Blog
Downsizing To A Smaller Home? Here’s 3 Things To Consider
Homeowners make the decision to downsize to smaller homes for many different reasons. Some are retirees who don’t want the hassle of cleaning a big house anymore, while others are doing it to save money on things like the electric bill and property taxes. Regardless o...
In the wake of Hurricane Ian, our community is Florida Strong!
It’s been a trying time for Southwest Florida after Hurricane Ian devastated so much of our community. But while this may have been one of the worst storms many Floridians have seen in our generation, it’s been truly inspiring to see how quickly people took action t...
4 Tips For Buying Your First Foreclosed Property
Most people look at a foreclosed property as a pure investment property and never plan on living in the home, though there are a few who will purchase a foreclosure as their next home in order to score a good deal. Given that there are over a million homes in the United...
What Are 203(B) And 203(K) Loans?
While they are both Federal Housing Administration mortgage loan programs, the 203(B) And 203(K) loans have some distinct differences.
203(b) is the most commonly used FHA program. It offers a low down payment, flexible qualifying guidelines, limited lender's fee...
How to Keep Your Home Safe from Intruders
No matter the time of year, it is incredibly important to keep your home safe from possible burglary. Without the proper precautions and protection, you may be placing both your property and family in harm’s way. So what can you do to increase the security of your hom...
What Documents Do I Have to Sign During the Mortgage Process?
We’ve all heard the phrase about ‘signing your life away’ when making a significant purchase, and while it certainly can feel that way, every last signature is important, as they serve as the buyer’s agreement to the terms of the purchase. These are the document...
Why Is My Real Estate Contract Important?
Prior to officially purchasing a home, a contract is required stating that both buyer and seller are in agreement of the terms written therein. Though a lot of communication is verbal between these two parties, a verbal contract will not suffice in order to proceed with...
Understanding Your Loan Estimate: Loan Costs
There are a number of fees that make up the entire sum or your loan costs, so here's the basic breakdown.
Closing costs are fees paid when the title of the property is transferred to the buyer, making them the legal owner.
Origination charges...
How Home Appraisals and Inspections Can Prevent Your Closing
There are a variety of circumstances that can prevent or delay a closing, but there are two in particular that pertain to the condition of the home itself. A home appraisal looks at the monetary value of the property, while a home inspection looks at the structural cond...
Florida Doc Stamps: What Are They And Who Pays Them
Whenever you buy or sell a piece of real property, the transaction, like most things in life, is taxed. In Florida, this particular tax is referred to as the documentary stamp tax, or doc stamp for short.
Doc stamps are paid at closing, and it’s typic...