broward: Could you live in a tiny house?
- 08/25/16 12:32 AM
Could you live in a tiny house? I know I could.
And judging by the price of housing today and in America's major cities I think a lot of others may be willing to settle. A tiny house in San Francisco just recently sold for$400K. That has to tell you something about the state of housing there. Actually, you have to earn six figures just to even think about buying a bone there, one of highest in the nation.
The South Florida area is almost as bad with one caveat, however. I don't think the city of Miami or any other … (4 comments)
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broward: We haven't been this divided since the 1960s
- 07/11/16 01:12 AM
I thought for a while there that we as a people have turned a corner in this country and have become more accepting and tolerant of others. But I guess I was wrong. I am troubled by what I see now on the news almost every day. If someone isn't killing a black man then they are killing a blue man and vice versa. Indians still live on reservations for crying out loud! Have any of you even met one I wonder? Jews are still to blame for everything that goes wrong. Hispanics have been blamed for all of our immigration … (1 comments)
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broward: Don't forget the closing costs
- 07/06/16 11:31 PM
Buying a new home in South Florida? Better not forget the closing costs. I know when I first moved here 22 years ago I almost had a heart attack when I saw them. South Carolina's closing costs are in the hundreds, but Florida's is in the thousands!
If you think you have enough for a down payment of say 20% then you better add $10,000 to that figure in order to close. If you're not getting a mortgage then the closing costs do go down quite a bit, but there are some things you should be aware of. Part of your closing … (0 comments)
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broward: Don't forget about Ft. Lauderdale!
- 07/06/16 11:16 PM
Miami and Miami Beach may be the center of the tourist universe, but I would not discount the beauty and liveliness of Ft. Lauderdale either. Vacationers often touch down at the Ft. Lauderdale airport and make a beeline for I-95 South when some of the best tourist destinations are right under their noses.
Aside from the fact that Ft. Lauderdale is on the whole cheaper than almost anything down south it has plenty to do and see with a heck of a lot less traffic. The beach is obvious. It's completely different than South Beach because it is more family oriented … (0 comments)
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broward: Yes, a deep cleaning does make a difference
- 07/05/16 12:18 AM
There is a difference between a cleaning and a deep cleaning. If you want your home sold quickly and to appraise for a bit more it is best if you go as deep cleaning as possible. I would even argue that this is even more important than staging.
One should attack the job like a spring cleaning and do the things that are probably ignored all year. I will include in this list the top of your refrigerator, dusty blinds, moldy tubs, filthy grout, stained carpet, window ledges, under the beds, and the water faucets just to name a few. I … (1 comments)
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broward: How high is your housing cost burden?
- 07/04/16 10:58 AM
Your housing cost burden is the percentage of your income you spend on housing. Bottom line, if it is more than 30% you are in big trouble. That number is supposed to be the national average, but South Florida stands way above that national average at a whopping 50% for 25% of residents. As a matter of fact, South Florida is the worst in the country for housing cost burden according to Harvard University researchers.
Part of the reason for this is simply the fact that housing in South Florida is severely overpriced. An executive for a housing builder actually blames … (0 comments)
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broward: Definition of highest and best offer
- 07/03/16 11:33 PM
In today's market sellers are super eager to accept only the highest offer that comes their way. It's a bit greedy, but that is human nature. As a realtor, however, my job is to get the seller the highest and best offer. Never leave out that second part of the equation.
So let us suppose that you own a $500,000 home and you have a bidding war on your hands. That's always a good thing. One buyer comes in at asking price and the other actually goes over by $10,000. Just about everyone wouldn't think twice about taking the latter. Before … (1 comments)
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broward: Here's what we can do about climate change in South Florida
- 07/03/16 02:33 AM
I am worried about climate change and you should be too if you live in South Florida. Experts have been painting a very ugly picture of Florida's future if we don't start to change as human beings now because climate change is essentially caused by us. We have the power to make things right, but it will certainly take more than just a village. We now know that like New Orleans, South Florida is sinking at an alarming rate. And unlike Miami, New Orleans has always been sinking. Their problem is soft soil and erosion, not pollution. The city continues to … (21 comments)
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broward: Our Battle With Dangerous, Invasive Critters of Florida
- 08/21/15 03:21 AM
I recently read an blog on why nobody should move to Australia. The reasoning behind the blog is all of the dangerous animals that inhabit the island from the Tasmanian Devil to the lethal brown snake to name a few. This got me to thinking that perhaps one would think the same of Florida after reading about all of the dangerous animals and reptiles invading our lovely state. Here is the difference between Australia and Florida though; Most of Florida's dangerous and invasive species are not indigenous to the area. Now we can't get rid of them. So, without further adieu, … (4 comments)
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broward: Prepare your home for sale in advance
- 07/21/15 02:03 AM
Prepare your home for sale in advance.
If you have a laundry list of things to do you would usually put together a game plan and tackle them one by one with the important ones at the top. When selling your home one should do the same, but in this case, everything is important.
Your best bet is to go through the house with a fine tooth comb, moving furniture and pulling out appliances that you haven't for years and checking out what lurks behind and under them. Inspect every detail of all the appliances and air conditioning to make sure … (1 comments)
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broward: Open houses - What are they good for? Absolutely nothing
- 06/19/15 02:04 AM
Open houses - What are they good for? Absolutely nothing.
