Real Estate Blog - home buyer

What Savvy Home Buyers Are Doing

There are plenty of tips and hints for home buyers when house hunting for julington creek plantation real estate, but there are a few suggestions that nearly every home buyer should consider. Here is our list of the top things today’s savvy home buyers are doing (and what you should consider doing, as well):

Don’t cram as many houses as you can into one day.

You may think you are being productive and efficient by viewing as many homes as possible in one day, but this tactic can quickly backfire, creating confusion, wearing you out, and making all the houses blend together. Choose a few homes you really want to view, and take the time to view those on one day. If there are more on your list, choose a different day or even later in the day.

Don’t…

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The Pros and Cons of Buying a Short Sale

If you are in the market for a new St. Johns County real estate, you have likely seen the glut of short sales on the market. Buying a short sale may seem like a great idea, and it very could be; but it may also prove to be quite daunting for the average home buyer.

Here are just of the few pros of purchasing a short sale:

·         Unlike a banked owned property, a short sale is usually in better condition. Because a short sale is still owned by the homeowner, and not the bank, you can be better assured that they will care for the property better than if they had to leave due to foreclosure.

·         You can get a good deal on a short sale. But don’t expect to walk away with a steal. Banks who agree to a short sale still want to make as much money…

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Can you Afford to Buy a Second Home?

If the thought of purchasing a second home sounds tempting, indeed it is! Owning a second home in a favorite vacation spot such as St. Augustine may not only serve as a great getaway, but also as a solid investment.

You’ll need to do your homework, and crunch the numbers, before making the jump into a second home.

Some things to consider when purchasing a vacation home (aside from the price) are:

• Down payments and interest rates. Even though interest rates are rock bottom as of late, it is important to realize that most mortgage companies will charge you a higher interest rate for a second home. In addition, you may need to fork out a higher down payment on a second home, as well.
  
  The bottom line: find a good…

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Unravelling the Confusion of Closing Costs

 In comparing loans for your new Jacksonville home, keep the following in mind.  Closing costs are split into two main categories: the closing costs controlled by the lender which vary from place to place and closing costs not controlled by the lender that will not be negotiated. 

The Process

You will first obtain a "Good Faith Estimate" of closing costs when talking to a mortgage lender.  It is your right to receive a copy although they may send it to you within three business days of your application.

Remember, the mortgage lender is not the only one charging all of your final closing costs, nor do they know what all the costs will actually be. They will normally give you a higher end estimate based on an educated guess from…

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