Buyer Information

Sparkling twinkle lights are everywhere during the holidays, and that’s what makes the season so magical, dazzling kids and adults alike. South Florida offers many enchanting holiday lights displays. Here are six not to miss: Santa’s Enchanted Forest Celebrating its 34th year, Santa’s Enchanted Forest has been a South Florida holiday tradition for generations. It bills itself as the “world’s largest holiday theme park and free carnival” and features a 92-foot Christmas tree, hundreds of rides for all ages, and millions of dazzling holiday lights. There is also holiday music, displays, and lots of food. The park is open daily from November 3 to January 8, 2017 from 5 p.m. to midnight, including on the holidays. Miami Lantern Light Festival The […]

The holidays bring out our giving spirits, and we feel the urge to volunteer and donate to those most in need. There are so many ways to give back, no matter how much time or money you have offer. When you plan your holiday giving or volunteering, always involve the whole family to make sure everyone learns about the true meaning of the season. Here are some ways to help your South Florida community during the holidays. Help the Homeless Helping the homeless is one of the most common ways people give back during the holidays because there are many ways to help. You can serve meals, donate food or other items, and participate in homeless outreach programs. The Miami […]

For 68 years, the Junior Orange Bowl Parade, has been the signature event for the Junior Orange Bowl International Youth Festival. And, this year’s parade will be better than ever. The 68th annual parade marches through the streets of downtown Coral Gables, along Miracle Mile and Biltmore Way, on Sunday, November 27 from 4 to 9 p.m. The Parade Benefits the Junior Orange Bowl The Junior Orange Bowl is a nonprofit, volunteer organization that strives to empower youth through teamwork and competition. The group attracts more than 7,500 youth from Miami, the state of Florida and beyond, including more than 75 countries worldwide. Youth compete in athletic, academic, and cultural competitions, which collectively make up the Junior Orange Bowl Festival, often […]

Buying (and selling) a home is one of the largest financial transactions you will undertake in your life. You want an expert to work with you to answer your questions, give you advice, and help you see both the latest listings to hit the market and (hopefully) see a few homes before anyone else. You also want to consider the amount of their attention they will be able to give you. If you’re looking to sell your home, ask them how many current listings they have. If they have more than a few, make sure they have a team working for them that can handle the load. If they only have a few, it’s a good idea to make sure […]

Trends come and go, and but some classic elements in house design and presentation are a safe bet to generate buyer appeal – upgraded appliances, a fresh coat of paint, and a well-manicured yard. While opinions vary based on the age of the buyer, the fact is that a home can get the attention of and even fetch a higher offer price by including some of the latest and most popular home trends. We want to give you a bit more of a leg up when it comes to preparing your home for selling so you can offer a broad appeal today’s buyers. Consider the following elements to attract today’s buyers: Tech-savvy attributes: Smart water systems that can detect leaks […]

Selling a home is (obviously) not something you want do on the spur of the moment. It’s a big decision and ensuring your home will sell for its true value takes some planning ahead. We always encourage people thinking of selling their home in the next six to twelve months to have a realtor conduct a walk-through right away so that you can have a list of action items to cover and ensure your home puts its best for forward the day that we put it on the market. Be Proactive By taking a look at the ‘boring’ aspects of a home before an offer is on the table and making sure they are in good order, you can ensure […]

With so much information available at our fingertips these days, it’s normal – and recommended – to do some research before making a relatively small purchase, such as a television or a phone. When it’s a bigger purchase (say…a home), it’s a no brainer to Google everything about a neighborhood, such as school quality, distance to grocery stores, driving times to your office, et cetera before you put in an offer. And, of course, you need to “interview” each house, asking questions and getting information, to make sure it’s the right fit for you. The same is true for homeowners when they’re looking for the right realtor to sell their home. It’s so important that you do your research! I […]

Year in and year out, Pinecrest is one of Miami’s most in-demand markets. And for good reason: it offers large houses on oversized lots with access to excellent public and private schools, a state-of-the-art library, and fantastic recreational facilities. With a population of about 20,000, and a total area of 7.6 square miles, it borders South Miami to the north, Kendall to the west, Cutler Bay to the south, and Matheson Hammock to the east. In the last 10 years, Pinecrest has devoted extensive resources to improving the quality of life for its residents, including the creation of new parks (Pinecrest Gardens is the crown jewel of the village’s park system), enhanced development of free Wi-Fi hubs in key locations, […]

The path from renter to homeowner is not always an easy one. Though it’s an exciting time, finding your dream home can be stressful, moving can seem like a herculean task, and tackling the unboxing and organizing process takes a bit of time. But once you’re in your new house and settled, the benefits of homeownership are many. One big change is that you are now in charge of all the little (and big) problems that can arise in your home. As a renter, your landlord took care of those little fixes that you are now responsible for. How can you take care of the little things and prevent unexpected home repair costs? Here are a few tips for proactive […]