The Art Nouveau masterpiece merges influences and interior furnishings from Europe, Asia, the Caribbean, Mexico and South America. Guests begin their journey in the lobby welcomed by a single door set in a hand-carved mahogany frame. The lobby features a mini rotunda, curved walls and impressive columns as well as rich Amazon Ironwood, sculptured plaster ceilings crafted by artisans from around the world, and stained-glass windows. Guests instantly unwind as they enter the hotel’s peaceful open-air courtyard, which features lush tropical plants and a Persian Water Garden.

The 179 spacious suites are elegantly appointed with every modern comfort, including balconies with soothing, 105-degree Japanese hot tubs or Jacuzzis in the master bedrooms. The richly-furnished rooms delicately surround guests with clean lines, natural light, rich colors and textures, and spacious floor plans. Guests indulge in the hotel’s hand-carved mahogany headboards, sea-grass furnishings, Egyptian cotton bedding, stone floors, and marble bathrooms with Roman spa baths. Special touches such as a 42-inch plasma television and sumptuous bath products sweep guests off to four-diamond luxury. The rooms feature European-built Brazilian wood closets and imported Brazilian doors, with unique art deco fittings, marble bathrooms, with limestone floors and Roman spa baths, which can be enjoyed while watching a favorite movie on a 15-inch LCD television in the bathrooms. Beds are luxuriously topped with 360 thread-count linens.

As would be expected, the amenities at the Mayfair Hotel & Spa are truly indulgent. Guests enjoy world-class spa and dining, rooftop heated pool with private cabanas, pet friendly services, state-of-the-art fitness center and more.

The hotel is located seven miles from Miami International Airport, in the heart of Coconut Grove, perfect for enjoying the excitement and vibrancy of South Florida. Just a few miles from the beaches and downtown Miami, the Mayfair Hotel & Spa is in the heart of world-famous shopping, dining, and attractions. Historical and charming Coconut Grove is known for a vibrant, upbeat spirit, and sophisticated attitude.

Soak up the style and tranquility of the newly renovated Mayfair Hotel & Spa, its luxury accommodations, first-class spa and fine dining by visiting www.mayfairhotelandspa.com.

In his article, “Home Buying: The Low Down on No Down Payment Mortgages,” Cook covers several types of loans that could help you finally purchase the Jacksonville real estate you’ve always dreamed about. Here are a few of the options he mentions.

If you’re thinking of moving to a small town or suburb, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) funds loans to thousands of families each year. There are some income and geographical restrictions on these loans. For example, you can only make up to 115 percent of the median annual income where you’re going to live. Also, these USDA loans do not cover homes in major cities. However, you also don’t need to live on a farm or in the middle of nowhere to be eligible.

VA loans are a great option for those who have served 90 days on active duty or with the Reserve or National Guard. Surviving spouses of servicemen and women may also qualify for these loans. They will cover up to half the cost of your mortgage, depending on the amount your borrow and where you live.

Don’t think you’re eligible for the aforementioned programs? Most state and local governments offer a variety of no down payment loans. In fact, most people are surprised by the amount of assistance available for first-time buyers. Do a little research in neighborhoods you’ve had your eye on. You might be able to afford your dream home after all!

Be sure and visit the Equifax Finance Blog to read Cook’s full article and to see a list of resources.

According to a recent post on the Equifax Finance Blog, the process might seem complicated, but there are things you can do to simplify things. Sam Tamkin shares some great tips in his article, “6 Ways to Get Your Property Taxes Reduced.” For one thing, you need to know how real estate taxes are determined. You should also be aware of when the best time to file your dispute is.

Once you learn some basic tax facts, its time to arm yourself with proper documentation. The key to reducing your property tax is showing proof that homes in your neighborhood are selling for/valued less than your home’s appraisal value. It may also help your cause if you provide photos of the devalued homes and your own. After all, if there is little to no difference in two properties, why should you be forced to pay significantly more than another homeowner?

Tamkin’s article goes into great detail on how to prepare for your dispute. For all of his advice, visit the Equifax Finance Blog.

Your Jacksonville home is important and there are steps you can take to minimize losses. As far as the structure of your home is concerned, storm shutters can help with hurricanes. If you’re building in an area affected by tornadoes, having a reinforced safe room is a sound investment.

According to the Equifax Personal Finance Blog, another thing you can do is prepare to file an insurance claim. In “Natural Disaster Insurance Claims: What to Do When a Natural Disaster Strikes,” insurance expert Linda Rey discusses the different types of insurance you may need.

Assuming you have the proper insurance, you will want to have a photo or video inventory of your belongings. Although this step is vital to providing the insurance company with proper information, Rey reports that only about one-third of policy owners have taken this step. Saving receipts for large items as well gathering insurance policies and reporting information is also important. You should keep all of this information in an  easy-to-access place so you can grab it on the run. Having all of this information will expedite your claims in case of emergency.

For more disaster preparation tips, read Rey’s full article on the Equifax Personal Finance Blog.

In “Pet-Friendly Housing Steering the Real Estate Market,” Equifax guest blogger Steve Cook points out that living with pets can be pricey. However, people seem to be buying more pets than ever before. This can lead to some uncomfortable situations when renting property, especially when half of rental property owners don’t allow pets at all, and the rest charge extra fees for them. When the costs range from $20 to $700 up front and are often in addition to a monthly payment, pet owners are looking at homes as the cheaper alternative.

