Buying Real Estate in the Fort Myers Area

Considering buying a new home? Wonderful! I would be more than happy to assist you along the way. Realizing that each person has their own individual experiences and background in buying homes, I have made a list of the buying process below for anyone who is interested. I hope that it will help you along the way.

You should know before you begin: Buying a new home doesn't have to be a scary process! It is normal to have fears or concerns when buying a home, and I want you to know that I will listen and do my best to provide you with answers. Most people wonder “will our credit be approved?", “what can we reasonably afford?" and "what are the closing costs?” I would be happy to discuss with you each one of these concerns, along with any other questions that you might have. No question is a silly question, and I am all ears. I will guide you through the process of buying a home, all the while listening to YOUR concerns, and what YOU are looking for.  I will ask questions, LISTEN to your answers, and guide you through your new home buying process step by step.

The First Step

Surprisingly, the first step in buying a home is not actually finding the home, but instead understanding the local area. The best way to do that would be to contact the agent of your choice to provide you with that information. Feel free to contact me by phone or email with any questions that you have, or regarding information that you are looking for. We could always set up an appointment as well, in which I could tell you all about the area!

Below are the general steps that take place in the journey of buying a new home. Keep in mind, these are just to give you a general outline of how it works- however you feel most comfortable always comes first.

Travel

I understand that some of you might be traveling here from another area. So, to assist you in your travels, I have provided several links to sites that may be of help: airlines, airports, cruise ships, hotels, maps, rental cars, and taxis are all listed down the left side of the page. Also, the fun stuff, like “What can we do when we get there?” has all been listed for you as links: Amusement parks, beaches, golf courses, shopping, restaurants, etc. Feel free to explore and see what beautiful Ft. Myers has to offer!

First Meeting

Our first meeting can be wherever you prefer: at my office, your home or business, a local coffee shop or restaurant of your choice ... Wherever you feel most comfortable. We will simply get acquainted with each other, no forms or hassles. I understand that most people would simply like to find out if they are comfortable with the agent. So, in this meeting I may ask some questions, but my job is essentially to listen to what YOU are looking for.

Our Second Meeting

Our second meeting will be a little bit more thorough.  At this meeting I will try to provide answers to all your questions you had at our first meeting.  For instance, I may provide specific neighborhoods that meet your criteria, prices ranges of homes that will fall into your budget, or a list of homes that fall into the guidelines you have given me. We will also be able to discuss your budgets or personal needs such as things like schools, beach access, area information, and utilities and so on. I will also make suggestions on the areas you may like to avoid based on your criteria, such as rejecting certain areas because they may be subject to future road construction, noise from airports, or other not-so-pleasant things. I will also of course let you know those areas which may not appreciate as well as others. Basically, I will be helping you narrow down the search area for your new home, also giving you suggestions on what might best suit your interests.

Mortgage Pre-qualification

One of the biggest fears in the home buying experience is finding the home of your dreams, making the offer, having it accepted and then finding that the monthly budget and closing costs either exceeded your budget or that they are going to be turned down for the loan.  Even people with good credit are sometimes turned down for unexpected reasons such as having cosigned for loans for family members, debt to income rations or even errors on their credit reports! To help you overcome these fears I will walk with you through the process of loan pre-qualification.

Looking at Homes

There are so many ways to look at homes, and we can look at as many as you want! You can be sure that I will never rush you into a home that you are not completely satisfied with. I understand that this is your HOME, and not simply a piece of property. With this is mind, I will always make sure that you are happy with your choice before you decide to buy. There are several ways to search: You can of course use the multiple listing service (provided on this website), or if you prefer I can provide you a printed list of the homes that best fit your criteria. We could then even sort through this list to narrow down your preferences. One thing I will recommend though is to keep your search narrowed down to about 3 to 5 homes a day. Trying to look at too many homes in one day can be pretty overwhelming, so taking it slower may be the best way to go. I will never suggest that we have looked at too many homes or are taking too much time. This is an important process and we will look for as long as you would like, and until you are satisfied with your new home decision.

Traveling to Homes

We can of course drive in my car to look at homes!  This will not only save you gas, but it will allow us plenty of time for talking if you have any questions. It is also much easier for both of us as I am familiar with the local area of Fort Myers, which may be a completely new place for you.

Questions about the Homes

If you have any questions about the homes that we see throughout the day, I will do my best to contact the owner and get you specific answers.

Home Selection

When you find a home that you fall in love with, we will then go back and make sure that it meets all of your original criteria.  Sometimes people can get so excited that they forget what they originally started looking for! My job is to help make sure your home is one that will please you for many years to come!

Make an Offer

Once you have found the home that you wish to own we will sit down together and I will assist you in making a purchase offer. I will help you with the wording, as well as the dollar amounts, to include things such as "home must be left in a reasonably clean and undamaged condition" We will also assess the specific items like working out an agreed upon time and date for you to take possession.  It's amazing how often the little things today turn out to be the big things tomorrow.  My job will be to help you write things in a way that there are no unpleasant surprises down the road.

Offer Accepted

Once your offer is accepted, (and we celebrate!!), I will assist you with the details to make the transaction go smoothly and successfully.

Appraisal

I will then walk you through the process of attaining a home appraisal by a state certified home appraiser.  This is a crucial part of getting your mortgage approved.  Amazingly some appraisers may come up with values for your home that may be out of line with what other appraisers may find.  I make sure you understand how this happens and how it can affect you, while making recommendations based in your best interests.

Mortgage Final Approval

I will contact the Mortgage Broker for you, if you prefer, and we can submit the necessary information to get the mortgage approved.  I want to note here that there can be huge differences between one mortgage broker and another.  Not just the money they charge you for the loan, but also in the way they treat you before and after your purchase.  I set very high standards for who I will recommend to you as a mortgage broker.  Not only do I try to recommend only those who offer you the best deal, but also those who will go out of their way to do things like come to your home or office to assist you in filling out forms and answer your questions and even come to closing with you in case there are any last minute issues to be handled at closing. I cannot stress enough that the wrong mortgage broker can cause all kinds of problems while the right broker can often solve problems that might otherwise have out the purchase of your new home at risk.

Closing

I will go with you to the closing.  I will work with you to make sure that everything goes according to plan and in your best interests with representatives from the title companies, mortgage brokers, appraisers and of course the sellers. You can rest assured that I will be there with you every step of the way!

CONGRATULATIONS on your NEW HOME

I will do everything to make moving into your new home a time of great happiness.  I will be happy to assist you with information on setting up your utilities, finding your local information and anything else that I possibly can. Just let me know any concerns, questions or extra information you might like to have and I will do my best to assist you.  And don’t forget- The links listed all along the sides of this website are for your use!! They should include most of the information you will need about our local area to get you started including schools, utilities, shopping and restaurants.

After the Sale

I don’t want you to feel like we only have had a business transaction. I like to think of all of my clients as lifelong friends, and I will always treat you as such! This isn’t a forgetting business. I will continue to help you with any questions you might have about your home, or the local area, I will always be willing to provide you with contacts who are able to help you with your other areas of need. Whether it is a month or several years after you've moved into your home, I always want you to feel free to contact me for anything.

We are a Full-Service Home Ownership company and we have developed relationships with only the best service providers. So, from House-sitting to Landscaping, to tile-work, painting, maintenance and everything in between…We’re here for you!