The Ultimate Guide to Spring Cleaning

Whether you’re a seasoned pro or looking for a little inspiration on where to begin, we’ve rounded up some of our best tips and tricks to make spring cleaning a breeze. Victoria Keichinger Feb 23, 2017 The weather is warming. Spring is almost here! While that means that flowers and BBQs and summer break are around the corner, it also means that your home is probably due for some spring cleaning. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or looking for a little inspiration on where to begin, we’ve rounded up some of our best tips and tricks to make spring cleaning a breeze. 111 Magnolia Avenue, Fairhope, AL 36532 | The Norton Wise Team | Coldwell Banker Reehl Properties, Inc. 111 Magnolia Avenue, Fairhope, AL 36532 | The Norton Wise Team | Coldwell Banker Reehl Properties, Inc. Read these quick and easy home tips before you begin spring cleaning. 6 must-add items to your spring cleaning list. How many of these 9 cleaning hacks do you already know? We love #4! Spring cleaning tips for people who hate cleaning…aka everyone. We bet you overlooked these 5 areas when spring cleaning. Ew. 19705 27th Ave NW, Shoreline, WA 98177 | Terry Allen | Coldwell Banker BAIN 19705 27th Ave NW, Shoreline, WA 98177 | Terry Allen | Coldwell Banker BAIN How to really clean your home before an open house. No time for spring cleaning before summer? Get a clean house on demand with this app. 5 easy ways to keep carpet clean. When was the last time you cleaned these 20 items in your home? 3551 Oak Tree DR, Centerton, AR 72719 | Sherry Hardie | Coldwell Banker Harris McHaney & Faucette Real Estate 3551 Oak Tree DR, Centerton, AR 72719 | Sherry Hardie | Coldwell Banker Harris McHaney & Faucette Real Estate A guide to cleaning every nook and cranny in the house: Kitchen Tried & True Tricks to a Sparking Clean Kitchen 4 Kitchen Hacks to make cleaning a cinch…we promise! Did you know there was a National Clean Your Refrigerator Day? Here’s how to celebrate. Bathroom The down & dirty guide to cleaning grout All the bathroom cleaning tips you could ever need. How to clean a cast iron tub Windows 5 expert tips for clean windows How to clean stained glass windows Bedroom A step-by-step guide to cleaning your bedroom (send this one to the kids) Outdoors Easy ways to up the curb appeal of your home

