Category Archives: Miami Dade County Florida

Planning Your Move: 5 Relocation Tips to Make Your South Florida Move Easier

access_timeMay 6, 2019personScott Patterson

A man using a wheel of tape to seal up a moving box.

Sometimes, a little change of scenery can do us good!

If you’re planning an upcoming move to Miami-Dade or Broward County, congratulations! This is a wonderful area for so many reasons, and we’re thrilled that you’ve decided to call it home.

Once you’ve bought your Miami-Dade dream home, it’s time to plan for the tricky part: relocating. We’re here with five relocation tips to make your upcoming move a little easier.

Tip 1: Start Early

As early as you can. Ideally, you should start planning for your move when you start the process of selling your current home.

First, go through all of your belongings to determine what you can sell, donate, or throw away. Reducing your belongings will make moving much easier—after all, it’s less stuff to pack!

Also, begin getting together moving supplies as early as you can. Gather boxes of all sizes, packing tape, labels, and other packing materials like bubble wrap.

Tip 2: Label By Room

A living room with a sectional sofa, shag rug, and glass coffee table.

If you have the time, pack up one room at a time. Come up with a system of labels so you know which boxes belong to which room.

Try to start with a room you don’t use as often, and work your way through the remaining rooms as you approach moving day.

Tip 3: Pack Fragile Items with Towels & Clothing

If you have a lot of fragile items, try to pack them with softer things like clothing and towels. This will save you money on additional packing materials and cushion your more delicate belongings.

Be sure to carefully label your fragile boxes. In addition, remember the golden rule of packing: the heavier the item, the smaller its box should be. This will save you some back pain!

Tip 4: Enlist Your Friends and Family to Help

A young couple sitting on the floor next to their moving boxes.

Let’s face it: professional movers are expensive. Plus, their rates tend to increase substantially during the warm summer months.

If you’re planning an upcoming move to South Florida, see if you can persuade your friends and family members to help you out! Offer them food, drink, and maybe even some money to give you a hand lifting boxes and organizing your belongings.

Tip 5: Pack an “Emergency Bag”

Load this with everything you’re going to need right away. This includes:

Any medication
Your cell phone
Your cell phone charger
Any emergency contacts not saved on your cell phone
If you’re traveling with pets, their vet records
Cash and other valuables
Snacks
Instant coffee or an energy drink
A change of clothes

Looking for Additional South Florida Relocation Help? We’ve Got Your Back

Give us a call today to explore your home-buying options in South Florida, or to get an expert’s help with relocation. As your Miami-Dade and Broward County real estate professionals, we’re here to help you with any and every detail relating to your home purchase.

South Florida Real Estate Marketing: The Scott Patterson Advantage

access_timeApril 29, 2019personScott Patterson

A home that's recently been sold, with a bright red "SOLD" sign out front.

Selling your home can be challenging. After all, you have to coordinate a lot of different moving parts. Plus, when it comes to South Florida real estate marketing, it can be tricky to know exactly where to start.

Luckily, you can eliminate the stress of selling your South Florida home by working with a professional real estate agent who knows this area better than anyone. As a longtime real estate powerhouse in the greater South Florida market, my team and I possess unique qualities, resources, and areas of expertise that allow us to sell our clients’ homes for the highest amount of money possible.

In fact, here are some of the many services we offer South Florida home sellers:

Onsite Real Estate Marketing

Two young adults browsing the Internet on their respective devices: a tablet and a laptop.

Allow us to be your consultant for selling your South Florida home. We don’t just stick a “for sale” sign in your front yard and wait for the buyers to come in; we’re proactive about saturating the market with images of your unique property.

We offer the following specific services guaranteed to impress buyers, attract them to your property, and keep your home top-of-mind.

Professional Staging Advice

Someone on our team will walk through your home with you and provide valuable insight into the best staging techniques and design options, for your home’s interior and exterior.

Custom-Tailored Property Brochures

Allow our team of designers to create glossy and full-color brochures showing off your home’s best features. We’ll provide a copy to every buyer or broker who comes to tour your home.

Buyer and Broker Prospectus

We’ll create an in-depth market snapshot of your home for potential buyers and brokers alike. It includes information like survey, elevation certificate, maps, brochures, property disclosure and more.

Visitor Follow Ups

This is something virtually no other agents do. We send a warm, yet professional, thank you note to all the buyers who come to visit your home.

Additional South Florida Real Estate Marketing Services

A real estate agent showing a young couple a home for sale.

Our marketing services don’t stop there! We also offer professional, high-quality photography (including aerial drone technology) to capture your home’s beauty from every angle.

