Sarasota, Bradenton, Florida home buying
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Getting Ready To Buy
Let's face it, buying a home can be stressful. Not only is it the biggest purchase you may make in a lifetime, but you have to take a look at goals, commitments, and lifestyle. There are many reasons people buy homes, and the steps they should follow will vary accordingly.
The home buying process and what the steps are from finding a home to closing on the home. I will go through an outline all the steps you will go through and what to watch out for. I will also show you how to avoid pitfalls that could cost you thousands of dollars. If you are not familiar with Sarasota, or Bradenton please feel free to use my community map.
Sarasota, Bradenton Home Buying Tips
Get pre-approved for a mortgage- In todays market it's very important to start the mortgage process before you start looking at homes. The lending guidelines have gotten really strict and you want to make sure you know what your options are. The other advantage is being able to shop 2 or 3 lenders and see who is going to give you the best interest rate, terms, and how much they are going to charge you. You really want to work with someone local in the Bradenton, Sarasota area, so if there are any hiccups along the way they can be resolved quickly.
Understanding the market place-The market has changed drastically in the Sarasota, Bradenton area and it has become a buyer's market. There are a lot of homes on the market, but once you start to narrow down exactly what you want you will be surprised there is not as much inventory as you might think. You can get a better understanding of the Sarasota, Bradenton market by searching the Sarasota MLS.
Why use a RealtorThere are many reasons why you should use a realtor. First it will save you a lot of time from looking at newspaper ads, websites, or driving around and only to find out the home is under contract. The second reason is if the seller has a Realtor, then why not have a buyer's agent represent you at no cost to you. The third reason is that contracts change quite a bit and you want to make sure that everything is done within the time periods.
Hire a home inspector-Once you get an executed contract you want to hire a home inspector. The home inspector will go through the whole house from top to bottom and write a report of everything that is not in working order. The seller is only responsible for material defects and not cosmetic defects, but depending upon if you had a repair limit or not.
I always recommend getting an A/C inspection along with the home inspection. Unfortunatley home inspectors do not have the tools A/C companies have to test different components on the air conditioner and the cost is usually between $40.00 and $50.00.
Closing with an attorney or title company-I always use an attorney when I close on a property. Sometimes they are a little more, but if something should come up at the last minute they can usually resolve the issue and get the home to close.
Buyer's Presentation-I have put together a presentation that covers the whole entire buyer's process. The links below will give you the tools you need to feel comfortabably when buying your home. I can help you find your perfect home in Bradenton, Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, Palmetto, Ellenton, Siesta Key, Longboat Key, and Lido beach areas.
Bradenton Home Buyer Resources:
Bradenton MLS: Here you can search for any home, condo, vacant land, or commercial property for sale in the Bradenton, Sarasota Florida area. You can search for waterfront properties, golf course communities, subdivision, mls #, or by address.
Featured Listings: Here are some great properties I have for sale in the Sarasota, Bradenton area.
Bradenton Waterfront Properties: Here you can find homes on the water, bayside, canal, or beachfront. These homes or condos are the most desirable and the most expensive.
Bradenton Real Estate Blog: Here is where you can find updates to the most current events on the real estate market for Bradenton, and Sarasota Florida.
Bradenton Home Buying Tips: Here is a list of great tips when purchasing a home in the Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, Ellenton, Sarasota, Longboat Key, Lido Key, or Siesta Keys areas.
Automated Property Emails: Sign up today and receive all the knew listings that come available for Bradenton, and Sarasota.
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