Making The Move
You have assessed your needs and determined your financing limitations, and you maintain a vague idea of which neighborhoods you’d like to investigate. Navigating through the many choices can be quite daunting if you’re trying to do it alone. That’s why having a skilled expert to guide you through the home-buying process is essential, especially here in Southeast Florida today.
Bankrate shares this perspective: “Advice and guidance from a professional real estate agent can be invaluable, particularly amid a hot or unpredictable housing market.”
Using a REALTOR®. As I explained in the first of this “Making the Move” series, in order to view any multiple-listed property, as of August 2024 you must complete an Exclusive Buyer Broker Agreement (EBBA). Making an offer and negotiating with a seller can be one of the most difficult and stressful parts of the home-buying process. A skilled REALTOR® will help you understand what similar homes are selling for so you have the full picture of what you may want to offer. Often separately trained in the art of negotiating, your Florida licensed REALTOR® will secure you the opportunity to buy the house/condo of your dreams for the best price available.
The National Association of REALTOR® also has this to say about why an agent is so essential today: “A great real estate agent will guide you through the home search with an unbiased eye, helping you meet your buying objectives while staying within your budget. REALTOR® are also a great source when you have questions about local amenities, utilities, zoning rules, contractors, and more.”
Here are just a few of the ways a real estate expert makes a big difference:
Experience. Real estate professionals know the ins and outs of what’s happening today, how it impacts buyers, and how to navigate any hurdles that may pop up.
Education. Knowledge is power when it comes to buying a home. Your REALTOR® will simply and effectively explain market conditions and translate what they mean for you so you can feel confident in your decision.
Negotiations. Your REALTOR® advocates for your best interests. Having an expert on your side provides invaluable assistance with the purchase agreement. A professional REALTOR® can also help you arrange for various inspections and negotiate potential seller concessions if the inspection reveals issues with the home.
Contracts. Florida licensed REALTOR® guide you through the disclosures and contracts necessary in today’s heavily regulated environment. We do not have mandatory attorney review in Florida; rather your REALTOR® facilitates all offers and addenda using the Florida Bar-approved documents.
Orthodox Shuls and Communities. Only a REALTOR® who lives and works in the Orthodox communities of Palm Beach, Broward, or Miami-Dade counties truly understands what an Orthodox buyer wants and needs. Try asking someone else what the eiruv covers, or where there is a private-house minyan, or a legal shortcut to a shul. There are so many wonderful, knowledgeable, and experienced Orthodox REALTORs® in all of Southeast Florida that it amazes me when I hear of people eschewing their services for a “top producer” from an “elite brokerage,” who by the way will often call me or another well-known Orthodox REALTOR® for information and advice. Since people can only elicit detailed information on my website by adding their email addresses to my CRM, tons of these so-called experts are listed among my clients as they use my Orthodox Boca, Orthodox Delray, or Orthodox Boynton pages to glean information to try to impress their clients.
Choosing the right expert starts with knowledge and trust. You’ll want to be certain that they know and understand your Orthodox lifestyle and the necessary infrastructure to support your needs. Additionally, you’ll want to know you can trust the advice they’re giving you, so you must make sure you’re connected with a true professional. No one can provide perfect advice because it’s impossible to know exactly what’s going to happen at every turn—especially in today’s market. But a true professional can give you the best possible advice based on the situation at hand.
They’ll help advocate for you throughout the process and coach you on the essential knowledge you need to make confident decisions. That’s exactly what you want and deserve.
Finally, this I firmly believe: You should choose a REALTOR® who specializes in a particular area. Do not choose a top producer from Miami to show you homes in Boca Raton. For example, I specialize in South Palm Beach County—and that’s it! If a buyer contacts me to see homes in Broward or Miami-Dade, I am happy to refer them to experts in those areas. The Exclusive Buyer Broker Agreement allows you to limit the REALTOR®’s location to a specific area, so you may sign an EBBA with a REALTOR® from Boynton Beach while simultaneously contracting with a Surfside REALTOR®. Before the explosion of Orthodox migration this decade, it was possible for many Orthodox REALTOR® to have expert knowledge of most Orthodox communities in South Florida. However, with the influx of numerous new schools, shuls, and neighborhoods, true expertise has become substantially limited. Think of it this way: I once asked my daughter why so many doctors specialize these days, with a variety of fellowships and certifications rather than the GPs of the olden days. She explained that the extensive increase in medical knowledge prohibits any one doctor from knowing everything about everything. If there is a new school opening in Boynton Beach, I’ll know about it right away, while I don’t even know where newer existing schools in Miami are located.
Stay tuned for the conclusion of this “Making the Move” series of articles after the chagim. May we all be blessed with a year of peace, good health, prosperity, the victorious end of war, and the return of all hostages. Ketivah v’chatimah tovah!
Cheri F. Rosen, of Lang Realty, has been a REALTOR in South Florida since moving to Boca Raton over a decade ago. You can learn more about real estate in South Florida by calling Cheri at 561-221-2233 or visiting Cheri’s website: southfloridacondosandhouses.com, or just Google the words “Orthodox Boca” and find Cheri’s website as the top search result. Submit your personal questions and concerns to Cheri, and they will be answered personally, or anonymously in future columns.
