How I Can Help You Buy A Home

Whether it’s your first home or if you’re an experienced buyer, purchasing a home is a complex process.

By working with me, you’ll find a home in the neighborhood where you want to live, one that fits your budget and meets your goals for features, quality and value. Once you’ve found the home that’s right for you, I will guide you through the process of making an offer; negotiating the terms of the sale; getting your potential purchase inspected, repaired and appraised; and closing the sale.

When you work with me, you will:

  • Be more likely to find the home that meets all your criteria
  • Lessen the amount of time it will take to find your home
  • Understand all the terms, processes and documents used when buying your home
  • Have up-to-date market information that will allow you to make informed decisions
  • Have a skilled negotiator working on your behalf, one who is committed to looking after your best interests
  • Enjoy peace of mind, knowing that all the details of your purchase are being taken care of by an experienced and knowledgeable professional

Home Buying Tips

  • Get a copy of your credit report and correct any errors. The Fair Credit Reporting Act guarantees you access to your credit report for free from each of the three nationwide credit reporting companies — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion — every 12 months. AnnualCreditReport.com is the only authorized source for obtaining the free credit report you are entitled to by law.
  • Reduce your consumer debt — pay down credit card balances.
  • Assemble a cash down payment.
  • Determine how much you can afford to pay for a home using calculator number 5 ("Affordability Calculator") found behind the "Financial Tools" tab on this page.
  • Decide how much you are willing to spend for a home (different from how much you can afford).
  • Use our glossary on this page to get familiar with basic terms used in real estate transactions.
  • Shop for a mortgage loan on the Internet or with lenders you've used in the past. Don't forget to consider local lenders here in Florida.
  • Get pre-approved or at least pre-qualified for a mortgage loan. Getting pre-approval from a bank or other financial institution is imperative before beginning the search for a home. It is important to understand the price range you’re able to afford and specific aspects of your financial situation that may determine your eligibility. When you make an offer on any property a pre-approval or pre-qualification letter also gives you more opportunity to negotiate the price with the seller.
  • Investigate neighborhoods where you want to look for a house.
  • Select two or three neighborhoods that meet your requirements.
  • Visit homes for sale with one of our Realtors® and make notes. If you are a registered user on this web site, you can add your notes to specific properties on the property's "details" page.
  • Get your agent's help in evaluating the asking price of homes you like. Your agent will be able to provide you with recent "comparable" property sales, and if you hire your agent as a "buyer's agent" he or she may prepare a competitive market analysis for you.
  • Decide how much to offer for the home you want.
  • With the help of your real estate agent, write an Offer to Purchase. Complete all mortgage loan application requirements.
  • Hire an inspector to examine your prospective home.
  • Accompany your inspector during the inspection.
  • Get agreement on repairs to be made by the Seller and then inspect repairs and handle other details prior to closing day.
  • If your purchase is contingent upon a mortgage, do not make other purchases that will affect your credit rating, such as cars, boats, etc. until after closing day.
  • At closing, submit wire transfer for the down payment and pick up the deed for your home.

Below are explanations of two different types of “pre” letters that can be obtained from a bank or other financial institution:

  • Pre-Qualification letters are given as informal and tentative approvals for buyers. The financial institution issuing the letter would have taken information regarding the buyers’ financial situation in order to determine eligibility; however, they would have NOT verified the accuracy of the information. Since the financial institution would not perform a credit check of the buyer at this point they are in a position to withdraw their approval if additional financial (or other significant) factors are later uncovered. There is no charge to obtain Pre-qual letters.
  • Pre-Approval letters are formal agreements and offer buyers’ a guarantee of loan approval for a specific amount. The financial institution issuing such a letter may or may not charge for this service. They will verify credit history, employment status, assets and liabilities to help determine the amount of credit they are able to offer. If you are a serious buyer, this is the suggested “pre” letter to obtain. Keep in mind that even with a pre-approval letter, your bank may deny the loan on the specific house you wish to purchase. As one example, banks will deny the loan for a specific property if the appraisal is significantly less than the sale price.