Buyer’s Guide
AN INVESTMENT IN YOUR FUTURE
AlexMiranda
SalesAssociate
As a lifelong resident of Miami Dade County, Alex has intimate knowledge of the South Florida Real Estate market. With over thirty years of experience, Alex has worked in areas, such as Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Pinecrest, Palmetto Bay, Coconut Grove and Miami Springs. Alex understands what each area has to offer and how to successfully maneuver the challenges that each area brings.
Alex enjoys a good challenge, he has successfully closed transactions where other realtors have failed. With a knack for the art of negotiating a deal, Alex is able to not only market and showcase a property but see it through to a successful closing with ease. Alex excels in exceeding his clients’ expectations and delivering what his clients deserve. Top Dollar in the Least Amount of Time. Knowledge, Integrity, and Results are what you can expect from Alex and The Alex Miranda Group.
amirandapa@onesothebysrea lty.com 305.975.2539
https://www.onesothebysre alty.com/associates/aleja ndromiranda/
Youhaveonelifetolive.
At ONE Sotheby’s International Realty, that is our mission: to give extraordinary lives a home to thrive. Navigating the complex decision to invest in real estate - whether your first home, your forever home, or an investment in your futurerequires a creative and compassionate associate who understands the importance of these decisions. A professional who expects to be held to the highest standards of service. A professional for whom relationships are as important as they are to you.
ONE Sotheby’s International Realty is the premier source for luxury real estate and development sales along Florida’s East Coast. We bring together the world’s most passionate and committed professionals, backed by a global brand with a heritage of unsurpassed quality, value and trust. For nearly 300 years, the Sotheby’s name has exemplified the promise of a life well lived and this heritage has been the foundation of ONE Sotheby’s International Realty since our founding in 2008. As markets evolve, core values like leadership, integrity and vision endure. At ONE Sotheby’s International Realty, these values are supported by market knowledge and insights, the latest technology and a global backbone of support and service, all grounded in the belief that the best experiences inspire the best decisions
Inspirationliveshere.
Alex Miranda
ONE Sotheby’sInternation al Realty
amirandapa@onesothebysrea lty.com
305.975.2539
www.AlexMiranda.com
Testimonials
Alex Miranda was our real estate agent in March of 2022. Selling your house can be a difficult time in your life, as it was for us after being in Miami Springs for 21 years. From the very beginning, Alex provided the guidance and assurances that you desire during this time. He listened to all of our questions and concerns, spending all the time needed prior to listing to prepare us for the process of selling our home. During the month we worked with him, he responded quickly and clearly to all our correspondence: daily texts, emails and phone calls. We chose Alex because he planned a big splash open house to show our home, and we had 63 showings in those three hours on a Saturday, with 30 offers, with most over list price, and the closing was smoothly commandeered by Alex, as he walked us through that legal process. Selling your house can be a painful, annoying and miserable experience; Alex Miranda’s work ethic, friendly demeanor, focused plan and professionalism gave us confidence and peace of mind during this stressful experience. We recommend Alex Miranda without hesitation to all looking to sell or buy their home.
—Nick and Nelcy Marbach Miami Springs FL
Alex is an excellent Realtor. He is a consummate professional. Not only is he very knowledgeable about the market and current trends, but he goes the extra mile to help you in ways that are not part of his job. All along while he was listing my house for sale he always gave me advice that I always felt was for my best interest even if it meant more work for him. He gave me tips on how to present the house in a more favorable light to prepare for sale and he even offered to help me with some last minute loose ends right before closing that were certainly not really part of his obligations. I am a real estate attorney, a licensed Realtor and a real estate investor so I am confident in my take on Alex’s abilities. I whole heartedly recommend him and his team to assist you with your real estate matters.
