Could Mandatory Inspections Prevent Future Condo Tragedies in Boca Raton?

In the wake of the tragic collapse of the Champlain Towers South in Surfside, more questions and concerns regarding the safety of buildings throughout South Florida have emerged seemingly every day. Now, a coalition under Palm Beach County’s League of Cities has proposed an inspection of many condos, apartment buildings, hotels, and offices both east and west of I-95.

The proposal targets buildings a minimum of 25 years old east of the highway, and 35 years old on the western side, regardless of height. This surpasses the standard of 40 years of age in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. While one and two-family homes, government buildings, and schools are excluded, this would result in a massive undertaking, as 90% of the condominiums stretching from…

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Ten Reasons to Move To South Florida

It’s likely you grew up with at least one family member who wouldn’t stop talking about their dream to retire to Florida. Every holiday you’d be regaled with stories of green lawns, year-round sunshine, golf courses, beaches, and no state income taxes. In fact, that person might even be yourself!

Considering all that Florida has to offer, it’s little wonder why our home state is welcoming thousands of new residents every year. This makes for a diverse culture, incredible culinary options, and plenty of tourist-pleasing attractions; but that’s certainly not all! Here are several more reasons you should pursue that dream move:

Our Welcoming Weather

There are 365 days in one year—and in Florida more than 2/3 of them are bathed in sunshine. There…

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South Florida Real Estate Market Report - Q2 2021

South Florida Real Estate Market Report

How's the South Florida real estate market?

Reflection...  Looking back and looking ahead

To sum up Florida’s real estate market for the first half of 2021, one word comes to mind: unexpected. Florida has long enjoyed an influx of residents migrating from across the country, and around the world, to call the Sunshine State home. With remote work becoming a permanent option, over 900 people per day are moving to Florida, according to the Palm Beach County Business Development Board. Reasons for this explosive growth in Florida can point to fair weather, a business-friendly climate, and the lack of state income and estate tax.

Low-interest rates continue to fuel affordability and drive high absorption…

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Buy-Buy, Seller’s Market? South Florida’s Summer Housing Market Update

Though typically not a busy time in the South Florida market, the 2021 summer season has kept the momentum going from the beginning of this year. In fact, national statistics stemming from the week leading up to the 4th of July indicate that housing is still a hot commodity across the nation!

However, there were signs indicating some relief may be within sight, though buyers shouldn’t celebrate quite yet, as the data discrepancies could be attributed to the lead up to the holiday weekend.

Overall, the data demonstrates more of the same—fewer new listings, and historically high home price growth. Both of these aspects mean a tough environment for buyers without the ability to offer top dollar or make a quick purchase decision. However, there are…

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Do You Really Need A Buyer’s Agent When Moving to South Florida?

Most homebuyers believe a real estate agent is a real estate agent—not understanding the distinct differences between brokers, listing, and buyer’s agents. The truth is, the latter is often the one who has the most client interaction and fights hardest to protect your interests during the home purchasing process.

A buyer’s agent coordinates and secures showing appointments at properties you’re interested in, negotiates the best deal possible on your behalf, and constantly endeavors to save you time and money. It is for these reasons—and others—that working with a buyer’s agent should be preferred to directly contacting the agent who lists a property. Always remember: A listing agent is working first and foremost for their sellers; not you as a…

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Spoiler Alert: There Is No Housing Bubble

As soon as housing prices seem to rise, two questions spring to mind—and into headlines:

“What’s MY home worth?”, followed immediately by “when will THIS housing bubble pop?”

With current median selling prices up nearly $35,000 compared to the same period last year, it’s the latter (along with still-fresh memories of last decade) that have some buyers waiting on the sidelines. However, while experts have no idea how far prices will run, they can seemingly agree on one thing: we aren’t actually in a bubble.

And those that wait will likely regret it.

This Is A Different Housing Market

Take it from none other than a Morgan Stanley strategist who shared in a note to clients that the bank had a “strong conviction that we are not experiencing…

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South Florida Real Estate Market Report - Q1 2021

South Florida Real Estate Market Report

How's the South Florida real estate market?

Reflection...  Looking back and looking ahead

After wrapping up a year to remember in 2020, Compass is proud to share our first Florida market report of the year, showcasing data from Q1 for South Florida, North Florida, Southwest Florida, Central Florida, and the Greater Tampa Bay. While not all facets of life have returned to prepandemic norms, especially as it relates to the international travel that injects additional movement in the housing market, real estate nationwide has benefited from signs of recovery including an increase in consumer expenditure, vaccination distribution, a decrease in unemployment from 14.7% to 6% (BLS.GOV), and an acceleration of…

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Home Prices Shot Up In 2020 - Will They Ever Come Back Down?

It will take time for South Florida to fully process the long-reaching changes resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the more immediate effects, however, has been a sharp increase in home prices—thanks in combination to federal efforts consisting of low borrowing rates, and a local lack of inventory.

Across the South Florida region, prices climbed over the course of 2020. Even now, nearly 12 months since the sweeping lockdowns that slammed the country, the trend has continued, pushing prices past previous historic highs.

This isn’t unexpected, of course. The simple laws of supply and demand coupled with the typical buying frenzy that accompanies drops in interest rates are anything but unpredictable. So too is the fear of missing out on…

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Q4-2020 South Florida Real Estate Market Report

South Florida Real Estate Market Report

How's the South Florida real estate market?

As we enter 2021, we’re taking a moment to reflect on a quarter that closed out one of the most unique years of our lives.

Last year taught us that home is so much more than the place where you sleep at night. As the lines in our lives began to blur, so did the way we experienced home. A formal dining table that was once merely for show moonlighted as our childrens’ desks as they navigated a new world of virtual learning. Kitchens previously used for an occasional dinner were enhanced with new gadgets and recipe books, as millions of US residents tried their hands at bread-making, cocktail-mixing, and getting that restaurant-worthy recipe “just right”. Living…

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7 Key Trends Expected to Shape Real Estate in 2021

Real estate has shifted from the COVID-19 pandemic with a hot seller’s market, with increased demand as more people are looking to move and mortgage rates are at record lows, coupled with limited supply. The real estate experts at HomeLight uncovered some of the hottest trends shaping real estate in 2021, with 7 key insights that can help buyers and sellers stay informed as they make their next moves. 

Inventory lags

There are a lot of factors that have led to the seller's market, and one of the major ones is low inventory. In Q4 2020, real estate agents overwhelmingly said that inventory is lower than they expected, with 84 percent of them noting that shift, up from 78 percent in Q4 2019. Moreover, the National Association of Realtors reported…

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