Category: Live South Florida Realty, Inc

The persistently low mortgage rates have certainly enticed more Americans to enter the home buying market. Of course, they have been met with the challenge of extremely tight housing inventories throughout the country. According to data from the Commerce Department, the home ownership rate increased year-over-year in the fourth quarter of 2020 to 65.8%. This… Continue reading Vacancy rates remain stable nationally

Staging has long been a key component of the marketing strategy for luxury real estate. With this said, there are some timeless aspects of staging such as making necessary repairs, de-cluttering and depersonalizing the home, or simply applying a fresh coat of paint. In addition to some standard staging practices, certain strategies evolve with the… Continue reading 3 Luxury staging trends for 2021

Home is where the heart is. Happy Valentine’s Day from Live South Florida Realty, Inc.!

Recently, the website 55Places.com published their list of 20 most affordable places to retire for 2020. While a number of factors were considered for this list, the most important were cost, including cost of living, median home value, median income, and home prices. Other things that were considered are 55+ community selection, state taxes, transit… Continue reading 5 Florida cities in the top 10 most affordable places to retire

Although the pandemic has led to financial obstacles for many Americans, you would never know it in the second-home real estate market. A recent analysis of Optimal Blue data revealed that there was an 84% year-to-year growth in second-home loans. In fact, this figure is down a bit from a peak 118% year-over-year increase in… Continue reading Second-home market is booming

It is well known that not all DIY home improvement projects can actually lead to an increased return on your investment. With home design and decor continually changing, it is important to keep up with the latest trends. Often times, many of these projects can be handled by the homeowner without having to hire help.… Continue reading DIY home improvement projects that can lead to ROI

Anyone that is considering a home purchase should certainly assess their financial situation prior to embarking on a strategy. Interestingly, a new study conducted by HarrisX on behalf of realtor.com showed that 47% of first-time home buyers found that their budget allowed them to afford a larger house than they thought they could afford. On… Continue reading How much house can you afford? The answer may surprise you.

It is no secret that the mass exodus of Americans from states such as New York, New Jersey, and California has continued even during the pandemic. The Sunshine State has long been a destination for many across the country, but what are the reasons why? The recent United Van Lines 2020 Movers Study looked at… Continue reading Why are Americans moving to Florida?

Many members of the Millennial [born between 1981 and 1996] and Gen Z [born in 1997 and onward] generations were forced to move home because they lost their jobs in 2020. In addition, others chose to forgo their rental because they had the opportunity to work remotely and preferred to wait out the pandemic with… Continue reading Saving for a down payment on a home? How about moving in with Mom & Dad?

It goes without saying that 2020 saw all of us spending a considerable more amount of time at home. With this came some new home design trends with multi-functionality of rooms being at the forefront. During the various quarantines and lock-downs, a few new decor trends surfaced. Cottagecore and Grandmillennial Both of these new decor… Continue reading Home Design Trends for 2021