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November 19, 2024

The Importance of a Home Inspection Before Buying

Buying a home is a complex process with many steps. One of them is getting your dream home inspected by a licensed professional. Some home buyers may feel tempted to skip this step because they think it will speed up the purchase process. Or, they just don’t want to pay for it.  But the truth is, a home inspection can save you from making a catastrophic mistake by unknowingly purchasing a home in need of major repairs. Before delving into more reasons to get a home inspection, let’s break down what a home inspector actually does: What is a Home Inspection? The purpose of a home inspection is to alert you of any potential safety hazards or usability problems in […]
November 12, 2024

Can You Back Out of Your Real Estate Contract?

Buying or selling a home is a life-changing decision. So, it’s no surprise that sometimes, a buyer or a seller will suddenly change their mind and decide to back out of a signed real estate contract, or home purchase agreement.  Can someone legally do this? The short answer for both parties is yes. But whether you’re a buyer or a seller, canceling a real estate contract can come with a few consequences. In some cases, you could run into serious financial and legal implications.  Can a Buyer Back Out of a Real Estate Contract? As a home buyer, yes, you can back out of a home purchase agreement. What happens next, however, is determined by the terms and conditions of […]
November 5, 2024

Our Favorite Holiday Activities Around Miami

There might not be much snow in Miami but that doesn’t mean we don’t know how to celebrate the winter holidays. Magic city becomes even more magical this time of the year, offering a treasure trove of activities for the whole family.  Here are some of our favorite family-friendly events in Miami this holiday season: Christmas Wonderland at Tropical Park November 16 – January 7 Over the holidays, Tropical Park in Olympia Heights is transformed into Christmas Wonderland, which includes stunning holiday displays and light shows along with an array of thrilling carnival rides. Younger children will love Santa’s Village, where they can meet Santa and enjoy story time with Mrs. Claus. For the grown-ups, there’s a spectacular Cirque du […]
October 29, 2024

When You Should Have a Pre-Approval Letter in the Buying Process

There are two types of letters you can get from a bank when you’re looking to buy a home: a pre-qualification letter and a pre-approval letter. Pre-qualification gives you a ballpark estimate on how much you’ll be able to borrow to buy a home, whereas a pre-approval is more detailed and says exactly how much you will be able to borrow. You should have a pre-approval letter before you are ready to make an offer on a home.  Why You Need a Pre-Approval Letter to Start the Buying Process For many first-time buyers, once they get their pre-approval letter from a mortgage banker, the process begins. While you can make an offer on a home with just a pre-qualification letter, it […]
October 22, 2024

How to Use Open Houses to Find the Right Home For You

Open Houses are used by sellers to get a lot of foot traffic and hopefully get an offer or two. For first time buyers, Open Houses are different – especially if you are not 100% sold on the home before you walk in the door. They are a great crash course in learning how to look at homes for sale. And if you’re coming into town from out-of-state, they are a great chance to see a lot of homes in a small time frame. Here’s how we tell our clients to use Open Houses to find the right home. Get a Feel For the Neighborhood For many first-time buyers, once they get their pre-approval letter from a mortgage banker, they typically go […]
October 15, 2024

State of the Market: Shenandoah

Shenandoah is one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city of Miami. It’s roughly a square of land between Brickell & SW 27th Ave, south of Calle Ocho and north of Coral Way. Due to it’s being smack dab in the middle of the Grove & Brickell, it’s always been a popular neighborhood for buyers that want to be in the middle of the action but a little more space that condo living can provide. Here’s a look at the state of the real estate market in Shenandoah: A Look at the Numbers There are roughly 5,000 households in Shenandoah, and due to the age of the neighborhood (it was founded in 1919 by developers from Virginia, thus the name Shenandoah) […]
October 8, 2024

Halloween Activities Around Miami For the Whole Family

Halloween is one of those holidays that means something different depending on your phase of life. Miami is full of Halloween parties catering to young adults, but there aren’t as many for the Whole Family. With that in mind, here are three of our favorite Halloween Activities Around Miami for the Whole Family: Paws4You Rescue Presents Howl-o-Ween a dog and family friendly Event When: Saturday, October 19th, 6:00 pm- 10:00pm Where: Palmetto Bay Park (Dog Friendly) What: Say goodbye to the sweltering heat and hello to a cooler, more enchanting atmosphere as we transform our event into a dazzling nighttime celebration! Join us on Saturday Evening, October 19, 2024, at Palmetto Bay Park for a glowing night filled with fun activities, costume contests, and plenty […]
September 24, 2024

When Should You Apply for a Mortgage Before Buying a Home

When you are looking to make a real estate transaction, the first step is to always figure out how much you can afford to spend and how much you can finance.. There are a lot of factors that go into it, but most people qualify for a mortgage that adds up to less than 36% of their monthly income for principal, interest, insurance, and taxes (aka a Debt-to-income ratio of 36). That being said, you should speak to a mortgage professional and get pre-approved for an amount.  Evaluate your financial situation The important thing to remember is that personal timing is more key than market timing. When looking for a mortgage, you have to make sure you’re financially sound and […]
September 17, 2024

The Pros and Cons of Buying an Older House

Everyone has an opinion as to whether they would prefer a newer home or an older one. Whichever side of the debate you fall to, it’s important to weigh the pluses and minuses. Sometimes finding the perfect home requires a little flexibility on what you previously thought.  Pros of buying an old house Architecture While Miami is still a young city, there are plenty of homes that are 50-100 years old. When you step into an older home, you can feelthe history as you walk through the rooms.  That’s not as common in newer homes.  Mature landscape The best time to plant a tree is 30 years ago. If you want to live with a yard that has shade and don’t want […]