Community Marketing

We’ll utilize our vast array of real estate connections in the greater South Florida area to provide your property with maximum exposure. Your home will be featured on the REALTOR® Caravan, to ensure that as many REALTORS® as possible see it to pass it on to their clients.

It will also be listed on our exclusive network of over 700 real estate agents throughout our affiliations.

Print, Mail, and E-Mail Marketing

We weren’t kidding when we said your home will receive maximum exposure.

This includes unique print flyers and unique email marketing messages to our network of REALTORS®, buyers agents, and prospective buyers across both South Florida and the country.

Extensive Online Marketing

Did you know that millennials make up the largest section of home buyers in today’s market? That’s why marketing your home online, where the majority of home searches happen, is absolutely crucial to getting your home sold fast and for top dollar.

That’s why we provide our listings with these unique online marketing services:

Extensive social media advertising
Listings and advertising on a variety of different domains
Enhanced real estate listings on REALTOR.com
Popular real estate website marketing
Google Posts and Ads

Ready to Sell Your South Florida Home for Top Dollar?

My team and I are ready to assist. Give us a call today to discover a new and advanced way to do real estate marketing in South Florida.

Tips for Surviving Spring Breakers in South Florida

access_timeMarch 20, 2019personScott Patterson

Once again, spring break season is upon us.

If you’re a seasoned local, you know the drill. South Florida is about to become a hot spot for college students across the country looking to have the time of their lives! However, this means a few things for us year-round South Florida residents.

New to the area? Here are four tips for surviving the spring breakers that will soon be invading our beloved beaches, brunch spots, and bars in South Florida.

Prepare Yourself for Traffic

Download a few new albums or a podcast to listen to on your commute, because traffic is about to get a little nuts.

If possible, see if there’s another route you can take to get to your favorite destinations! This happens every year, so it’s good to plan ahead as much as you can.

Pick a Less Popular Beach

A deserted Florida beach with footprints in the sand.

If you’re absolutely dying to go to the beach, stay away from the more popular ones. For example, stay far, far away from Ocean Drive because this is one of the most popular spots for spring breakers.

Instead, visit Oleta River State Park. Located in North Miami Beach, this is a great place to sunbathe and get a workout in as you bike, kayak, or fish onsite!

Or, Try Some “Off-Beat” Local Attractions

Every spring break without fail, South Beach is the biggest destination for tourists and college students. That’s why we recommend staying north of all the madness, by spending time in North Miami Beach.

Although a little quieter than its southern counterpart, North Miami Beach is still bursting with fun things to do and eclectic attractions.

Visit the Ancient Spanish Monastery for a quiet afternoon marveling at historic wonders in the shade. As one of the oldest buildings in America, it’s a fantastic trip through the past.

Are museums more your thing? Take a quick trip over to Dania Beach to see the Wiener Museum of Decorative Arts.

Head Indoors

A woman holding large shopping bags and a cell phone as she browses a store.

After all, the spring breakers are here to hit the beach. You won’t find many of them indoors!

If you’re a big fan of shopping, check out Bal Harbour Shops in nearby Bal Harbour for fantastic upscale shopping and dining! You could also see a hip art film at a theater like O Cinema or the Tower Theater (we guarantee that no spring breakers will be there).

Even With the Tourists, South Florida is Still the Community of Your Dreams

Sure, spring break season can get a little hectic, but that’s just something you go through when you live in an area as amazing as South Florida. If you’re ready to explore the South Florida real estate market, we’re here to help.

If you’re ready to buy your South Florida dream home, please give us a call. We’d love to help you find the home that’s right for you, whether it’s in a destination city like Miami or a calmer seaside community like Sunny Isles.

Here’s Your 2019 Update for the South Florida Real Estate Market

access_timeFebruary 13, 2019personScott Patterson

With the new year comes new opportunities to invest in the South Florida real estate market! If you’re thinking about buying a property, or selling your current property, sometime in 2019, it’s important to keep on top of market conditions.

South Florida real estate conditions are expected to shift slightly throughout 2019. This is due in part to changes in the national real estate market, such as rising mortgage interest rates and a slow in the growth of home prices.

However, Florida remains an optimistic and highly valuable real estate market. Continue reading to learn everything you need to know about the changing South Florida real estate market in 2019.

Demand for Homes is Consistently High

Current inventory of Florida homes for sale will grow slowly over the next year. In addition, experts expect home prices to increase by about 4 to 5%. Industry leaders are optimistic about the state of the market in 2019. South Florida has always been a popular place to buy a home, and for good reason.

