The following statistics were taken from the Florida Association of Realtors, based on MLS sales levels from Florida’s Realtor boards and associations. (*Statistics are based on single-family homes sales) 

With home prices decreasing, it is now more important than ever to be sure you are working with the best real estate agent to sell your home. 

Be sure to sell your home with an expert!  If you are looking to list your home now or in the future, by working with an expert agent you will sell your home for the highest possible price.  Selling a home in today’s market does no have to be so intimidating. Be sure to choose the right agent, who will be with you every step of the way.

At expertrealty.com, you can connect yourself with the greatest Realtors in South Florida, who are all experts in their neighborhoods.

First, consider the market you are searching in.  You will want to work with a realtor who is an expert in the area you are searching in.  They will be able to lead you in the right direction, and give you great insight about the neighborhoods and subdivisions in that area.

Second, find out if the realtor you are working with is a buyer’s realtor or a seller’s realtor.  If the realtor is representing the seller of a home you are interested in, though not in all states, the information you tell the realtor is not in confidence and may or may not be withheld from the owner. This is NOT because the realtor is using unethical practices with you, but instead is faced with a conflict of interest. That is, working with both the buyer and the seller at the same time. (The seller wants to sell the home for the highest price possible, while the buyer wants to purchase the home for the lowest price possible.)

Also, you will want to find out if the realtor is a member of the MLS (Multiple Listing Service).  You will want an real estate agent that has access to a database of homes to show you.

Finally, discuss with the realtor their ability to commit to you, and be sure they understand your home buying goals and needs.  Give them a timeline of when you would like to purchase, and how often  you would like to go out to see homes.  A good real estate agent will sit down with you and discuss these things with you.  Always be upfront with your realtor.  Good communication between you and your realtor will lead to a great business relationship, and ultimately, will lead you to you finding your perfect home!

What did Forbes’ research conclude? That you will get a big bang for your buck in the Miami real estate market today!  Investors, first time home buyers, and any others shopping for real estate today should be sure not to overlook this amazing South Florida city!

(Also, Coral Gables real estate ranked 3rd in the state of Florida for Luxury Home Sales!)

Owners who are paying their dues are furious, as costs rely solely on their payments.  However, with foreclosures and other severe situations at an all time high, many homeowners are struggling with making just their mortgage payments alone.

A course of action some condo associations have been utilizing in some cases is denial of amenities or services to only those owners who are not paying, such as the inability to rent the unit, or use facilities such as the gym or pool.  However, as long as the owner legally owns their unit, associations are not allowed to take such action.  Even so, it is still happening.

The brighter side of this?  The prices for condo units for sale in Florida are so low, anyone shopping in this market is sure to find amazing bargains!  Many buyers see this as a great opportunity, and often find the positive side to living with less amenities for a short time, until the economy turns back around, where fewer homeowners will be struggling with their payments.

For many of the frustrated searches who began looking in or around 2004, when home prices had soared, buying a suitable home for a reasonable price was not a realistic option. But since then, home prices have dropped on average 18% each year.  But with the job market continuing to plummet, will these new home buyers be able to even maitain these newly purchased bargains?

There is also a pool of buyers who have been accustomed to renting, who now realistically have the option of looking at buying as an alternative.  The value of even their current rental home or condo could possibly be less expensive to own than to rent.

The big question on every-one’s mind, will this increase in home sales continue on throughout the year?

South Florida condos offer numerous amenities and there are many to choose from.

Here are important things to look out for before making an offer:

Does the condo face many hours of sun that will interfere with your energy efficiency and skyrocket your FPL bill?

Listen for noises. One way to check noise levels is visiting the condo at different times of the day both weekdays and weekends.

Check out your privacy levels; do you have large windows or a balcony that faces the street. Can you see into the unit from outside?

Is the parking lot well lit? Are there plenty of parking spaces? This has become a major issue at many complexes, it may not seem important now, but it certainly will when you’re home from work after a long day.

Another important thing to look for in hurricane prone Florida is a backup generator to power up your building in the case of a power outage.

But soon, that will change.  With the Downtown Development Authority anticipating the population of the downtown Miami area to be doubled what it is today by 2010, catering to this huge population is not only necessary, but a huge area for profits to be made. 

You can expect to see more shops, places to eat, and local services around the Brickell residential condo areas very soon.

One great start for the area includes The Shops at Mary Brickell Village, which offers various shops and restaurants, and even services such as shoe repair, hair-styling, or a pharmacy. This local mall in Brickell is a great place for residents, and still has many empty store-fronts to fill!

As one of the few homes with hydrogen powered energy, this home in Bay Heights, Miami, entered into the future of new and clean energy. The system was setup up in the home by two companies, Hydra Fuel Cell and American Hydrogen Corporation. These two companies have claimed to have perfected the system needed for homes across the nation to switch to hydrogen powered systems, and demonstrated this through this home in Miami.

Hydrogen contains three times more energy than natural gas, and the family in this home has already witnessed the reduced energy costs, which is now less than half of what they had been previously been paying out for electricity from the grid.

When will we see more hydrogen powered homes?  As the designs are perfected, the companies claim within a few years it is likely that many more homes across the nation will enter into the future of energy production.

Admission is free to this event taking place on January 28, 2009, at 800 NE 8th Street, from 2pm-6pm.  The contact person for the seminar can be reached at 954-567-5034.

However, even after the elections, President-elect Obama has continued discussions regarding the 2009 stimulus rebate, making it seem all the more real to us now.  Included was discussion of rebates that would be even larger than that of the package put forth by Bush’s Administration with the Troubled Asset Relief Program in 2008.  Since no specifics on the rebate have been discussed, many still remain skeptical that the stimulus plan for 2009would include a rebate.  Most of Obama’s discussions regarding the relief includes additional aid to those receiving unemployment or food stamps.  He has not revealed any specifics or concrete plans for additional rebate checks in 2009. There has been discussion that whatever assistance may come will take place within the first two weeks after Obama’s inauguration.