Tips that I've learned through the years, or that others have shared that might be of help to home buyers out there. Some of these are relevant to buyers in the Destin area, others are just general information worthy of a share.
Found 118 entries about Home Buying Tips.
Helpful tips for home buying doesn't always come from a realtor. Friends, relatives, or anyone who wants to share their past experiences can be helpful. Celebrity and real estate aficionado, Ellen Degeneres shares some of her tried and true tips for buying a home in the following video.
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Take a look at this fabulous Destiny Homes for Sale. This florida beach cottage features 5 bedrooms, a separate carriage house, and extra storage in the oversized two car garage.
Destiny is a popular beachside community in Destin and has worldclass amenities including: deeded beach access, swimming pools, fitness center, tennis courts, and walking trails.
This home is a fantastic vacation rental and grosses over $43k annually. Visitors love the layout of the home with its spacious rooms and decks that provide everyone with their privacy.
Priced at $699,000, this Destiny Home For Sale will not last long!
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I get a lot of calls from people looking for a "deal". I ask those folks to tell me what they mean but most people can't answer the question.
So if you want a deal, but can't exactly define one, I analyzed Junes sales of condos in Destin, FL on the gulf and this is what I came up with as the top 3 buys for Jun '09:
1. Grand Dunes, South Tower, Unit 550. The specs for this unit are as follows:
2870 sf; 4br/4ba, direct gulf front, built in 2006 and sold for $975,000. That works out to $339 per sf for a luxury gulf front condo. This was a normal sale and not a foreclosure or short sale.
2. Pelican Beach, Unit 310. The specs for this unit are as follows: 873 sf, 1br/2ba, direct gulf front, built in 1997 and sold for $237,500. That works out to…
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The developer for Waterscape Condominiums has recently released several units for sale at steeply discounted liquidation prices. Waterscape is an upscale, kid friendly, beach front, condominium located on over 490 ft of beach front on Okaloosa Island.
Waterscape is loaded with amenities including: lush tropical pool with zero entry, splash and wading pools for the kids, lazy river, fitness center, tiki bar, and much more.
The units are well-equipped with stainless steel appliances, crown molding, 9 ft. ceilings, tile, and carpet. There are condos available in 1, 2, and 3 bedrooms. The sizes of each are:
1br: 864 square feet
2br: 1292 square feet
3br: 1490 square feet
Click the link below for a complete listing of condos available at…
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Demand for condos in Destin and along the Emerald Coast has picked up dramatically in the past 4 months. This was to be expected with the precipitous decline in prices experienced in the past few years.
As a realtor, you would think I would be ecstatic. However, there's one major problem. Fannie Mae, who provides financing for the bulk of residential properties in the country is now refusing to finance condos. Ok, that's not entirely true. They will still finance condos that fit a very specific criteria. The problem is that very few, if any, condos along the Emerald Coast of Florida, meet the criteria. These are the same folks that Fannie Mae was literally throwing money at back in 2004 and 2005 to fund their condo purchases. This is further…
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I received feedback from the bank today on two short sales.
One was a beach front condominium in Destin that I had presented an offer of $210,000 to the bank about 3 months ago. After several frustrating weeks of little to no communication from the bank, they finally called and told me that the appraisal came in at $260k and to bring another offer.
The second communication was regarding a home for sale in Destin. The offer had been presented at $170,000 about four months ago. Again, after several weeks with little to no communication, the bank came back and said that the property appraised for $200,000 and to bring a better offer.
What's the point? Simply this: APPRAISALS ARE THE HOLY GRAIL FOR THE BANKS. Listing a home or presenting an offer…
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Ok, we’ve spent countless hours discussing your needs and wants for your dream home or condo. You have looked at dozens of listings that fit your criteria. We have spent several days together looking at those properties. We have researched prices, written offers, and negotiated “The Best Deal” for you.
Now what happens?
Unfortunately, in too many instances, I see buyer’s that have worked so hard to get the best deal only to give it all up with their financing. This is a shame considering that mortgages are the easiest component to negotiate. How do you keep this from happening to you? Follow a few simple rules:
1. Get at least 3 quotes. Every person has a “financial” profile. This…
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Whether we are buying a new car, computer, plane tickets, or Real Estate, we all want the same thing, which is “The Best Deal”. With most items, the best deal is assured when we buy the item that we want at the lowest price.
Real Estate doesn’t work that way. In addition to the purchase price, things like closing costs, lenders fees, property taxes, and state taxes affect your initial overall total cost. As a buyer, this overall total cost should be what you are concerned with minimizing. Keep in mind that most seller’s are focused on PURCHASE PRICE. Let’s take a look at how to put together a smart offer.
Purchase Price: This is the most visible and important of all terms in the offer. It’s…
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