Joshua Weiss REALTOR ® with LoKation Real Estate

Neither party is responsible for 100% of the closing costs in Florida, which includes fees, taxes, insurance costs, doc stamps, HOA fees, title work and more. The buyer typically pays between 3% to 4% of the home loan’s value and is responsible for the bulk of the fees and taxes. The seller usually pays between 5% to 10% of the home’s sale price. Closing costs also vary among counties in Florida.

The amount of you may need for a down payment will depend on the type of loan you are getting as well as type of home. If buying a condo most condo associations require 25%-30% down no matter the type of loan you are receiving. A Conventional Mortgage Loan which is the most common type of loan has a minimum down payment requirement of 3–20%. Note: if you put less then 20% down you will have PMI (private mortgage insurance) added to the mortgage payment. VA Loan. This is a government-backed loan that’s available to former or current members of the National Guard and the Armed Forces. If you qualify for a VA loan, you can purchase the home with no money down. FHA Loan. This is a government-backed loan with a minimum down payment requirement that’s lower than that of conventional mortgages. If you can put down at least 3.5% at closing, you can get an FHA loan to purchase a house.

Closing costs are expenses incurred by buyers and sellers when the ownership of the property is transferred. These are usually negotiable items as to who will be responsible for their payment. Examples of closing costs include recording fees, documentary fees, real estate commission, taxes prorations, settlement fees, and title insurance.

A buyer’s market is characterized by declining home prices and reduced demand. Several factors may affect long-term and short-term buyer demand, like: Economic disruption - a shift in employment where there are big layoffs that occur. *Interest rates trending higher – the amount of money the people can borrow to buy a home is reduced because the cost of money is higher, thus reducing the total number of potential buyers in the market. Home prices drop to meet the level of demand and buyers find better deals. *Short-term drop in interest rates – can give borrowers a temporary edge with more purchasing power before home prices can react to the recent interest rate changes. *High inventory – a new subdivision and can create downward pressure on prices of older homes nearby, particularly if they lack highly desirable features (modern appliances, etc.) *Natural disasters - a recent earthquake or flooding can tank property values in the neighborhood where those disruptions occurred.

In sellers’ markets, a high demand for homes drives up prices. Here are some of the factors of demand: Economic factors – the job market heats up, bringing an influx of new residents and pushing up home prices before more inventory can be built. Interest rates trending downward – improves home affordability, creating more buyer interest, particularly for first time home buyers who can afford bigger homes as the cost of money goes lower. A short-term spike in interest rates - may compel “on the fence” buyers to make a purchase if they believe the upward trend will continue. Low inventory - fewer homes on the market because of a lack of new construction. Prices for existing homes may go up because there are fewer units available.

A public tax assessor gives the assessed value for a property. The assessed value serves a different purpose. Specifically, the assessed value is used to calculate property taxes. As a buyer, the assessed value will give you an idea of what you can expect to pay in property taxes each year. The fair market value is an agreed-upon price between a willing buyer and seller. There is usually a difference between the assessed value and market value. Buyers and sellers affect the market value of a home. In a seller’s market, your home’s market value may be higher than its assessed value. That’s because buyers are willing to pay more than the home is technically worth because of low inventory. In a buyer’s market, you’ll be facing a lot of competition from other sellers, so buyers may put in an offer lower than the home’s assessed value.

Yes! It is not required, but it is highly recommended you do one. Final walk-throughs give buyers a chance to make sure nothing had changed since their first visit. If repairs were requested, as part of the contract or addendums a follow-up visit ensures that everything has been rectified, as expected and as agreed upon in the contract.

First impressions of your home start from the outside. Make sure the landscaping and grass is cut and clean. Make sure your home has a lot of natural light. You want to make buyers feel that this could be their home. Declutter and remove personal pictures. If there is carpet get them washed. Do a major deep clean, clean out the Hvac as well as filters.

Getting pre-approved for a mortgage is the first step of the home buying process. Getting a pre-approval letter from a lender get the ball rolling in the right direction. The reason for this is so buyers will know how much house they can afford. This will let them start their home search in their budget. The pre-approval letter will let any seller and Real Estate agent know you are a serious buyer. When putting in an offer on a home the seller does request to see proof of pre-approval, if you have the pre-approval done already you can send in your offer right away and not have to wait and maybe lose out on the home.

Typically, the buyer closing costs in Florida will usually be around 2-4% of the purchase price. Florida buyer closing costs include appraisal fees, loan origination fees, inspection fees, and recording fees. If you are buying a $400,000 home you might have to pay $8,000-16,000. Make sure you save for this as well as it is not part of your down payment.

There is no definite yes or no when it comes to this. It depends on the buyers funds and financial ability. Some homeowners need to access the equity in their current home or apply for a mortgage in order to buy a new home then it is better to sell beforehand. Also, it depends on the buyer being able to afford and ability to find temporary housing. There are also contingencies in the contract that protect the homebuyer if their current home is already in contract.

It is made in good faith to demonstrate to the seller that the buyer’s offer is legitimate. The amount of earnest money varies based on the type of property being purchased and local market conditions. A typical deposit might be 5-10% of the amount you offer in the purchase contract. The amount is usually 5-10% of the offer in the purchase contract and essentially takes the property off the market. A third party such as title company will hold the money in escrow until closing.

Yes! Home inspections are required if you plan on financing your home with an FHA or VA loan. For other mortgage programs, inspections are not required. However, home inspections are highly recommended because they can reveal defects in the home that are not easily detected. A professional inspector will check the structure of the home, evidence of mold, electrical, and plumbing issues, and roof to name a few items that an inspector will look at. Buyers will order their own inspections.