Top Tips for House Hunting

Online Hunting for a new home online a is a great place to start your search but keep in mind that you don’t see everything. Real estate agents are great at highlighting the features of a house listing online but to make the most of your time, keep these four things in mind:

Identify your Housing Needs

Preferences are important when house searching. A house may not have everything you want but it will have most of the things. Be realistic about pricing and keep in mind the must-have items that will definitely be needed because this will help narrow your search.

Stay up to Date

When you start your search, make sure you go to sites with up-to-date listings directly from the multiple...

Wants vs Needs When Buying a Home – Learning the Difference

One of the first questions that a real estate agent will ask new buyers is, “What do you want in your new home”? It might seem like an easy question to answer but identifying your “wants’ from your “needs” is an important aspect of home seeking.

Needs

A need is something that is truly essential to how you and your family live. For instance, if you have a family of four, you truly can’t live in a studio-style apartment; bedrooms become a real need in house hunting. By contrast, while having an acre of land would be nice, do you truly have to have that much space in your yard?

Make a List

One way to focus your thought is to create a list of features and amenities that...

Tips to Get the Best Price when Buying a House

Buying a home is typically the largest financial purchase most people make in their lifetimes. Of course you want to get the best possible deal, but with the desirable properties moving quickly on and off the market, how can you put yourself in the best position to get the best price when making that offer?

By preparing properly, you can be in a great position to write a good offer and have it accepted.

• Get a preapproval before you go house-hunting

• Write an offer based on home value and not list price

• Gather information about why the seller is moving, their motivation

• Ask for extras, such as washer/dryer or refrigerator

• Consider removing some contingencies or offer better terms...

The Difference Between a Pre-Qualification vs. PreApproval

There is plenty of real estate terms used in transactions. Needless-to-say it can be confusing for both buyers and sellers trying to navigate the process. The home loan process might feel overwhelming and difficult to understand. Both buyers and sellers find terms like “PreQualification” and “Pre-Approval” used interchangeably, it’s no wonder they find themselves wondering how to proceed.

Pre-Qualification

The first step in obtaining a home loan is to meet with a lender and discussing their financial situation. The lender will discuss income, job stability, debt and credit. Once they have performed a basic review of the qualifications and run credit, they will issue a Pre-Qualification Letter to the...

5 Tips for a Smooth Moving Day

Regardless of whether you’re moving across town or across the globe, moving day can be stressful. Often people find themselves scrambling to get everything done and make sure it’s done correctly. By following a few simple steps, you can make your moving day go smoothly and without the typical headaches.

1. Hire the Right Company – The easiest way to ensure your moving day goes smoothly is to do your homework ahead of time. Clearly communicate your needs and expectations, check references and keep a record of all conversations and estimate.

2. Have Your Packing Done Ahead of Time – Don’t wait until the last minute to get your portion of the packing done.

3. Check the Work Order before They Start – Mistakes and misunderstandings happen...

Have you been dreaming of a 2nd home? You are not alone especially if you are thinking of coming south to Florida. Florida is the #1 choice for people looking to purchase a 2nd home. 

Why wouldn't Florida be #1? The weather, easy travel access, beautiful beaches and the largest number of golf courses make it an easy choice. Dining outdoors at night is a popular activity too. It is hard to imagine that it is winter. 

According to the Florida Association of Realtors, Florida has the largest number of second homes – 1.1 million properties – followed by California, New York, Texas,...

Tips For 1st Time Investors

It’s never too late to begin investing in real estate…..it’s never too early either. Real estate offers a solid investment opportunity which can provide not only an income stream but long term value appreciation as well. Regardless of the ups and downs of the market, people will always need housing, so real estate will remain a good way to create wealth.

By understanding some of the basics of real estate investing, you can begin to create your own plan. Here are 5 tips for first time real estate investors.

1. Use Leverage -  Learn about options other than your own savings for these costs.

2. Budget...

Never Skip A Home Inspection

Buying a home can be expensive. It might feel like once you’ve entered escrow, you have new things to pay for at every turn. While the fees are normal and customary, if you don’t buy a home often, you might wonder if they are all necessary.

One expense that is often discussed is inspections. What inspections do you need and how should you choose the right person to perform them. During the home inspection contingency period, you have a right to perform as many investigations as necessary to determine the condition of the property you are buying.

Typically you will want to make sure there are a home inspection and a termite inspection. Other options could include a mold inspection, geological survey,...

Florida Ranks 5th On Most Tax-Friendly States

When buying a home, there are a lot of factors that come into play- climate, cost of living, lifestyle, and taxes. Fortunately, Florida provides the great weather, all of the activities that you desire, an active lifestyle, and most importantly, a favorable tax environnent Kiplinger listed the 10 most tax-friendly states for retirees, and there is no surprise the Sunshine State made it to the top 5 among other states like Georgia, Nevada, South Dakota, and Pennsylvania. 

Florida exempts Social Security benefits, inheritance tax, estate tax and we don't have a state income tax. The lower taxes are huge...