Say it again! Have I gotten my point across now? The general concensus among realtors is that open houses almost never sell that house. Think about that for a minute and whether or not you, as a realtor or FSBO, have ever sold your home or listing. So why do realtors do it? Because their sellers insist on it and are forced to please them. Why do FSBOs do it? Because they have no choice. They are too cheap to advertise or hire a professional realtor.
My best friend is a … (0 comments)
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broward: Venezuela & Quatar have little in common for all their oil riches
- 06/09/15 01:57 AM
Venezuela and Quatar have little in common for all their oil riches.
And that is because that is where all their similarties end. The difference between the two countries' success and failures is simple. Whereas Quatar re-invested all of it's oil profits in real estate, Venezuela put all of its trust into the hands of a greedy tyrant who bought his way into power with the promise of Socialist riches for everyone.
This is what it looks like for hungry Venezuelans every day. These people are waiting in line for groceries for hours and will be lucky to just walk away … (1 comments)
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broward: What is a CDD and why should I care?
- 05/15/15 03:40 AM
What is a CDD and why should I care?
A lot of new home buyers have no idea what a CDD is and why they should even care when they purchase a new construction home and that is a shame because it is actually quite important. A CDD is a Community Development District. It is a governmental unit created to serve the long-term needs of its community. It's main objective is to plan, finance, construct, operate, and maintain community infrastructure for the benefits of residents.
In laymans terms a CDD is essentially nothing more than an assessment that appears for a negotiated … (0 comments)
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broward: Are your blogs pretty or substantive?
- 04/15/15 04:44 AM
Are your blogs pretty or substantive?
Everyday I scroll through the limitless piles of blogs on ActiveRain searching for something worthy of a comment or re-blog and most of time I find myself out of luck. Do not be offended ActiveRain bloggers because what you write probably works for many. It's just that not all of it works for me.
Blogs shouldn't have to come with pretty colors and amazing picutures to get your point across. One should also read for substance. Afterall, the purpose of a blog is to inform I would suppose, so make your blogs worth reading. It seems … (0 comments)
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broward: South Florida millennials are becoming a rental society
- 04/15/15 03:44 AM
South Florida millennials are quickly becoming a rental society.
There is a lot of blame to go around. We always ask ourselves why millennials aren't buying now when it's a very good time to do so. There are many reasons for that. So without further ado;
Millennials have been completely priced out of the market. They are just starting out in the world, the workforce, and in relationships, so money is tight. There was a time when $200K would get you a fine home here, but now there is nothing out there in a three bedroom less than $300K. You really have to … (2 comments)
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broward: Estoppel Letters; An HOA Screwjob
- 03/23/15 02:29 AM
Estoppel letters; An HOA screwjob.
Every time you sell a home that is part of an association in this country an estoppel letter is required in order to close. Essentially it is a short letter stating the following:
Name of the association Name of the unit/parcel owner Description of the property (legal description is not required but at least the parcel address or unit number. Total amount owed to the association Date through which that total amount is owed Instructions on where to sent payment Signature of an officer of the association or authorized agent.
Now, with the exception … (1 comments)
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broward: You Real Estate Transaction Should Move Like a Duck
- 03/17/15 02:37 AM
You real estate transaction should move like a duck, in water.
If your real estate agent is as good as he or she says or advertises then as a seller or buyer there should be very little that you have to do during your closing transaction. In other words, your agent is like a duck in that he is moving ever so effortlessly on top of the water while all the while at the bottom, underneath the water his feet are flapping around like crazy, getting things done.
Once you have your initial consultation with the agent you intend … (33 comments)
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broward: Let's Get Real About ForSaleByOwner. com
- 02/23/15 12:49 AM
Let's get real about forsalebyowner.com people.
After a considerable amount of studying how this for sale by owner system works two things stand out to me - they supposedly hate realtors, yet their entire philosophy is based on what we do as professionals and all the tools they provide you are the same things you can get in any store or online yourself.
The fact that this site actually tells its consumers to stop wasting money on realtors offends me. When they say you can save thousands by selling your home on your own they conveniently leave out a … (4 comments)
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broward: "I am not satisfied, you're fired"
- 01/15/15 02:24 AM
What does Kiplinger know about real estate? Nothing.
After reading an article in Kiplinger titled "What you should know about hiring a real estate agent" I have come to the conclusion that the author probably never sold a damned thing in his or her life and has probably also been watching way to much reality television.
This link will take you to this ridiculous article. http://www.kiplinger.com/article/real-estate/T010-C000-S001-hire-a-pro.html
However, what bothered me in particular, and this goes for those who are also entertaining the thought of selling their home as well, is that this writer suggest writing in the following phrase … (0 comments)
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broward: I have good news & bad news says my client
- 11/17/14 01:17 AM
I have good news & bad news says my client.
The bad news is I sold my house with another agent, but the good news is I want you to represent me in the purchase of my new home. I have heard this before. You befriend someone and keep in touch over the years. This client always asks you for advice and tells you that when he is ready you are the one. So you feel safe and secure in knowing that one of these days this guy is yours.
In this case, however, it did not work out … (0 comments)
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Could you live in a tiny house? I know I could. 
;)
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