MIAMI REAL ESTATE

Survey: Buyers May Pay More to Live in Walkable Communities By:  Melissa Dittmann Tracey A new NAR survey shows consumers’ preferences for neighborhood amenities. Use the findings to promote relevant items in your property marketing. © icomaker - iStock/Getty Images Plus Americans are placing greater value on homes in close proximity to nearby shops, cafes, and parks—and they may even pay more for such properties, according to the National Association of REALTORS®’ newly released  2023 Community & Transportation Preferences Survey . So, if you have a listing near neighborhood amenities—especially if the home is within walking distance—you may want to promote that heavily in your marketing. Seventy-nine percent of respondents rate walkability as “very” or “somewhat” important, and 78% say they’d pay more for a home in a walkable community, the survey shows. Young adults prioritize walkability the most, with 90% of Gen Z and millennial respondents indicating they’d pay more ...

  How Does First-Time Homebuyer Assistance Work? By Charlestien Harris How do you buy a house? Renters often don’t know. But first-time buyers have tools at their disposal and, oftentimes, access to mortgage assistance. If you are a first-time homebuyer, you likely have several questions regarding the home-buying process. Let’s start by defining what qualifies as a first-time homebuyer. Generally, this term refers to an individual purchasing their first principal residence. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides a broader definition, including the following: Someone who hasn’t owned a principal residence in the three-year period before purchasing a new home. An individual who has never owned a principal residence, even if their spouse was a homeowner. Single parents who previously owned a home with their ex-spouse. Displaced homemakers who only owned property with their spouse. First-time homebuyers often have access to special benefits, s...