Bill Hahne is the broker/owner of Hahne Real Estate in Miami/Ft. Lauderdale.
Every week, we ask a Miami real estate professional for their thoughts on the top three stories from the week before.
This week, we talked with Bill Hahne, the broker/owner of Hahne Real Estate in Miami/Ft. Lauderdale. Hahne has been in real estate since 1999, specializes in Miami Beach properties and personally sold $10 million in real estate in 2012, and he’s also a member of the Master Brokers Forum.
Miami Agent (MA): Our featured content on top producers continues to generate interest from readers. What two qualities would you say an agent needs to have to reach top producer status?
Bill Hahne (BH): To be disciplined and to follow a regular schedule. I’m a big proponent of the Mike Ferry coaching program. If you follow a strict schedule and you’re disciplined, you’re going to be successful.
You have to be prospecting for new business every day. Part of prospecting is continuing to take care of and service your existing clients. My existing clients are the most valuable part of my business; that’s my database. They continually refer new business to me, both buyers and sellers.
MA: It’s always inevitable that, regardless of how well the market is going, some analysts will have contrarian perspectives; how confident are you with where the market is now and where it’s heading in 2013?
BH: The market is doing nothing but continuing to move forward and move up; our business here on Miami Beach is extremely strong, with people buying their second and third homes, and the banks are lending, making it attractive for not just a wealth cash buyer, but a person coming from the Northeast who wants to put 30 percent down and buy a second home, we now have lenders that are willing to finance that product.
Especially here on Miami Beach, we’re seeing a shortage of things to buy; inventory is at an all-time low, so we’re starting to see multiple offers come in on properties again.
MA: What are three or four of the markets in Miami that are generating the most interest among buyers?
BH: The high-end ocean-front condominium market has incredible demand. The medium-price, second-home market on Miami Beach is going through the roof. But we’re also starting to see a surge of activity in the Biscayne Corridor on the Miami side.
Miami Beach is a vibrant community. It’s walkable. It’s a pedestrian-friendly community. People can buy in Miami Beach without having to necessarily keep a car here; I think that makes it especially attractive. It’s not an area where you have to drive all over the place. Also, Miami Beach is coming into its own with it’s own cultural scene. We’ve got more and more top chefs from around the world opening up restaurants in Miami Beach; everything is pointing to Miami Beach becoming a more dynamic place to live, and it’s certainly a playground for many people.