Carol Pawley | Miami Real Estate & Beyond

What to ask when hiring a home inspector?

June 19th, 2013 Written By Carol Pawley

The home inspection is a vital stage when buying a home. Choosing the right home inspector is important. Before hiring the least expensive inspector right off the bat, it is best to interview two to three different companies and ask the following questions:

 

What are your qualifications and experience?

-       Find out how long they have been in business. Ask to see testimonials from previous customers. See whether or not they are licensed.

 

 What type of report do you provide?

-       The most important part of the home inspection is the detailed report that lists any issues, problems or potential troubles with the house. Find out if the report includes estimates to fix the issues that come up. Ask how long it will take for you to receive the report.

 

 What does the inspection entail?

-       Find out what areas of the home will be inspected and what is included or not included in the inspection.

 

 How much do you charge for the inspection?

-       Price will range depending on the size of the home. 

Throughout the years I have helped many friends and clients purchase or sell property throughout Miami & the surrounding area.  If you are interested in purchasing or selling a home, please contact me as I can give some first-hand sound advice with no pressure.  Please send me an email at [email protected] or call me at  305-992-6188      .

 

Click Here to Get Miami Real Estate and Beyond by Carol Pawley delivered by email

I have over 20 years of experience in the South Florida real estate market. The majority of my business is done in Coral Gables and Coconut Grove – I’m a local who grew up here and knows the area. I’ve consistently ranked in the top of my field, locally and nationally. Let me show you what real estate is all about. Call me for a free home evaluation at 305-992-6188 or send me an email at [email protected]

The 5 Most Expensive Homes for Sale in Coconut Grove

June 17th, 2013 Written By Carol Pawley

Currently there are 120 homes for sale in Coconut Grove ranging from $12,900,000 to $114,900. Here are the 5 most expensive homes for sale in Coconut Grove.

 

* Data as of 6/14/13*

I keep up to date on the market.  I make sure my clients are well informed so they make the best decisions when buying or selling their home. Please send me an email at [email protected] or call me at 305-992-6188 if you are interested in buying or selling a home in Miami or it’s surrounding areas.

Click Here to Get Miami Real Estate and Beyond by Carol Pawley delivered by email

I have over 20 years of experience in the South Florida real estate market. The majority of my business is done in Coral Gables and Coconut Grove – I’m a local who grew up here and knows the area. I’ve consistently ranked in the top of my field, locally and nationally. Let me show you what real estate is all about. Call me for a free home evaluation at 305-992-6188 or send me an email at [email protected]

The Art of Pricing

June 13th, 2013 Written By Carol Pawley

Savvy sellers must keep up to date on the pricing of their home and must be aware of current closed sales, price reductions from their competitors and new properties coming available.  An experienced and pro-active Realtor is your best friend.

If you are looking to sell your property in a reasonable amount of time, pricing is crucial in order to reach this goal.   I will be happy to assist you in pricing and marketing your property.  I am an experienced luxury property specialist. Feel free to contact me at your convenience.

Throughout the years I have helped many friends and clients purchase or sell property throughout Miami & the surrounding area.  If you are interested in purchasing or selling a home, please contact me as I can give some first-hand sound advice with no pressure.  Please send me an email at [email protected] or call me at  305-992-6188      .

 

Click Here to Get Miami Real Estate and Beyond by Carol Pawley delivered by email

I have over 20 years of experience in the South Florida real estate market. The majority of my business is done in Coral Gables and Coconut Grove – I’m a local who grew up here and knows the area. I’ve consistently ranked in the top of my field, locally and nationally. Let me show you what real estate is all about. Call me for a free home evaluation at 305-992-6188 or send me an email at [email protected]

Top 3 Most Expensive & Least Expensive Homes for Sale in Coral Gables

June 12th, 2013 Written By Carol Pawley

Currently there are 257 homes for sale in Coral Gables. Ranging from $35,000,000 to $349,000.

The 3 most expensive:

 

The 3 least expensive:

*Data as of 6/12/13

I keep up to date on the market.  I make sure my clients are well informed so they make the best decisions when buying or selling their home. Please send me an email at [email protected] or call me at 305-992-6188 if you are interested in buying or selling a home in Miami or it’s surrounding areas.

Click Here to Get Miami Real Estate and Beyond by Carol Pawley delivered by email

I have over 20 years of experience in the South Florida real estate market. The majority of my business is done in Coral Gables and Coconut Grove – I’m a local who grew up here and knows the area. I’ve consistently ranked in the top of my field, locally and nationally. Let me show you what real estate is all about. Call me for a free home evaluation at 305-992-6188 or send me an email at [email protected]

How Your Credit Score Affects Your Mortgage Rate

June 11th, 2013 Written By Carol Pawley

Before mortgage lenders and banks determine your mortgage rate and other terms of your loan they thoroughly examine your credit score. The better your credit score, the lower the interest rate and the better the payback terms offered by the lending institution. A low credit score will impact your ability to get a loan and at a good rate.

