Everyone has heard of real estate bubbles, stock market bubbles, commodity bubbles, but can there be such a thing as a car bubble? The economy is improving, and people are more secure about taking out loans and lines of credit. NBC reports that Americans are buying cars in high numbers after years of record low […]
OUCH! The Costs of Fixing Your Car are Getting Higher
As cars become more technologically advanced, repairing them after a collision is becoming a more expensive proposition. Repair claim costs have risen an average of 17 percent over the last ten years. Why? As cars become more technologically advanced, repair personnel need more training and continuing education in order to repair them. The equipment needed […]
Miami Condo Boards Ripping Off Consumers
Almost everyone in SoFlo has read the Miami Herald’s article about condominium boards thumbing their noses at the law by charging exorbitant fees. Just because people don’t know it’s illegal does not make it alright. Instead of charging the $100 fee per applicant – with married couples and parents with children being counted as one […]
Buyer Beware: 5 Things Sellers Try to Hide from Home Buyers
You’d be amazed at some of the things that sellers try to hide from buyers. Listening to a crowd of real estate agents gossiping over brunch is replete with tales to curl or straighten your hair. Some of the items can be less serious than others, such as claiming current-model year appliances in the kitchen […]
5 Obstacles to Homebuying for Millennials
The kvetching about Millennials continues, but not to worry – the Digitals are next, and GenX is holding the door for you. Your Boomer Uncle (Old Economy) Steve can still hold forth about the younger generations at Thanksgiving while your GenX mom rolls her eyes and your younger Digital cousins eye the exits. As successive […]
Buyer and Sellers Beware: Permits are Important!
Let’s start off with the law as it stands with regard to permits: 1 Required. Any owner, or contractor who desires to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system, […]
Buyer Beware: Does Your House Have a History?
You might not be aware of it, but you may be buying a house with a history. There are certain conditions that a seller is required to disclose before selling a house, and waving these disclosures is a very good way to get some very unpleasant surprises. Insurance companies have access to two databases that […]
2016 Hurricane Preparedness Checklist: Part 2: Make a Plan
Once you have the basics that we covered in part one, you need to develop your hurricane preparedness plan all the way home. You can start by checking out this guide from the United States Coast Guard, it covers the basics and more about what supplies you will need from first-aid kits to the hardware […]
2016 Hurricane Preparedness Checklist: Part 1: Stocking Up
It’s time to get ready again for hurricane season. Even if we haven’t had a direct hit in more than 10 years, there is always the potential that a hurricane or tropical storm could wreak havoc with South Florida. A lot of people have moved into the area in the past 11 years who have […]
Tips for Buying a Second Home in Florida
A lot of people would love to have a second home. A favorite vacation spot seems like a natural place to invest your time and money. You’re not alone in wanting to buy a home in your favorite holiday spot, 1.13 million vacation homes were sold in 2014, and made up 21 percent of total […]