Buying a home in Northeast Florida

Home ownership is still part of the American Dream, despite a gloomy economy and a slew of naysayers. Now is a perfect time to become a homeowner, with mortgages near record lows and the market starting to heat up a bit.
Seventy percent of Americans still consider home ownership a central part of the American Dream, according to Trulia.
Trulia also found that nearly two-thirds of young people — 65 percent of those aged 18 to 34 — also consider home ownership to be part of the American Dream, even though ownership figures within that group have slumped since 1980.
With that in mind, what should you keep in mind as you search for your dream home among the many choices in Northeast Florida real estate?
First and foremost retain the services of an experienced Realtor™. A knowledgeable agent – such as those at Prudential Network Realty – can help you find the house of your dreams, in part because of their understanding of the market and in part because they know of hidden gems that meet your needs but that you wouldn’t be aware of. Driving around searching on your own is not the way to go.
After you have an agent signed on to help you find just the right house, set up a realistic budget. Don’t try to get into more than you can afford. You will also need to sit down with your agent and prioritize “must-haves” and “would-likes.”
Make sure your agent knows that you must have, for instance, four bedrooms and a fenced yard or a one-story home. Then add the features that would be nice, though not necessary, such as lots of trees or a mother-in-law suite or being a bike ride away from your favorite coffee shop.
You should consider a neighborhood’s characteristics that are important to you, and of course, schools, even if you don’t have school-age children. Good schools add value to a home. Buying in a neighborhood that is growing with low crime rates is usually important as well.
Once you have educated your Realtor™, he or she will get to work and find you a handful of options to visit. It is important to see a number of properties before settling on one. As you begin to look at houses, you might find that your lists of needs and wants will change. Also, be open to properties your Realtor™ finds that might not seem good at first blush. Sometimes the agent will discover hidden needs you didn’t know you had!
Finally, rely on your Realtor™ to help you decide on an offer. You rarely want to offer the asking price right off the bat. Give yourself a little bargaining room. On the other hand, don’t try to lowball the seller just because the economy is sour. Let your agent be your guide. Keep in mind such things as when the house may need a new roof or air conditioning system, and other expensive repairs. If the house is in excellent shape, then keep that in mind when you make your offer.
Buying a home, whether it is your first or your fifteenth, is one of the most important investments in your future that you will ever make. Why would you want to go through the complex process of negotiating a price and repairs and shepherding the sale through closing all on your own?
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