It’s the show of responsibility that’s the reason home ownership bestows automatic respect from the community. It is, after all, unmistakable evidence of long-term stability, as well as commitment to deal with the future with all it holds — known and unknown. That commitment is something all homeowners share.

Today, buying a house in Aventura means entering a changing market. Still-historically low interest rates continue, but now they have started to rise. Broader lending prospects are improving along with that rise (which is the good news). But especially for first-time buyers, it should also mean that it is doubly important to think of the long term, and to let caution and prudence lead to a buying decision that will prove to be the right choice for the future.

What that means when buying a house in Aventura, especially when taking advantage of an attractive adjustable interest rate (ARM) loan, is to plan for the likelihood that monthly repayments will eventually increase. Before taking advantage of a great deal, consider whether you will be able to manage monthly repayments if they jump by 1, 2 — even 3%. Although it’s only natural to expect that your family income will grow as time passes and professional experience broadens, cautious buyers keep their budget in line with actual current finances. And they make hard-headed estimates of the upkeep expenses that accompany home ownership.

If the past seven years have taught anything about buying a house, it’s the advantage of tempering optimism with realism. I’m here to help my clients make educated real estate decisions for the short term and long term.  If you’ve been preparing to make that exciting first buy, I hope you will give me a call to meet and discuss your goals and the current market – I’d love to hear from you!

Those are all pivotal decisions, and I would be delighted to offer advice on how each is likely to affect the sales effort. But there is also a less prominent element you may not have considered: the impact the text of your advertising will have on your marketing and – potentially – the overall results. The regimented way listings are presented tend to impart them with a similarity that may not be warranted. Overcoming that effect can make your message draw attention…and prospects.

According to real estate conversion content specialist Karen Hutton, next to the main photograph, the headline is everything. Hutton’s territory is Queensland, Australia, which goes to show how universal marketing truths are. Says Hutton of the headline tactic, “It must arouse curiosity, use meaningful specifics…and be intriguing.”

Some of my favorites noted on her marketing website?

• Keep Your Cool: Coffee Just Around The Corner

I’m not sure what this means — it’s why I’d have to read the ad!

• Designer Retreat In The Heart Of Town

A perfect marriage of two sales points in just seven words

• Go Slow: A Home For Relaxing and Entertaining

A lifestyle pitch that sounds entirely credible

• An Urban Getaway To Complement Nature

Instant appeal to city-dwellers who wish they could live in the country

• Good Bones: Ready For Your Inner Designer

 Clever way to avoid the negative sound of ‘fixer-upper’ 

If you’re thinking of selling your home in Aventura this summer, I’ve got many more sources of inspiration for creating standout marketing designed to get your home S-O-L-D. Contact me today to schedule a strategy-building session. There’s no obligation, and the ideas we discuss can make all the difference to how you approach the many options that are immediately available in today’s market!

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, mortgage applications fell 4% in the first week of July after plummeting 11.7% the week before. ‘The Market Composite Index’ is the measure of mortgage loan application volume — and it decreased 4.0% from a week earlier (on a seasonally adjusted basis).  Altogether, national mortgage applications so far this July are about a third below their level of a year ago.

The drop in applications comes as no surprise to those of us who keep a steady watch on mortgage rate trends. But there is one accompanying fact that wouldn’t have been as predictable. As USA Today notes, “Despite the rise in rates…the four-year average for home purchases continues to climb since it turned upward in November 2011.”

So what do these apparently contradictory stats mean for Aventura residents preparing to sell or buy a house?

Whichever part of the equation you fall into, it’s certainly time to get moving!  If you’re considering selling, you will want to put your home on the market to take advantage of the still historically low mortgage rates in Aventura.  It’s often the case that rising mortgage rates spur a last-minute home-buying rush. If you’re planning on buying in Miami-Dade County, rising mortgage rates are a pretty good indication that it’s time to put the pedal to the metal.

Either way, if you’re thinking of buying or selling in Aventura this summer, I’m standing by to lend a hand. Give me a call to discuss the full picture — including the latest price movement in area neighborhoods.

Daren Blomquist, RealtyTrac’s vice president, had previously pointed out the state of the market. “While distressed properties — whether bank-owned, pre-foreclosure or short sales not in foreclosure — are still selling at a significant discount compared to non-distressed properties, average distressed property prices are increasing in many markets thanks to strong demand and limited inventory.”

Now, that inventory is growing, too.

Achieving the best end result from today’s REO prospects does take skill in dealing with the bank. Naturally, it’s a good starting point to team with an experienced agent. Knowledge is power, and being able to rely on a professional with a recent history of successful negotiations is the surest way to approach a bank. The guidance you get can make all the difference when it comes to writing a winning proposal.

Do consider properties that have been slow to move. Even if some bank-owned homes in Aventura are flying off the market after multiple offers, properties with a history of failing to sell can be your ripest targets. Don’t automatically be put off by the prospect of homes that clearly need some repairs. It may be possible to still save handsomely after adjusting for refurbishment and maintenance.

If you find a bank-owned home with potential, it’s important to steel yourself for the possibility of being outbid by a less cautious buyer. If you’re also prepared to take your time – to really play hardball with the bank — you may lose any given property, but are in the right frame of mind to make the most of an Aventura bank-owned home opportunity.

Whether you’re looking for a bank-owned home in Aventura – or just a great property – I’m here to help my buyers get the best deal possible!

Last year, the vacancy was at 9.8%. The Boca Raton submarket had the lowest vacancy at 6.3% in 2013 second quarter.  West Palm Beach had the highest vacancy at 9.9%. The rents are predicted to increase also this year.

Schrager and other developers in South Florida are building new projects with exclusive amenities for the welthy buyers coming from Russia, Argentina, Brazil, and other counties.

Around $500 million worth of units were sold in the pre construction of the Porsche designed residential tower in the Sunny Isles Beach. The building boasts of the smart car elevator which will delier the car directly on the owner’s unit.

The fancy cars are adding an opulent ambience. Celebrities are also seen driving around in fancy cars like Leonardo DiCaprio in his Bentley and Jamie Fox on a red Ferrari.

Miami is still having inventory shortages despite the condominiums and rental properties ongoing. This is according to the head of the condo development group Carlos Rosso. He says the market is coming back, but there is not enough brokers and no inventory to sell. The present boom is smaller.

The Current said that there is a debate on controversial reform among members of the Florida Bar Association that would prevent those foreclosed on error from getting homes back if they have already been sold to a third party. But, Opponents say they are struggling to hold onto their properties will lose an important recourse, but the bill also contains provisions to protect homeowners.On the other hand, supporters of the bill say it is needed to reduce Florida’s backlog of foreclosures, which continue to flood the market, depressing home values. The average foreclosure takes more than two years to make it through the court system.

Similar legislation passed the House last year but didn’t make it through the Senate,