house hunting
April 2, 2019
Searching for the perfect home can be a long journey for some, so when you finally find the right one, it can be tempting to jump right in to making an offer. While competitive markets can require us to act quickly, you want to be sure you’re prepared by taking care of these five things first. Get pre-approval from a financial lender– Before making an offer, it’s essential to have all of your financials in order and have enough on reserve to cover your deposit and closing costs. In Miami, when you’re often competing with cash-only offers, securing pre-approval is 100% necessary before you make an offer. You should have this stage complete before you begin looking at homes. […]
March 5, 2019
If you’re looking for charm, sophistication, and casual elegance, look no further than “The City Beautiful.” Unique and stunning architecture is the name of the game, and the city’s civic leadership helps ensure the community is always looking its best. When conjuring up images of Coral Gables in your head, think original 1920s-era Old Spanish-style homes complete with intricate details, arched doorways, elaborate fireplaces, and more. Its location is also unbeatable – just southwest of downtown Miami. If you want to learn more about the Gables and its residential real estate history, check out these blog posts: The Chinese Village The Dutch South African Village The French Normandy Village The French Country Village The Italian Village Featured listings in […]
February 19, 2019
If you’re new to real estate or even new to a market, there are some important things to keep in mind as you embark on a new home buying adventure. In this post, we’ll break down some of those helpful things to remember. Finances first Before you can even begin to get serious about buying a home, you have to take a hard look at your finances and understand your realistic monthly budget. More than just the mortgage payment, other hidden costs[link to previous blog about hidden costs of homeownership] can quickly make that mortgage payment a lot more than you may initially think. The rule of thumb for getting pre-qualified for a mortgage is that your monthly […]
February 12, 2019
The market in Palmetto Bay continues to thrive, and it will likely remain in high demand for years to come, particularly because of its top-notch schools. Moreover, Palmetto Bay offers numerous parks and recreation spaces plus an enviable location just 20-minutes south of downtown Miami. Given this, it’s no surprise that Palmetto Bay consistently ranks near the top of “best places to live” lists. This “Village of Parks” offers families everything they need in a community and more. Expand your search and see what Palmetto Bay has to offer you. Featured listings in Palmetto Bay 7455 SW 170thTER– This 4-bedroom, 3.5-bath home is 4,021 square feet and located in the gated enclave of Old Cutler Palms. Featuring […]
February 5, 2019
Many first-time home buyers come to the market with a great deal of enthusiasm for making their purchase. However, even the most savvy and prepared buyers can be caught off guard by some of the less-obvious costs of owning a home which, taken together, can add up to more than $9,000 per year in expenses. As you plan your budget, be sure to factor in more than just the home’s list price or mortgage payment. Keep the following considerations in mind as well: Required costs Certain costs are unavoidable, like homeowners insurance, property taxes, and utilities. While they vary by property, they can quickly add up and may increase that mortgage payment more than some first-time home buyers expect […]
August 28, 2018
A closing disclosure form simply outlines the terms and costs of your mortgage, but it’s one of the most important pieces of paperwork to check before closing on a home. Look at the closing disclosure form as a follow-up form to the loan estimate document you received when you first applied for your loan. The loan estimate outlined the approximate fees you would need to pay if you chose to move forward with the lender. Your closing disclosure is the real deal version of that. So, it’s important to scrutinize and look over the closing disclosure form very carefully. Here are a few tips to help you when you look over your closing disclosure form: Closing disclosure vs. settlement statement […]
August 21, 2018
With all of the excitement about moving into a new home, it’s easy to forget the important tasks you need to do. Certain things are best done before your boxes and furniture are moved into the house, so take some time to get everything in order before you move. To help out, we put together the ultimate moving checklist. Before you start packing everything up, check out this moving checklist to make sure you’ve completed all of the important tasks before you settle in: Turn on utilities Electric, water, and gas all need to be operational when you arrive. Get all your utilities set up ahead of time because chances are, the seller will have them turned off on the […]
August 14, 2018
When you think about moving into your dream home, it’s easy to picture a breezy home-buying scenario. But, in a seller’s market, finding your perfect home is no small task. You don’t want to waste the better parts of your Saturdays and Sundays roaming open houses only to find multiple dead ends. So, how do you manage your time wisely when it comes to house hunting? Here are a few tips to help make your home search as productive as possible: Get pre-approved for a mortgage Getting pre-approved for a mortgage before you begin searching for your dream home is essential. If you start touring houses before you’re pre-approved for a mortgage, you won’t really know what price range you […]
August 7, 2018
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 […]