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.

We provide real estate news and discuss various news and events that occur all over South Florida.  From news in West Palm Beach, celebrity homes in Miami, or events in Fort Lauderdale, we cover current happenings in your South Florida area.

If you are searching for real estate in South Florida, be sure to take a look at expertrealty.com, where you can view homes of your interest along side of a wealth of information regarding specific neighborhoods, local schools, restaurants, shopping, and more!

Have an idea for a topic? Send it in! Let us know your thoughts.  You can email your ideas and comments to contenteditor@expertrealty.com.

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.

Skywater, a company based in Fort Lauderdale, offers this unique experience to buyers searching for high-end estates in the Miami-Dade and Broward County area.  These buyers are able to take a bird’s-eye view of homes and lots for sale, anywhere from the coast, to the everglades’ edge.

What are the advantages?  See the home for all that it is!  Get a better view of how much space the home has, see what is around the house in other properties you would not be able to access by foot, or even spot roofing problems!

The average cost of one flight runs about $1,000, and includes luxurious leather interior, and an air conditioned cabin.  Not recommended for home buyers on a budget!

The study also showed that the ratio of occupation of condos in downtown Miami comparing new leases to purchase contracts is at about 50:50.  So about half of downtown Miami residents are renters, while the other half are owners. 

The downtown area had not always been such a popular place, but with the redevelopment that has occurred over the recent years, the area is proving to be a great place for investment in Miami.

At the George Merrick house in Coral Gables, you can step back into time and experience the historical side of Miami.  It is now mostly used as a romantic getaway for many newly weds, which is attributed to its unique and secluded atmosphere, and perhaps its reason for being as well.  The home was built in 1916 after Merrick proposed to his wife, and plans for the home were to reflect her ‘beauty and uniqueness’. This Coral Gables home exudes the historical atmosphere you rarely find in the city of Miami.

From the couch in the living room, to the bedroom mirrors on the second floor, decorations in the home could not represent this time period more accurately.  Thanks to many donations from historical societies and vintage stores, the home is decorated and setup up with things from this exact time period, and reflect the taste and style of the Merrick family.

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?

The developing area of West Kendall recently has defined itself, with its center being at Southwest 137th Avenue.  For quite some time this area had been known as “too far west”, as development of local malls, businesses, and supermarkets were few and far between.

Now, Southwest 137th Avenue seems to be the connecting route for those living in West Kendall, utilizing this road for easy travel to Doral, the Dolphin Expressway, or to the Tamiami Airport.  With accessible routes in and out of this area, the population has increased dramatically.  In the Kendall area, real estate buyers find themselves very interested in these beautiful new communities that have been constructed throughout the area.  And now, West Kendall, once a rural area,  is filled with large gated communities with homes and condos galore.

Communities such as Country Walk and Three Lakes are two popular communities in the area, that feature large homes with swimming pools and backyard patios.  These West Kendall homes have attracted home buyers from many different areas, which has led to the extensive use of Southwest 137th Avenue.  The level of traffic on the road has led many local businesses to want a definitive separation and signs for this “West Kendall” area, mostly in effort to compete with the popular Kendall Drive.  Kendall Drive is the most well known business area in Kendall, but they can now expect some friendly competition from their neighbors on Southwest 137th Avenue!