Zillow’s Accuracy in Florida



Can Zillow give you an accurate home evaluation? Many people use this site to get an estimate on their homes. However, Zillow is usually 5% to 15% off for property evaluations. Zillow cannot account for many factors that assign value to a property.
  • Zillow does not account for relative location. If you have a home a block away from a more valuable neighborhood, Zillow will not accurately identify this factor. For example, take a West Miami home a block away from 57th avenue in Coral Gables. Zillow will pull information from Coral Gables instead of West Miami to price your home.
  • Zillow does not account for boundaries nor natural or artificial barriers. This includes canals and highways. Miami Springs and Hialeah are separated by a canal, for instance. Additionally, Zillow does not account for quality and age of construction, finishes, or painting.
  • Zillow does not account for layout or design. Some homes have a better layout or design compared to others. Buyers, for instance, may be looking for modernity in homes.
  • Zillow does not account for property types. Even when you have two different types of property, such as a townhouse versus a single family home, Zillow often assumes they’re the same because of property size. Zillow could price them the same, despite the differences.
  • Zillow does not account for buyer traffic, taste and trends. Zillow doesn’t know what buyers are looking for. The site doesn’t examine trends.


To get an accurate home estimate, hire a Realtor for a physical evaluation. This Realtor should know the area and know how to price. This process is called the broker’s opinion of value. That's why we’re here! If you’re looking to buy or sell, give us a call or email! We would love to be your area real estate resource!

How the New Dodd Frank Regulations Affect You



The New Dodd Frank regulations affect your real estate business. These new closing regulations started on October 3rd. These regulations don't apply to cash deals. The closing process will be different if you're buying with a loan.
Buyers now must have all required paperwork completed three days prior to closing. These three days allow the buyer time to review the documents. While closings sometimes get hectic, this slows down the closing process.
Although the title company will still be involved in the closing process, the lender now prepares documentation. The HUD-1 will be replaced by a new document, too.
Any change made to the documents triggers a three-day waiting period. This allows the buyer and seller time to review the information.
Ultimately, we don't recommend dual closings. Don't sell your property and immediately close on a new property. It takes time to adjust to these new regulations to see how long the closings will take.
We also recommend being proactive. Get everything done ahead of time to avoid delays. Working with a knowledgeable real estate agent will also ensure that you make it to closing on time.
If you have any questions for us, give us a call or send us an email. We would be happy to help you!

Smart Tips to Protect Your Florida Home



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Selling a home? Click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation


Many of us leave for the holiday season to visit family out of the area. I have some tips to share that help you protect your home while you’re away. They’re all inexpensive and affordable!
Talk to a neighbor you trust. This is someone you have a rapport with. Let them know how long you’ll be gone for. If there is a security guard in your area or development, share with them when you’re leaving. Exchange cell phone numbers, in case either of you need to reach each other.
Use automatic timers for the lights in your house. Set these timers before you leave. Make sure they work before you leave. Change the light bulbs if you need to. If you don’t have lights with automatic timers, and you’re only leaving for a few days, consider leaving a single light on the entire time. With a light on in the front and the back, it looks like someone is home.


Have the post office hold your mail. This is one of the most important steps! Thieves can easily tell if you’re away when the mail is still in the mailbox. If they find a mailbox full of mail, they assume this home is temporarily vacant and target your home. Save the burden of asking a friend and handle it with the post office directly. Remember to reverse the process once you are home!
That’s my advice to protect your home while you’re away. I hope you have a wonderful holiday. As always, if you have any questions, give me a call or send me an email today! I look forward to hearing from you.