March 17, 2024

Pinecrest Single Family Home Sales – 2023 Annual Report

The Village of Pinecrest single-family home sales in 2023 were relatively stable when compared to the previous year. In 2022 we experienced the combination of thrilling price increases in a seller’s market but low inventory and challenging times for buyers. Last year, total sales were down 10%, but the average sale price was stable and […]
September 25, 2021

Should I Rent or Sell My Home?

Are you asking yourself, “Should I rent or sell my home?” In this market, there is no incorrect answer.  Inventory is low and prices are up for both sales and leasing. So, as a seller or landlord, you simply can’t go wrong. Here are four important questions to ask yourself before leasing a residential home […]
December 9, 2020

Mortgage Loan Pre-Approval or Pre-Qualification – What’s the Difference?

There's a big difference in getting pre-qualified vs pre-approved for a mortgage, yet these terms are frequently confused and used interchangeably.
April 28, 2017

Bill Passed that Caps Estoppel Certificate Fees

HB 483/SB 398, which caps estoppel certificate fees, was just passed by the Florida Legislature! As many of you know, this is a long-standing issue that those in the real estate industry have been working on for several years, and its passage represents a big win for homeowners and Realtors across the state. This bill caps the […]
September 9, 2015

Are you an UHNW Individual?

Who are they and do they want? For starters, these uber rich folks have at least $30 million in assets. They are ultra-high net worth indivuduals (UHNW) who buy the finest wines, watches, cars, yachts, jewelry and real esatate. In seeking safe investment diversification, they purchase second homes in foreign countries to gain citizenship or residency status. Acccording to a recent study, there are […]
July 28, 2014

Breaking News: Zillow Agrees to Acquire Trulia

Trulia has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Zillow.  The agreement stipulates a 3.5 billion stock-for stock transaction approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies and is expected to close in 2015. Both companies will operate as separate and distinct brands.  At closing, Trulia CEO Pete Flint will remain as CEO of […]
November 18, 2013

Wall Street Has Gone into the Rental-Home Business

The rental business is going corporate.  Rent checks from tenants are being bundled and sold as securities on Wall Street. The sale this month by Blackstone Group, one of the biggest corporate owners of Florida homes,  is a strong indicator that Wall Street investors are counting on tenants paying their rents on time. Won’t be […]
November 5, 2013

Dog Parks Can Increase Home Values

As a professional realtor, I spend a lot of time talking with people about what they want in a neighborhood. Parks, in general, increase a property tax base from increased property values. Economists call this “hedonic value”.  People preferentially want to buy homes in neighborhoods with beautiful parks and will spend more money to live […]
August 13, 2013

Gloves are on in the Match to Head the Fed

Summers v Yellen is the match-up of the year.  Who will land the knock out punch to claim victory as head of the Federal Rerserve, the most powerful economic job in the world? Of the front-runners, who will President Obama choose? In this corner: Larry Summers, 58, (Harvard Ph.D.) the formidable, confident, aggressive and brilliant economist […]