Throw an Award-Winning Oscar Party at Home

You don’t have to be in Hollywood on Oscar night to party like a star. Here are some easy ways to throw a fabulous Academy Awards watch party at home with friends and family. Gustavo Gonzalez Feb 22, 2017 Image Courtesy of Leah Gregg If you’re like me, the short days and less than stellar weather of winter sends me into hibernation mode; meaning I tend to see less of the people I care about most. If you’re looking to for a fun way to reconnect with friends and family, and happen to be a fan of movies and the celeb filled Academy Awards, then throwing your own Oscar viewing party at home might be just what the doctor ordered! Here are some sure fire tips to help you pull off an Oscar party worthy of any A Lister. Make it an Event! – The most obvious but very important first step is to build some “buzz” around your Oscar party within your close circle of friends. Set the right tone by creating and sending award show inspired eVites via eVite. Feeling even more creative? Why not send an invite message to your friends over snapchat using the face change filter? Take a queue from Justin Timberlake and Barney Stinson…suit up! – If you want to kick the awesomeness level of your party up a notch, require that your soiree attendees come dressed up, like they were really at the Oscars! Suit up Roll out the Red Carpet – One of the signature parts of Oscar night are the red carpet arrivals and interviews that happen right before the actual ceremony begins. You can buy a 15 foot red carpet runner for $7 at Party City. Right before your guests arrive, roll that red carpet out! Designate someone in your family as the paparazzi and take some photos of your decked out guests. Post to Facebook and Instagram immediately! If you really want to be creative, you can even film them and edit a fun video together after the fact. Bubbles – As your guests enter your home, usher them to your dining room where you would have already dressed it up for a cocktail hour (or half hour). You should have some light hor dourves on tap and make sure to have something bubbly for your guests to drink. Either sparkling cider, champagne or soda. Since the Oscars are the most upscale of all the award shows, bust out that nice China you keep in the kitchen cabinet for most of the year. Or head over to your local party store and purchase some fancy looking plastic champagne glasses, chargers and plates. Most important part: enjoy good conversation The big screen – A bit before the show begins, lead your guests to the room with your biggest screen. This should be where you all watch the Academy Awards. For a few bucks, you can spruce your space up by making it festive with some award show related decorations. Party supply stores like Party City have a slew of cheap Hollywood inspired decorations you can purchase to add some pizzazz to your shindig. Want to go the extra mile? Rent or buy a popcorn machine! It’s all fun and games – What’s a party without some games? Download or print ballots from places like The New York Times or Fandango and hand them out before your party begins. You can even up the stakes by giving away a prize to the winner who guesses the most categories correctly. Here are a few other cool game ideas: Oscar Bingo Film Trivia Six Degrees of Separation (i.e. How are Ben Affleck and Steve Urkel connected? Well, Affleck was in Armageddon with Bruce Willis who did Die Hard with the Father from Family Matters, which was the show headlined by Steve Urkel! #tooeasy) Guess Who I Am Oscar Party Pool 7. Celebs get gifts – Word on the street is that Oscar presenters get amazingly expensive gift bags just for showing up and reading a few words off the teleprompter. While you won’t have the budget for that, be sure to leave each guest with a small gift bag to take home as a token of your appreciation. You can get Hollywood themed party bags at any party store and you can get as creative as you’d like with your gifts: Chocolates, candy, cards, $5 gift cards or anything from the bargain bins at Target! And there you have it! With a little bit of pre-planning and very little cost, you can have an Academy Awards party at home to make any A-Lister jealous. Be sure to also look out for the “Official Oscars Challenge” as well! You can play against friends and others for the chance to win exclusive gifts and prizes. Cheers!

Does Samsung Have the Easiest Way to Make Any Home a Smart Home?

SmartThings aims to be the smartest thing to make your home a bit smarter. David Marine Feb 23, 2017 Everyone wants their home to be smarter. Even the biggest of Luddites can admit that the idea of your home adjusting temperatures to your personal preference upon arrival is pretty enticing. Oh and if it can fold your laundry for you? Sure, I’ll take that too. But turning your plain, old home into a smart home can often feel like a costly and daunting task. Even if I own a few smart products that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s instantly smart. How do I get my devices to talk to each other and automate things so it’s the nirvana that everyone who talks about smart homes makes it out to be? That’s where Samsung steps in. Samsung SmartThings seeks to be the simplest way to turn any home into a smart home. Take a look at the interview we did with Abbie Byrom of Samsung SmartThings to showcase just what can be done to make your home just a bit smarter.

