Modern South Florida Homes


"Too many people think only of their profit. But business opportunity seldom knocks on the door of self-centered people. No customer ever goes to a store merely to please the storekeeper."  – Kazuo Inamori, Japanese philantropist and founder of Kyocera


FREE HOW-TO GUIDE: BUYING AND SELLING FLORIDA REAL ESTATE

The process of buying and selling Florida real estate differs drastically from real estate transactions in many other countries, and in several aspects also from those in other US states.

As a brief introduction, Tobias Kaiser has written a short guide "Buying and Selling Florida Real Estate" with many tips on how to navigate a real estate transaction. This brochure, based on 20 years of practice, is in its 14th edition and available as a free PDF in English or German. Topics:

  • Property Types: Residential, Commercial, Business Opportunities
  • The sequence of a typical US real estate purchase or sale
  • Agents, Brokers and Realtors®: how to select a real estate agent, what service should you expect, how one Realtor can introduce you to every available property
  • Representation: what to watch out for if you want your interests represented
  • From offer to contract: who writes the offer, when is a contract in effect, where do payments go
  • Foreclosures, Short Sales and Auctions: chances and risks 
  • Financing: how to choose a lender (or lately: how to find a lender)
  • Building- and other Inspections
  • Immigration: which purchases may qualify a buyer for a visa or a Green Card
  • Taxes: the benefits of advanced tax planning
  • Closings: what can you do to ensure a smooth transfer of ownership
  • Broker or not: are there advantages of working with a Realtor®? Better work with several or just one?
If you would like to receive the unabbreviated version of the Guide as a PDF in English or German, please contact Tobias; he will gladly send it to you.


IN BRIEF

In case you don't feel like requesting and reading the free information, it will  help if you follow these rules:
  • Put your cards on the table: say what you want and what you expect.
  • If you expect results, be loyal. Work with only one broker at a time and don't "broker-shop" around. You don't have to; each broker has access to every regional property for sale.
  • Never contact a seller or his broker on your own if you work with a Buyer's Broker.
  • Utilize recommended professional advisors such as attorneys or tax advisors for all major questions.
  • When in Rome, please do as the Romans do.

Excerpt: VISITORS RIGHTS AND IMMIGRATION
                  
Non-US-citizens can enjoy and visit their US-properties – residential or commercial – without too many restrictions or difficulty. Individual visits will be limited in duration, and from a taxation perspective, certain time-limits are important to observe.

Contrary to what some attorneys and real estate brokers promise, there are no guarantees for the decisions of the immigration office USCIS, especially after 9/11. Please note that the purchase of an individual residential property does not qualify for a long-term visa or permanent residency, the "Green Card". However, when specific criteria in the purchase of investment real estate are fulfilled, a long-term visa or even a Green Card can reasonably be expected.

Especially interesting are the EB-5 Investor Visa and the E-2 Investor Treaty Visa.

An EB-5 visa, path to a Green Card or permanent residency, can be obtained in Monroe and Miami-Dade with an investment of $500,000 and the creation of at least 10 full-time positions. The investor can, but does not have to be actively involved in the business.

An E-2 visa is valid for up to five years, requires a “substantial investment” ($90,000 - $100,000 equity have qualified several investors in the past) in an “active ongoing business”, which must be “at risk” (no raw land, for example), and the investor has to be actively involved in the day-to-day operation. An E-2 may be renewed as long as the underlying original investment continues to exist and operate.

If you are a non-US resident considering buying US property, please speak with your broker about your plans. US real estate brokers are not allowed or qualified to give legal advice or to practice law. It is vital to your success to consult a recommended immigration specialist prior to any purchase.
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If you would like to read about buying and selling Florida real estate in more detail, please click here to request your free unabbreviated copy of the guide.

Please note: All information contained on this page and in the guide comes from experienced and reliable sources but is not warranted. It does not constitute legal counsel and should never replace professional advice. Copyright ©1996-2010 Tobias Kaiser/Kaiser Associates Inc. Reproduction, distribution or use, in part or whole, prohibited without written permission.