There are a lot of reasons why you may be interested in buying a house in Florida. The state definitely has a lot going for it. You may like the idea of milder winters or being able to go to Disney properties with your kids or significant other.
If the idea of buying a home in Florida appeals, then you may want to spend a little time browsing some of the new homes in Davenport, FL. It is considered to be one of the more desirable parts of the state, and the cost of new homes is relatively reasonable as well.
If this is your first time buying a home in Florida, though, or anywhere, for that matter, you should read this guide. It will tell you the process you need to go through to make sure you end up with the home that works best for your particular situation.
Get Yourself an Experienced Realtor
If you want to buy a home in Florida, the first thing you should probably do is to find yourself a competent and experienced realtor. It’s true that you can buy a home without using a realtor. However, it is not usually recommended unless you know a great deal about real estate and home buying and selling.
If you try to buy a home without a realtor, then you may not be sure of how the whole process goes. You may neglect some critical aspects of it. You might also do something illegal or unethical without ever being aware of it.
Finding a realtor with whom you can work will put you in a much better position to find and purchase the home you want with a minimum of difficulty.
Make a List of What You Want to See in a Home
Once you have found yourself a realtor, you should make a list of all the features you want to see in your new Florida home. If you have some other adults in the family who will be helping you make this decision, such as a spouse or significant other, for instance, you will want to invite them to be a part of this process as well.
Make a list of things about the house that are “must haves” and others that you’d like to have but don’t necessarily need. In Florida, you may feel that having central air installed in the home is a must have. The state gets very hot in the summers, so such a desire makes sense.
You might want something like a backyard as well. If you have kids and a dog, you want somewhere they can run around. You may feel like you absolutely need at least two full bathrooms. Perhaps you’re looking for a certain number of square feet instead.
Make a List of Attractive Prospects
You can make a list of the most attractive home prospects by looking on sites like Zillow, Trulia, and RedFin. You can also get your realtor to send you additional home listings that might not appear on these sites but to which they may have access.
Try to make a list of at least a few houses you feel might be good fits for your life and lifestyle. You might factor in things like where the nearest grocery store is, whether there are walking or bike trails, whether there’s a public park nearby, what the crime rate there is, etc.
Go See the Homes on Your List
Next, you can go see some of the homes on the list that you feel are strong candidates. Your realtor can go with you to look at them.
Your realtor can give you their expert advice about the home as you look at it. They may have insights into repairs that need to be made and things of that nature. They will probably be able to notice things that you might not necessarily be able to.
Once you see some of these homes, you can probably eliminate some of them from the list. By narrowing the choices down to a couple of possibilities, you are getting closer to putting in a bid on one of them.
Put in a Bid
Once you have targeted a specific house, you will probably want to visit it more than once. Try to visit it at different times of the day or night. Stop by on different days of the week as well.
This will help you to assess what you think of the neighborhood. If you’re looking for a place that’s quiet on the weekends, going there and seeing what’s happening on a Saturday night is a must.
If you decide that you like a house enough, then you can put in a bid on it. This presupposes, of course, that you either have enough money to buy the house or that you have enough for a down payment, and you also have a bank or credit union mortgage loan lined up.
If your bid is accepted, then the next step is going under contract on the house. This is where you sign the paperwork agreeing to buy the home. It’s at this stage that you will certainly want a realtor, as they will know how to look over the purchase documentation to see if anything looks unusual or even illegal.
Finalize the Deal
If you go under contract on the house, then you must do a few things to finalize the deal. Maybe you have certain demands, such as repairs you want the current owner to do before you complete the sale. Perhaps you want to inspect the house in greater detail before you finalize the purchase.
Your realtor will help you during this process as well. They will be there for you if you have any questions. This stage of the purchase can be a little nerve wracking until you actually have the keys to the house in your hand.
Once you complete this process, you can congratulate yourself. You have your first Florida home.
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Whether she is researching the latest trends in home decor, life-changing destination getaways, or the best way to maintain your finances, Dewey takes pride in leaving no stone unturned. She is passionate about distilling and delivering high-quality information that you can use to upgrade your life.
