Wow, what a great question to ask! Traditionally, when a seller lists a house for sale, they hire an agent. That agent takes care of all aspects of selling the home...for the SELLER! The agent was hired by the seller, so that agent WORKS for the seller. If you, as a buyer, call about a house you saw on the internet or after seeing the "for sale" sign in the yard, you are calling the agent that works for the Seller! That agent is not allowed to talk to you about very crucial areas such as … [Read more...]
What's The Cost To Hire A Buyer's Agent?
In most cases, the answer is NO! There is NO commission payable by the buyer in almost all cases! Commission is negotiated at the time of the listing between the Seller, and the Listing agent. When the listing agent places their listing in the MLS, they automatically offer a portion to the agent who brings the buyer. Whether a buyer uses the listing agent, or uses their own agent in the transaction, the Seller still pays the same commission according to the listing contract. For this reason, … [Read more...]
Do You Work With First-Time Homebuyers?
Absolutely! Many of our past clients have been first-time buyers. We REALLY enjoy helping clients realize their dream of owning their first home! Buying your first home can be very nerve-racking experience, but we understand that first time home buyers have a lot of questions, and we are eager to help our first time buying clients realize the American dream! … [Read more...]
What is The Mortgage Pre-Approval Process?
It is actually very easy. A pre-approval involves you talking to a bank loan officer or mortgage broker. They will gather some information about your needs, your desired monthly payment, and also gather information about your current income. They will run a credit report, and based on all the information they gather, they will determine how much financing you qualify for, and what interest rate that they can acquire for you. This is a very important step in the home buying process. Sellers take … [Read more...]
Must I Be Pre-approved To Visit Sarasota Properties?
It is not mandatory from most agents, however it will definitely show the agent that you are indeed a serious buyer. Also, having a pre-approval letter issued from a lender GREATLY improves your ability to negotiate a better deal with the seller, and really streamlines the time it takes to reach a signed deal! If you find the perfect house, you really don't want to wait a day or two just to get a pre-approval letter (the house may be sold to someone else in the meantime!) With all that being … [Read more...]
How Much Are Closing Costs?
Closing costs are based on many factors including the purchase price of the home, the amount being financed, and what is actually negotiated between the buyer and seller! In general though, when acquiring a pre-approval from a lender, they will be able to issue buyers a "good faith estimate". It is very important to shop a few lenders and compare all the good faith estimates, because closing costs can vary GREATLY depending on whom you choose. Give us a call, and I will be able to cover this … [Read more...]
How Long Does It Take To Move In?
That all depends. On a cash sale with no lender financing involved, I have seen sales occur in as little as a week or two. If financing is involved, closing usually will take place in as little as three weeks. 30-45 days is a normal close period. … [Read more...]
