Real Estate

August 7, 2018

Should Your First House be a Starter Home or a Forever Home?

If you’re buying a home for the first time, you’re probably trying to decide between purchasing a smaller home to get into the market now or stretching your budget to get a forever home that you can stay in long-term. Everyone has different ideas of what a starter home is, but in general, a starter home is something you’d be happy living in for around five to seven years. Eventually though, you’ll outgrow this home. A forever home, on the other hand, is one that you could see living in for the rest of your life, which means it meets most of the criteria of your dream home: the right location, the right size, and all of the extras you […]
July 31, 2018

How To Quickly Save for Your Dream Home

Whether you’re planning on moving to a better neighborhood or you’re buying a home for the first time, saving up for a new home is a big step. If you are looking to buy a house in the near future, it’s important to build up your savings. Down payments for homes can be large sums of money – so large in fact that it can set you back years if not saved or planned for properly. Most people think this means slowly setting aside small amounts, which, as you can imagine, would take forever. But, don’t worry! You don’t have to wait around and save for years. Here’s how you can quickly save up for that down payment: Explore the […]
July 24, 2018

Home Maintenance To-Do List Before You Sell Your Home

As a homeowner, you probably already know that keeping your home and property in tip-top shape requires dedication and ongoing maintenance. Just because you’re selling your home doesn’t mean you’re off the hook from routine maintenance tasks. A well-cared-for house simply shows better. Small things like broken doorbells and leaky faucets won’t make buyers jump to make an offer. Instead, it will make them wonder if there are bigger issues elsewhere on the property. Plus, keeping up with routine maintenance can help you avoid a catastrophic problem down the road, like burst pipes and roof leaks, that could devalue your property and derail your sale. To prevent small issues from escalating into money-sucking problems, focus on these home maintenance tasks: […]
July 17, 2018

Not all Real Estate Contracts Are Created Equal: Here’s the Difference

Real estate transactions revolve around written agreements or contracts. There are essentially four major types of real estate contracts, and they each have their different uses and stipulations. As in any legal transaction, these contracts are necessary to execute the sale. Not all real estate contracts are created equal, so it’s important to know what you’re really signing. Here are the differences in the main types of real estate contracts: Purchase agreement As the most common type of real estate contract, a purchase agreement lays out the agreement between the buyer and seller of a specific property. This contract will include the purchase price, signatures, party identification, and the closing date for the transaction. Although this seems simple enough, there […]
July 10, 2018

5 Home-Selling Myths

There are so many unknowns before you put your house on the market: who will buy your house and for how much? How long will it take? Will I find a new home before I sell my current one? And while the internet can be a really fun place to search for answers to these questions and more – it can also be rife with bad, if not flat out wrong, information. We’re here to bust some of the real-estate myths that have been going around since we can remember. And yes, we know you’re reading this on the internet – but consider this part of the good information you find online. Here are five home-selling myths you can dismiss: […]
July 3, 2018

What Factors Should You Consider When Deciding Which Neighborhood is Best for You?

The cliché phrase, “location, location, location,” has been used more times than we can count when talking about buying real estate. And yet, ask any realtor – this one rings true. When you’re looking for your dream home, one of the most significant decisions you’ll have to make is which location you prefer. Location affects the affordability, value, and quality of life of a given neighborhood. The way to choose the right location for you and your family’s needs requires some serious thought as to your family’s priorities. So, here are a few things to keep in mind when searching for your perfect neighborhood: Your Lifestyle  Before you start scoping out different neighborhoods, consider your current lifestyle. What do you […]
June 26, 2018

State of the Market: Pinecrest

With large lots on quiet streets and good schools, it’s no surprise why so many families want to move to Pinecrest. It’s also no surprise that Pinecrest was ranked as the #1 (out of 324) best suburbs in Florida by Niche. Over the past two decades, we’ve helped hundreds of families buy and sell homes in Pinecrest and have seen why so many people love it first hand – and why the village has boomed. Pinecrest’s Market Today The average house in Pinecrest listed on the market today is 3,500 square feet with four bedrooms and three bathrooms on a 30,000 square foot lot with an asking price of $1.4 million. This being said, there are over 200 homes in […]
June 19, 2018

How Home Improvement Projects Can Affect Your Property Value

Many, but not all, home improvement projects will increase the value of your home. The big question is if they will improve your property value by more than the cost of the project. Deciding which renovations actually help your property value instead of just draining your account is a numbers game. How much will you spend renovating to make sure your house meets a future buyer’s expectations and what will you get in return? Which improvements add value, and which ones don’t matter as much? In the end, you should do renovations for yourself and see any increase in property value as an added bonus. That being said, I often get asked which home improvement projects boost your property value […]
March 20, 2018

State of the Market: Palmetto Bay

There is nothing better than living right next to the ocean, which is why Miami is such a great place to live. But from the Beach to Homestead, there are a wide spectrum of options to choose from. Figuring out the perfect neighborhood for you takes looking at the market and seeing what is best for your family. For mine, Palmetto Bay was the best choice. Why Palmetto Bay? Just a quick drive down picturesque Old Cutler Road or the turnpike, Palmetto Bay is far enough away from downtown to allow for lush, over-sized lots but not too far away to make the drive unbearable. It’s great for families with school-aged children because of the great schools (both public and […]