South Florida On The Market

The Miami real estate market continues to outperform the nation following a record sales year in 2011. Limited supply and heightened demand have fueled robust price appreciation in Miami-Dade County during the fi rst quarter of 2012, despite short sales and REOs (bankowned properties) continuing to account for a signifi cant percentage of closed home sales. Median and Average Sales Prices The median sales price for single-family homes in Miami- Dade County rose 14 percent to $174,799 in the fi rst quarter of 2012 compared to the same time last year, according to the 25,000- member MIAMI Association of REALTORS and the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS) systems. The median sales price for condominiums was $129,500, a 38 percent increase year-over-year. The average sales prices for single-family homes and condominiums increased 26 percent to $335,072 and 29 percent to $257,346, respectively, compared to last year. Singl

  Short-Term Improvements The first step to improving your credit score is to know what is on the credit histories maintained by the major credit bureaus and to make sure the information is accurate. Even the best handling of credit can be ruined by mistakes or false information because your credit score is calculated based on the data in your credit history. You have to pay to see your credit score but not the credit history. Once each year you can get a free copy from each of the credit bureaus from the FTC-authorized provider, Annual Credit Reports (see References). If you find incorrect information on your credit history, you can initiate a dispute or corrective action online at the website of the appropriate credit bureau (Experian.com, Equifax.com or TransUnion.com). There are a couple of other things you can do in the near term to improve your credit score. One is to refrain from applying for new credit accounts or closing accounts. Doing this occ