Stephen Cohen

Today’s real estate market and the considerable effort and dedication necessary to find and close worthwhile South Beach condo real estate transactions means realtors need to have a well defined and effective game plan in finding sellers who are ready to face a tough market and put as much time and effort necessary in order to successfully sell Miami real estate.

Working with sellers is obviously vital when trying to sell a South Beach condo but although it helps to find what’s commonly called a “motivated” seller, their motivation is not what should be relied upon exclusively when trying to close a successful real estate transaction within a short timeframe.

While it’s pretty self explanatory, let’s take at what a motivated seller is. A motivated seller is a person who is very eager to sell his or her home for whatever reason and thus has a strong desire to make a deal. Since these people will likely take a more active role in getting their property sold than a seller with plenty of time on their hands, the realtor they work with should be able to easily adapt to this. Besides the shared goal of a successful sale, part of this also involves thinking outside the box and employing strategies that other realtors and buyers aren’t using while also taking advantage of time.

Using time wisely means being able to make the effort to research and provide worthwhile deals for a South Beach condo while having a firm marketing plan in place that may not necessarily guarantee the sale of a South Beach condo but will provide the best chances of doing so.

When selling a South Beach condo, every seller’s situation is unique and it’s just as important to work with a realtor who specializes in that type of property or focuses exclusively in that neighborhood since a “jack of all trades” may not have the same level of expertise. Combine this with a customized marketing plan and consistent communication between the seller and realtor, and the chances of a successful South Beach condo sale increase significantly.

Miami Beach is a large barrier island off the southeastern coast of sunny South Florida. The island is known for the beach lifestyle it provides for thousands of residents and millions of visitors. When most people picture Miami Beach they focus on South Beach, which is the southerly area of Miami Beach known for its beaches, beauty and culture. But if you’re not familiar with Miami Beach as a whole, other than from popular culture or hearsay from friends or family, here’s a couple reasons why people choose to live in Miami Beach.

Miami Beach promotes active lifestyles for young and old. Gone is the age of sleepy retirees, looking to find somewhere quiet to spend their golden years. Baby-boomers and first time home buyers are young in spirit and enjoy the activities Miami Beach offers like frequent music festivals, boat shows, night clubs, fine restaurants, white sandy beaches, water sports and much more.

Miami Beach is friendly and always interesting. Being a tourist hub, there’s always something to do in Miami Beach and the list gets longer everyday. An overwhelming majority of people living or visiting Miami Beach are friendly and outgoing. The tourist culture has cultivated a welcoming attitude from residents and folks in the local service industry.

Miami Beach has stellar residential options. People who live in Miami Beach have the highest quality of living in South Florida. This is because Miami Beach condos are designed to be as close to resort-style living as possible. Condo amenities often include 24-hour concierge services, in-house restaurant, bar lounge, spa and pool.

Miami Beach is the ideal South Florida location. Being that most of the city is built around the attraction and beauty of Miami Beach, every fun and exciting activity is at most a ten minute drive away.

It goes without saying that buying a home is arguably one of the biggest and most important decisions anyone ever makes in their lifetime. Putting aside the intricacies involved, among the first decisions a potential homeowner has to make is whether to choose a single family home or opt for a South Beach condo. Both have their unique appeal yet they also have tradeoffs that must be taken into account.

The most obvious of these considerations is clearly the location. Condos are generally located closer to the city than a single family home and may therefore be a better option for someone who wants to be able to visit restaurants, shopping districts and such on foot. Also, unless you’re choosing a South Beach condo with few units, a condo won’t offer the same amount of privacy as a single family home which isn’t attached to another unit as many condos are.

Cost is also a major issue in both scenarios. A single family home may be more expensive but a condo can still come with additional costs like association fees, car parking fees and the money required for insurance and building upkeep. However if your budget is tight, not having to spend extra money on keeping the yard clean could be the advantage that’ll make you opt for a condo.

Finally, keep in mind that anything you’d like to change about your home will require the approval of your fellow condo association neighbors, unlike a home in which you have free reign (for the most part) to renovate, redesign and tweak to your needs and wants. Regardless of whether you opt for a single family home or condo, the satisfaction of owning your own home is one of those euphoric feelings any first time homeowner will revel in as they begin the next chapter in their lives.

Today’s real estate market presents tons of great buying opportunities and South Florida homes happen to carry some of the lowest price tags in the country. During the real estate market boom when house builders were constructing properties left and right in order to keep with the rampant demand, some builders were sacrificing quality in order to keep up, leading some people to end up with a new residential property investment requiring additional repairs right off the bat.

Before putting a down payment on South Beach luxury homes or condos that may require too much money out of your pocket, use these tips to protect yourself from problems that show up frequently.

Thoroughly evaluate the design. It’s always interesting when the design of a Miami Beach condo goes beyond the traditional rectangular approach but in some cases, an unusual roof design can lead to water leakage. Either hire an inspector to evaluate the chances of leakage or considering opting for another property with a pitched roof designed to direct water away.

Check out the workmanship. It’s not unusual for builders to cut corners in order to meet tight deadlines and that often leads to defects such as improper installation of roofs and windows. In most scenarios you have a right to request additional fixes or repairs that are genuine errors without having to pay any money out of your own pocket. Just make sure you catch the faults before moving in.

What kinds of materials are being used? Drywall installations, foundations, all those mission critical items may look similar but have different levels of quality plus varying manufacturer’s guarantees. There is no telling what might be going on below the surface when a property is already built so definitely make it a point to get a thorough inspection to ensure your beach home won’t start falling apart ten years down the road and require expensive repairs.