#SouthFlorida

Jul 17, 2018
6 min

Will real estate developers seize on “Opportunity Zones” tax incentive?

A provision of the new tax law could have big implications nationwide, but questions remain A short drive from downtown Miami, colorful murals highlight the Haitian diaspora and pink and yellow island-themed buildings dot Second Avenue in Little Haiti. Among the traditional Creole eateries, some millennial-focused restaurants have emerged, advertising craft beer and featuring organic rotisserie chicken and jalapeno jam on their menus. The slow transformation has not gone unno

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Jun 26, 2018
4 min

5 Advantages of Becoming a Florida Resident

With many states struggling to collect revenues and, in turn raising tax rates, the well to do, and even the not so well to do, are looking for ways to minimize their income tax bills. In addition, many of the states with income taxes also collect a state death tax. These two things coupled together - state income taxes and state death taxes (think about Connecticut , Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania) - or even just one of them (think a

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Jun 22, 2018
3 min

Foreign National Cheat Sheet

For many, a foreign national, the United States has always been a great place to invest in, especially Florida. Cities like #Miami and Orlando, which have been major destinations for tourists and investors alike. Purchasing a home There are no restrictions for foreign nationals (non-US citizens) when it comes to buying a house or condo in #Florida. Any person with a valid Visa can own property and rent it, if they want to. Cash purchases are very common and close quickly, and

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Jun 14, 2018
2 min

Uncommon ways to prepare for a hurricane

You’ve heard it every year that you’ve lived in Florida: in hurricane season you need a plan for both your residence and yourself. Hopefully, you’ve done things like secure flood insurance, purchase a generator and make plans for help in installing your hurricane shutters if you can’t do it yourself. Here are some things you still can do: Survey your home and tally your possessions so you know exactly what you need to replace and how much it’s worth should a storm damage your

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Jun 4, 2018
4 min

Homes Sold Faster Than Ever in April; Prices Rose 7.6%

The national median home sale price surpassed $300,000 for the first time on record The national median home sale price increased 7.6 percent in April from a year ago, to a median of $302,200. This is the first time the national median home price has surpassed the $300,000 mark across the 174 markets that Redfin tracks. While April posted solid growth in home sales, up 5.2 percent from last year, home sales from January through April were just 1.5 percent higher than the same

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May 30, 2018
2 min

This Map Shows the Best-Paying Company In Every State (Interactive Infograph)

You may think earning a big salary means climbing the corporate ladder. Not necessarily. Many U.S. companies offer six-figure salaries even to rank-and-file workers. A few, like California-based cancer-research company Geron Corp. (median pay: $500,250) and New Jersey clean-energy firm NRG Yield (median pay: $964,000), hand out upwards of half a million dollars or more. Those numbers are part of a trove of new data companies are being required to make public for the first tim

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May 27, 2018
2 min

LinkedIn Workforce Report | Miami-Ft. Lauderdale | May 2018

Over 146 million workers in the U.S. have LinkedIn profiles; over 20,000 companies in the U.S. use LinkedIn to recruit; over 3 million jobs are posted on LinkedIn in the U.S. every month; and members can add over 50,000 skills to their profiles to showcase their professional brands. That gives us unique and valuable insight into U.S. workforce trends. This LinkedIn Workforce Report is a monthly report on employment trends in the U.S. workforce. It’s divided into two sections:

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May 21, 2018
4 min

You can still find reasonably priced homes in these Miami neighborhoods. But you have to hurry

If you're braving Miami-Dade County's competitive housing market in search of a moderately-priced home or condo, it's no longer enough to be armed with a pre-approved mortgage loan or be flexible about location. Today, there's one more essential thing to have: A fast trigger finger. "So many people are looking for properties in the $180,000-$225,000 price point, buyers can no longer afford to say, 'Let me think about it and get back to you,'" said Justine Jimenez Garcia, owne

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May 16, 2018
5 min

Luxury Home Sales in Miami Spike in Early 2018

According the Miami Association of Realtors, Miami luxury home sales surged 12.3 percent in 1Q 2018 as median prices rose for the 25th consecutive quarter. Total Miami luxury home sales ($1 million and up) rose 12.3 percent to 421 in 1Q 2018, up from 375 in 1Q 2017. Median prices for single-family homes increased to $337,000, a 5.9 percent increase from last year. Miami existing condo median prices rose 4.5 percent year over year to $230,000. "Miami real estate continues to s

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May 16, 2018
2 min

‘Good’ credit score lowers avg. mortgage cost by $21K

In Miami it is lowered by an average mortgage cost by $27K. Homebuyers with a lower credit score pay thousands of dollars more for the same home than a buyer with an excellent credit score. A new Zillow analysis found that nationally, a borrower with an "excellent" credit score could get a mortgage with a 4.50 percent Annual Percentage Rate (APR). A similar borrower with a "fair" credit score could get a 5.10 percent rate. Over the lifetime of a 30-year mortgage, this means a

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May 15, 2018
2 min

20 Questions to Ask When Buying a Condo

Considering a condominium? Take the time to research the community, talk to residents, review the condominium documents and study other data to answer these questions: 1. CONDITION What's the condition of the unit you're considering -- the building -- the entire complex? 2. COMMON AREAS Are common areas well maintained? 3. FOR SALE? How many condos are for sale? (A large percentage could be a sign of problems.) 4. OWNER OCCUPIED? What percentage of the units are owner-occupie

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May 8, 2018
2 min

Buyers' mortgage preapprovals mean a lot less than you think

It's common advice: Buyers should obtain a mortgage preapproval letter from a lender before going out with a real estate agent to look at homes. The rationale is that a preapproval shows, in writing, an amount of mortgage money a buyer is qualified to receive, all but guaranteeing the price range the buyer can afford. For real estate agents, that preapproval letter is an assurance that they're not wasting time on clients who may not be able to afford the homes they're conside

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May 2, 2018
1 min

Here’s how much you need to earn to afford Coral Gables

Trulia has crunched the numbers to determine the best neighborhoods for living well by ranking “universally loved” features like quiet streets, parks and proximity to schools and healthcare. Now, the online real estate giant had determined how much a homebuyer needs to live in those neighborhoods. Coral Gables (which Trulia incorrectly lists as a neighborhood within Miami) made the list, but buyers will need to have a well-paying job to afford to live there. Described as a “m

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Apr 23, 2018
2 min

So you are all settled in your new home. Now it's time to explore Miami!

Here is a list of things to do in the Magic City: First, take a look at this Miami Relocation Guide and Interactive Map of Miami and Beaches. I have separated the suggestion below by geographic areas. Be sure to use the interactive map to familiarize yourself with each location, and to take distances into account when planning your visits. Miami Beach: Art Deco District / South of Fifth (SoFi) Nikki Beach South Pointe Park Ocean Drive Española Way Lincoln Road Mall New World

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