 

Interest rates vary, depending on which rate you will qualify for, but they are always based on your credit score. Credit scores are reported according to grades, where an “A” is excellent, “B” good, “C” not very good, and “D” poor. “F” of course is the worst grade you can receive. Someone with a credit grade “A” will usually have no outstanding credit debts. A person with a “B” grade will perhaps have one or two outstanding obligations. With a “C” you likely have quite a few late payments pending, and a “D” indicates many debts owed or foreclosure declared.

 

When you apply for a loan, the difference between having an “A” grade and a “B” grade can make the difference of about 3 percentage points of interest on your loan. The same may apply to the difference between a “B” and a “C” grade. Those with “C” or “D” ratings may also have a tougher time even securing a mortgage. Below “D”, a borrower will probably not qualify for the loan at all. The difference in the monthly payment for a $200,000 loan between the highest and lowest scores is nearly $200 per month, which over the period of the loan can add up to more than $80,000. This doesn’t even include the lenders’ fees (which, by law, should all be disclosed). This is very significant.

 

In addition to the above grade scale, banks and lending institutions look at a cumulative credit score. All three major credit bureaus, TransUnion, Equifax and Experian, gather the information from the credit lenders. This gives them a picture of the history of your borrowing and repaying. The agencies compute that information into your credit score. These reports are open to any lender. The Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) takes the information from those reports, and with their own unique formula, condenses them into one total score ranging from 300 to 850.

 

Lenders regard this credit score as a picture of your credit-worthiness. Borrowers with FICO scores between 760 and 850 will be offered lower interest rates and better terms. A score below 620 will place the borrower in the “subprime” category, where he will be receive higher interest rates and less desirable choices as far as terms and types of loans. A borrower with a FICO score of less than 500 will have a difficult time getting a loan.

 

When lenders look at a potential borrower’s credit report, what stands out are the low debt balances. A steady list of on-time payments also goes a long way. A car loan and a few revolving accounts such as credit cards paid in a timely fashion look appealing to a lender.

 

According to underwriting managers at a major mortgage firms, lenders weigh several variables on your credit report:

• outstanding debt
• the outstanding debt relative to the total available credit
• the length of your credit history
• and whether or not you’ve recently applied for new credit beyond a mortgage

 

*source realtor.com

Throughout the years I have helped many friends and clients purchase or sell property throughout Miami & the surrounding area.  If you are interested in purchasing or selling a home, please contact me as I can give some first-hand sound advice with no pressure.  Please send me an email at [email protected] or call me at  305-992-6188      .

 

Click Here to Get Miami Real Estate and Beyond by Carol Pawley delivered by email

I have over 20 years of experience in the South Florida real estate market. The majority of my business is done in Coral Gables and Coconut Grove – I’m a local who grew up here and knows the area. I’ve consistently ranked in the top of my field, locally and nationally. Let me show you what real estate is all about. Call me for a free home evaluation at 305-992-6188 or send me an email at [email protected]

SOLD 1920′S Gables Home

June 10th, 2013 Written By Carol Pawley

I just closed on a charming 1920′s home located at 442 Majorca Ave in Coral Gables. The home was listed at $390,000 and my buyer’s purchased the home for $375,000. The home needed much TLC. My buyer’s were looking to purchase a 1920′s home in Coral Gables for their son who will be attending graduate school at the University of Miami.

Throughout the years I have helped many friends and clients purchase or sell property throughout Miami & the surrounding area.  If you are interested in purchasing or selling a home, please contact me as I can give some first-hand sound advice with no pressure.  Please send me an email at [email protected] or call me at  305-992-6188      .

 

Click Here to Get Miami Real Estate and Beyond by Carol Pawley delivered by email

I have over 20 years of experience in the South Florida real estate market. The majority of my business is done in Coral Gables and Coconut Grove – I’m a local who grew up here and knows the area. I’ve consistently ranked in the top of my field, locally and nationally. Let me show you what real estate is all about. Call me for a free home evaluation at 305-992-6188 or send me an email at [email protected]

Free Hurricane Mobile App From The Red Cross

June 7th, 2013 Written By Carol Pawley

Now that we are in Hurricane season I recommend that everyone downloads the Red Cross’s Hurricane App on your iPhone or Android. This free app lets you Monitor conditions in your area or throughout the storm track, prepare your family and home, find help and let others know you are safe even if the power is out. The app also has step-by-step instructions to let you know what to do even before/during/after the storm, even if no data connectivity. My favorite feature is the “I’m Safe” alert for Facebook, twitter, email & text which will let family and friends know that you are okay.

To download you can either call from your mobile phone **REDCROSS (**73327677) and they will send you a link to download the hurricane tracking app to your iPhone or Android  or you can download them directly from the iTunes or Google Play app stores.

I have over 20 years of experience in the South Florida real estate market. The majority of my business is done in Coral Gables and Coconut Grove – I’m a local who grew up here and knows the area. I’ve consistently ranked in the top of my field, locally and nationally. Let me show you what real estate is all about. Call me for a free home evaluation at 305-992-6188 or send me an email at [email protected]