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Popular posts from this blog

Preparing to Buy a Home

In my initial blog post I mentioned how much I love helping people find the perfect home, especially first-time buyers. Here, I am beginning a series that will take you through the entire home buying process, from where you are today to closing on your home. Even if you are months, or a year away from purchasing a home in Central Florida, there are steps you can take now to better prepare. Here's a look at how you can “get ready to get ready”. Get your credit in order.  Look up your credit score and check it for errors. Focus on making all your payments on time. A credit score of 580 or more can qualify you for a lower rate on a FHA loan . For our US veterans, a VA home loan may be available and most VA lenders will look for a credit score of 620+. A majority of home buyers will receive a conventional home loan and will need a credit score of 750 or higher. Do not make any major investments or purchases.  A lender will look at the bank statements for every applicable...

Rates vs. Price

Most real estate agents have experienced the frustration of seeing a buyer miss out on a home they loved because the buyer tried to negotiate $5,000 or $10,000 too much off of the price of a home. Of course, price is important, and no one will negotiate on your behalf harder than I when it comes time to buying a home in the Orlando area. But I also want you to know how significant the rate you pay on your mortgage has on your bottom line. It can demonstrate why rates are as important as price when buying a home. Let's say, for example, you offer $190,000 for a home listed for $200,000. and your offer is accepted. Congratulations, you just saved $10,000. Let's say you are able to get a $190,000 mortgage at a rate of 4.25% for 30 years. Your monthly payments would be about $935. Over the 30 years of that loan, you would pay back a total of $336,600. Now, if you could get the same loan at just .5% less at 3.75%, monthly payments would be about $880 per month. While that $...

6 "Must-Knows" Before Putting in an Offer for a Florida Home

You've got your credit in shape, know your budget and you are pre-qualified for a mortgage. You have a buyer's agent working for you and you've found a house that meets your criteria. Now it's game time. It is time to put in an offer. Here are some valuable pieces of information that can help you structure that offer. How long has the house been on the market?  Sellers of a house that has recently been listed is probably less likely to take an offer significantly less than the asking price. A seller whose house has been on the market for a long time may be more eager to negotiate. Why is the seller moving?  If they are transferring to a new job or need to sell to buy their next home, it can give you leverage. If they are just thinking about moving back North, they may be more firm in their price. How long have they lived in the home?  The longer they have lived in the home the less money they may owe on the property. This too may mean they can be more flexible on...