Posts from November 2025

Florida's post‑Surfside safety reforms changed how condos operate, fund, and disclose building maintenance. Condominiums three stories or higher must undergo milestone structural inspections and maintain a Structural Integrity Reserve Study (SIRS), with funding requirements for key components. For buyers, this means better transparency—and sometimes higher monthly dues or special assessments when associations are catching up.

Before you fall in love with the view, read the documents: most recent budget, reserve schedule, SIRS, year‑to‑date financials, board meeting minutes, and any notices about inspections or assessments. Ask your lender and insurance agent whether the building qualifies for financing and standard coverage; some buildings with large deferred projects may narrow your options or require larger down payments.

Higher dues aren't "bad" if they reflect healthy reserves and proactive maintenance—those buildings often age better and attract stable...

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Waterfront living is a dream for many, and due diligence is your best friend. Start with FEMA's Flood Map Service Center (an official source) to identify a property's current flood zone. Zones like AE or VE generally indicate higher risk (and typically a lender requirement for flood insurance), while X zones indicate lower risk—though "low risk" is not "no risk."

What to pull: the property's map panel, Base Flood Elevation (BFE), and any Letters of Map Amendment (LOMA) on file. Ask whether an elevation certificate is available, and have your insurance broker price a policy early. Premiums can vary widely based on elevation, distance to water, and building characteristics such as first‑floor height and flood openings.

For homes near canals, rivers, or the beachside, also consider sea‑level and storm‑surge exposure, drainage patterns, and whether the structure is elevated on piers or a raised slab. Simple resilience upgrades—flood vents, improved grading, bac...

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Rate headlines can feel like a rollercoaster, but here's a practical way to think about them: each half‑point (0.50%) change in interest rate shifts a typical monthly principal‑and‑interest payment by roughly $30–$35 per $100,000 financed. On a $400,000 loan, that's about $120–$140 per month—enough to affect qualification, comfort, or both.

How do buyers respond? Many pair smart pricing with strategies like temporary (2‑1) or permanent buydowns, where sellers or builders contribute to reduce the rate. These make sense when you expect to stay put several years and want the certainty of lower payments now. Alternatively, a closing‑cost credit may be better if you're prioritizing cash to close.

What about timing the market? Focus less on "calling the bottom" and more on "owning the budget." Get a fully underwritten pre‑approval, check insurance quotes early (wind and flood if applicable), and understand HOA/condo dues. Then decide whether a buydown or...

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A Thanksgiving turkey has an uncanny way of teaching real estate lessons. It struts around confidently, makes a lot of noise, overestimates its curb appeal, and—if history is any guide—waits just a little too long to make a move.

In the spirit of this noble (and delicious) bird, The Cameron Compass brings you a few holiday truths from the turkey side of the table.

A turkey reminds us that timing matters. Sellers who wait until "after the holidays" sometimes discover they've missed the sweet spot—kind of like a turkey who suddenly realizes everyone's gathered around the table…with knives. Buyers, meanwhile, who hesitate on a great property may find someone else swoops in faster than Aunt Linda going for the last crescent roll.

A turkey also knows the value of presentation. Feathers fluff...

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Wondering whether home prices are finally softening on Florida's east‑central coast? As of late 2025, public dashboards show a slight year‑over‑year dip in average values across both counties, with longer days on market than a year ago. Translation: buyers have a bit more breathing room than they did in the frenzy of 2021–2023, while sellers still benefit from long‑term price appreciation and steady population growth in the region.

What's driving the shift? Several factors are at play: mortgage rates that eased from mid‑year highs, a gradual rise in active listings, and a return to more balanced pricing after the pandemic spike. County‑level stats also show meaningful variation by property type. Single‑family homes in entry and mid‑price brackets are moving when they're clean, fairly priced, and well‑presented. Some older condos with higher monthly dues or upcoming reserve requirements may take longer to attract offers.

For buyers, this environmen...

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