real estate
Every seller wants as much money as they can get for their property. But they have to remember, that a property is only worth what the market will give you. I like to promote a realistic price range strategy with my sellers. I sometimes will recommend a price, but often times I will give them a price…
Everyone has their own way of negotiating in real estate. Sometimes buyers will give their best offer and say, “Take it or leave it,” while others like to come in low, expecting to go back and forth a bit. You can negotiate on price, closing times, deposits, inspection times, and so on. I find that few…
Often times, people forget that a REALTOR® is just the “middleman” in a real estate transaction. As a REALTOR®, my job is to provide my buyers and sellers with information to help them make the best decision for them. Sometimes a buyer will ask me what I would offer, and I never give an exact…
You know the phrase, “Jack of all trades, master of none.” I find that saying rings very true in real estate. When I first got my real estate license, I thought I was going to do it all. And then I started working in the field, and found that I couldn’t do everything and be…
Companies take inventory to make sure they have everything accounted for. So, why wouldn’t you do the same for your home? When you move in to a new home, take a video of your home after you have everything unpacked and you are completely settled in. With cell phones having great video capabilities, how could…
I know, your brother’s best friend’s cousin’s girlfriend is REALTOR® and you feel obligated to use them. She does about two to three deals a year. Or, since everyone seems to have a real estate license, your friend said that you can use them and they will get you some money back. If real estate…
Real Estate has different types of values and none of them are equal. *Taxable Value: In South Florida your taxable value is reset when you purchase a property. That is often why you have a different taxable value than your neighbors. Also, it is not like you see the county tax man knocking on doors…
In South Florida fireplaces are not a very common home feature. Sure, I may show one or two houses a year with a fireplace, but it is definitely more of a rarity. I do work with a lot of out of town buyers for second homes as well as buyers moving to the area. Some ask for a…
When I start going over a buyer’s criteria, inquiring about bedrooms, bathrooms, location, and so on, many add, “Make sure to include short sales.” Values have been rising and owners’ equity is increasing with it. That means, there are less short sales out there than there were five years ago. Yet many buyers are under this…
You need an inspection on EVERY home that you are interested in purchasing. Some people think that the newer the better, which would have less problems. That is not 100% true. I had some buyers purchasing a 2007 townhouse in Coral Ridge that was in beautiful shape for about $600,000. There had been a water leak in…
Real estate is an emotional transaction and a large one at that. There are so many moving parts that it is rare things will go exactly as you imagined. A good REALTOR® will prepare you for this, and discuss with you the different options at every bump in the road. Less than good REALTORS®, will…
Filing your taxes is very important if you plan to buy a house. Some buyers who moved here from out of state and wanted to get started looking at houses. I explained that they needed to get their prequalification done before seriously looking. We saw three houses to give them an idea what properties were like…
People love watching HGTV and real estate reality shows. Most of the fake drama is staged and they make buying a house look like a breeze. I had some buyers under contract for a Pompano condo. It was an estate sale and the sellers listed it before it was ready to be sold. Things got…
People love good stories and sellers are no different. A lot of sellers want their home to go to buyers that will love, appreciate and take good care of that home. It is good to keep that in mind when submitting an offer. Yes, a seller wants as much as possible, but deep down, they are…
I happen to love working with out of town buyers. I have had buyers from Canada, Bahamas, DC, California, NY, Pennsylvania and more come in just for a few days to look at properties. It’s a whirlwind of a time, but it makes for a fun and exciting adventure! I sometimes find it disturbing how…
Owning a home is a keystone of wealth… both financial affluence and emotional security.