In fact, the demand for pet-friendly real estate has caused one real estate broker in Naples, Fla., to build a business around advertising properties to pet owners. The Pet Realty Network allows pet-owning buyers to search listings across the U.S.

So if you’re looking to sell your home, you may be missing out on a huge market by not including pet owners in your search. Read Cook’s post at the Equifax Personal Finance Blog and see if selling your real estate to the dogs helps!

Well, the Equifax Personal Finance Blog is back again this week with just the sort of news we need. According to a recent post, “Hardest Hit States Are Showing Signs of Economic Recovery,”  Florida residents are demonstrating our credit smarts once again. Equifax credit expert Janet Dedrick says higher average credit scores could mean that economic recovery is headed our way.

In her post, Dedrick explains that the areas that were worst hit by the economic and housing crisis – including Florida – saw declines in credit scores for more than three years. The worst, she says, was in June of 2008. At that time, 42 percent of Major Metropolitan Areas (MSAs) watched as average credit scores fell.

But the news is better since December 2010. Average credit scores are back on the rise, with the largest increases being seen here in Florida and in other hard-hit states, such as California. Dedrick says it all means that consumers are smarter when it comes to using their credit. If creditors see good risk once again, maybe they’ll loosen the lending reins a bit, and we’ll see more homebuyers with access to the loans they need to make homeownership a reality.

What’s your opinion? Do you think Floridians are being more careful with using and managing our credit? Check out the Equifax Personal Finance Blog,  then come back here to let us know what you think. We hope your observations will confirm the positive trends the research is showing.

Real estate expert Ilyce Glink, a regular contributor to the Equifax Personal Finance Blog, recently posted an article to help. “Can I Save My Home From Foreclosure”  discusses the anecdotal trends she’s seeing around the country. She says the people she meets are still struggling, either directly or indirectly, from unemployment, heavy medical expenses, and pay cuts.

For those who are fearing the loss of their homes, Glink provides links for information on loan modification programs and for direct contact with HUD-certified housing counselors. She even says that if you can’t get results with the first level of people you speak with at your bank, you should go to the bank president. How will you find him or her? She gives links for that, too.

So, if you’re worried about losing your home, take a deep breath and read Glink’s article at the Equifax Personal Finance Blog.  You’ll find encouragement, and you may even find the exact answer you need. Come back and let us know what worked for you.

It’s time to check out insurance expert Linda Rey at the Equifax Personal Finance Blog. Her recent post, “3 Things That May Not Be Covered by Your Homeowner’s Insurance—But That You Still Need!” specifically mentions flood and earthquake insurance. The third type, loss assessment, applies to co-op apartments, townhomes and condominiums that are part of a homeowners association.

First, flood insurance. Rey says that NO homeowners insurance covers flooding of the natural disaster variety (though a burst pipe is covered). You will have to purchase a separate flood policy through your agent. The government, through FEMA and the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), has a big say in exactly what a flood is. You can read the definition in Rey’s article.

Next, earthquake insurance. Rey points out that most earthquakes take place in the western US, but they can occur in any of the states according to the experts. If you’re buying earthquake insurance, you’ll want to consider whether or not you want to cover any detached structures on your property and whether the contents of your property (your stuff!) and loss of use are covered as well.

Rey provides more details and links to pertinent articles and sites at the Equifax Personal Finance Blog. Check it out now and make sure you’re covered if natural disaster strikes your neighborhood.

The article, posted on the Equifax Personal Finance Blog, gives a list of situations in which you will be safer having a professional prepare your tax return on your behalf. Examples include taxpayers who have multiple jobs, own one or more businesses or have a dispute with an ex-spouse over exemptions for children.

People who sold their primary residences at a loss, through short sale or foreclosure, also make the list of taxpayers who should seek filing assistance. People who sold investment real estate or rentals should go ahead and pay for the help from a tax professional, too.

Rosenberg does not fault tax filing software. In fact, she praises its usefulness in helping people go through the process of filing a return and pointing out possible items the average taxpayer may not remember. She says if your life is “straightforward and uncomplicated financially,” you should definitely save the money and file your own return.

It’s just those of us who meander a little with our personal finances who need the professional help! Is that you? Check out Rosenberg’s full lists of “file your own” and “pay someone to file for you” criteria at the Equifax Personal Finance Blog.

Of course, we’ll give you come hints here, too, based on the recent Equifax post, “Setting Up Your Real Estate Investing Business.” For this topic, Equifax’s real estate expert, Ilyce Glink, turned to RealtyJoin.com co-founder Andy Heller for advice.

The first step in setting up a real estate investing business, Heller says, is to talk to an accountant about what you’re hoping to do. Your accountant can advise you on the type of legal entity you should create for manage your investments. Many choose LLCs, which can be applied for in just minutes.

Next, investors should get an EIN, or Employer Identification Number, from the IRS. Having this number should allow you to set up a separate bank account to manage your investments. Heller recommends shopping around banks and speaking to the bank employees who specialize in working with people who are setting up businesses.

It’s possible to get started without taking all these steps. If you’re using personal funding, keep a careful track of your expenses and the money you make. If you decide it’s something you want to keep doing, then you can take Heller’s steps for a more permanent solution that doesn’t mix personal and investment funds.

For more information or to ask questions of the experts, visit the Equifax Personal Finance Blog. Don’t hesitate – you’ll want to get started before interest rates hit another bump.