Florida residents enjoy beneficial tax advantages, including the lack of any income tax. As such, buyers from all walks of life, but especially retirees and “snowbirds” looking for summer homes, are attracted to the South Florida real estate scene.

Current Inventory of Homes is Low

Across the United States, the current housing inventory has steadily decreased over time. This low supply of homes, combined with the consistent demand of homes in areas like South Florida, have created the conditions for a seller’s market.

If you’re interested in selling your South Florida home, it’s important to do some careful market research. A good starting point is finding out what your home is worth. Feel free to request a comparative market analysis from my team and I. We’ll research your home, inspect the market, and compare your property to similar properties in the South Florida area.

Mortgage Rates Expected to Increase

One key factor in the changing South Florida real estate market is the increase of mortgage interest rates. The interest rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage will rise to an average of about 5.25% by December, according to experts.

Growing interest rates are expected to tamper buyer demand, which is why home prices aren’t expected to increase rapidly this year.

Some Key Takeaways for the 2019 Real Estate Market

Long term investors in the Florida real estate market remain optimistic. The strong Florida economy combined with consistently high demand for homes in Florida have kept home values high.

As a result of ever-changing market conditions, there’s a new demographic of buyers to keep in mind. Many industry experts expect home demand to increase as a result of a newer, and younger, generation taking over the market. Millennials are currently the largest pool of potential homebuyers. In particular, households under 35 years of age are beginning to buy homes in South Florida.

As such, current Florida homeowners can expect home demand in South Florida to remain robust.

Making a Plan for Your Real Estate Ventures in 2019?

We would love to be a part of them! Give our team a call today to discuss all your 2019 real estate plans in South Florida. Whether you’re thinking of buying or selling real estate in South Florida, we’re here to help.

Have a question about the South Florida real estate market? Please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m always happy to help.

‘Til next time,

Scott

Brickell City Centre Is Set To Open This November

access_timeSeptember 8, 2016personScott Patterson

The Brickell City Centre located in Miami, Florida long-awaited opening is just around the corner. After years of speculation and construction; the waiting game is over. Starting November 2016, the doors will finally open. Here is a breakdown of the tenants whom have officially been announced.

Clothing: 100% Capri, 120% Lino, Addict, Adolfo Dominguez, Agent Provocateur, Armani Collezioni, BDBA, Crocus Studio, Chopard, Cole Haan, Intermix, In-Sight, Kiton, Koko & Palenki, LIVE!, Lululemon, Mirto, Orlebar Brown, Onda de Mar, Rhythm of Grace, REISS, SportsAction, Sundek, Ted Baker, Vilebrequin
Fashion and accessories: Addict, Audemars Piguet, Acqua di Parma, APM Monaco, Bally, Caudalie, Capritouch, Coach, Diptyque, Designer Eyes, Font, Harmont & Blaine, Giuseppe Zanotti Design, Italia Independent, Illesteva, IRO, Kendra Scott, Kreations. Leetal Kalmanson, Michele Lopriore, Nars, Nest Casa, Pandora, Porsche Design, Richard Mille, Santa Maria Novella, Stuart Weitzman, Westime, Valentino
Dining: American Harvest, Big Easy Winebar & Grill, Calissons du Roy René, DAVIDsTEA, Dr. Smood, Häagen-Dazs, Luke’s Lobster, Pasión del Cielo, Pubbelly Sushi, Quinto La Huella, Santa Fe Ca Café, Sugar, Taco Chic
Arts and services: the Apple store , AT&T, Bojanini Art Gallery, Brickell Nail Bar, Musart, Sean Donaldson Hair

A few newly announced tenants have been added to the list as follows: Bruno Magli, Carmen Steffens, Baldinini, Boglioli, Lafayette 148, Samsonite, SPARIS and Violetas/Baccarat.

Swire, Simon, and Whitman property group have previously announced the anchor tenants as well: Cinemex, Saks Fifth Avenue and an Italian food hall. The City Centre is expected to draw in over two million visitors per year.

Until next time,

Scott…

NEW LISTING AT TURNBERRY OCEAN COLONY

access_timeJune 8, 2016personScott Patterson

MAGNIFICENT views from this direct ocean 15th floor apartment. Turnberry Ocean Colony is located in Sunny Isles Beach just south of Golden Beach and north of Bal Harbour. These neighboring cities are part of Miami-Dade county in South Florida. Turnberry Ocean Colony feature’s two 37-story towers and is one of the most exclusive and established oceanfront developments in Sunny Isles Beach . Each tower includes 130 residential units with Intracoastal and ocean views.

