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March 4, 2016
2013 2014 2015 On to 2016! For the third year in a row The Kern Team is #1 for home sales in Palmetto Bay, both in terms of the number of homes sold and dollar volume. I am honored by this recognition, and am thankful to my clients who have trusted my team to handle their home buying and selling needs. And as a resident of Palmetto Bay, you can see I truly take pride in my community. Whether you are buying or selling a home, if you are looking for the Palmetto Bay real estate expert I hope you will contact me. Total Sales in Units Total Sales by $Volume ($,000)
February 12, 2016
Getting top dollar in the least amount of time is my number one priority when I list a property for sale. In order to achieve this, however, I can’t stress enough how important it is for the homeowner to get the property in the best possible condition prior to it hitting the market. A month or so ago, I wrote about some big-ticket items that are often overlooked but that deserve a homeowner’s consideration before listing. (In case you missed it, you can still catch my blog “To Fix or Not to Fix Before Listing?” ) The reality is that homes with great curb appeal, that are clean and well-maintained, sell more quickly and for a higher amount. Here’s a […]
February 5, 2016
Valentine’s Day is around the corner so for the romantics out there, now’s the time to begin planning a special Valentine’s Day dinner with your loved ones. My wife and I stopped going out for Valentine’s Day dinner a long time ago. We came to realize that a quiet dinner at home is a wonderful way to spend the evening and now we enjoy preparing a fun family dinner with our two boys. In particular, what we have really enjoyed doing is planning a family meal that focuses on fresh ingredients that are readily available locally. Here are a few of our go-to places to find delicious ingredients for an out-of-this-world meal, for Valentine’s Day or any other occasion. For […]
January 29, 2016
We’ve all got New Year’s resolutions and it’s too soon to have given up on them already. (Right?) This is the perfect time of year to enjoy one of South Florida’s greatest assets, access to great outdoor activities. Whether you’re a fan of a leisurely stroll, a long run or a scenic bike ride, there are lots of wonderful trails around Miami. I grew up hiking and biking these trails with my family and relish introducing them to my children now. An added bonus? You get to explore the different neighborhoods that make up South Florida, which is something I enjoy and know you will too. For updated listings or additional information about these communities, contact me today! Florida Trail, […]
January 22, 2016
Last week I wrote about the many benefits of living in the Village of Pinecrest, currently celebrating their first 20 years as a municipality, but this week I have to turn to my home. I love Palmetto Bay, and it’s not just because I’m a long-time resident. The Village of Palmetto Bay, celebrating its 14th year as a municipality, truly is a wonderful place to live. With beautiful homes at a more reasonable price per square foot (especially when compared to other South Florida neighborhoods), A-rated public schools, great private school options, easy access to the bay and historic landmarks like Deering Estate, what’s not to love? Here’s another perk: an active Parks & Recreation Department that organizes scores of […]
January 15, 2016
One of the main motivators I hear from potential sellers when they’re considering putting their home on the market is that they need more space, whether in the form of more bedrooms, an in-home office, a garage or a spacious yard, maybe with a pool or tennis court, too. When I hear this, I immediately think of Pinecrest (and Palmetto Bay, but that’s a topic for another day). This year marks Pinecrest’s 20-year anniversary and during that time period, we’ve witnessed Pinecrest evolve from an area devastated by Hurricane Andrew to a municipality that boasts beautiful homes on sprawling lots, A-rated schools, neighborhood parks and a fully-equipped community center and public library. Looking for an opportunity to live in this […]
January 8, 2016
It’s an important time of year for Florida homeowners: homestead application time. When you own a property as your permanent residence, you may be eligible to receive a property tax exemption of up to $50,000 and reap one of the many benefits of homeownership. If you don’t apply between January 1 and March 1, you will lose your eligibility for the year and miss out on substantial savings on your real estate taxes. In order to qualify, you must meet certain minimum criteria as of January 1: –You must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident. –You must own the property. –You must occupy the property as a permanent residence (to the exclusion of all others). There are several benefits […]
December 30, 2015
This year has flown by, and I sincerely hope it has been a good one for you and your loved ones. I would like to thank my family, friends, clients and peers for your support and inspiration in making this a spectacular year. As the sun sets on 2015, Miami continues to rank among the most important real estate markets in the world. What makes Miami unique is its global appeal, enticing both domestic and international buyers with its mild weather, world-class dining, burgeoning arts scene and beautiful beaches. People want to live here and that’s a great thing for real estate. In keeping with recent years, resales of single-family homes remained strong through the third quarter of 2015, indicating […]
December 18, 2015
Yes, we’ve all heard the news: the economy is performing well so interest rates are on their way up. After the economic downturn of 2007-08, the Fed took drastic measures to bolster the economy, such as reducing the price banks pay to borrow money to near zero, which in turn lowered borrowing costs for homeowners, among other things. For the first time in nearly a decade, the Federal Reserve approved a quarter-point increase in its benchmark lending rate earlier this week. What does this mean for homebuyers who plan to finance the purchase of a home with, for example, an adjustable-rate mortgage or a HELOC? Although interest rates will not be skyrocketing overnight, they are expected to start climbing gradually, […]