Picking a REALTOR

Are you thinking of buying your first home, or maybe an investment home? There are so many agents in the area, how do I choose the best one for me? What should I ask before I start looking?

These are typical questions for any buyer, and here are some of the questions I would ask in order to understand the process, and to make sure your agent is a good fit!

1. Do you work with first time home buyers?
2. Will you email me listings everyday? What info do you need from me?
3. Are you a full time Realtor or just part time?
4. How many buyers/sellers do you work with at one time?
5. Do you require me to sign a contract. How do I cancel it if I’m not happy?
6. What makes you different than other Realtors?
7. What should I know about the buying process before we go look at homes?
8. Do you prepare a market analysis for me before we make an offer on a home?
9. In the current market, what type of home is the best investment for me?
10. Are there certain areas of Central Florida real estate market you know best?
11. What is the average sales price for your clients who are buyers?
12. How many bank owned homes have you sold in the past 6 months?
13. Do you know anything about special programs like down payment assistance or bond money?
14. Do you know about FHA financing, like the 204k program, or adjustable mortgages?
15. Why do people say to avoid trying to buy a short sale? Do you understand the Short Sale process?
16. Do you work with foreclosures? Why are they so hard to buy when you are getting a mortgage?
17. Can you help me with the vendors I will need to get the deal closed? There are many ways to find a good agent. Find a good one and use their knowledge to get the best deal on the best home for you!

Thinking of buying a Short Sale?

Are you considering buying a short sale? There are so many available, but are they the same as any other sale?

Well , yes and no. The home that is listed as a short sale is the same as far as the seller is concerned.

The seller can list and show their home just like any other normal sale, but the big difference will be the time required to negotiate the sale with their lender. A typical short sale takes about 6 weeks to negotiate an agreed upon price with the lender. The lender must consider several things before they can approve a short sale. First, the lender must consider the hardship of the seller, the assets of the seller and they must determine if the home is being sold at market price. The seller and the negotiator work together to get this information to the lender in a timely manner, and if the price is right, the lender will usually approve the sale.

Can you hold off doing all the necessary inspections until the short sale is approved? Yes, the lender and the seller will usually allow the inspections and appraisal to be done after the lender has approved the short sale.

If you are using down payment assistance for your purchase, you will want to make sure you have finished all the necessary classes and qualifying before you put in an offer. This will make the closing process go much quicker.

Call me if you would like to discuss the short sale process!