florida
June 20, 2023
(i.e. schools, green spaces, location, etc) Sometimes you just happen upon a neighborhood that just feels right for you. That’s great, but if you’re moving to a new area, you might not be able to wait to luck into an area you love. It’s good to think through your big wants and needs for a new neighborhood to go over with your real estate team. The Kern Team is very familiar with Miami and South Florida neighborhoods. We’re from here, we live here! Letting us know the things that are important to you will help us find your home. Location & Atmosphere We’ve all heard the adage that location is the most important part of real estate. And it’s certainly true, though […]
June 13, 2023
Some places are far more impacted by seasonal changes than others. Yes, our weather in Miami is gorgeous year-round and people’s habits don’t change much based on the season. So while Miami truly isn’t a four-season city like, say, Boston is – it is still important to consider the season when looking to list your home. Here’s why: Motivated Buyers We find that buyers tend to be motivated to move quickly in the summer months. This is mostly true for families with school-aged children. They want to find a home in their desired neighborhood and get the deal done and closed quickly so they can settle in to their new home before school starts. This means listing your property at the […]
June 6, 2023
Coral Gables’ central location, leafy streets and abundance of, well, everything makes it easily one of the most desirable neighborhoods in Miami. This is old Miami – established in the ‘20s – and the vintage feel is everywhere! Plenty of greenspace, and veryaccessible. Coral Gables is dotted with parks and fountains that add a feeling of peace and relaxation everywhere you go. A Neutral Market Let’s talk about what creates a “neutral market.” It’s mostly related to the amount of housing inventory available and how long it’s expected to remain available. In other words, supply and demand. In a buyer’s market there is at least 6 months’ worth of inventory – plenty of homes to choose from. A seller’s market […]
June 1, 2023
The beginning of summer vacation always feels like there will be plenty of time to get out and do fun things before the kiddos go back to school, but then it’s always over again before we know it! Planning some events to look forward to ahead of time is a great way to avoid letting these days slip away! Here are some of our favorite summertime activities in Miami for 2023! Frost Museum of Science Summer Camps Okay, to be fair, this one is just for the kids. But their weekly day camps just look so cool that we just had to include it! Whether your kids are into dinosaurs or space or something in between they will find a […]
May 23, 2023
It feels like we spend a lot of time talking about helping growing families find homes with more space, more rooms, bigger yards, more of… everything! There is definitely a time in life when upsizing everything seems like the most obvious choice, but what about the opposite? Downsizing has always been popular for empty nesters for several reasons – who wants to maintain a few extra bedrooms & bathrooms when no one is using them? When you’re looking for the right property for you, bigger isn’t necessarily better. New Season of Life The two biggest reasons most people find themselves shopping for a new home are relocation to a new place, and changes happening in their lives that they want or […]
May 2, 2023
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 18, 2023
The last couple of years have been a wild ride, there’s no denying that. Miami has been one of the U.S. cities that has not followed the nationwide trends as closely as the majority of the country. But are we immune from a negative trend across the States? What Makes Miami Different? One of the simplest things setting Miami apart from most of the U.S. is the size. We are the 7th largest metro area in the country. Secondly, Miami has a higher-than-average concentration of luxury homes. On top of that we are a coastal city which entices buyers from not only all over the U.S., but internationally as well. Miami is a destination city within a state that has […]
December 14, 2022
Building a new home from the ground up is a wonderful opportunity to create your dream home. Of course, finding the right location is at least half of the challenge. Shopping for land is a very different experience from being in the resale or pre-built housing market. This is far from a comprehensive list of things to consider, but it’s a good start to prepare you for the market. Location, Location, Location Searching for the right location to build a home is a bit different than finding a home in a desirable location. When you’re shopping for a house so much of what makes a location attractive is related to the existing homes and infrastructure. If you want to build […]
December 6, 2022
Here in Florida we have seen some significant and immediate changes to laws regarding homeowner’s insurance policies in 2022. Two bills were passed and became effective immediately when they were signed by the governor in May. These are available to read in their entirety if you want to do a deep dive. We are all still learning more about these, and some of the impacts won’t be clear until we have a chance to see how they apply over time. In the meantime, let’s talk about what the landscape looks like today. The Upside Let’s start with the good news. New laws are in place to attempt to reduce fraudulent claims. Fraud especially related to roof claims has been a large factor […]