Unit Features:

Private elevator access
2 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms
Wrap around balcony
Covered and valet parking
East direct ocean exposure
Top of the line appliances
Marble floors all through the unit

Building Features:

35,000 sq ft. Private beach club
650-ft of pristine white sandy beaches
Two pools
Spa and fitness center
Personal trainers
Private cabana’s available
restaurant and bar
World class concierge and security

This exclusive apartment is priced to SELL! Call me today for more information and to schedule your private showing.

Marina Palms Luxury High-Tech Marina

access_timeJune 2, 2016personScott Patterson

Marina Palms, North Miami Beaches’ newest addition to the city’s rapidly growing construction boom has opened its marina for business this week. The condo towers feature 468 unit ranging from 1-3 bedrooms. The Marina features 112 boat slips able to cater to boats up to 100 feet. Another key component to the marina’s unparalleled service is a full sundry store open to the public, and of course a high speed fuel point. Residents may enjoy the membership to a private boating club right from the marina ( pricing and availability may vary).

North Miami Beach, A city at the northeast point of Miami-Dade county Florida, is proud to be the home to the new Marina Palms Luxury Residences and Marina. The project will be fully completed by mid 2017 with only now the completion of the south tower which has just topped off. The history behind the location and the way that they incorporated it into the project really sets it apart from some of the other new construction in the area. An amazing article can be found here that gives you a detailed historical background on the area and the specific location of the project itself. Welcome to the new Miami everyone!

City of Miami Continues to Be a Hot Spot for International Buyers

access_timeSeptember 17, 2014personScott Patterson

If you’re a foreign buyer weighing whether to invest your dollars, chances are that there is one U.S. city at the top of your list: Our thriving city of Miami.

For the last several years, I’ve told you about how foreign investors have been flooding the US housing market, mostly attracted by our exchange rate as well as the incredible properties they can own for such a great price here.

But there’s no other city that has even touched the level of attention that Miami has received from these investors. It’s certainly remained a hot market for foreign investment.

Why Miami Is The Place to Be

What makes Miami’s market so active? For one, this world-renowned city is currently undergoing a bit of a condo construction boom, with luxury developments popping up everywhere!

And who’s behind that development? You guessed it: Investors from across Europe as well as Latin America and Asia.

In fact, according to the Miami Downtown Development Authority, 90 percent of sales were international in downtown Miami recently.

Still, it is worth noting that, according to the Miami Association of Realtors, June existing condo sales were down 3.8 percent from last year.

Who Could Blame These International Buyers, Either?

After all, Miami is an incredible place to live. Imagine living in an internationally-acclaimed city where you can revel in the cultures of dozens of nations, all on the same block! Here you can sunbathe at one of our pristine beaches or simply enjoy sweeping views of the waterfront from your high-rise condo.

What’s more, this city has a bustling local economy, which means you’ll have access to a steady jobs market.

And thanks to its location, you’re just a short distance from a number of popular and unique restaurants and boutiques. And a cruise to the Caribbean or a flight to Central America is exceptionally easy thanks to Miami’s waterfront location.

If there was ever an ideal place to call home, it would be Miami!

What This Means for You as a Local South Florida Buyer

The real estate market in Miami is highly competitive right now because you’re not only competing with local buyers – you’re competing with international buyers who often have cash on hand to use.

This could result in a multiple offers situation or worse – being priced out of the condo you want to purchase outright.

That’s why it’s paramount to work with an experienced South Florida real estate expert like me if you want to enjoy a successful outcome on the local housing market.

Here’s Where I Can Help!

So contact me, Scott Patterson, today for help navigating the Miami and South Florida real estate markets.

I have years of experience helping buyers just like you and I would be more than happy to assist you by providing valuable resources and straight-forward advice.

Until next time,

Scott

South Florida REALTOR® Once Again Joins Elite Real Estate Ranks

access_timeJune 2, 2014personScott Patterson

It’s always exciting when one is recognized for one’s work. It really reinforces and energizes you to keep doing what you do best!

Recently, I was recognized for my outstanding work on the South Florida real estate market.

In fact, I was again ranked as a Top 10 Agent across our company, EWM Realty International. That’s quite an honor, especially given that there are nearly 800 incredible agents working within our real estate company.

I am so honored to be recognized for this distinction.

On The South Florida Real Estate Market, I Get Results for You!

Ron Shuffield, the president of our company, recently spotlighted the company’s Top Achievers for 2013. This year, I was part of this elite group of real estate experts!

Perhaps you saw my picture in the Sun Sentinel or the Miami Herald, recognizing me and others as a member of the 2013 EWM Chairman’s Club.

