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September 24, 2024
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
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 […]
September 10, 2024
When you are buying a home – particularly your first home, but is still true no matter how many times you do it – it’s easy to get overwhelmed with the prospect and excited about the potential of a home. Over the years, we have done a lot of education to help home buyers find the perfect home – and large part of that education is getting them to ask the right questions when they are looking at a home so they will be as happy and excited about the home on day 3,650 of owning it as they are on day one. Questions to ask before the showing Before you go to the viewing, you should connect with your […]
September 3, 2024
When you have school-aged children, your home’s location – and the schools you are assigned to – have a high priority. Here is a list of some of the public schools in the areas our clients are typically looking that are among the higher rated public schools. Miami Beach Biscayne Beach Elementary School Neighborhood: North Miami Beach Grades: PK – 5 Student-to-teacher ratio: 18:1 Website: https://api.dadeschools.net/schoolwebsite/#!/?schoolId=0321 Fienberg / Fisher K-8 Center Neighborhood: South Beach Grades: PK – 8 Student-to-teacher ratio: 17/1 Website: https://www.fienbergfisherk8.com/ South Pointe Elementary School Neighborhood: South Beach Grades: PK – 5 Student-to-teacher ratio: 15:1 Website: https://www.southpointeelem.com/ Miami Beach Senior High School Neighborhood: Miami Beach (just off of Venetian Way) Grades: 9 – 12 Student-to-teacher ratio: 24:1 Website: https://miamibeachseniorhigh.net/ Miami Beach Nautilus […]
August 27, 2024
Over the past quarter century, we’ve helped countless families move-in and out of homes. We’ve seen what’s worked and what hasn’t. Here’s the tried-and-true to-do list (starting 2 months before your move) to take as much stress out of your move as possible. Two Months Before Your Move Decluttering is the name of the game. Go room by room, taking everything out of drawers and closets, and sort through it all. Anything that you don’t want to pack should get donated (or thrown away/recycled if not acceptable to donate) and anything you want to keep should get put away. If you’re moving out of state or to another part of Florida, you need to get quotes from movers (get on-site […]
August 20, 2024
Coral Gables is one of two zip codes that saw Miami’s highest jumps in typical home values compared to just a year ago. Coral Gables homes saw a 14% increase in their typical home values compared to last year. The only other zip code in Miami-Dade County to see the same jump was Homestead, bookending the entirety of the market County-wide. Coral Gables home prices The median listing home price is at $1,091 per square foot, though this will probably net you a well-maintained home rather than a new build or a home on a large lot. In June 2024, the median sale price was at $1,798. How quickly are homes selling? Coral Gable homes had an average of 67 days […]
August 13, 2024
Picture it—you’re home from a long day at the office. You take your shoes off, get comfortable and you head to your new condo’s balcony to take in some fresh air and you are met with a stunning view of the ocean or the sunsetting over Miami. Sounds nice, right? It can be real. Here are five of the best areas in Miami for a condo with a view. Bal Harbour Located at the northern tip of Miami Beach, Bal Harbour packs a lot of extravagance into its one square mile location. Noted for its wide variety of luxury shopping, it’s the views that’ll really take your breath away. To the east you have the Atlantic ocean, but you can’t […]
August 6, 2024
The Kern Team knows that education is important. And Miami-Dade County is home to some of the best public magnet programs in the country. Whether you’re moving in from another city, or a local looking for something new, here’s a list of some of the best charter schools Miami has to offer. Ben Sheppard Elementary Neighborhood: Hialeah Gardens Grades: pre K – 5 Student-to-teacher ratio: 14:1 Website: https://www.bensheppardelementary.org/ Serving grades pre K – 5, Ben Sheppard Elementary is located in Hialeah Gardens, northwest of MIA. The school offers a magnet STEM program with an emphasis on developing students’ ability to communicate about sciences, both verbally and in writing. Coral Reef Senior High School Neighborhood: Richmond Heights Grades: 8 – 12 Student-to-teacher […]
July 23, 2024
Making the extra little effort when selling your home can go a long way. Following these tips when selling can set you up for success—and better offers. Make a repair plan Every home will go through wear and tear. Small things, like little chips or dings, may go unnoticed. But larger problems, especially visible ones, can affect how buyers see your home. To avoid this, you should identify repairs that should be done and make a list. This is something we do with our clients ideally six months before they intend to put their home on the market. We’ll go over the details that buyers will ask about and make sure you don’t overspend on items that will not improve […]