4 Great Gadgets for your Pets When You’re Not Home

From cleaning the litter box to endless games of fetch, these 4 pet-friendly gadgets are must haves for any home with a furry friend. Jill Eber Feb 24, 2017 Our furry friends are such an important part of our homes. Today, we’re rounding up four of our favorite pet-friendly gadgets for your home that take care of everything from cleaning the litter box to endless games of fetch. Gadget #1: The Litter-Robot III Open Air – Cats are relatively low maintenance pets that don’t require much work and in return can be quite loving and cute. However, as any cat owner knows, there is one major hassle in owning a pet cat- dealing with the litter box. Traditional litter boxes are essentially plastic bins that cat owners must manually scoop out the clumps of cat poo and pee. This is a daunting task that needs to be done on a daily basis and can get quite overwhelming. Nonetheless, there is a miraculous solution to this issue — automated litter boxes that clean themselves. While there are several models of these techy cat bathrooms, the Litter-Robot III Open Air is head and shoulders above the rest. With a spacious litter chamber that rotates after each use, removing the clumps and separating them into a drawer, this magical product will leave your home odor-free and keep your cats happy. Additional features include an automatic LED night-light and a ‘drawer full’ indication so that you can easily dispose of the full trash bag in the drawer. The Litter-Robot III Open Air is wonderful for multiple, large and small cats. Best of all, you will never have to scoop litter again! Gadget #2: Petzi Treat Cam – Leaving for work every morning and having to be away from your pets for several hours at a time can certainly be heartbreaking. That’s why Petzi came up with a great way to stay connected with your pets when you’re not home. The Petzi Treat Cam lets you see your pets, speak to them, give them a treat, and snap a picture of their happy faces, all from the click of a button. They even have a social media platform for you to share the photos of your pets. Whenever you miss your pets, think about them, or even if you have a good daily routine set in place, you can reach out to them and show them you care. Having the ability to check up on your pets, to actually see them through a wide lens camera, is truly remarkable. Not only will it give you peace of mind, it will bring a smile to your face every time you see them enjoy a treat. When you’re not together, there’s no better way to stay in touch with your pets than the Petzi Treat Cam! Gadget #3: iFetch Interactive Ball Launcher for Dogs – If you spend a lot of time away from home and feel guilty about leaving your dogs behind, don’t fret, there’s a way to ensure that they have fun without you. If your dog loves playing fetch, the iFetch Interactive Ball Launcher for Dogs is the perfect toy for them. The iFetch website provides ample tips and videos to help you train your dog to use the device and learn how to play fetch on their own. Soon enough, your pup will be able to drop the ball into the machine that then launches it into the air. This amusing game will ensure that your dog gets enough exercise throughout the day while keeping things interactive and fun. Dogs no longer need their owners to play fetch with them and are now able to keep themselves entertained on their own! Gadget #4: Petcube Play – Another brilliant camera device that let’s you keep track of your pets and play with them remotely is the Petcube Camera. Although it probably works best with cats, also works well with dogs and has some enhanced features that differentiate it from other interactive camera devices. For starters, is has two-way audio, allowing you to fully communicate with your pets. When you miss your fur baby, you can now speak to your pet and listen and watch them in return. However, the reason it’s called the Petcube Play is because of its incredible built-in laser toy that lets you play and exercise your pet when you’re away from home. Keep them from getting bored and out of trouble by controlling the laser from your smart phone and watching them play through the camera. If you’re too busy, no worries, you can put the device on autoplay mode and keep your beloved felines and pooches occupied for hours! Thank you for reading my article and be sure to contact me, Jill Eber, of The Jills for all of your South Florida real estate buying, renting and selling needs.

What to Consider Before You Buy a Home

Educate and empower yourself before you buy a home. It is important that you buy a home that will be what you expected and one that is a safe and smart investment. By understanding the process and the market you are in, you can buy with confidence. Debbie Webb Feb 25, 2017 It’s important to educate and empower yourself before you buy a home. You want to ensure that the home you purchase meets your requirements and is a safe and smart investment. By understanding the process and the market you are in, you can buy with confidence. Having the right information and relevant advice will put you in a position to make your buying dollars go further. Contact an Agent Before you purchase a home, seek the advice of a real estate agent. Real estate is their business and they have likely viewed more homes than you will in a lifetime. They bring that knowledge to the table along with an understanding of the financial arena. A real estate agent usually helps the buyer secure the best deal and the right house for the buyer’s budget. Think Investment Before you buy a home, you need to recognize that your home will also be an investment in your future. This may be the largest investment you have ever made. So, when you decide to buy, you should be educated on where and what you should invest in. Analyzing your want list with what your future buyers might be looking for is a balancing act. While you may think living across from a school would be great, your future buyers may not think so. Establishing a relationship with an experienced real estate agent will be very important when making decisions about what future impact you may expect if you buy a home that has qualifications. Your real estate agent will create a market analysis of the property you are interested in. Having a good sense of what properties are selling for in the neighborhood will give you helpful information if you make an offer to purchase the property. Before you buy a home, see a lender who will help you determine your budget. Armed with this information and your “dream home” check-list, your real estate agent will comprise a list of homes that may fulfill your expectations. If after looking at homes, you see that your dream list and your budget don’t match, keep in mind that this will probably not be the home you live in for the rest of your life. But if you buy smart now, you will be gaining equity and appreciation, and this home may provide the money to buy your step-up home of your future.

