South Florida Home Tips

If you've called us after finding out mid-renovation that your older Miami home has to meet new elevation requirements, you're not alone. It's one of the first things we hear: "Nobody told me about this." This post is our attempt to change that. No scare tactics, honest answers to the questions we get most. Plus, a clear picture of what the process actually looks like and what it costs. A properly elevated South Florida home — two-story construction with raised entry steps is

A New Permit Exemption Is Coming. Here's What You Need to Know Before Starting a Home Project. Entrance to the Miami-Dade County Herbert S. Saffir Permitting and Inspection Center. Beginning July 1, 2026, Florida's new HB 803 permit law will change how some small residential projects are handled across the state. Many homeowners have heard that "permits are no longer required for projects under $7,500." While there is some truth to that statement, it is also incomplete. The n

You bought your house. You love it. Maybe you even renovated it. And then one day — during a sale or a random inspection — someone pulls up your property record and finds a problem you didn't even know existed. Unpermitted work. In Miami-Dade, this isn't a rare case. It's one of the most common issues homeowners face. This can stop a real estate transaction cold, trigger daily fines, or leave you responsible for work that a previous owner did years before you moved in. Here's

South Florida homeowners are showing more interest than ever in adding an Accessory Dwelling Unit, also known as an ADU, to their properties. These small additions are becoming popular driven by several converging forces. · Housing costs remain high · Economic pressures · Population growth and statewide regulatory changes Some people want a private space for a parent or adult child. Others are looking for a quiet home office away from the main house. M

Living in South Florida means enjoying sunshine nearly year-round, but it also comes with one major challenge: the heat. Your roof isn’t just a finishing touch to your home; it's a critical factor in how comfortable and energy-efficient your living space will be. In fact, studies show that the wrong roofing choice can cause your cooling costs to skyrocket, while the right one can cut energy bills by 20% or more. Infographic on the impact different roof types have on the tempe

Modern box-style house featuring clean lines, large windows, and a minimalist design, set against an also simplistic green landscape. Let's face it, the "box house" has emerged as the standard design for contemporary homes across the country, particularly in thriving real estate markets like Miami. Once groundbreaking, clean lines, flat roofs, and cube-like shapes are now almost to be expected. As an architect with two decades of experience in both the NYC and South Florida m

Whether you're selling your house in the fiercely competitive Miami real estate market or the incredibly competitive New York City areas, a strategic makeover will make your house stand out. In contrast, not all renovations have the same return on investment (ROI). Over the span of 25 years of architectural experience in both cities, I’ve seen firsthand which updates make buyers bite and which ones leave money on the table. 1. The Kitchen Is Still King A well-thought-out kitc