CONGRATULATIONS to The Miami Heat for their win against The Indiana Pacers in the 2012 Playoffs!  And just because they advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals, we wanted to share this funny video by Scooter Magruder with his version of Stuff Miami Heat Fans Say.

….another Miamism !!

** Share your MIAMISMS and we will feature them!! send them to us via email (info@miamism.com), Facebook, Twitter (@ines), or post them on Flickr in the Miamism Group **

According to TheStreet.com, out of the 5 major US cities making big turnarounds, Miami came in at number 2. We have been reporting positive news for over a year now and will continue to do so. But please, please, PLEASE! Know that you have every right to have reservations and question the news (that are not so new). It’s not like Mainstream Media hasn’t been known for manipulating information – what I do ask is that you localize your research when you are ready to validate whether or not this applies to you and your properties.

So where does this #2 best turnaround market information come from?

Steve Berkowitz, of Move Inc., publisher of Realtor.com, explained that several real estate markets around the US are firming as foreclosure rates drop, as real estate sales increase because of both “househunters and real estate investors” moving in, and as consumers get jobs.

TheStreet.com reports:

Median list price: $230,000

Miami was long the poster child for South Florida’s housing bust, with tons of foreclosures and a 50% drop in median home prices from the market’s 2006 peak.

But the city and its housing market are rebounding these days.

Joblessness fell to 8.4% from 10.9% a year earlier, while buyers from Latin America and other foreign locales are paying cash to snap up Miami-area properties for use as either investments or vacation homes.

“Miami is a great place for international buyers who like its great cultural mix and easy access from Europe and South America,” Berkowitz says. “They’re seeing a great opportunity to get in at attractive prices.”

Median list prices are up 24.3%, to $230,000, while inventory is down 48%, to about 12,000 units, and time on market has fallen 41%, to 72 days. All-cash deals also accounted for 65% of the market in March — more than double the 32% seen nationwide.

Please keep in mind that we need you to QUESTION these news because the stats pulled are for all of Miami-Dade County. You need to scrutinize your local market’s numbers to verify the information. There are areas within Miami that are still in the dark and areas that are thriving. It’s the average of these that makes the numbers look great. Your Miami and Miami Beach Realtors will be able to give you the stats for your neighborhood.

Nothing says Sexy South Beach better than architecture and cars.  Check out this view in front of Hotel Victor – Art Deco combined with lively street life, soulty coconut palm and the necessary bright Miami ride.  Captured on Instagram by @concertbuzzer.

….another Miamism !!

Make sure you check out ConcertBuzz.net as well as @concertbuzzer on Twitter.

** Share your MIAMISMS and we will feature them!! send them to us via email (info@miamism.com), Facebook, Twitter (@ines), or post them on Flickr in the Miamism Group **

NOTE: this and other miamism photos are copyrighted© – contact owner for permission

Another one of those “generalized” Miami Real Estate market reports that really good for getting only an overall impression of the housing market.  Real Estate is LOCAL!! Yes….I say it over and over and over again.  But these stats are positive and are proof of an improving market, hence the reason I share them.

As per REALTOR.com, Florida was the #20 most searched market in the country in April 2012.

• Median list prices for homes in Miami, FL hit $275,000 in April 2012, a 15.06% increase from one year ago this month, and 2.23% increase from March 2012.  The national median list price in April 2012 was $191,211, a -0.35% decrease compared to April 2011.

• Active for sale inventory of homes in Miami, FL in April 2012 leveled out at 11,553, a -35.94% decrease compared to April 2011. National inventory counts for April 2012 were 1,840,803, a -18.85% decrease as compared to a year ago.

• The median age of inventory in Miami, FL in April was 76 days, a 1.33% increase compared to March 2012.  Nationally, the median age of inventory was 84 days, a -5.62% decrease compared to March.

So how does Realtor.com arrive at these numbers?

Each month, Realtor.com surveys up to 250 Metro Service Areas (MSA) throughout the nation and monitors real estate trends including consumer search behavior, median list prices on for sale homes, active inventory counts and median age of inventory. The information is released to local markets to help consumers and real estate professionals as they work together to successfully navigate their local market.

Thanks to REALTOR.com for providing these stats for us.

We are being approached with this question constantly – Why didn’t my Miami Beach home sell? The answer comes in 3 parts and as many times as you may have seen and read these answers, you have to be objective and answer the questions honestly.

The answers are: Pricing, Condition and Marketing

Plain and simple…..ok, maybe not that simple but I’ll explain each in detail

My Miami house did not sell because of price

You will instinctly think that your house is better than all the others on the market. You will think that your house will sell quicker and will attract more buyers – It’s natural, you love your house and think others will love it just as much…..but this may not always be the case.

To be able to price your house appropriately you will need to know the current real estate market, know the inventory and the condition of other similar homes, you will need to be objective and be able to disconnect from all the emotional factors that define your “home”. This will implicate being able to recognize what upgrades are marketable and have value to a buyer as well as what factors can be detrimental to a sale.

Hiring a Miami Beach Realtor that is proficient in your area is key to pricing your home. We also see a lot of sellers that want to “test” the market by pricing a little higher than recommended (this is ultimately your call, but you may find yourself either selling for a lot less in the long run, or chasing the market down). Also read:

• Miami Home Sellers to the race: ready, set ….go!

Team Miamism recognizes certain triggers which mean a price reduction is warranted – if we see no showings in a week and we receive no offers in 3 weeks, it’s time to rethink that pricing strategy.

If you are brave, also read this article (warning: not for the weak)

• Home Sellers Can’t Handle The Truth

My Miami house did not sell because of its condition

Time to put on your objective glasses here Miami real estate sellers! your house is not the prettiest, that gold-leaf bar in the middle of your living room is hideous! and you should have hired a decorator instead of experimenting with your discerning design expertise!

The condition of your home is something that you CAN control. You see those HGTV shows all the time and see how an easy fix can do the trick. There are plenty of professionals that can help and won’t cost a fortune and that may mean selling your house quickly and for more money!

Team Miamism sells a lot of estate homes that need work and are full of old furniture and outdated finishes. Sometimes it’s as easy as emptying the house, painting a couple of walls, removing old rugs and buyers will see a different house.

I have written so many things about this very thing, so I will not bore you will the same information over and over again – you can read these articles:

• To smell or not to sell…..that is the question

• When are Holiday Decorations too much?
• First Impressions in Real Estate
• Why isn’t your Miami home selling?
• Staging is useless – why you should never stage your Miami home before you sell

My Miami house did not sell because of marketing

Make sure you hire a competent Miami Beach Realtor that knows the area, that is multi-faceted when it comes to marketing, includes print ads, Internet marketing and thinks outside the box when it comes to selling your home.

Yes glossy brochures are nice, but what else? If almost 90% of buyers are starting their search on-line, how sure are you that your property will be in their face EVERY SINGLE TIME!! Easier said than done though, finding a great Realtor may not be easy, but here is some help:

• Basics to sell Miami Real Estate

Internet marketing is changing every day, make sure your Realtor of choice is active in Internet Social Networks and goes out of their way to include your listing in different web portals (not just the common ones like Realtor.com and Trulia…..but European and South American Portals, different on-line publications and social networks where real estate buyers go to find homes).

**originally published July 14, 2008**