“Thank you for all the hard work,” Ron Shuffield told us. “ I know the commitment that it takes to reach these highest levels, which makes me appreciate your commitment even more.”

2013 Accomplishments for Scott Patterson in South Florida

No matter which statistic you consider, one thing is clear: I get results on the local housing market! Just check out these figures on my 2013 sales activity:

$43 Million of sales
#8 Producer Company wide (Chairman’s Club Diamond Level)
Ranked #1 in Aventura
Ranked #1 in Broward
Ranked #8 in Miami-Dade

How I Help You on the Local Housing Market

So what exactly does it take to be recognized as a top performing REALTOR® in one of the most competitive real estate companies in the country?

First, I am dedicated to my clients. I work tirelessly to get the results they want on the market, whether it’s finding a luxury home or selling their current South Florida home.

Second, I have years of experience assisting South Florida home buyers and home sellers navigate the market. This familiarity with the area enables me to provide sage advice to all my national and international clients in such markets as:

Aventura, Florida
Golden Beach, Florida
Bal Harbour, Florida
Hollywood, Florida
Hallandale, Florida
Sunny Isles, Florida

Finally, I offer valuable and user-friendly real estate tools that further make the home buying and home selling process seamless for you! These include:

State of the Marketing throughout the world
Relationships and Aligning my Sellers and Buyers with the right Attorneys and financial resources
Buyer and Seller FAQs
Many resources over the years for both my Sellers and Buyers

Connect With Me Today! I’d Love to Represent You on the South Florida Housing Market!

Why work with an average real estate agent when you can work with a top-performing South Florida REALTOR® who has a track record for getting results!

Contact me, Scott Patterson, today to discover how I can help make your South Florida real estate dream a reality!

Until next time,

Scott

3 Reasons Why Miami Beach Is Enjoying Plenty of Overseas Money

access_timeFebruary 5, 2014personScott Patterson

As I noted in one of my recent blogs, the South Florida real estate market is enjoying quite a healthy boom of new construction condominium projects.

And these projects are being spearheaded by interested foreign investors.

Why are foreign nationals deciding to invest their money here in South Florida? Here are the top three reasons:

Their foreign currency is stronger than the U.S. dollar, which means a greater return on investment for them
The South Florida real estate market is seen as a luxury destination for people all over the world
South Florida real estate is so depreciated in value from the last few years that it magnifies the kind of return on investment these foreign nationals can get.

More Details on the Foreign Investment Boom in South Florida

It hasn’t been the easiest last few years for the South Florida real estate market, as detailed by a recent article I was reading. For instance, condo values dropped a staggering 60 percent from their peak, according to the Miami Association of Realtors. And available credit for interested home buyers was hard to come by.

But there’s a Renaissance of sorts taking place on the South Florida real estate market. It’s breathing new life in to the market, and a lot of that is thanks to foreign investors.

Here’s a look at recent activity in the condominium market:

There are 118 condo towers proposed in the Miami area, which includes 35 under construction.
The 41 towers that are proposed for downtown will add 12,100 new units. Although that’s a departure from the 22,000 units that were built between 2003 to 2008, it’s still a remarkable improvement!
And recently, the Commerce Department released data that showed nationwide residential building permits increased to their strongest pace since June 2008.
The department further reported that about one in three building permits issued this year has been for the large multifamily communities.
In the South Florida region (which includes Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties), about 70% of residential construction permits issued through October were for multifamily units.
Meanwhile, about 85% to 90% of new-construction buyers are foreign, mostly from Latin America.

Experts are saying that developers have been encouraged by strong international demand that usually results in cash-financing. This model is viewed as safer than bank loans.

Consequently, a lot of developers are increasingly relying on buyers’ deposits to fund construction, versus debt from banks.

Experts are also saying that Miami is a microcosm that is being reflected on that national housing market. In truth, more markets are turning to multi-family buildings like the ones we’re seeing in South Florida because it was the single-family home industry that dominated during the bubble years before the market crash.

Although it’s true that most national construction is still single-family homes, the uptick in recent construction activity has been dominated by multi-family homes.

Buying and Selling South Florida Real Estate

It is definitely an exciting time to be navigating the South Florida real estate market, and that’s thanks in large part to all the interest we’ve been receiving from foreign investors!

If you’re thinking about buying or selling a South Florida property anytime soon, it would benefit you to work with a REALTOR® that has a firm understanding of the local housing market and its dynamics.

So contact me, Scott Patterson, today! I have years of experience working in this area and have helped scores of South Florida residents just like you!

Until next time,

Scott