HOME BUYING INFORMATION

July 12, 2022

Should Schools Play a Role in Your Location Selection When Buying a Home?

Real estate is always about location. Neighborhoods are – in a way – defined by their surrounding schools. There is a strong correlation between the quality of the schools nearby and the demand for homes within a given neighborhood (read more about that here. This is why it’s crucial to do your research on districts when house hunting. Even if you don’t have kids, school districts should still be carefully considered when buying a home.  Commute Times Near Schools in Miami When looking at a home near schools, we always encourage our clients to check out the neighborhood during drop-off and pick-up times. If you don’t have kids, you may discover that certain streets are not ideal due to school-related traffic. […]
June 28, 2022

What Makes a Good Offer on a Property

Looking for your dream home can be a long, emotionally charged journey. So, when you finally find “the one,” you’ll need to jump right in and make an offer – and while it’s important to act quickly, it’s crucial to be smart and thorough when doing so. To ensure a smooth process, there are a few things you should do now so when you find the perfect home, you are prepared to come to the table with the strongest possible offer, especially in a competitive market like this. Get a Preapproval Letter for Your Mortgage This should be completed before you begin looking for a home. Sellers give preference to buyers who have pre-approval letters because it shows that you are a serious and qualified buyer. Although the […]
June 14, 2022

4 Things We Look For When Touring a Home

In the market for a new home? For first-time homebuyers (and even experienced homebuyers), touring homes can be an exciting, yet daunting experience. While home-touring should be fun and exciting, it’s important to keep a detailed eye when touring a home – oftentimes, there can be issues hidden beneath the surface. We pride ourselves in our detailed walkthroughs – our goal is to save you time, stress, and headaches. Here’s what we look for when we tour a new home: Floor Plan – One of the most important qualities of a home is that it meets your needs – which is why we spend time researching the floor plan of each home we tour. While it’s easy to change cosmetic appearances […]
June 7, 2022

Vacation Home Buying? Here’s Where to Look in Miami

It’s no surprise Miami attracts people from all over the world – the beautiful waters and sunny weather make for the perfect place to settle into a vacation home (or a forever home!) If you’re looking for a vacation property in South Florida, here are some recommendations for top areas to begin your search: Miami Beach  A fashion and entertainment capital, playground for celebrities, and oasis for travelers, Miami Beach is the ultimate vacation destination. From 5-star restaurants to gorgeous beaches, there is an unending variety of attractions that will leave visitors and vacationers wanting more. The area is the perfect combination of luxurious and fun. Most vacationers and beach lovers prefer to walk or ride a bike as their main mode of transportation – and with […]
April 26, 2022

Why Is It So Important to Be Pre-Approved for a Mortgage

It can’t be stressed enough – if you’re buying a home, knowing what financing you can qualify for is the first step to getting the house you really want. One of the worst sensations (especially in this market) is to find your dream home, get your offer accepted…only to lose it when the financing falls through.  If you are planning to get a mortgage to finance your new home purchase, getting pre-approved (not just pre-qualified) is an essential step to not only get the result you want, but also to line you up to get your offer accepted.  Here’s our take on why it’s so important to be pre-approved for a mortgage when buying a home: First, You Don’t Need […]
April 12, 2022

How to Take the Stress Out of Home Buying

Buying a home will probably be the most important financial decision you will make in your life – if that doesn’t put the pressure on to get it right, we don’t know what does! Unsurprisingly, home-buying will stir up some serious stress – which just isn’t good for anyone making a big decision. Even in a competitive market like South Florida’s, you can still get ahead of the curve and alleviate any built-up stress with a sound strategy, an experienced realtor, and a few key items in-place.  Find the Right Realtor Anyone in the market for a new home can benefit from hiring an experienced realtor, especially first time home-buyers. Realtors are going to save you a lot of time, stress, and […]
April 5, 2022

4 Things to Look for When House Hunting That You May Not Think About

House-hunting can be a stressful, albeit-exciting venture. If you’ve started the process of looking for a home – congrats! You probably have a lot of factors on your mind about what makes a home ideal, such as the neighborhood, size of the home, natural lighting, and floor plan. A lot of times we have a general idea about what we’re looking for in a home, but more often than not, the less-exciting factors get brushed aside, even if they can make a big impact once you’re all moved in.  Not to worry – we’ve compiled four crucial things you should consider before moving forward in your home-buying process. Outlets This may be the most overlooked factor while home-buying. Having outlets […]
March 22, 2022

Are Condos a Good Investment in Miami?

For what seems like time immemorial, the world over has been looking to invest in waterfront condos in Miami. And the truth is there is a valid reason, so much so that we tend to split Miami’s real estate market into segments – single family homes and condos – and see demand for one segment really doesn’t affect the other. In fact, political instability abroad and the strength of the dollar are important factors to consider when looking at Miami condos.  If you’re looking for a short answer, yes – condos are a good investment in Miami. However, like anything in real estate, there are many factors you should consider before diving into a serious investment. Here are some of […]
March 8, 2022

7 Tips for First-Time Home Buyers

Buying a home is often be the most important financial decision people will make in their lives – which is why it’s important to do your research and get the details right the first time. After working in Miami’s real estate market through all the booms (and busts) of the last 20+ years, we figured it would be a good idea to share some tips that will help you navigate this difficult (but very exciting process): Start Saving Up Early for Your Down Payment: While there are some options to buy a home with little or no down payment (the most common ways are through the VA for veterans or through an FHA program), most buyers in Miami are buying a […]