10 Dream Homes for Sports Fanatics

We all know staying active is important, but sometimes we need a little push. Here are 10 dream homes that will give you the motivation you need. Sharon Lee Feb 27, 2017 We all know staying active is important, but sometimes we need a little push. Here are 10 dream homes for sports fanatics that will give you the motivation you need. 1. Basketball 02.23 Basketball 2571 Del Lago Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL listed by Gilles Rais with Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate for $10,900,000. March Madness is upon us and we just have to start the list with this luxurious modern Italian style estate with a waterfront basketball court. Yes, waterfront basketball court overlooking Harbor Beach in Fort Lauderdale, FL—so your basketball star friends can pull up in a mega-yacht to your exquisite backyard. 2. Golf 02.23 Golf 360 Laurel Road, New Canaan, CT listed by Kelly Feda with Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate for $12,000,000. Is it too cold, too hot or too windy? Don’t let weather get in the way of your practice. If you lived in this exceptional estate in New Canaan, CT, you can always practice your perfect swing in the sports barn which includes a golf simulator room, basketball court, bowling alley and movie theater along with a game room that features billiards, pinball, and a milkshake bar. Calling all obsessed golfers to spend a day playing one of the 50 courses on the golf simulator followed by watching Caddyshack in the private theater. Don’t forget the milkshake! 3. Baseball 02.23 Baseball 13935 Hilldale Rd, Valley Center, CA listed by Judy Bresnahan with Coldwell Banker Village Properties for $3,250,000. Batter up! We have the perfect property that really hits it out of the park. This 25-acre property in Valley Center, CA is complete with a private baseball field. Plus, it’s baseball season 365 days a year in sunny SoCal. 4. Horseback Riding 02.23 Equestrian 155 Kings Mountain Rd, Woodside, CA listed by Erika Demma with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage for $14,995,000. Keep your horses happy on this luxurious property with magnificent landscaping in Central Woodside, CA. Complete with a beautiful 8-stall barn, this 5-acre property boasts full sunshine all day. 5. Run 02.23 run 387 Ocean Blvd, Golden Beach, FL listed by Jill Hertzberg with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage for $29,000,000. This rare beachfront home, one of only a few found exclusively on Golden Beach, is a true Mediterranean masterpiece with beyond extraordinary direct ocean views and direct beachfront. This property is perfect for the sunrise beach run. 6. Ski 02.23 ski 141 White Pine Canyon Rd, Park City, UT listed by Bing Zhang with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage for $ 7,995,000. Get your skis ready and head to the largest US ski resort, Park City Mountain Ski Resort. Nestled on 4.16 acres in a private gated ski-in/ski-out community, this sophisticated yet modern home was featured in MTV’s Teen Cribs and Discovery Channel. When you are done skiing, be sure to cozy up by the fire place with a hot cocoa. 7. Swim 02.23 swim 32 Watch Way, Lloyd Harbor, NY listed by The Friedman Team with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage for $13,880,000. No, this isn’t a picture from the 2017 Lilly Pulitzer catalog. This is a mansion that sits on 33 acres of land on Long Island. The mansion was designed by world famous architect Edward Durell Stone. Swimming in style never goes out of style. 8. Bowling 02.23 Bowling 613 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills, CA listed by Ron de Salvo with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage for $39,995,000. Bowling has become trendy, but who would’ve thought a bowling alley could be so elegant? Maison 613 sets a new standard of elegance, beauty and sophistication in the residential landscape of Beverly Hills. No need to wait in line to rent bowling shoes at Bowlmor Lanes or Lucky Strike if you own a private Qubica AMF 2 lane Bowling Alley in your home. 9. Tennis 02.23 Tennis 7 Carpenters Brook Road, Greenwich, CT listed by Marianne Scipione-Lepre with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage for $4,650,000. Put on your tennis whites and let your inner Serena Williams shine! This 4-acre European-influenced estate in Greenwich, CT inspires serenity with its elegance and sophistication. Ace your tennis game while soaking up the sun, then go for a refreshing dip in the pool which is conveniently located right next to the tennis court. 10. Yoga 02.23 Yoga 5403 Kalanianaole Highway, Honolulu, HI listed by Tracy Allen with Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties for $20,000,000. You don’t need to go to a special yoga retreat to find your inner peace, when you live in this stunning 1.43-acre modern oceanfront estate with 185 linear feet of beach frontage, tennis court/tennis pavilion, sparkling pool, Jacuzzi & pool pavilion and lush, tropical landscaping. With such magnificent views of this Honolulu property, you bet Namaste home all day. To see more dream homes, follow us on Instagram and Pinterest. And find your own dream home at coldwellbanker.com.

