Home Buying Information
September 22, 2026
There’s no single answer to how long it takes to buy a home in Miami-Dade County, but there is a realistic range. Most buyers, from the day they start seriously searching to the day they close, land somewhere between two and four months. That timeline shifts depending on financing, how quickly the right home turns up and how competitive the price point is. Getting Pre-Approved: A Few Days to Two Weeks Before touring homes seriously, most buyers get pre-approved, which involves submitting income, asset and credit documentation to a lender. This step usually takes anywhere from a few days to two weeks, depending on how quickly documentation is provided and how busy the lender is. The Search Itself: Weeks to […]
September 15, 2026
Closing costs catch a lot of first-time buyers off guard, not because the amount is unreasonable, but because it’s rarely explained clearly before it shows up on a settlement statement. For buyers in Miami-Dade County, closing costs typically run between two and five percent of the purchase price, though the exact figure depends on financing, the property and how costs are negotiated with the seller. Lender Fees If you’re financing the purchase, expect an origination fee, an underwriting fee and the cost of a credit report and appraisal. These vary by lender, which is one of the better reasons to compare loan estimates from more than one before choosing who to work with. Title Insurance and Title Search In Florida, […]
September 2, 2026
Every fall, the same question comes up: is the market actually shifting, or does it just feel that way once the kids are back in school? Heading into the last few months of 2026, there’s a real answer. Price growth in Miami-Dade County has continued, but it has slowed from the pace of the past few years. Inventory has been building. And homes, broadly speaking, are taking longer to sell than they did at the peak of the post-pandemic run. For Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest and Cutler Bay, that shift shows up as more options for buyers and a market that rewards sellers who price with the current moment in mind rather than last year’s numbers. Where Prices and Inventory Stand […]
August 10, 2026
By Drew Kern, The Kern Team at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices EWM Realty Cutler Bay doesn’t get the headlines that Coral Gables or Pinecrest do, and honestly, that has worked in its favor. While buyers bid up the more talked-about zip codes, Cutler Bay has quietly become one of the better value plays left in South Miami-Dade, and the buyers who have figured that out already are not eager to broadcast it. KEY DATA (As of July 2026) Average Sale Price: $809,000 4.2 Months of Inventory Average Days on Market: 74 Who Is Actually Buying In Cutler Bay Right Now The buyer profile here has shifted over the past several years. First-time buyers priced out of Palmetto Bay and Pinecrest are […]
March 24, 2026
Hailed for its quiet, lush streets and peaceful vibe, Pinecrest is one of the most coveted neighborhoods for families in South Florida. Like a lot of family-friendly parts of Miami-Dade, the Pinecrest real estate market saw a lot of activity towards the late spring and early summer of 2025. Since then, however, the market has remained in a state of flux, with the advantage leaning towards buyers. So, if you’re looking to snatch up a reasonably priced home in Pinecrest, time is of the essence. How many homes are for sale in Pinecrest? Pinecrest is one of the smaller villages of Miami-Dade County, so you’re not going to find as much inventory as, say, Coral Gables or Kendall. In December […]
March 10, 2026
Many buyers are simultaneously trying to sell their current homes. Buying before selling does come with several risks, but you can mitigate them significantly by capitalizing on a major advantage of your situation: time. If you sold first, your home buying process would be on a tight deadline because you’d need to find somewhere to live after the sale. Buying first removes the pressure of a looming sale, so you can take your time, find the right home, and gather the resources to resolve any financial dilemmas. Here’s how to go about buying a home when you haven’t sold yours yet: Get Preapproved for a Mortgage Yes, this is the same first step for buying a home in general. Before […]
March 3, 2026
Buying a home is a complex process, so it’s easy to make mistakes if you’re not prepared. Hasty decisions and miscalculations are too common in Miami’s luxury market, which often requires buyers to act quickly on exciting prospects. With this in mind, here are some of the most common home buying mistakes we see in Miami-Dade County: Overbidding and Planning to Negotiate Once Under Contract While this rarely occurs when working with experienced realtors, it is something worth being aware of when looking at offers to your home. The idea is to come in a little high on the offer, then asking for discounts once under contract. It’s a frustrating strategy for a seller as they miss out on opportunities […]
January 27, 2026
Palmetto Bay is a quiet, family-friendly community located between Pinecrest and Cutler Bay. Known for its plentiful green space and numerous top-rated schools, the “Village of Parks” is particularly attractive for families in search of the classic suburban lifestyle. Though it is indeed a small town, Palmetto Bay carries a wide range of real estate. To introduce you to the area, we’ve put together this guide to the most important places in Palmetto Bay, and where to find them. When Looking Up Palmetto Bay Online When you Google ‘Palmetto Bay,’ one of the facts you’ll see listed is the city is divided into two neighborhoods – Cutler and East Perrine. This is a quirk of history on the internet and […]
January 13, 2026
Miami-Dade County is home to some of the most desirable communities in the entire United States, and Coral Gables sits right at the top of this list. So, if you’re thinking of moving to the “City Beautiful,” it’s safe to assume you’ll have good company. That’s why it’s important to work with a realtor who not only knows the area, but also knows how to cut through this competition and find a home that effectively suits your needs and goals. With this in mind, here are a few key factors to look for when choosing a realtor in Coral Gables: Local Experience Hands down, the number one factor to look for in a realtor is relevant experience. The right realtor […]