What Costs Come with Buying a Jacksonville Home?


Buying a home? Search all homes for sale

A lot of people have been asking lately, "What are the costs of buying a home?" We'll answer that question in today's video.

First of all, there's the down payment. If you're using a VA loan, this could be nothing. Down payments could be as little as 3% of the purchase price or as much as 20% of the purchase price.

Keep closing costs in mind as well. These range between 3% and 3.5% of purchase price. Closing costs include things like lender fees and appraisals. A lot of the time, the seller will offset those costs. However, you don't want to bank on that happening in a seller's market. If you're going up against multiple offers, it's a good idea to anticipate covering those closing costs.


A binder deposit should be at least 1% of purchase price. Ultimately, this money will go towards your down payment. In a seller's market, you want to show that you are a strong buyer, and a 1% binder deposit is a great way to put your best foot forward. If you cannot hit that 1%, strive for a minimum binder deposit of $1,000.

Finally, there are appraisals and home inspections. In addition to a normal home inspection, you may also need a septic inspection or a pool inspection. It really depends on the property. Inspections are worth your money because you want to make sure that you are buying a safe home for you and your family.

As you can see, there's a lot that goes into buying a home. If you have any questions about today's video, or about the home buying process, give me a call or send me an email. I'd be happy to help you!

Labels: , , ,
Location: Jacksonville, FL, USA

The Benefits of Vacating Your Home During a Showing



Some of my clients have been asking why Realtors prefer homeowners to be away when potential buyers come to view their properties. It may seem a little inconvenient for sellers, but there are a lot of reasons why we do this.

The main reason that we do this is because it allows the buyer to experience the home as they're walking through it. They don't want a seller to show them - it changes the experience of the viewing, and sometimes it is to the detriment of both the seller and the buyer.


Another fairly obvious reason why you should never be present during a viewing is because it makes the buyers uncomfortable. When sellers are present during showings, the buyers will feel reluctant to look around, as if they're intruding on your space.
We know that the longer a buyer is in your home, the higher the chance is that they will purchase it. If you're in your home when the buyer comes inside, they will run in and run right back out.

My only piece of advice for you is to vacate your home during a showing. It will not help you at all to be there, so go grab a beer or a cup of coffee somewhere - just not at your house!

If you have any other questions or concerns about real estate in Jacksonville, please don't hesitate to contact me. I'm always here to help!

Labels:
Location: Jacksonville, FL, USA

What Is Most Important When Renovating Your Home in Jacksonville?

Plan Ahead When Renovating  

 Today, I want to share a video from HGTV to discuss how you can plan ahead when it comes to home renovations. Renovating your home can be an exciting process, but it's important that you don't get ahead of yourself. You can't just go willy-nilly into a major project and expect it to go perfectly. Planning properly for these types of projects can assure a smooth project, and one that may even cost less!

HGTV’s Amy Matthews recommends making a very detailed timeline of your project, including potential things that could go awry and making backup plans in order to prevent these things from happening. Putting your plan onto paper is a good way to start this process.

  
Another major step is choosing a good team of contractors that you can communicate with. If they don't know what you want done, they can't do it.

Just remember, there is no such thing as too much planning! If you plan on renovating your Jacksonville home, please contact us. We know great contractors and could also give you advice on what projects will bring you the highest return on your investment.

We look forward to hearing from you!
Labels:

Why Shopping for a Lender is Important



A lot of real estate agents will have a preferred lender for you to use, and they're often really great lenders that can find you a good program and get you to close on schedule. However, it's also important to know what's out there and search around for loan products that suit you and your needs. 

There's nothing wrong with finding another lender that will cater to your needs. If you don’t fit in the lending box we’ll help you look outside of it.

This is why it's important to ask about your options and speak with a Realtor or a lender about what program would suit you the best.
 
If you need any assistance in finding a good loan program for yourself, please don't hesitate to contact me!
Labels: ,
Location: Jacksonville, FL, USA

Pricing Attractively Is Crucial Even in a Seller's Market



Pricing your home may very well be the most important part about selling it. This is true even in a seller's market where you have the upper hand. Pricing too high from the beginning is an excellent way to drive buyers away, even in a seller's market.

Pricing correctly from the beginning will allow you draw in multiple offers and this will eventually raise your sale price. Abandon the mindset that you need to price high from the beginning because that's just how homes sell now. You want to start low and then build the price up through negotiation and multiple offers.

It's important to allow the market to price your home for you, and if buyers are willing to fight over your home then that means you have priced it very attractively. My team is very good at finding prices that are attractive to buyers, so if you need assistance with this, please don't hesitate to contact us.

It's a great time to sell a home in Jacksonville!
Labels:
Location: Jacksonville, FL, USA

How to Find Your Dream Home in Jacksonville



We're seeing a strong seller's market here in Jacksonville, so buyers may be finding it tough to secure a home they like right now. If you take a few different steps and tweak your approach a bit, I think you can find the home you want without so much effort and stress. So, what can you do to secure the perfect home?

The very first thing you should do is to get to know your inventory. Typically buyers begin looking three months ahead of time and they get to know the area. Take the time to find out where you want to live and narrow down your home search.

You will also need to be very clear about what you want. Communicate with your spouse about what exactly it is you're looking for so there is no headbutting during the search process that could stall you and cause you to lose a home. Find a common middle ground and learn to compromise. 

You will also need to find a good Realtor and listen to what they have to say. Realtors have the most accurate market data, and they often have access to listings that haven't even hit the market. This could be the competitive advantage that you need in a hot market like the one in Jacksonville right now. Allow your Realtor to guide you through the process. 

Hopefully, this information has been helpful to you. It's not so difficult to find a good home in this market when you're armed with the right information. 
Labels:
Location: Jacksonville, FL, USA
Subscribe to: Posts ( Atom )