—Peter Carrillo, Miami FL
Alex Miranda
ONE Sotheby’sInternation al Realty
amirandapa@onesothebysrea lty.com
305.975.2539
www.AlexMiranda.com
My husband and I decided to sell our home in Miami Springs and we thought it would be a great idea to Sale by owner, we wanted to save on the commission and get as much as possible in our pocket. Boy were we wrong! Sale by Owner was a disaster! We were approached by so many realtors saying they were the best and that they guaranteed top dollar but they came across as a used car salesmen. I didn’t trust them. I’ve never had an appreciation for what a good realtor can do until I met Alex Miranda. He contacted me via Facebook and wasn’t pushy at all. He showed genuine concern and I felt comfortable enough to meet him in person. He instantly made me feel like an old friend, he answered all my questions and concerns. He’s a business owner and resident of Miami Springs so he understood and appreciated the gem that we have in our little city and he understood its unique market. After 2 weeks of being on the market as a For sale by owner, a failed open house, and a couple of low ball offers, we decided to hire Alex. Within 1 week of hiring him, with a successful open house, we had a sale contract for our asking price. He was there for the inspections and appraisal. He coordinated everything, I didn’t have to lift a finger. It was truly a smooth process and we closed with 45 days. If you are looking for a realtor, I strongly recommend Alex! Thank you Alex for your help, hard work and dedication in selling our home.
—Yalennis Gonzalez, Miami Springs FL
After having a realtor that was almost useless and definitely ruined opportunities for us, Alex was a breath of fresh air. He gets stuff done! Plus he is so well connected and so experienced that he was right on with house’s worth and saved us 80k!!! Best realtor ever, highly recommend him!!
—Juliette Burns, Miami, FL
Guiding You to a Successful Purchase
Each homebuying journey i s unique, just like our c lients. The following is a list of som e of the ite ms that may be part of your homepurchase pro cess.
Initial Consultation
An initial meeting is imp ortant to ensure that you get access to properties both on andoff the mark et, as
well as exclusive and com ing soon listings. We wan t to help, prepare you to be able to w rite offers quickly
in a competitive market w hen needed.
Property Selection & Refine Search
•
Property needs and wants, location, size, amenitie s, style
Purchase price range
Provide an overview of th e current market dynamics and challenges
Refine Property Search Cr iteria
Setup ListingAlerts and Market Reports
Schedule Prop erty Tours
Purchase Process with your Agent
• Agency – Our agentscan explain agency and discuss their role in Buyer Representat ion
• Purchase Contracts - We can share sample cont racts so you can familiar ize yourself with the var ious
options and terms.
• Buyer Representation – We can explain how Buy er’s Agent compensation w orks and wil l complete
a contract towork togeth er to secureyour new hom e.
Financing
Financing andgood lender relationships are import ant. We can recommend a v ariety of loa n officers w ho
can help yoube prepared to purchase your home.
•
Get prequalified and conf irm price ran ge
Complete the loan applica tion
Obtain loan P re-Approval subject to th e property s election andappraisal
Provide any requested add itional docum entation
Property Tours
Our agents view propertie s throughoutthe region, follow local market dynam ics, and arehere to assi st you in assessing the value an d condition of the proper ties you view .
Present off-m arket or pre -market listings as they arise.
Review list of potential properties from the MLS – discuss thin gs that may not be readily apparent
Call agents to schedule a nd set up private showing s
Map out and tour properti es together
Recommend pro perties that may come up for viewing at Open Houses
Review the pros and cons of each homeafter the sh owing
Obtaining Disclosures
One benefit of having a r eal estate advisor is the ir familiarity with requi red disclosures, recommen dations
for inspectors, and exper ience with id entifying an d requesting required rep orts.
Will requestthe Disclosu re Package an d other info rmation from the listing agent
Discuss withyour agent i f you want toget any add itional inspections or re ports and determine the
timeframe for needed cont ingencies
If the home is in an HOA, and the Seller has not p rovided the HOA docs, the agent can ex plain the ty pical
timing of theprocess to receive and review the do cuments.
Recommend a T itle and Esc row Company.
Write Competitive Offers
When we locate a property that meets your needs, w e can assist you in deter mining an offer price and
terms, and negotiating on your behalf,to help you win the sale. What may n ot be evident at the outs et is
the added value of collab orating withan agent bac ked by a trusted brand wi th a good rep utation with in
the agent community when it is time for them to he lp their clie nts assess c ompeting offers.
•
Call the listing agent to get the bestinformation possible abo ut competing offers and sellers prefe rences
regarding ter ms, and the timeline for offer submis sion.
• • •
We can reviewcomparable sales, and discuss the pr ice and terms that can be st position your offer.
Prepare the offer with th e relevant an d required a dvisories anddisclosures , and can sub mit the loan
approval letter or proof of funds, with the offer.
