Coral Gables Real Estate

Even though we’re often implored not to, judging a book by its cover is only human nature. First impressions and appearances matter, because they help us to make decisions about what might be best for us. This is important to know and understand if you’re thinking about putting your home up for sale and want to have it move quickly. When you stage your home, you’re essentially making it visually appealing and inviting to prospective buyers. But it involves much more than simply keeping spaces clean and putting up some nice decor, and when one properly, it can even help […]

The mortgage and housing industry has struggled to recover since the subprime meltdown six years ago. In the aftermath of the crisis, foreclosure rates hit an all-time high in many major cities across the nation; home sales came to a standstill in other markets; and banks saw an increase in their number of short sales and mortgage modifications. The years following the crisis were tough for mortgage lenders and realtors, but 2013 proved to be an amazing year for both industries. With regard to home sales and prices, several U.S markets reported their highest fourth quarter in six or seven years. For example, the […]

The Clean Energy Green Corridor program will now be offered to Coral Gables residential property owners, making their homes more energy efficient and will also have added hurricane protection. This will allow home owners the opportunity to implement clean energy upgrades to their homes through Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing. The financing program allows owners to finance renewable energy and efficiency upgrades over long term through a voluntary property tax assessment. Improvements that are eligible include solar panels, hurricane windows and shutters, roof strengthening measures, air conditioning systems, insulation, and much more. Over time, these changes will help to […]

As baby boomers near retirement age, the concept of a reverse mortgage may seem more enticing. With a reverse mortgage, they must simply agree to turn the home over to the lender when they die in return for deferring payments while still alive. A Sudden Shift The advertisements make it sound like the perfect plan. Without a mortgage payment, a homeowner has the freedom to purchase new sports cars, take luxury vacations, and enjoy a worry-free lifestyle. Payment comes due the day the homeowner dies, sells the home, or moves into a nursing home, usually through selling the home. As […]

Last week the Coral Gables City Commission discussed a draft of the request for proposals from developers on different ideas for redeveloping the public land under the 20 year old parking garages near Miracle Mile. The Commission has made the decision that it would rather lease the land and not sell or give it away. The potential mixed-use development would replace the garages located at on Andalusia Avenue, across from the Publix and the other behind the Actor’s Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre. Commissioner Vince Lago said sticking strictly to a lease might narrow the field of developers too much […]