3 Things I Wish Someone Told Me as a First Time Home Buyer

Wondering if it may be time to buy your first home? Take a look at this before you get started. Lindsay Listanski Yesterday As I approach my four year “homeaversary” I decided to take a moment to reflect on all that I had on my mind as my husband and I prepared to make the biggest purchase of our lives. Here are some of the things I wish I had known sooner that I hope will help you, or someone you, know on their journey toward home ownership. You Don’t Pay The Agent’s Commission as the Buyer So many first time buyers wonder, “do you have to pay a real estate agent if you are buying a home?” For some, the thought of having to shell out extra cash when they are already doing all they can to save for their down payment is enough to make them walk away from the entire process before they even get going. Many are surprised to find out that the answer is actually no. A home buyer does not pay their agent, rather the agent earns their commission from the seller side of the transaction.* Need help finding an agent? Take a look here. Focus on Your Monthly Mortgage Payment, Not the Entire Thing Getting pre-approved for a mortgage is generally the first step you should take as a first time buyer. A common mistake that people often make is focusing on the total price of the home they can afford instead of the monthly payment they will be making. You may get approved for a $350,000 home, but this may not necessarily be what you can truly afford. Think of the amount your advisor suggests you can afford as a range. There is a high end and a low end and it is your job, not the mortgage advisor’s, to figure out what you are comfortable paying each month. It is crucial that you work with your advisor to understand how your down payment amount, credit, and the current mortgage rate affect your monthly payment. Make the Jump! To steal a line from Nike®…Just Do It™! From agonizing over the down payment to finding the “perfect” home there are a ton of moments in the first time buying process that are going to make you feel nervous. Know that it is natural and that similar to having a baby, there is never really a 100% perfect time. You are always going to wish you had more money in the bank, hope that the home had a backyard that was just a little bigger, or that you were just a little more sure what direction your life will be taking in the next 5-10 years. My advice: if you feel comfortable with the payment, love the location and “bones” of the house and will feel proud to make this house a home, then take the leap and don’t look back. That’s what we did almost four years ago and it was one of the best decisions we ever made. *As with anything exceptions may apply. One example where this may change is a For Sale By Owner (FSBO). To be certain of what the payment structure will be, speak with your agent as soon you begin working to discuss payment/commission.

