Ah, the art of getting a “deal” in South Florida real estate. It’s a world full of dreams, beachfront fantasies, and that irresistible temptation of scoring the perfect property under market value. But if you think that just happens by chance, let me assure you: It doesn’t. You need a real estate ninja—someone who knows the difference between a bargain and a boondoggle. Someone like… well, me.
Here’s the thing: I don’t take anything for granted. If a property looks too good to be true, I’m not the type to just cross my fingers and hope for the best. Nope. I investigate. I interrogate. I hunt for the truth like a detective in a gritty real estate noir. Over the years, I’ve developed a strategy that has helped me snag some incredible real estate deals, both for myself and my clients. Because if you want to own a dream home in Miami Beach or score a killer investment in Fort Lauderdale, you need to know how to work the system.
Step one? The Great Real Estate Screening. If you’re looking in places like Brickell, Coral Gables, or Sunny Isles Beach, there are going to be hundreds of properties on the market. So, I dive in and screen everything within your budget. It’s like sifting for gold—99% of what I find gets tossed aside, but I usually whittle it down to about 10 contenders. From there, I analyze comps (that’s real estate speak for “comparable properties”) from the past month to the last 180 days. I become a walking, talking encyclopedia of what every property in your area sold for, from ocean-view condos in South Beach to suburban gems in Boca Raton. I even memorize price per square foot (PSF) values, so I know what a reasonable deal looks like.
Now, I have two options: The first involves some old-fashioned hustle. I start making offers. Lots of them. One by one, I chip away, submitting offers until I find a seller who’s ready to take a haircut on their asking price. It’s a little time-consuming, sure, but the results can be pure magic. Once I get a sense of where sellers stand and how low they’re willing to go, I’m armed with insider knowledge.
But wait, there’s more. I set up automatic alerts for the area. I’m talking about emails that land in my inbox the moment a new property hits the market or a price drop is announced. My phone buzzes like a casino jackpot with every update. If a property is priced to sell—whether it’s a waterfront villa in Key Biscayne or a townhouse in Coconut Grove—I don’t hesitate. I’m on the phone faster than you can say “Biscayne Bay.” Sometimes, I’ll even submit an offer sight unseen at the most aggressive price I think will work. BAMO PRESTO, we’ve struck real estate gold.
Then, I race over to the property. If it’s as good as I thought, I’m ready to make the offer official. Sometimes, I’ll chat with the seller and their agent right then and there, turning negotiations into a high-stakes game of poker, but with more paperwork. Sellers appreciate action, and I’m all about locking down that deal before the rest of the world has even heard a whisper about it. In most cases, while other buyers are still checking their Zillow alerts or scheduling their first showing, I’m already in escrow, sitting pretty with built-in equity.
Because in South Florida real estate, from Miami to Fort Lauderdale and beyond, the early bird really does get the worm. And with a little bit of know-how, a sprinkle of strategy, and a whole lot of hustle, that worm could just be your dream property—at a dream price.
By Todd Nation of 1 Nation Realty
