real estate
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) […]
May 28, 2024
Whether you’re moving within Miami-Dade or resettling from elsewhere, it’s important to consider the qualities needed for a successful buyer-realtor relationship. Not every realtor is the same and a successful realtor for one client may not be right for you. When comparing realtors, these are the top 5 things to look out for. They can give you both a broad as well as a focused perspective when making your decision. With these in your back pocket, you’ll be in a better position to coordinate your next home purchase. Experience Like in most things, you’ll want to find a realtor with the experience to tackle your unique home-buying needs. An experienced realtor will be able to help you navigate Miami’s real […]
May 21, 2024
The housing market ebbs and flows, much like the seasons. When thinking of buying a house, you have to consider your timeline: when’s the best time to start looking and when’s the best time to close on a deal. A lot of it comes down to timing, especially during the year. Even for a warm state like Florida the market can fluctuate depending on the month or season. So we can hear you asking, “is summer the best time to buy in Miami?” Well, that depends on a couple of factors. Is summer the best time to buy in Miami? Florida experiences pretty warm temperatures year-round. For example, Miami International Airport had an average 2023 temperature of 79.9 degrees. Because […]
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 […]
March 26, 2024
One of the best things about living in a metro area like Miami is that you have such a wide variety of diverse neighborhoods to choose from. If you want to be in the middle of the action, plenty might be perfect for you from Edgewater to Brickell. There are also many options for suburban neighborhoods that offer their own unique slice of Americana. Let’s look at just a few of the options that embody the essence of downtown living and suburban bliss, helping you find your ideal Miami residence. The City is Alive From the Design District to Brickell Brickell is Miami’s financial district. If you’re a professional with the goal of living closest to major business centers, this […]