Get signatures on all off er documents to provide a complete andcompelling offer.
Presenting Offers
Presenting yo u in the bes t light can be helpful in securing thewinning off er. I can ask to present the offer in
person if req uested. It i s up to the Seller how th ey wish to receive offers
• • • •
Help you present the offe r in person or by email i n a timely ma nner
Notify the agent of the o ffer submission to ensure that they received it, a nd to find out the expect ed
response time
Maintain comm unications a nd forward any counter-of fers for review
Negotiate onyour behalf and writing a ny addenda o r subsequent counter-offe rs.
Opening Escrow
Congratulatio ns! This is just the start of the tra nsaction process. Your ag ent will assist you throu gh the
requirements that are con tained in your accepted o ffer.
• • Open escrow at the select ed Title Comp any
Ensure you un derstand wir e fraud concerns and that you communicate directly with your trusted Escrow
Officer regarding any wir ing, account or transfer information.
Physical and Other Inspections Contingencies
There are num erous contin gencies, andour agents w ill help younavigate thr ough them. If you have an
Inspection Co ntingency th is will allowyou to orde r further inspections and reports to get more info rmation
about the pro perty.
Your agent ca n recommend or help you locate inspec tors for allthe inspecti ons you wantto undertake .
Call inspectors to check on their sche dules, and s etup inspection appointme nt times.
Forward, review and file Inspection Re ports
Communicate w ith your len der as requested
Assist the Ap praiser with access to th e home, and provide comps as needed
Provide resources for Hom eowners Insurance and opt ions – this is a critical step in theprocess give n the
current insurance climate
Complete the Closing Process
•
We can recomm end Movers
Arrange for a final walkt hrough of theproperty
Provide resources for a H ome WarrantyPolicy
We can accomp any you to t he closing signing
Upon recordin g title, pro vide keys
Preparing to Buy
Personal Checklist for Prioritizing Your Most Important Concerns
In what areas are you interested in living?
Why use ONE Sotheby's International Realty?
Reasons to Work with a Real Estate Professional
With all of the informati on available to consumers today, it is tempting to consider doing everythin g yourself wh en
buying a home. Here’s why working witha professio nal is the best choice yo u can make:
Expert Guidance in a Complex Market
The real estate market is exceedinglycomplex and factors affecting the mar ket change daily. An expe rienced
professional should be yo ur guide, using their in- depth knowled ge of area c ommunities, current and p ast
market condit ons and ind icators to assist you in numerous ways. Your ONE S otheby's International Re alty
Sales Associate can help expedite your search, ide ntify the neighborhoods a nd communities that best fit your
lifestyle andmeet your n eeds, negotiate the best possible deal , and avoid delays or costly mistakes .
Expanded Search Power
Sometimes pro perties are available but not activel y advertisedon the marke t or the MLS. Through the ir
network, your Sales Assoc iate may haveknowledge o f and access to these "of f-market" listings not ac cessible on public search sites. Y our Sales Associate will also have access to more detailed prop erty informa tion than what is publicly availabl e and exclusive access to our global search portal s and connections with lo cal representatives worldwide
Negotiation Prowess
There are many factors to consider whe n making an offer on a ho use in today 's swiftly moving market, and
your Sales Associate can help prepareyou so that you are able to make deci sions in a ti mely manner. A trusted
professional, your Sales Associate will negotiate the details of an agreeme nt to oversee that your b est interests
area prioritywhen comple ting the tran saction.
Your Real Estate Professional Should Be:
Knowledgeableabout the c ommunities ofinterest to you.
An effectivecommunicator dedicated tokeeping you educated and informed th roughout theentire
buying process.
Aware of thecomplicated local and state requireme nts affectingyour transa ction.
Able to direct you to hel pful lenders that assist you with getting the fina ncing you nee d.
An expert negotiator. Eff ective in multi-party, wr itten and face-to-face ne gotiations.
Respected byother agents in the real estate commu nity.
Highly traine d, with acce ss to program s for contin ued learningand addition al certifications.
Technology fo cused. Able to respond toyou in a ti mely fashionand use curr ent technology to expedit e
your purchase.
Supported byprofessional legal counsel.
