Real Estate
November 12, 2019
Buying a home can come with some unexpected costs, especially if you’re a first-time home buyer or even if you’re just new to a market. In Florida specifically, many home buyers are taken by surprise when they’re hit with the added costs that comes with wanting to live near the water. Below are a few examples of additional costs you should be sure to factor in when searching for a home in the South Florida market. 1. Flood zones – In Florida, there’s no escaping King Tides, hurricanes, and severe storms. And because of that risk, those of us who choose to live here have to pay a premium on things like homeowners insurance. But more than that, there’s an […]
November 5, 2019
Unless you’re unusually lucky and the very first house you see ends up being “the one,” you’re going to be spending a fair amount of time with your real estate agent as you search for potential properties. And even if you do decide to go it alone during some of your house hunt, you’re going to want an experienced professional by your side when it comes time to negotiating and closing the deal. While there are a lot of skills and experiences that will make a realtor qualified to work with you, a big part of finding the right fit comes down to just that – fit. As you assess potential buyer’s agents, it’s important to keep in mind things […]
October 15, 2019
One of the most frequent questions clients come to us with is, “When should I sell my home?” This is an understandably big concern as many clients want to time the market for the best price and quickest sale. The reality is, the right time to sell is really what’s right for you and your family. And for some, that may very well be during the holidays. Rest assured, this can be a good thing! Why sell your home during the holidays One of the biggest reasons to consider selling your home during the holidays is quite simply because no one else wants to do it. During this time of year – from around November through the first of the […]
October 8, 2019
Buying a home in South Florida is not like buying a home in other parts of the country. During a good portion of the year, we face the triple threat of heat, humidity and hurricanes. And if we happen to experience a reprieve from any of those, we might find ourselves staring down a King Tide. All that said, Florida is a great place to live as long as you take prudent steps to prepare your home for safety. That starts with getting a home inspection. Why get a home inspection? Some home buyers feel tempted to skip the home inspection either because they think it will speed up the purchase process or because they don’t want to spend money […]
August 27, 2019
Whether buying or selling a home, the words “home warranty” often get thrown into the mix as an additional offer a seller can bring to the table to entice buyers, or as something a buyer may consider voluntarily purchasing for peace of mind going into a new purchase. But what exactly is a home warranty and is it right for you? What is a home warranty? A home warranty is a product you can buy to protect yourself from major expenses related to repairs and replacements of: Electrical systems Plumbing systems HVAC systems Appliances like washers and dryers, refrigerator, oven, range, garbage disposal, and others While home warranties offer protection in these areas, it’s important to note that, though plans […]
July 23, 2019
To stay or go is always a big question. Perhaps you’ve been in your home for decades with the thought of selling only rarely creeping into your thoughts, or perhaps it’s been on your mind since nearly the day after you closed on your house. Knowing when it’s time to move on is a highly personal decision that may be approached from an emotional or financial point of view (and most likely a combination of both). As you weigh the various factors that go into selling a home, buying a home, and physically moving your personal property to that new home, there’s a lot to consider. Here are some helpful signs for determining when it may be time to move […]
July 16, 2019
There are so many moving parts to buying a home, and one of the biggest and sometimes most daunting is negotiation. Depending on the type of market – whether it’s a buyer’s market or seller’s market – one party always has the upper hand, but that doesn’t mean the other side has to accept whatever terms are put on the table. Real estate negotiations are tricky business with opportunities to negotiate on nearly every term of the offer. Here are a few key things to know about negotiations. Seeing green In real estate negotiations, price is obviously a big factor for home buyers and is often at the forefront of their negotiation efforts. Sellers want to earn the highest price […]
April 16, 2019
Whether it’s your first time buying a home or you have multiple experiences with the process, there are always a few considerations you should think through before embarking on the journey. Most importantly is ensuring your financials are in order and that you have a thorough grasp on what you can afford, but just as important is making sure you are mentally and emotionally prepared to take the leap. If you’re thinking about buying a home, ask yourself these three important questions first. What’s driving your motivations to buy? Surely there are numerous advantages to renting or staying in your existing home, so spending some time understanding what’s motivating you on your new path to purchase can be insightful […]
April 9, 2019
Many people think they can save money if they bypass a realtor. Perhaps they dislike the idea of paying commission fees or think they can navigate the transaction process themselves. But in this DIY era with How-To’s for pretty much everything on YouTube, working with an experienced real estate agent can still save you money, even when accounting for any kind of transaction commission fees. Here’s why: Time is money Finding the right home or preparing your current home for a sale is time-consuming, to say the least. While you can scour the internet for listings yourself, scheduling viewings, playing phone-tag, and driving around disparate neighborhoods in disorganized fashion can be exhausting. Whereas it’s an agent’s full-time job to […]