One of the basic numerical tools we have come to rely upon comes from Corelogic®, the California analytic brainiacs who collect and present national statistics mined from the MLS data. Their latest report on home prices is accompanied by a graphic that’s becoming increasingly familiar. For Downtown Miami homeowners, it’s always a welcome sight: an arrow pointing straight up.

These are national trends, but of course, most of the news we absorb as we go about our daily routines are just that. Like it or not, the news influences us in many overt and subtle ways, not the least of which is how eager we feel about opening our wallets to make any kind of purchase. And homeowners — even those who have no intention of selling or buying another home — can be relied upon to register the value of their own Downtown Miami real estate holdings somewhere in their consciousness.

The up-pointing arrow in this latest report is next to a bold blue number, 12.1%, which is the rise in home prices year-over-year. That’s the kind of jump that more volatile (and risky) investments aim for; the kind of rise that furrows brows from those who are still watching from the sidelines.

Deeper into the numbers, we do see that the rise from March to April was a full 3.2%, that prices are now within 22.4% of the peak of last decade’s bubble, and that, for the Corelogic® experts, the prediction is that the next month’s year-over-year rise will climb to 13.2%. We will have to wait to see if that can be matched for Miami homeowners, but whether or not it hits that kind of mark, we can expect to see another bold blue number. And another upward-pointing arrow.

All of which makes me happy to say that I am always standing by to answer questions or help with your next Downtown Miami real estate acquisition or sale.

The first consideration should be deciding whether you will be best served by tapping a specialist. Perhaps your property cleanly falls into the luxury category; perhaps it could best be offered as a supremely rentable vacation property. If it belongs in a specialized real estate niche, your first move may be to seek an agent who promotes his or her expertise dealing with that specific market.

If that’s not the case, and if you know somebody who has sold a home recently, ask him or her for details about the experience. While online forums offers plenty of reviews, the most dependable way to get a candid and unbiased opinion on a Miami listing agent is to ask someone who has had recent personal dealings. Ask what they liked best about their listing agent, and what, if anything, they would have changed.

In any case, before settling on the listing agent in Downtown Miami who will be your marketing partner, speak to an alternate candidate or two. Don’t be afraid to offend them if they don’t wind up as your first choice: remember, they are pros. And (incidentally) it won’t hurt that more than one agent has advanced knowledge that your property will soon be on the market!

Even when time is a factor, don’t rush too much in choosing your listing agent. A few extra days devoted to making the right decision can save weeks (or months!) later. If you are preparing to bring your home to market, I always offer you a no-obligation in-home consultation — and always put the strength of my network to work for you.  For proof — just ask!

Disclosing material facts that might affect your Downtown Miami property’s value is a fair obligation that’s understood by everyone. Yet properly disclosing all material facts won’t help you at all if an issue comes up later but you can’t prove the disclosure. A good agent will double- and triple-check all the signatures, but at the end of the day, your peaceful sleep at night is only protected when you also take care to keep complete copies of the paperwork with all signatures accounted for.

Earnest Money

Ah — the thrill of getting the first offer! After readying the property and listing your home, when an offer comes quickly, you’ll be tempted to say, “Where do I sign?” But slow up: getting a great offer is just the first step. Part of being a prudent seller is scrutinizing the offer and buyer to gauge the likelihood that the deal will close. The amount of earnest money should demonstrate the prospect’s sincere intent to buy…not just their desire to tie up the house while they make up their mind!

Exclusions

Want to watch warm feelings ice up in a hurry? Try surprising your buyer with the last-minute news that you intend to take your coveted washer/dryer (or heirloom chandelier, or custom closet system) with you because you forgot to exclude them. It’s part of my job as your agent to go over the more obvious items when listing your home in Miami, but even so, it’s ultimately up to you to make sure your intent is known. Trust me – I’ve seen more than one sale go south in the eleventh hour over some unbelievably minor items.

Coming next, I’ll flesh out more of these most common pitfalls. Of course, listing your home with me means you won’t need to worry: I make it may job to keep an eye out for all of them. If you’re thinking of listing your home in Downtown Miami this summer, call me today!

One of the most valuable is simply this: great marketers know they should appeal to the widest market possible. Today, we can attract a much wider market than ever before — from across the nation to (amazingly enough) buyers around the globe! It’s due to an increasingly popular tool: the virtual tour on the Web.

Because a standout virtual tour doesn’t just happen by itself, here are some fundamentals for preparing the most effective Downtown Miami virtual tour:

• Disorderly rooms as viewed through any old webcam don’t make the grade. Remember that details you see as assets may be perceived as clutter when viewed through the camera’s lens. This can include personal pictures, books, ornaments and toys. When your home is free from clutter, potential buyers can much more easily picture themselves living in it.
• Make sure your furniture is placed to communicate the appearance of spacious, open areas. This may means being willing to move furniture — even pieces that actually look great in person — away from the middle of the room.
• Since taste is an individual matter, it is hard to present a color scheme that appeals to everyone who views your Downtown Miami virtual tour. The most universal rule of thumb is to stick to neutral color combinations. While you may love a vibrant blue wall, others may see it as an unwelcome chore — on extra thing they will have to change were they to purchase your home. In contrast, neutral colors can present a blank canvass.

Getting your virtual tour right means showing a pleasing series of comprehensive views that are neat and minimally but attractively furnished. Looking for a Downtown Miami agent with the right tools to help you sell for top dollar this summer? I’m happy to interview for that job!

Borders Bookstore was the former occupant of this place. It was reconstructed because the parking lot had single lane parking spaces and confusing entrances. Trader Joe’s also needed a bigger space for their customers. They had to cut off the front of the building in order to make way for a second row parking.

Trader Joe’s at Pinecrest is expected to open by the end of this year.

Despite the resale in properties, the prices are still going up. Around 600 condo units that were constructed on the real estate boom are left unsold, though. Even with these figures 17 new towers are still proposed to be constructed on the area. This is around 1,100 condo units and prices are more than $3000 per square foot. The rentals are increasing since more tenants are choosing the newer units in the mainland Miami.

The observers of the industry are predicting a healthy residential market with about 6 months of inventory which leaves Miami Beach with 190 days of condo resale and 9 months left for single-family homes resale.

Arison is also the founder of the National Young Arts Foundation and first moved to Bal Harbour Tower in 2000 a year after the death of her husband who is also the father of Miami Heat owner Mickey Arison.

The house has 2-stories, 9 bedrooms, 11 ½ bathrooms, an indoor batting cage across 19,861 square feet, a 4-car garage, 16-camera security system, and a Zen garden. Rodriguez’s representative is One Sotheby’s International Realty.

The house was listed in August for $38 million. It was sold to a celebrity who lives in Palm Beach.

Younger New Yorkers are going to South Florida to buy second homes. The sunshine properties are very popular among the hipper crowds. Amenities on these homes are more extravagant that is why the hippie crowd are looking into this state.

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 Senat.