Joan Andre

Every week, we ask a real estate professional for their thoughts on some of housing’s most pressing issues. This week, we talked with Joan Andrè, a broker associate with Douglas Elliman.

Miami Agent (MA): How important is your website to your business?

Joan Andrè (JA): I think my website is extremely important to my business.  Since so many people shop and buy property online now my web site is the best introduction via  Internet. Sometimes you don’t physically meet your buyer until closing and sometimes never. I bought a beachfront home in the outer bank for my birthday seven years ago, sight unseen, and didn’t meet the Realtor until after closing. The entire transaction was done online – the scouting for a second home, the viewing, obtaining financing, hiring an out of state attorney to close and getting insurance! I first saw the agent and the house one month after I closed!

MA: Luxury is a big market in Miami. What do you think the area’s high-end market will look like in 2016? Will the pace slow down?

 JA: The luxury market in Miami has always been hot, but it’s been on fire in the recent years. There is a high demand for waterfronts and properties with large lots. Luxury buyers today want a turn key property. No longer do they walk and say I can do this or I want to do that…they want it done to their taste and they will keep looking at the property until they find the one that suits their wants as well as their needs. School districts are still a major concern of buyers. With the insurance rates going up, only the very wealthy can afford waterfront in today’s market. Many luxury buyers are opting to live off water and join the yacht club for their marine interest and dockage. I think the pace will slow down this coming year and prices will level off a little due to the global economy, rising interest rates and the increase of inventory. Sellers realize that now is the time to make their move.

MA: Do you think Miami is moving away from being a vacation spot and becoming more a place to live?

JA: Miami is a city where one can live and work in an international market. The city is in close proximity to South America and has a major air hub, which makes travel to other countries easy. We have had some of the highest single-family sale prices on record this last year. We also have some of the highest rental prices, especially in furnished vacation rentals. I happen to manage and own several furnished turn key vacation rentals in the Coconut Grove area and our occupancy and costs have been at an all time high.

I think Miami will always be a balanced blend between a vacation spot and a place to live. It offers one everything they need in both markets: location, proximity to air hub, sandy beaches, night life, cultural events, arts, casinos, theater, boating and other water sports, good restaurants, good schools, great shops and friendly people. What more is there? Oh yes, and did I mention the weather?

For a more in depth report of the real estate market, please call or email me for Douglas Elliman’s outstanding and detailed real estate market report for 2015. Here is just one of our luxury real estate offerings: