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ERA NEWS: (Current issues affecting your Florida home)
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HELPFUL INFORMATION FOR BUYERS
Below you will find resources that are useful as a buyer. This buyer's market is an opportunity to purchase a home, investment property or long-range vacant land investment at prices we haven't seen for many years. For many buyers, whether it is your first home, a “move-up” or a “move on”, it may be your biggest investment.
As an investment, a home offers opportunities to increase wealth that aren’t found in other types of investment. Yet, when it comes down to it, the main reason many people choose a particular home is that it simply feels like home. Trust our experienced, professional agents to guide you in making a wise selection – one that works to increase your wealth, yet is the one that makes you feel right at home.
“A home is a financial asset and more: it's a place to live and raise children; it's a plan for the future; it's an investment in your community.” U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development
VALUE OF OWNING A HOME
Learn about the value of owning your home as an investment. Learn about equity appreciation, which improvements pay you back, and allowable tax deductions.
Making the Most of Appreciation
The largest measurable financial benefit to homeownership is price appreciation. Learn here how appreciation has affected home values in our market over the past eight years, as well as our area’s housing affordability index.
Factors Affecting a Home’s Value
Today you are the buyer. Tomorrow you will be the seller. The best time to think about selling your house is before you buy it. Learn which factors will affect the profitability of your home when you decide to move up or move on.
Benefit of Buying a Home
Should you buy or rent? Take the quiz to find out. Learn how home ownership can benefit you with a rent versus own analysis.
BUYING YOUR FIRST HOME
Knowledge is said to open doors. This is literally true when it comes to buying a home. Make the first step in your home buying process. Contact us and let one of our experienced, trained sales professionals open that door. They can provide you with a wealth of knowledge about our market and neighborhoods. We’ve been working with first time homebuyers since 1981!
One thing we’ve learned through decades of working with first-time home buyers is that most of you start the search long before you even realize it. We realize that a first time buyer starts the process well before he or she first meets with one of our agents. This is why we offer informative buyer resources for you to consider when deciding whether to buy a home and when to do so. You will want to research and weigh the value of owning a home or study the factors affecting a home’s values.
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Steps to Buying Your Home
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Steps in the Buy/Sell Process (PDF, 707KB)
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What to Look For When Inspecting a Home
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When does an offer become a contract?
First Time Homebuyers Fairs
We offer free First Time Homebuyer Fairs periodically with local finance professionals, real estate experts and more, all in one location to assist our first time buyers in making those first decisions… or even deciding if buying a home is right for them.
Choosing a Real Estate Professional
If this is your first home purchase, you will want to choose a real estate professional to assist you in the home buying process from start to finish. A knowledgeable Realtor should not steer you in making a decision, he or she will walk beside you, providing expert counsel, throughout the entire process.
8 Reasons Why You Should Work with a REALTOR
Questions to Ask When Choosing a Realtor
FINANCING YOUR HOME
Besides selecting a real estate professional to work with you, perhaps the next most important step to successfully buying a home is get pre-approved for a mortgage. You want to own your home, not have your home own you. This is why it is important to know how much mortgage you are qualified to borrow. You might have more leeway in your home purchase price than you thought. Getting pre-approved gives you a foot in the door ahead of other buyers. Sellers look more favorably at offers when they know the buyer has already been approved for financing.
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Pre-Qualified Versus Pre-Approved
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Value of a Pre-Approved Mortgage
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ERA American Realty Preferred Lenders
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ERA American Realty Buyer Assistance Programs
THE MILITARY HOME BUYER |
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Frequent PCS transfers are a fact of life in today's military. No matter how many times you have done it, it is never easy to move your family to another city. Many of our agents are military families, either active duty or retired. Some are 2nd and 3rd generation military offspring, having moved many times in their lives. They know what your concerns are.
National Military Broker Network
U.S. Government $8,000 Tax Credit Act Extended for Active Military
The U.S. Government's Tax Credit Act provided a tax credit up to $8000 for first time homebuyers and upt to $6500 for those currently owning homes (amount of tax credit depending on the purchase price). For most of us this tax credit expired April 30, 2010. However, for some active military, this tax credit extends to April 2011.
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IRS Form 5405 (PDF, 97kb)
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These programs are exclusive to ERA American Realty:
If you are one of our senior citizens, we want to thank you for the years you’ve put into building our communities. Please check out our Buyers Assistance Program, New Thresholds.
BEFORE BUYING PROPERTY IN OUR AREA
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BEFORE BUYING PROPERTY IN OUR AREA
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Before buying a home in one of our market’s neighborhoods, you may want to download our Pre-Purchase Information Sheet. You will find lists of websites helpful when making a home purchase, as well as Homeowners Insurance information and details on claiming homestead exemption on your purchase.
