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Expert Tips for Navigating the Real Estate Market

Our mission at English Real Estate Group is to be your best resource for real estate advice. Whether you are a buyer, seller, or investor, our team of professionals can answer any questions you might have about real estate. Subscribe to this blog to get the latest news on local market trends and receive expert tips for buying or selling a home.

The Truth About Buying vs. Renting


As rental rates continue to rise nationwide, don’t let yourself get caught in the rental trap. Here are a few key points you need to know.


There are many benefits to homeownership. One of the top benefits is protecting yourself against rising rental rates by locking in your housing costs for the life of your mortgage.

Don’t get caught in the rental trap. A recent article by Apartment List stated that rental rates are up 2.7% year over year at national levels. Year-over-year growth continues to fall between the 2.1% rate from this time last year and the 3.4% growth rate from October 2015.

The article continued by stating that, despite seasonal slowdown, rents are still up year over year in 89 of the 100 largest cities. Additionally, the Urban Institute revealed that over a quarter of all rentals are spending at least half their income on rent.

Don’t get caught in the rental trap.

It is actually cheaper to buy a home than it is to rent. Nationwide, it is 37.4% more cost effective to buy rather than rent.

A recent nationwide survey found that 80% of millennial renters plan to eventually buy. However, 72% cited affordability as a primary obstacle. Aside from affordability, one in three millennial renters have concerns about their credit scores. Also, many first-time buyers believe they need a down payment of 20%.

This is not truly the case. Still, this belief holds many back from obtaining their dream home. Certain loans allow buyers to afford a home for just 3.5%. So, if you are ready and willing to make the move into homeownership, speak with a professional and find out if you are able.

If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
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Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA

4 Reasons We Really Buy a Home


Why should you become a homeowner? Instead of focusing on the financial benefits, let’s look at the emotional reasoning behind homeownership.



When we talk about homeownership, we often focus on the financial reasons why buying a home makes sense. More often than not, the emotional reasons for buying a home are more powerful and compelling.

No matter what size or shape your home is, the concept and feeling of owning a home can mean different things to different people.

Still, the emotional reasons you decide to buy are often more important than the financial ones. Here are four common emotional reasons someone might buy a home:

1. Owning a home offers stability to start and raise a family. Even those without children at the time of purchase have this at the back of their minds when choosing the location of the home that they purchase. These buyers are looking for the best neighborhoods with the best schools.

2. There’s no place like home. Owning your home offers you safety, security, and a comfortable place for you to relax after a long day.

There’s no place like home.

3. You have more space for you and your family. Whether your family is expanding, an older family member is moving in, or you need a large backyard for your pets, you can take all of this into consideration when you buy your dream home.

4. You have control over your renovations, updates, and style.  Maybe you want to try one of those wall treatments you saw on Pinterest, or you’re tired of paying additional pet fees for your apartment. Maybe you want to finally adopt that puppy or kitten you’ve seen 100 times. Who’s to say you can’t do that in your own home?

Whether you are a first-time homebuyer or a move-up buyer who wants to start a new chapter in your life, now is a great time to reflect on the intangible factors that make a house a home.

If you have any other questions about buying or selling a home, just give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

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Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA

How to Reach Millennial Homebuyers


What can you do to market your home to millennial homebuyers? I have five tips to share with you today.


If you plan on selling your home, what can you do to reach millennial homebuyers? I have five tips to
share with you today:

1. Find your home’s best angle. While baby boomers may want a two-car garage, a large kitchen, and extra storage space, millennials have their own wish list. This generation is looking for something different than their parents. They are looking for open floor plans, single-story homes, split floor plans, and hardwood or tile floors.

2. Sell your neighborhood. For many millennials, the neighborhood they live in matters just as much or more than the house they buy. They are looking to meet a specific need.

3. Show off environmentally friendly features. It’s no secret that this generation is environmentally conscious and looking for homes with green features.


Millennials are environmentally conscious, so play up any green features in your home.


4. Think clean and modern. Modern homes are popular with this crowd. You don’t need to have a brand-new house designed by a minimalist architect to appeal to this generation. Simple home staging before a showing or open house could be all you need to bring in a younger homebuyer.

5. Target online advertising to find younger homebuyers. Place ads where they will see them, which means you should place ads largely online. Professional photos, videos, and drone photos and videos are a must.

I hope you found these five tips helpful. If you have any other questions about buying or selling a home, just give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!
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Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA

Is Your Home Safe for the Holidays?


Today, I’ve got three key tips for protecting your home during the holiday season.


Keeping your home protected during the holiday season can be made simple by following a few tips.

  1. Lock it up. This may sound obvious, but it bears repeating. If you’re going to be out of town, program your outdoor lights to switch on at dusk and off at dawn. Set your alarm system, and perhaps consider keeping a car parked in your driveway if you’re going to be gone for a long period of time. This will make you appear as if you’re home. Also, have your mail held by the post office until you return. An overflowing mailbox can make you a target. Don’t let a few easily-avoided signals let strangers know you’re away from your home. 
  2. Outsmart package thieves. Packages sitting outside of your home are just like a sign that says “no one is home.” If you live in a city or high-traffic area, use Amazon Locker when you order packages online. This will let you pick up packages at your convenience. You can also have packages sent to a brick and mortar store or to your office. Most shipping providers allow you to postpone delivery until you know you’ll be home.
  3. Get smart. If you’ve been hesitating to make the switch to smart technology for your home, the holidays could be the perfect time to make that change. This will give you the fun of a new gadget and the peace of mind knowing that your home is safe. Smart doorbells in particular can be a great addition. If you’re looking for an all-in-one smart solution, consider an option like Nest Secure. 

Don’t let a few easily-avoided signals let strangers know you’re away from your home.

If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

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What Influence Do School Districts Have on Home Prices?


When buying a home, you should definitely include an analysis of the community’s school district.

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How do school districts influence home values?

Conversations about this subject are often of the chicken-or-the-egg variety. Homes in better school districts sell for higher prices than similar homes in less popular school districts. A simple analysis might say that good schools are solely responsible for this added value. At the same time, more affluent homeowners tend to live in more sought-after school districts.

Statistics often show that the more affluent a community is, the higher the test scores will be in that community’s school. Test scores are just one measure of good schools, but they’re a highly quoted measure. There could be a self-reinforcing mechanism here that might over-emphasize the effect of the school itself on home prices. One might imagine that high home prices make a community’s school better.


Homes in better school districts sell for higher prices than homes in less popular school districts.



Ultimately, making a decision on buying a home should definitely include an analysis of the home’s local school district, even for buyers who don’t intend to send their children to those schools. Good schools provide stability for the community, and that’s good for the property values of anyone who lives in that community.

 If you have any questions about our local school districts or you’re thinking about buying, selling, or investing in real estate, give us a call or send us an email for a free consultation. We’d be happy to help you.

 
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