Your ONE Soth eby's Intern ational Realty Sales Asso ciate is an experienced p rofessional backed by exceptional leadership an d support tea ms, al dedic ated to providing you wit h a peerless level of ser vice.
Mutual Agreement
Our decision to work together can be formalized in an agreement
Seller Paid Commissions
• Sellers complete a Listin g Agreement that covers, among other things, the c ommission paid to
the Listing A gent selling their home a nd most freq uently includ es a provisi on where theSeller can
offer to pay the Buyer's Agent a commission, which is then note d on the MLS
• Buyers can also request t hat Sellers m ake up any d ifference inBroker Commi ssion for theBuy
Side as part of the offer to purchasewhich allows the commission to be inc orporated into the final
sale price an d financed.
Having a written Representation Agreement allows me to:
•
Commit my tim e, expertise , resources, support staf f and experie nce to find exactly what you are looking for.
Make my best effort to fi nd you the ho me to meet y our needs.
Search for Off-Market hom es or Pocket Listings.
It clarifies and expedite s the offer process, remo ving the level of brokera ge compensation as
an impediment.
It should benoted that c ommissions aren't set by law and are n egotiable. E ach broker is entitled to set their
fee schedule for services performed.
When to Buy?
Reasons to Buy Now
Determining if the time i s right to buy a home is your first step in the ho me buying pro cess. Here a r
consider buying now rathe r than waitin g for a futu re date.
Tax Savings & Equity Building
The sooner yo u buy, the s ooner you can start build ing equity inwhat is lik
sooner you ca n take advan tage of the tax benefi
wning
h
T
lk to yo
r CPA orax professi onal to understand yo ur particula r situation.
It's the Right Time in Your Life
Sometimes it's just the r ight stage oflife to mak e a move: youwant social and educatio nal continui ty for your
children; your financial circumstances have change d; you are em pty nesters or retirees a nd are looki ng for more
freedom, or m aybe you hav e changed jobs.
Generally Rising Home Values
Market timing is a risky practice andan approach we don't reco mmend for th e purchase of your primar y
residence. Over the long term, however , home value s tend to rise. Just like the stock market, if you get in sooner
rather than later, and ho ld on to your investment, it is likely to apprecia te.
Lock in Interest Rates
If you are financing your home purchase, locking i n an interestate now wi ll give you m ore predicta bility for
your household budget, an d will be a long-term ben efit if interest rates ri se.
The Homebuying Process
Initial Consultation •
Determine your priorities and needs.
Review Agencyand Represe ntation to define the
appropriate w orking relat ionship.
Discuss finan cing options
Finding the Right Home
Sales professional shows you propertie
Evaluate eachproperty wi th sales prof
Choose the right home.
Preparing an Offer
Review seller's property disclosures.
Review prelim inary title report.
Contact listing agent wit h any buyer q
Review comparable sales t o determine o
Review process of loan pr e-approval; d
Decide on oth er terms (in spections, po
property, etc.)
Prepare earnest money dep
Reaching Seller Agreement •
Present your offer.
Negotiation of terms and possible coun
Agreed-upon sales contrac
Completing Settlement Process
Deposit of earnest money.
Roof, termiteand other i nspections.
Review seller' disclosur es again.
Remove any re maining cont
Arrange for h omeowners in
Arrange for h ome warranty
Arrange for m overs.
Final walk-through of pro perty.
Provide balan ce of down p ayment and cl
Sign documents.
Loan funding.
Recording oftitle.
Receive keys from sales p rofessional.
Move in!
Obtaining Financing
ge company.
a loan offic er.
tion.
application
re-approval.
sted documen tation.
aisal. ng.
proval.
Financing
Working With a Lender
Working With a Lender Will Help You:
•
Determine theprice range that you canafford.
Understand th e different types of loan s available and the types of programs you may qualify for
(particularly if you are a first-timehome buyer).
Estimate thedown payment and closingcosts on the property youare interes ted in.
Determine what your month ly housing payment will b e.
Get pre-approved so that your offer is more attrac tive to sellers.
Obtaining a Loan:
The Application. A
Loan Submission.
Loan Approval. Loan
nderw riting, requires that all documents have been subm itted
and generally takes 24 to 72 hours. All parties ar e notified ofthe approva l and any loa n conditions that
must be satisfied before the loan canclose.
