News & Resources
Blog & Event Archives
Browse through news you can use about South Florida and our amazing Real Estate market.
Own Your Own Oasis in Deering Bay
Some information about this listing . . .
Good things to come in 2013
Most real estate experts are predicting an improving recovery for the majority of markets across the Country. The one part that's harder to forecast is the homeowners who want to sell but have been holding off because the value of their home is less than what they hope or they are underwater. The...
Congratulations on the CHALLENGING Sale and Purchase of Your Home
Congratulations to both buyers and sellers ... What a roller coaster of a closing! Although this lovely home was featured on TV by Liz Caldwell as one of the three BEST deals in Miami for sale the week The Restivo Team listed it ... (and although it went under contract within days of being...
Recap of 2012 Housing Market
With the new year ahead of us, we can now look back at 2012 and note that it was a great year for buyers. Data from last year shows that it was a favorable year for buyers who were able to obtain a mortgage, according to the National Association of Realtors. Towards the end of 2012, many buyers...
Appraisal Woes … by Phil Spool
4th in a 4 part series of blog articles submitted by guest contributor, Philip Spool: "If you are either buying or selling a house and the appraiser comes in lower than the contract price, consider the appraiser’s restrictions if you are getting a loan from a bank. If it is a cash deal, then the...
More insight into WHY Appraisals are Skewed
By Guest Contributor, Philip Spool (3rd in a 4 part series on Appraisal Concerns) Reason # 2: The AMCs and/or banks have their own set of guidelines besides the guidelines set forth for every appraiser performing an appraisal, called the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice...
Why Appraisals are coming in OVER or UNDER Contract Price
Written by contributing author, Philip Spool, ASA ... part of a 4 part series... "Why Appraisals and Contract Prices Don't Mesh .. Current Appraisal Dilemma": "Those appraisers that are still in business are very concerned about either being sued by the lender of a...
Why It’s Not Unusual to Buy a House for More than the Bank Appraiser Values It
Several recent appraisal catastrophies almost derailed a handful of home sales for our buyers and sellers. Keeping those transactions on track took effort and creativity. Appraisal issues are way too common! Wondering why? Phil Spool, an appraiser who writes for appraisal magazines, has...
Congrats to you both …. Enjoy your very first home!
Buying a first home is a HUGE milestone ... and it was such fun to be part of YOUR first home-buying experience! WHAT A BEAUTIFUL new home you have ... I'm thinking about all the memories you're going to have in that new house .... and I loved seeing your posts on Facebook today...
Waterfront for Sale … Because Owner is Being Relocated
The last thing our clients expected was to be relocated within days of buying their Miami house ... They'd just found their dream home ... right on the water ... in a guard-gated community. Almost the moment they bought it (the ink still wet!) they got a phone call, offering...
VILLA IN TUSCANY, ITALY … VILLA PARADISO… WOULD MAKE AN AMAZING SPA!
VILLA PARADISO | PISA LUXURY HOMES. The possibilities are endless ... but I think this particular location would make for a unrivaled spot for a U.S. University study abroad program, holistic SPA, corporate headquarters for an international corporation or entity ... or an amazing corporate...
Now is the Time to Sell !
South Florida has fewer homes and condos for sale now than at any point since 2008. Take advantage of the market. This is the time to sell. Buyers are looking for property ... property that's non existant. South Florida Real Estate bottomed out already. Prices have been on the rise ... and...
Miami Real Estate Market – Foreclosures, Short Sales, Non-distressed Property
In the past decade inventory of single-family homes hit it's lowest point back in April 2005 - with only 2,778 properties listed for sale in Miami-Dade. That number skyrocketed to 17,070 three years later - in July 2008. And then the numbers began to decline .... In May 2012 Miami had...
Miami-Dade Condo Market: Sales Increase as Inventory Drops
Condos sales declined 9% over the past year in Miami-Dade ... Inventory is down by 30%. That said though, interestingly enough, condos selling between $300,000 and $999,999 have shown a 32% increase ... (Spring 2011 through Spring 2012). And in the $1 million plus range there was an 11%...
What’s that house worth? Who decides the price?
I'm grinning right now because price is such a heated subject. I took a listing last week, and priced it above what the owners 'guessed' it would go for ... because I knew it would. Price is NOT just a matter of a square foot equivalent of what sold recently or what's listed up the street. There...
Inventory Drops Dramatically as Home Sales Rise
Miami's Real Estate Market is increasingly a source of frustration - for many home buyers. Inventory continues to drop, meaning that there is less in the way of options for many of the buyers who are looking right now... and who have the resources to buy. Pending sales, and the number of homes...
