Miami
October 29, 2024
There are two types of letters you can get from a bank when you’re looking to buy a home: a pre-qualification letter and a pre-approval letter. Pre-qualification gives you a ballpark estimate on how much you’ll be able to borrow to buy a home, whereas a pre-approval is more detailed and says exactly how much you will be able to borrow. You should have a pre-approval letter before you are ready to make an offer on a home. Why You Need a Pre-Approval Letter to Start the Buying Process For many first-time buyers, once they get their pre-approval letter from a mortgage banker, the process begins. While you can make an offer on a home with just a pre-qualification letter, it […]
October 22, 2024
Open Houses are used by sellers to get a lot of foot traffic and hopefully get an offer or two. For first time buyers, Open Houses are different – especially if you are not 100% sold on the home before you walk in the door. They are a great crash course in learning how to look at homes for sale. And if you’re coming into town from out-of-state, they are a great chance to see a lot of homes in a small time frame. Here’s how we tell our clients to use Open Houses to find the right home. Get a Feel For the Neighborhood For many first-time buyers, once they get their pre-approval letter from a mortgage banker, they typically go […]
October 15, 2024
Shenandoah is one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city of Miami. It’s roughly a square of land between Brickell & SW 27th Ave, south of Calle Ocho and north of Coral Way. Due to it’s being smack dab in the middle of the Grove & Brickell, it’s always been a popular neighborhood for buyers that want to be in the middle of the action but a little more space that condo living can provide. Here’s a look at the state of the real estate market in Shenandoah: A Look at the Numbers There are roughly 5,000 households in Shenandoah, and due to the age of the neighborhood (it was founded in 1919 by developers from Virginia, thus the name Shenandoah) […]
July 16, 2024
Buying a condo vs buying a single family home may seem like an odd comparison. But there’s plenty of comparisons that can be made, from what you’d be buying to the application process. So what exactly are the differences? And should you buy a condo vs. a single family home? Read on below. What’s a condo? A condominium, or “condo” for short, is a privately owned individual unit within a community of units. The owner of a unit typically owns the interior of that unit and some exterior elements. Common & shared areas such as pools, garages, gyms, hallways, etc. are owned collectively by the condo owners. Condos can be found in high-rises, apartment-style complexes and even (surprisingly to most) […]
June 4, 2024
When deciding to move to a new neighborhood or even a new city, one of the most important considerations for a family is education. Ensuring that your child receives a quality education that will prepare them for college and beyond is paramount. With that in mind, we wanted to share a helpful guide to some of Miami’s top private schools. That way, you can start narrowing down your search for your move. Best Miami private schools Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart Neighborhood: Coconut Grove Grades: 3 – 12 Student-to-teacher ratio: 8:1 Yearly tuition: $46,000 for grades 7 – 12 Founded in 1961, the Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart holds the distinction of being the only Catholic, all-girls Montessori college preparatory […]
April 23, 2024
Miami is an eclectic city filled with a mix of influences that create its status as a melting pot of cultures and ideas. Many different architectural styles contribute to Miami’s rich cultural heritage and vibrant built environment. Miami’s architectural diversity offers a glimpse into its storied past. Miami Homes: Historic, Iconic, Retro Art Deco architecture with its bold colors and geometric motifs emerged in the 1920s and 1930s. Streamlined facades, curved corners, and decorative motifs inspired by the Machine Age are some of the decorative elements you’ll find in homes from this era. If this is your style you’ll love the classic examples found in South Beach. Many homes and buildings here have been preserved or revitalized. Coral Gables is an oasis […]
April 16, 2024
Finding the right community in Miami is about trusting your instincts and choosing a neighborhood that feels like home. Are you more drawn to the vibrant energy of Wynwood or Brickell or to the tranquility of the Grove? Whatever your lifestyle or preferences, there’s a neighborhood in Miami to suit you. It’s More Than Just the Location We would never tell you that location isn’t a big consideration in every real estate transaction. You should always think about a neighborhood’s proximity to the places you frequent most often – work, school, beach. That said, choosing the right community is about more than just location. It’s important to also consider each potential area’s amenities. Consider safety and security measures when evaluating […]
April 9, 2024
Are you thinking it’s time to list a property for sale? The Kern Team is here to represent you, but we’re also here to help you make sure you’re well-informed on the front end of any real estate transaction. Timing Makes a Difference First, it’s important to consider market trends and seasonality if you have the ability to list your home any time. Spring and early summer tend to be the most active seasons for real estate transactions. Many buyers are eager to purchase before the start of the new school year or to take advantage of favorable weather conditions for house hunting. Here in Miami it can be beneficial to list in Spring or early Summer, but it’s important to realize […]
April 2, 2024
Selling a home in Miami is a marathon, not a sprint. At the Kern Team, our job is to make sure our clients get at or above market value for their home and to minimize the complications that can come along the way. And while this process is customized per client, this is the basic step-by-step framework we start with when anyone is going down the path of selling their home. Setting the Stage for Success: 6 to 8 Months Before Listing Your Home When you are listing your home, the most important decision you will make is choosing your Realtor. We always encourage homeowners to interview a couple realtors to find the one that feels right – but be […]