Congratulations! You have decided to purchase Jacksonville Real Estate . Perhaps you've outgrown your present home or maybe you're just ready for a change. Jacksonville is a large city made up of many unique communities. Check out our Neighborhood Pages for more information. 
Whatever your reasons, we're here to assist in every way possible.
Let's take a look at some of the ways you can make the home-buying experience easier, more enjoyable and more profitable in the long run.
First of all, do not overlook the value of tapping into the knowledge and services of an experienced REALTOR®. As with any profession, the quality of the individual and services he/she provides varies greatly. The right REALTOR can make all the difference in the world.
Often, buyers make the mistake of avoiding using the services of a REALTOR because the think it is going to cost them money or they think they will be able to negotiate a better deal directly with the seller or the seller's agent. This can be a very expensive mistake.
By having your own REALTOR, who is committed to using the experience gained through hundreds of successful negotiations, you are able to take advantage of one of the best deals available in the marketplace, today! You have someone helping you and the seller is paying his commission for you. You just can't beat a deal like that.
Real Estate is a unique business. It is one where an agent with no college education, only one day's experience and zero sales gets paid the same as an agent with a Master's degree, years of experience and hundreds of successful transactions in his resume.
You are about to purchase what is most likely the largest asset you have. It just makes sense to find someone with the right credentials to assist you!
What should you expect from your agent?
You should expect him to ask you a number of "qualifying questions" in the beginning. Here are just a few of the many questions your agent should be asking before they even begin to search:
 Have you been pre-qualified for a loan?
Do you have a copy of the pre-qualification letter?
What areas of the city do you want to consider purchasing in?
What is the maximum amount you are willing to spend for your "ideal" home?
What are the specifics that you "must" have in a home as regards size, number of bedrooms, other rooms and features?
Does the size of the lot make a difference to you?
Do you want a home in a deed restricted community or not?
These are just the basic questions your agent should be asking in order to find as many potentially good choices as possible for you. In a city the size of Jacksonville, there are literally thousands of listings from which to draw. The best agents will save you a lot of time and expense weeding out the right listings to view.
NOTE: Our personal commitment to our buyers is that we will inform them of all listings that match the criteria they give us regardless of the amount of commission being offered by the listing agent. If two nearly identical homes are available (each having all the features you want) and one is offering to pay a higher commission than the other we will tell you about both, not just the one offering the higher commission. Also, some sellers offer "bonuses" to the buyer's agent. We do not factor this into what we show you either. Your needs are our only concern. We believe that our commission will take care of itself if we take care of our customers.
 You should expect your agent to provide a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) before making any offer to purchase. Before you make an offer to purchase that special home, you need to have a good idea what the going market value is to help ensure that you do not overpay (of course, a proper appraisal will assist in that too). The CMA will show what similar homes have recently sold for in the area and the difference between the asking and selling prices. This is the same report that the seller receives when deciding on an asking price. Wouldn't you like to have access to the same information as the seller?
You should expect your agent to have an understanding and experience in negotiation styles and techniques. Many buyers think that the way to get the best possible price is by making a very low offer. This is a strategy of the buyer who is not in possession of all the facts essential to negotiating the best possible deal.
More often than not, this strategy will simply polarize negotiations and lead to inflexibility on the part of the seller. Or worse yet, it may completely end negotiations and the buyer will lose a property he really wanted. Once the low-ball offer has been made and rejected, it puts the seller in complete control of the negotiations and if the buyer can even get back in 'the game' he will likely end up paying much more than if he'd made a reasonable offer to begin with. 'Nuf said?
NOTE: If you have chosen your REALTOR wisely, the most effective strategies for this particular situation will be revealed to you without hesitation. Remember, in the real estate business, an agent with many successfully closed transactions usually costs the same as someone who is inexperienced. That experience could well mean a better deal at the negotiating table with a minimum amount of hassles.
You should expect your agent to recommend that you have the home inspected by a competent home inspection company. Buying a home is a major purchase (probably the largest purchase individuals make during their lifetime). And more often than not, it is an emotional decision more than a fiscal decision.
That's okay - it's human nature - but before you sign on the dotted line, make sure you put your emotions aside long enough to make sure you aren't buying a "money pit". Isn't it worth a few hundred dollars to avoid being surprised a month later with thousands of dollars worth of repairs? Your REALTOR should be able to recommend several reputable companies from which to choose.
These are but the "basics" that you should expect from your REALTOR. A competent agent will be by your side every step of the way. He will help you understand your rights and obligaitons; he will go over each part of any contracts; he will be a resource for other professionals you will need to complete a successful and satisfying transaction and so much more!
Before you start looking at even the first house contact us for a FREE, no obligation consultation. We will give you all the facts you need to make a good decision and we promise not to pressure you in any way.
Do you need a REALTOR®
when buying a brand new home from a builder?
Absolutely!!!
Think of it this way... when you walk into a Builder's model home and you're greeted by the nice lady or man, he or she works for the Builder and works for the Builder's best interests, not yours! You are the buyer wanting to buy one of their products. They are there to get the highest possible price from you and for the seller , the builder.
Some people think they'll get a better deal if they don't have a Realtor in their corner with a Builder. Realtors get paid through the Builder's marketing budget which is completely different than the sale of the actual house. Builders market to Realtors all the time with luncheons, flyers, bonuses, and different things like that. They want us to bring buyers to them , so they would not jeopardize the builder-realtor relationship by giving discounts to buyers without their own representation.
There are many things a Realtor is involved with when you buy a brand new home, just like when you lot buy pre-existing. The lists are just different. We help with the negotiations on the lot and features for the house. We negotiate how your buyer incentives will be utilized as many times the incentives are tied to using the Builder's lender . We help with the design studio selections so you build the home with resale in mind as well. We help make sure you're getting the best loan and help you negotiate that... There are many things we do.
Remember, as a buyer, it doesn't cost you a penny to have your own representation as it's usually taken care of by the seller. |