Closing. Once all parties have si gned the loan documents, the funds arwired. At t his point, the
borrower finishes the loa n process andbuys the pr operty.
Mortgage Loan Checklist
Be Prepared
In order to expedite the mortgage loanprocess, pl ease be sureyou bring ev erything applicable on th is list to yo ur meeting:
Contracts
Copy of Sales Contract (o n the purchase of your ne w home)
Copy of Sales Contract an d certified c opy of Closi ng Statement (on the sale of your present home)
Residence History
Past 24 months of residen ce with complete addresse s and dates.
If currently renting, lan dlord's nameand contact information.
Employment History
Employers for the past tw o years withcomplete add resses and dates.
W2 forms (most recent two years)
Tax returns w ith all sche dules (most recent two ye ars)
If self-employed, YTD pro fit and loss statement an d current balance sheet.
If you have gaps in emplo yment, be pre pared to exp lain.
Accounts
Copies of most recent sta tements (3 mo nths) for al l loans and credit cards with current balances.
Copies of most recent ban k statements (3 months) f or all accoun ts, stock br okerages, mutual funds,
IRAs, pension s, etc.
Current Real Estate
Property addresses with e stimated market values.
Outstanding loan balances (bring copyof recent lo an statement)
Amount of mon thly payment .
Amount of mon thly rental income (copyof rental ag reements)
Personal Property
Net cash value of your in surance.
Year, make an d value of a ll vehicles.
Value of your furniture a nd personal property.
Value of anyadditional p roperty used to procure l oan.
If Applicable
Copy of divorce papers.
Certificate of eligibilit y & DD214 (for VA only)
Copy of drivers license a nd Social Security Card ( for FHA only)
Property Inspection
Once Under Contract
As part of th e sales cont ract, you have the right to inspect th e mechanical , electrical, plumbing, a nd structural
portions of the property along with any concerns t hat you haveabout anythi ng that affects the prope rty. In
short, the property inspe ction is for things that you cannot see or things that require further inve stigation.
Be present during the ins pection so that the inspe ctor may poin t out any co ncerns aboutthe property and also answer any questions that you have. Th ey will give you an itemized report f or your revie w.
If repairs are needed, c onfer with yo ur Sales Ass ociate to und erstand the terms in thepurchase con tract.
Square Footage — The initial property m easurement i s for the pur pose of marketing, may no t be exact,and is not for loanvaluation or other purposes. If exact square footage, or the p roperty bound ary, is a co ncern, the property should be indepe ndently measured or surve yed prior to the inspect ion deadline.
Pre-Closing Buyer Checklist
Understanding the Final Phase
You have a right to do a "walk-through" on the pro perty beforeclosing.
Prior to closing, we will both receivea copy of y our Settlemen t Statement, which your Sales Associa te can
review with you. This wil l indicate th e amount you will need tobring to cl osing.
Bring certified funds to closing, in the form of w ired funds or a cashier's check, madepayable to t he title
company. Always work dire ctly with the title compa ny's known co ntact inform ation to avoid wire fraud .
If jointly purchasing and one of you w ill not be a t closing, wewill need a power of attorney form s igned.
You may grant anyone you designate pow er of attorn ey to act as your agent a t closing. If neither of you will
be at the closing, you ma y be able to sign the clo sing documents in advance or arrangeme nts can be m ade
for a notary to come to y ou.
Please bringyour driver' s license toclosing for identificatio n, as you wi ll be signing legal docum ents.
Finalize Home owners Insur ance. You will need a cer tificate of your paid ins urance premiu m at closing .
Check with yo ur lender to see fi you are having yo ur insuranceescrowed and included inyour mortgag e payment.
Notify applicable compani es of your ne w address in order for accounts to be setup/transferred accord ingly and to assurecontinued s ervice.
Home Warranty & Insurance
Protecting Your Investment
sura nce through
a federal pro gram. Flood insurance maybe purchase d as a separate policy. B e sure to have your insur ance agent check to see fi the prope rty is in a flood zone.
Home Warranty
As an additio nal benefit, some sellers provide a H ome Protectio n Plan for t he buyer. This coverage i s good
for one year on selected items, such as: central h eating & air,interior pl umbing and built-in appli ances. If the
home you choose does not have a Home W arranty, you can acquire the coverage yourself, ask your Sales
Associate for more detail s.
