The answer to the ‘why’ question above is: because it is accurate and will save your precious time! Now let me explain to you why. Let’s start with definition first. MLS stands for Multiple Listing Service.

The original MLS started back in late 1800s, when real estate brokers would regularly meet at their local associations to exchange information about properties they were selling. They agreed to compensate other brokers to sell those properties and the first MLS was born.

Today there are over 800 MLSs in United States. The brokers share information on properties for sale and rent that they have listed and invite all other brokers to find buyers in exchange for compensation. Sellers greatly benefit from the increased exposure to their property. Buyers are able to get information on all available properties by working with just one broker.

How do I access MLS?

The easiest way to gain access to MLS is to reach out to your local broker or real estate agent. Your agent can set up automatic feeds directly from MLS based on criteria you prefer (price, area, type of home, number of bedrooms, specific school zones, size of lot, etc.) Ten minute conversation with a Pink Elephant Real Estate Agent will save you dozens of waisted hours of search on the internet! Unfortunately many online search engines (Zillow, Trulia, Realtor, etc.) are full of bait-and-switch listings, misleading listings, incomplete listings and non-existing listings designed and used by real estate agents as a lead generation tool.

Many new home buyers do not realize what their property taxes will be in the upcoming year. They often assume that it will be the same as the previous owner, or just slightly higher. This is an incorrect assumption!

When you buy a new home, you initially inherit property taxes of the previous owner. That owner may have purchased the property over twenty years ago and had applied multiple exemptions that you may not be eligible for. Also due to market value change and millage rate (also known as the tax rate) change, your property taxes will change.

Here is the best way to estimate taxes on your future home or newly purchased home:

Step 1. Look up your property FOLIO number first. Type the address of the house (located in Miami-Dade County) you would like to purchase in the text box on top excluding city, state, and zip. Example “123 Main Street”.

https://www.miamidade.gov/Apps/PA/propertysearch/#/

Step 2. Copy the folio number of the house and then use this free online tool called Tax Estimator for Miami-Dade County.

https://www.miamidade.gov/Apps/PA/PAOnlineTools/Taxes/TaxEstimator.aspx

Please keep in mind: the estimate is only as accurate as the information entered and it is only an approximation.