Financing Your New Home

The whole home buying process is filled with head-scratching questions, but most particularly when it’s time to choose a home loan. To help clear up the confusion, here are some of the most common mortgage questions home buyers ask—and experts’ answers.

Why you should move to Florida

moving to tampabay florida

Well, Let’s see! Florida is always warm, it’s got the most amazing beaches and is filled with fun things to do every day. You wake up each morning in Florida and you feel energized and ready for a perfect day. Of course Florida has its pros and cons, but we’ve got the sunshine all year round and that’s a win, win in my book.

For me Florida is the perfect place to live. Keep in mind there is no state income tax! It’s pretty affordable to live in Florida and if you’re looking for different types of food and people, then you’re in luck, because Florida is very cosmopolitan. You can never be bored in Florida. It literally costs you nothing to jump in your car and drive to the beach to look at our amazing sunset.

So some of the bad stuff would include, it being very humid, Florida can get really hot in those summer months. We do have to deal with hurricanes and bugs. Some solutions …If you’re hot then hang out in a great restaurant with air condition that is over looking the beach. Wear a hat and sunscreen when you’re outdoors. Sweating is great for getting rid of toxins in your body. Use bug spray to keep away the bugs. Hurricanes can be destructive but every state has it’s good and bad. Florida has mostly the good stuff. Get hurricane rated windows and doors and pack up and leave if you know a hurricane is coming.

If you are thinking of moving to Florida, or you just want to be here for a couple of months out of the year, this is the best time to purchase a home in Florida. Spring is a great time to start looking for a home. Think of using a Realtor when purchasing a home. Realtors have access to there largest database of available home on the market. There is no cost to you to hire a Buyers Agent.

You may think renting can be an option for you if you plan on moving to Florida. Think again! It maybe cheaper for you to buy. Yes, that’s what I said! Instead of paying your landlords mortgage why not take the money you’re going to pay renting and pay your own mortgage. Your home can be an investment and you can get tax deductions for your mortgage interest, get equity in your home. You have the freedom to have your pets in your own home versus having to ask permission if renting. Your home can be sold if you want to move and you can make a profit from owning your own home. Start looking for home now in Pinellas County Florida.

Bottom line, I love that it’s beautiful all year round in Florida. The people are great, the schools are great and the lifestyle is what you can only dream of living, but if you move to Florida, then it can be your reality.


Tips for Selling Your Home Quickly

getting ready to sell your home

As you may or may not know, Spring is a great time to sell your home. At Spring time we feel energized, it’s a time for renewal, we are cleaning and re-decorating, flowers are blooming and we can feel the energy in the air.

You’ve been thinking about putting your house on the market but before you put that sign at the front of your home, let’s go through a check list of things that should be crossed off before you call your realtor. These things could get you a full priced offer.

Minor Repairs

You want to make sure that your home looks it’s best when you are putting it on the market. Go through your home or have a friend come over and go through your home with the eyes of a potential buyer. A buyer may see dirty grout, chipped baseboards, missing knobs and handles, torn screens on windows , hanging gutters worn out looking paint on front door. These repairs can be an easy and cheap fix for a homeowner. If it’s not addressed it can be the difference between a low offer and full asking price.

Curb Appeal

Most of us spend so much time dressing up the inside of the house and we forget the outside. If the exterior of the house is not appealing, you may not get a buyer to even bother to go inside the home. One of the first photos that is listed on the MLS will be a photo of the front of your home. First impression count!! Invest some time and money on pressure washing the garage door, side walks and making your front door appealing, either cleaning the door or repainting it. Plant some flowers and add a new mat at the front door. Make your home look welcoming and appealing to buyers. I guarantee this will get them into your house for a look.

Revamp your kitchen

If you don’t want to go through the trouble of remodeling your kitchen – there are some inexpensive kitchen updates that you can do. Repaint your kitchen a neutral color. Buyers are not interested in your taste and style. They are looking to come in and make the home their own. Give them a blank canvas so they can envision their own style. Change out the cabinet hardware. If you can afford it, think about adding new countertops to give your kitchen an updated look. This may cost a couple thousand dollars, but you will gain so much more in the sale of your home. The kitchen is the number one seller of a home. Every penny you spend on your kitchen you get it back and more.

Show-Ready

You are preparing to sell, get your house professionally cleaned. Your home has to look its best and everything has to look clean and shiny. Invest in a professional cleaning company. Have the carpets, the tiles, bathrooms, cabinets, baseboards, pool deck, windows and more, cleaned and sparkling. Your home should be available and ready to show at anytime. Get rid of clutter, junk, packed closets and boxes. If you don’t use it every day then put it in storage.

Good Luck! If you live in the Tampa Bay Area and need help with selling or buying a home, contact us.