AN ISLAND BREEZE MAY BE JUST WHAT YOUR INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO NEEDS

Phyllis Winick, the Director of Sales at the Fisher Island Sales Center, has more than 30 years of experience in the real estate business. Since 1986, she has made it her business to specialize in the unique characteristics of Fisher Island’s real estate market. “Throughout that time,” she says, “I’ve experienced numerous cycles and, despite periodic fluctuations, I believe that real estate remains an attractive investment – especially on Fisher Island.

“ Over the past year, condo sales in Miami-Dade County have dropped 46 percent while inventory has risen 50 percent. “We’re different,” Winick says of the situation on Fisher Island, “The world is our market and people are still buying.” In fact, over the past 60 days, thanks in part to the strength of the euro, Winick and her team of sales professionals have sold in excess of $25 million in resale properties on Fisher Island.

“Many of the largest fortunes in the world were built on real estate investments. Property on Fisher Island remains a fabulous opportunity,” she insists. “Year after year our office consistently produces more than $100 million in annual transactions. “It’s all a matter of teamwork and having a great product,” she says, pointing out that, “Fisher Island is one of the best places in the world to live.”

For more information on investing in a residence on Fisher Island, please contact Winick or sales representatives Lars Ekdahl, Larry Rivero, Vivi Pineda and Suzanne Oostdyk at 305-535-6071.

PLEASE WELCOME OUR NEW DIRECTOR OF HORTICULTURE AND LANDSCAPING
Mark James, President of FICA, announced that Mike Morel has joined the team on Fisher Island as Director of Horticulture and Landscaping. The hiring decision was enthusiastically supported by the Club and the Condominium Associations. “We all want Fisher Island to be a magnificent, lush garden,” James says.

Morel is a graduate of the University of Florida, where he studied Environmental Horticulture and Entomology. After college he accepted a position as City Landscaper in Deerfield Beach where he was responsible for the overall direction, design and maintenance of the city’s green spaces. In addition, Morel was a member of the plan review board for the city, ensuring that all commercial landscaping complied with the city’s codes. Among his many accomplishments were the redesign and management of a 23-acre protected sand pine preserve, including an interpretive trail system highlighting endangered plant and tree species in the park, and the conversion of a 3,200-foot power line path into useable public green space.

After serving five years in the public sector, Morel, who is a Certified Arborist and a member of the International Society of Arboriculture, accepted a position as Project Manager for Vila & Son Landscaping, where he was responsible for the management of a number of high-profile accounts, including The Related Group of Florida, Town of Bal Harbor, Broward County Hospital and the Florida Department of Transportation. Morel’s most recent position was with Southern Arborists; he designed and managed all landscape installations for the Coconut Creek firm, including projects for the City of Deerfield Beach, Century Village Retirement Communities, Deer Creek Community and a number of private upscale residences in South Florida.