The Hottest Bathroom Design Trends of The Year

From towel warming drawers to curbless showers, here are the top bathroom trends for 2017. Lindsay Listanski Today Guest Post by Andrea Davis The bathroom design trends of 2017 have arrived! While you shouldn’t redo your entire bathroom based on these trends, you can redo some smaller projects that will last. Here’s a look at the latest in bathroom amenities and décor for your consideration. Heated flooring and built-in appliances Heated bathroom flooring is a growing trend among many homeowners. It comes in concrete, vinyl and tile options, which makes it easy to match your existing decor. In addition to providing heat to the entire bathroom, heated flooring also helps to reduce noise and prevent the spread of dust and other allergens. Built-in refrigeration units — used to store organic remedies and medicines — are also popular bathroom additions. Towel- and robe-warming drawers are also trending in 2017. Small-scale luxury Designer sink fixtures; free-standing, single-person bathtubs and walk-in showers are popular one-off bathroom additions. Space-saving shelving in place of traditional cabinetry is also a sought-after bathroom upgrade. While you might not go for platinum faucets, you can use beautiful silver, copper or nickel pieces to accent the bathroom & make it look top rated. The bathroom design trends of 2017 have arrived! While you shouldn’t redo your entire bathroom based on these trends, you can redo some smaller projects that will last. Here’s a look at the latest in bathroom amenities and décor for your consideration. Heated flooring and built-in appliances Heated bathroom flooring is a growing trend among many homeowners. It comes in concrete, vinyl and tile options, which makes it easy to match your existing decor. In addition to providing heat to the entire bathroom, heated flooring also helps to reduce noise and prevent the spread of dust and other allergens. Built-in refrigeration units — used to store organic remedies and medicines — are also popular bathroom additions. Towel- and robe-warming drawers are also trending in 2017. Small-scale luxury Designer sink fixtures; free-standing, single-person bathtubs and walk-in showers are popular one-off bathroom additions. Space-saving shelving in place of traditional cabinetry is also a sought-after bathroom upgrade. While you might not go for platinum faucets, you can use beautiful silver, copper or nickel pieces to accent the bathroom & make it look top rated. Curbless showers Curbless showers open space and create a sense of luxury. The curbless design also pairs well with decorative tile and cutting-edge shower fixtures. If you have a shower already, you can redesign it to be smaller and more open. If you have a bathtub, you might need to pull it out and start fresh. Three-dimensional tiles Three-dimensional tiles can serve as individual focal points or eye-catching alternatives to painted accent walls. 3-D tiles also range in price, making them affordable for most budgets. Make sure they don’t take away from the entire appearance of the bathroom, though. You might consider a backsplash for the counter area if you want the look as a smaller feature. Mediterranean-inspired designs Mediterranean-inspired design is a meeting of old-world style and modern glitz. This design style combines the elegant charm of terracotta with the glamor of modern metallic. Mosaic tiles can also add richness to the space and accent the tub or shower area. Rustic and industrial Bare copper pipes match exposed brick and concrete accents. Speak to a contractor to see if exposing your copper pipes is right for your bathroom. Additionally, warm wood cabinets and drawers add to a rustic feel by creating an inviting atmosphere. Dark colors Dramatic, somber colors are coming to the bathroom. The combination of white fixtures and dark colors prevents a gloomy feeling – especially when coupled with gold accents. If white seems like too much, consider neutral colors. Tans, creams and greys are a good compromise that still look nice. Conclusion If your bathroom no longer gives you joy, maybe it’s time to rediscover a look that will break your notions about the space. Whether your space is small or large, the trends of 2017 will help to turn it into a place of relaxation and luxury.

