By Charles Baran

Purchasing a new home is never easy, even in the best of times. And these days, with rising property taxes, fewer insurance companies to choose from, mortgage rates hovering at 7% and HOAs increasing yearly, it’s become more stressful than ever. But fear not newbie home buyers, savvy realtor (and all-around nice guy) Matt Heinz has a few helpful tips that makes deciding to take the plunge a South Florida breeze.

Charles Baran: Hi Matt! What do you like best about being a realtor? You have a real passion for it.

Matt Heinz: I definitely do. Being able to find that perfect home or condo for someone is very exciting for me. It’s an emotional sale and when you see them find something they’ve been dreaming about for their entire lives, it’s really fulfilling.

Charles Baran: Prices along with mortgage rates have risen greatly in the past few years. Is this a good time to buy?

Matt Heinz: We’re in an interesting period right now. While interest rates have been higher in the past, they’re not the 2% and 3% rates we saw during the pandemic. As a result, there are a lot less buyers in the pool right now. People are waiting for the rates to drop. However, if you wait for the interest rates to drop, the buyer pool is likely going to be quite a bit larger. You’ll be competing against so many more buyers that you may miss out on getting the home of your dreams. I like to use the phrase, “date the rate, marry the home,” which basically means, buy the home of your dreams at the current interest rate and if rates go down in a couple of years, refinance.

Charles Baran: What advice can you give to first time home buyers?

Matt Heinz: A few things. First, keep an open mind. A lot of people, when buying their first home, assume that they want something specific, a certain number of square feet, a certain number of bedrooms/bathrooms, and when you show them exactly what they’re looking for, things change. For instance, someone who’s looking for a 2,000 square foot home, will see a 1,600 square open concept home and say…I love it!. I just tell them, “come see it!” The layout of a home can make a huge difference.

Second, there are a lot of different programs out there based on the city you are looking at that can help you with closing costs depending on your profession, specifically, if you’re a first responder, a teacher, or a nurse and you work full time, you can get up to $35,000 towards your closing costs (while funds last) which would only be due if you sold that property, refinanced, etc.

Charles Baran: What are common mistakes people make when purchasing a home?

Matt Heinz: I would say a common mistake people make is getting a little bit of tunnel vision. I always recommend making a list of things you’re not willing to negotiate on. Many times, location is on that list, a buyer may want walkability and access to the bars and restaurants without having to jump in a 15-minute UBER. Another buyer may want easy access to a freeway because of where they work. Make a list of nonnegotiable items and then let me do my search. But if it’s a square footage requirement, I can play around with that.

Charles Baran: When a buyer is close to deciding on a property, what are 3 or 4 things that they should keep an eye out for as they are walking through the space. Do you have a checklist you can share?

Matt Heinz: That’s a great question. I always recommend doing a full inspection. A wind mitigation report and a 4-point inspection are required in order to get insurance. The things that I’d be looking for if I was in the market to buy a home would be the pipes, are they cast iron or are they PVC. (PVC is the new standard and when cast iron needs to be replaced, they are replaced with PVC.) What’s the age of the roof? That’s very important, not only because of the storms and leaking but also for your insurance. Does the property have hurricane impact windows? There’s another phrase people use in Florida, “either you have termites or you’re gonna have them.” So, get the termites checked. Some evidence of termites around the house is not abnormal. The last thing I want to mention is check the age of the air conditioning system. If it’s very, very old and hasn’t been maintained, that’s an expense you may have to lay out in a few years or so.

Charles Baran: Any other helpful hints to share?

Matt Heinz: Consider putting in a tankless water heater system. It’s compact and gets you extra closet space. When making improvements and upgrades, think about the resale value. A new buyer may not have the same taste as you, (heart-shaped bathtubs maybe?), so keeping things neutral is a safe bet. New kitchens and baths are usually the best ways to improve the aesthetics of your property while adding to the resale value. These are only my tips for resale value. At the end of the day, this is your home and you should do whatever makes you happy!

Charles Baran: Wilton Manors and Oakland Park have become very expensive. Can you fill us in on the new area or areas that everyone is moving to?

Matt Heinz: I’m showing lots of properties in Wilton Manors west of Andrews Avenue. Some people aren’t too familiar with that area of Wilton Manors. The lots are typically bigger, more affordable, and still very walkable to Wilton Drive. East Oakland Park, Lloyd Estates in Oakland Park, and Middle River Terrace, between Dixie and the high school, are all great, centrally located areas.

Charles Baran: When not selling real estate, what do you like to do?

Matt Heinz: I love the water. My partner Mark and I hang out at the beach a lot. We put a pool in our backyard and love having friends over. Also, we play tennis at Holiday Park on the clay courts. During the pandemic, we bought really nice bikes so we love to go biking. I’m an active person. That’s my main thing. Our dog’s name is Gracie. She’s a 14-year-old Weimaraner and weighs about 70 pounds. She is absolutely amazing, high strung with separation anxiety. She’s perfect! A fun fact about me, my sister has quadruplets, 2 boys and 2 girls, they’re going to be 8 and live in Arizona so I’m very much involved in their life. We’ve had them out here to Florida, it was a lot of fun.

Charles Baran: How can someone reach you and have you help them with their search for a new home?

Matt Heinz: I’m with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate. My phone number is (773) 230-5787 and my email is mattheinz@mattheinzre.com.  I am here to help with all real estate needs in the South Florida area!

Thanks Charles! It’s been great talking to you.