable feel.  Styled must like a French café in the hear of Paris, the dining room has white tables, tied linen napkins, white tablecloths, and roses.  Aside from the amazing food, it is important to note the amazing service from the service staff which is top notch.  The knowledgeable wine stewards make ordering wine easy and fun.  They know how to help guests pick the right wine, and even will offer to offer tastings from multiple bottles with a blind taste.

In addition to the diverse menu, Cote Gourmet features number of specials on a daily basis.  One favorite of Opa-locka guests that shows upon the menu often is the freshly made tarts with a tomato base, topped with baked goat cheese with a beautiful salad on the side.

Fun Activities and Historic Landmarks of Opalocka, Florida

Due to its location within the largest metropolitan area in the state of Florida, the Opa-Locka area has numerous fun and exciting sightseeing opportunities and attractions.  The nearby Miami Seaquarium, at 4400 Rickenbacker Causeway in Miami, is a fantastic spot for both tourists and residents.  The park offers world-class marine life shows and attractions, one of which spotlights “Lolita” the Killer Whale.  TV superstar Flipper also provides daily thrills, while dolphins from both the Atlantic and Pacific soar with highflying acrobatics.  Kids will love to play with the comical Salty and his laughable band of sea lions, while discovering the serene beauty of the endangered Florida manatee.  Salty’s Pirate Playground is great fun with cool and splashy activities for kids.

Another educational attraction for the children in Miami Children's Museum, at 980 Macarthur Causeway in Miami.  The facility is dedicated to enriching the lives of all children throughout the world with a focus on fostering a love of learning and enabling children to realize their highest potential.  Visitors of all ages are encouraged to play together, learn, imagine and create. The museum offers hundreds of bilingual, interactive exhibits, daily programs, classes, restaurants, Kid Smart their educational gift shop and learning materials related to arts, culture, community and communication.

Monkey Jungle is at 14805 S.W. 216 Street in Miami, a quick drive away from Opa-locka. With a park motto of “Where Humans Are Caged And Monkeys Run Wild,” guests can escape on a jungle safari.  Visitors enjoy the wilds of South America, Asia and Africa to witness crab-eating monkeys diving for treats.  Or, jump into the depths of the lush, tropical, Amazonian Rainforest filled with hundreds of exotic monkeys.  There are  behind the scenes Amazonian Rainforest Adventure Tours, where guests cross a slow running stream to a bridge over a large natural sinkhole to view a living laboratory.  The scene seems to come alive, which enables an experience the unique thrill of being immersed within a large troop of squirrel monkeys and Black Capped Capuchin monkeys.