Buyer Information

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 […]

In my opinion, there are few (if any) gifts a parent can give their children better than education. And I know a lot of parents agree with me: it’s why I’ve been asked by a multiple clients about how to get their children into Sunset Elementary and had many only willing to look at homes within the school’s boundaries. For those of you that don’t know, Sunset Elementary is one of the highest ranked elementary schools in Florida. It’s an International Blue Ribbon School of Excellence that has been recognized with the National Elementary Magnet School of Excellence award with an International Studies Magnet Program, a Controlled Choice International Education Program, and a Science and Mathematics Gifted Program. Sunset’s boundaries […]

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 […]

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 […]

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, […]