Why I’m going to #GenBlue for the First Time

Melissa Mummery goes to Gen Blue to be inspired. Alexandra Filiaci Yesterday Guest post by Melissa Mummery I’m almost embarrassed to admit that I haven’t paid much attention to GenBlue. The first I heard of it was in 2011 when my Broker ran a contest in our office and the prize was a ticket to the event in Las Vegas… Obviously I didn’t win. At the time I was 2 years in the business and had 3 kids aged 6, 4 and 3 so it would have been pretty difficult for me to get there (from Port Dover, Ontario, Canada). Since then I’ve followed the announcements of the locations and wished I could be a part of it for the travel opportunities alone. Last year I downloaded the App (yes there will be an App for Gen Blue and you NEED it) and was amazed to see the depth of learning and networking possibilities. Fast forward to 2016… Gen Blue is in Miami and I’m absolutely thrilled to be going! I’ve since added one more to the mix (so now we’re at 4 girls aged 3,8,9 and 11) but with them all in school this year I have a plan! Even better – two years ago my husband got his license and joined my office to help me (and earn his keep) so he’s tagging along with his own ticket. As a first timer I have high hopes for Gen Blue… I’m someone who can never learn enough. I want to be the best me I can as both a person and a Realtor®. I’ve attended every Sales Rally, Network Blue event, Coldwell Banker continuing education course and whatever local sessions I could make it to. But I want more… It’s really hard to sum up why I’m going to my 1st (of many!) Gen Blue Experience but I’ll try. I’m going to Gen Blue to be inspired. I’m going to Gen Blue to learn about how I can become a better listener, a better communicator, a better salesperson and a better representative of Coldwell Banker. I want to come away energized and motivated and empowered to really be “in” my business. I want to learn new tools and technology and how to rise above my competition in an industry where there is so much choice. I know I will have the chance to learn from, and network with, Industry Leaders and colleagues with many different backgrounds, experiences and skill levels. If I sound like someone you might like to share ideas with, make sure to say hello – I’m part of our fabulous Coldwell Banker Social Squad!

Buying Abroad: Buenos Aires

From the food, nightlife, art scene and architecture – take a look at why Buenos Aires has become commonly referred to as the Paris of South America. Gustavo Gonzalez Yesterday From charming sidewalk cafes, striking architecture and the cosmopolitan feel, I’ve heard Buenos Aires referred to as the Paris of South America multiple times. I fell in love with Buenos Aires through two of my favorite films, Medianeras and Motorcycle Diaries. In the latter movie, Gael Garcia Bernal’s character says, “How is it possible to feel nostalgia for a world I never knew?” – this sums up the romantic feeling many have about the intoxicating and vibrant city of Buenos Aires. I unfortunately haven’t had the chance to visit yet, but luckily the latest installment of our ‘Buying Abroad‘ series has us covered. Here’s an on-the-ground perspective from Coldwell Banker Argentina about what makes Buenos Aires one of the world’ premier places to visit and/or call home. —— Chosen in 2016 as the best tourist destination in South America by the traveler’s choice awards, granted by Trip Advisor, Buenos Aires is one of the most attractive cities in Latin America. The reasons to visit Buenos Aires are endless. Its wide variety of shows makes it the city with more theater activity in Latin America and fourth in terms of movie production worldwide. Recognized as tango’s world capital, the city offers a great variety of places to dance and enjoy it. In regards to gastronomy, without a doubt, visiting Buenos Aires is an excellent opportunity to try the typical “Asado Argentino” (Argentinian barbecue), made with the highest quality meat. Traditional Buenos Aires cuisine – which is a consequence of the contributions of Italian, French and Spanish immigrants who arrived centuries ago – can be tasted in every corner of the city, especially in its gastronomic poles, such as Palermo, San Telmo and Puerto Madero. In its intense nightlife, there are many restaurants, bars and nightclubs where tourists can have fun and meet new people. And for city tour lovers, Buenos Aires offers a large amount of activities that are absolutely free to enjoy: from places of architectural, historical and cultural interest, to large green spaces to practice sports and enjoy the outdoors. The reasons to love Buenos Aires are unlimited and the opportunities to invest in it have increased in recent times with the presidential change: the Direct Foreigner Investment (IED*) during the first semester of 2016 reached USD 1.304 million: virtually the same number of all 2015 in such terms. Purchasing a property in a desirable location such as apartments in Recoleta, Belgrano or Palermo, or a nice house in the north suburbs of Buenos Aires, is a growing investment opportunity and the demand is gaining strength as Argentina is once again becoming an attractive country for big companies to invest in. —- If Buenos Aires sounds like as good to you as it does to me, be sure to visit http://coldwellbanker.com.ar for a look at some stunning potential vacation or primary homes. Do you love to travel? Be sure to click here to see our other ‘Buying Abroad’ stories that feature looks at places like Berlin, Paris and Italy.