Seller Information

October 10, 2023

Ways to Make Sure Your Home is Ready to Show at Its Best

Listing your home for sale is a big step, especially if you’re a first-time seller. Working with experienced Realtors like The Kern Team means having help through the whole process. When it comes time to get your home ready to show at its best, you’ll be the one taking the lead.  Take a Step Back  Start at the curb in front of your home and do a walk through trying to see your home through the eyes of a prospective buyer. Curb appeal matters and you should consider it a part of getting your home ready for regular showings and open houses. It probably goes without saying that the yard should be neatly cut and edged. Make sure all landscaping has […]
May 16, 2023

What You Need to Know about Changes in Property Insurance in Florida

If you live in Florida, it’s important to understand what’s been happening with property insurance here. As of January 1, 2023 several big changes went into effect following special legislative sessions. These sessions were called to address the property insurance premiums rising across Florida. A Little Background First, let’s talk about some of the things that make Florida a unique market for property insurance. Our geography sets us apart from the rest of the continental U.S. No other place is as likely to receive significant damage from hurricanes and tropical storms. Since 2017, the frequency of heavily damaging storms has increased statewide (even if we’ve been relatively protected here in Miami). As a result, insurance companies have paid out significantly […]
May 9, 2023

What is the Difference Between a Realtor and an Agent?

If you haven’t spent much time around the real estate industry you might think the terms “Realtor” and “real estate agent” are interchangeable. However, that’s a common misconception. The distinction is well-known among within our industry, but we’re here to lift the veil to make sure you know what the differences are. We like transparency! How do You Become a Real Estate Agent? Real estate agent refers to everyone who has been licensed to sell real estate. This includes sales agents and brokers. In order to become a real estate agent here in Florida you’re required to complete 63 hours of pre-licensing classes – either online or in the classroom – and pass the exit exam following your completion of […]
May 2, 2023

State of the Market: Pinecrest

Pinecrest is one of our favorite neighborhoods. You’ll find many mid-century ranch homes on large lots and gorgeous natural scenery plus some of the most stunning mansions in Miami-Dade. Just north of Palmetto Bay and only about 20 minutes from downtown Miami, there’s a reason leafy Pinecrest is so in-demand: it is great for young families (boasting fantastic schools) and those that are looking for a little space to spread out while still being close to it all. Great Opportunities for Buyers The end of 2022 saw more homes on the market in Pinecrest than we’ve seen in years. However, the price per square foot is up – the average at the end of 2022 was $868 in Pinecrest. Price […]
April 25, 2023

Are Open Houses Valuable When It Comes to Selling Your Home?

There was a time when hosting an open house was just a forgone conclusion. If you were going to sell a home, you had to have open houses and that was just that. However, times have changed and so have buyers’ expectations. Can’t Buyers See It All Online? This is probably the most common question we get when we’re discussing the option of hosting open houses. The answer is technically, yes. We can provide plenty of photos and even very comprehensive virtual tours online. So, if buyer’s have already found your home and want to schedule a viewing, they are not likely to be the ones you will attract with an open house. On the other hand, buyers who are […]
March 14, 2023

Managing Selling a Home in a Rising Rate Market

The simple fact is that we are unlikely to see mortgage interest rates head anywhere near where they were pre-2022 anytime soon. So, what does this mean for sellers? Here – in the Miami market at-large – it doesn’t mean that we expect to see any shortage of buyers. No, the demand is still there, but what we will see change is a shift in competition.  The golden hour of buyers competing with each other has mostly expired. Instead, it will be sellers competing to offer buyers the most bang for their buck to make those higher interest rates worth it.  Price Competitively Let’s start with pricing – how do you know what price is attractive enough to buyers without […]
February 21, 2023

Why Photography Is Important When Listing Your Home

Curb appeal has always been essential when it comes to real estate. And the fact is that we know live in an online world. In other words, the first impression nearly 100% of potential buyers will have of your home is the images in your online listing. With just a few quick clicks they will browse the photos and decide if your property is enough of a contender to view in person. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to wow them! Quality Over Quantity When posting pictures anywhere on the internet, having ten great pictures is always better than twenty mediocre ones. We see so many listings in which all the interior photos do is confirm that the home has […]
February 21, 2023

How to Choose the Right Realtor for You

Whether you are in the real estate market as a buyer or seller, choosing the right realtor for you is the most important early step in the process. But how do you know who to choose?  Experience is Key Whether you’re buying or selling, your realtor should be experienced in your area. Building up a reputation and a basis of knowledge in specific areas give realtors a big advantage over agents who are less familiar with individual neighborhoods. Miami is a large, unique city with many different areas that appeal to different people for different reasons. A realtor who works mostly in Aventura might not know the nuances of smaller areas within Pinecrest.  Moreover, real estate is moving fast! Buyers […]
January 3, 2023

What To Expect in the 2023 Miami Market

Sometimes markets are easier to predict than others, and this one… well, there are a lot of moving parts. I’m certainly no fortune teller and any number of things could impact my best guesses.  At any rate (pun very much intended), I’ll give you my thoughts as of now about what to expect with the Miami real estate market for the upcoming year. Will Housing Prices Go Up or Down? The next several months will be different, a “back to normal” market, but that doesn’t mean a loss of all the gains we have seen over the pandemic price surge. In fact, in most areas of Miami prior to 2019, I would say we were undervalued from a global perspective as […]