Discover the Difference With Us
Why Work With a ONE Sotheby's International Realty Agent?
Best Local Agents
Not everyonecan be a ONE Sotheby's In ternational Realty agent. Our agents have a well-d eserved repu tation
for professio nalism and s ervice that keeps clients coming back. Unlike most local brokerages, we are a collaborative gr oup, working together to share market knowledge, p ricing and negotiation in sight, and
professional connections that help you in your pro perty searchand at the n egotiating table.
Collaborative and Connected Network
Our clients h ave a huge a dvantage by being connect ed to a collaborative gro up of local agents. Agent s at
most brokerages operate i ndividually w ithout colla borating withothers. Our agents meet weekly to sh are
market knowle dge, includi ng off-market opportuniti es, recent sales that are n't yet public, and stori es of
what's happening in the m arket now. Beyond our loc al offices, o ur connectio ns with 1,400 top agents in
our 30 offices along Flor ida's East Co ast, and wit h Sotheby's International Realty® affiliates aroun d the world, provid es us insigh t into broader market tre nds and poten tial opportu nities, wherever you may be looking to buy.
Sotheby's - An Iconic Brand
Since 1744, S otheby's has sold their client's most valuable treasures. The preeminent auction house expanded to create the So theby's International Rea lty® brand, recognized gl obally for un matched qual ity of service an d expertise. The strengthof the bran d helps opendoors adding credibility to your offe r.
Passion, Experience & Reputation
Experts Throughout Florida's East Coast and Around the World
ONE Sotheby's Internation al Realty is one
of the most prominent and influential real
estate firms in Florida. With more tha n
1,400 agents in 30 office s along Florida's
East Coast, w e proudly re present all
property types and price points.
ONE Sotheby's Internation al Realty
associates are recognized as industry
leaders withdeep local k nowledge,
providing the same qualit y service at all
market levels. When buyin g or sellinga
home along Florida's East Coast and
beyond, we are at your se rvice.
Distinguished Connections
The Network's Worldwide Strength
1,100
Offices Worldwide
83
Countries & Territories Sales Associates
26,500
The Sotheby’s Internation al Realty® brand was esta blished to co nnect the fi nest real estate companie s to the
most prestigious clientel e in the world. Today our network boasts more than 26,000 affiliated indepe ndent sales associates, located in over 1,00 0 offices, i n 81 countries and territ ories worldwide, placing over 10,000
referrals every year. Our network members utilize innovation with relevant reach to assist clients’ in the most unique way.
Helping our clients navig ate the worldof real est ate is what truly helps s et us apart. Another diff erentiator is our ability to connect bu yers and sellers globally . Our referral system boa sts hundreds of “connecti ons” per month coming from two cha nnels, realtyand auction . With a dedicated liaiso n between theSotheby’s
Auction Houseand Sotheby ’s Internatio nal Realty, we are able to help unite thousands of buyers with the properties our network re presents.
Nothing compares to what's next.
This gu ide isa sepa rate resource and doesn't modify or addto you r existing a greemen ts wit h youragent. We hope it he lps you throu gh a successful home buying exper ience. ©2024 ONE Sot heby'sInterna tional Realty . All rights reserv ed. Sotheby's Intern ational Real ty® andthe So theby' s Inter national Real ty Logo are s ervicemarks licensed to S otheby' s Inter national Real ty Aff iliates LLC and used withpermiss ion. ONE Soth eby'sInterna tional Realty fullysuppor ts the principles o f the Fair HousingAct and the Equal Opportunity Ac t. Each franc hise is inde pendent ly owne d and operate d. Anyservic es or product s provided by indepe ndentl y owned and operated franc hiseesare not prov ided by , affi liated with or relat ed toSotheby 's Inte rnational Re alty Affiliat es LLCnor any of it s affi liated companies. Th e information contained her ein isdeemed accura te but not guarantee d. Pricing s ubjectto chan ge without no tice.This c ommunicationhas bee n sentto a g eneral market segment and pursuant t o theapplica ble rules, is not intended to be a solicitatio n to any rec ipient who may have entered into an agreement with another broker . We ar e happy to workwith them and coope rate fully.