Your Guide to DeLand Real Estate & Volusia County Properties
The 9 Steps to Home Ownership
Buying a home in DeLand & Volusia County isn't much different than anywhere else, but the steps are the same.
Step - 1 Make the Decision to Buy
It seems obvious, but it's good to note that the first step to buying a house is making the decision to buy. Consider the reasons you want a new house and write them down. Determine how long you want to live in the new house - does buying still make good financial sense? Will you need to sell a home you are currently living in? Can you afford a house that will meet your list of requirements? A good rule of thumb is your mortgage payment should not exceed 1/3 of your net monthly income.
If everything looks good so far, Go to Step - 2
Step 2 - Seek Professional Guidance
I'd like to schedule a time to meet with you to hear the reasons you want to buy a house or property and your plans for the future. If you are out of the DeLand and Volusia county area, we can proceed with this step via email or telephone. We'll talk about neighborhoods, schools, economic factors liable to affect the market today and tomorrow, as well as how you would like your house and neighborhood to grow with you.
At this time, unless you will be paying cash, I will help you get pre-qualified for a mortgage loan. Pre-qualification is a written statement from a loan officer indicating his or her opinion that you will be approved for a mortgage loan up to a certain amount. The fact that you are pre-qualified is invaluable when we are negotiating the purchase of your new home. Pre-approval is like having cash in hand!
Most of the lenders I work with here in DeLand are VERY flexible and understanding. In most cases, they can give you a very fair assessment of your situation without pulling your credit right away.
After our initial meeting, online or in person, I'll search all my resources for houses on the market that fit your criteria. We can go over the available homes together in my office, your home, or I can email a list to you. You should be able to weed out many homes from the first list, narrowing it down to 5-9 homes that should be just right for you. I'll preview these houses to eliminate the inferior homes. Then, I'll schedule appointments to tour the houses at times convenient to you.
As we tour houses, I'll point out positive features and negative features. I'll ask you to tell me what you like and what you don't like. You'll probably amend your "wish list" as we tour houses, some things will become more important and others less important. With this new information, I'll refine our search criteria to narrow in on the house of your dreams.
If you are not quite at this step yet, I can submit a recurring search on your behalf, that will keep you notified via email of changes in the west Volusia & DeLand market and new listings as they pop up!
Step 4 - Know the Market
My knowledge of the DeLand & west Volusia market is an essential factor in the house search. I'll let you know when the market in a particular neighborhood is "hot" and requires immediate action or when the market is "cool" and allows for thoughtful consideration.
As we tour houses, I'll let you know when the asking price has negotiating room and when the house is "priced to sell". My unique market knowledge will keep you a step ahead of the "house hunting competition".
In a "seller's market". It is not unusual to see multiple offers on a property, full-price offers and even above-price offers. On the flip side, during a "buyer's market" there are more houses for sale than buyers. This gives us more negotiating room as houses are taking longer to sell.
Step 5 - Find Your Dream House
I'm confident we'll find your dream house. When we do, I'll put together the purchase offer tailored for your needs including appropriate contingencies (such as obtaining financing, favorable home inspection, clear title, etc.).
The offer is normally presented with "earnest money". This is a deposit made to a home seller to secure an offer to buy the property, but is held in escrow by the title company or brokerage until closing. The amount is applied to your closing costs. If the seller accepts the offer, generally closing is held 30 to 60 days from the offer date (generally dependent on the turn around time of your mortgage financing).
Step 6 - Negotiate the Deal
It is not uncommon to receive a counter offer when the initial purchase offer is submitted. Don't let this discourage you. We will discuss the counter offer and decide whether or not to accept the counter offer, submit our own counter offer, or reject the counter offer and move on.
Market conditions will play a role in how aggressively we negotiate the deal. We will also work within your limits. Emotions can lead to buyer's remorse. It is better to set limits prior to negotiating an offer and stick to these limits.
Step 7 - Get a Loan
During the closing period, you will be working with your mortgage lender to close the loan. Since you pre-qualified for the loan before starting your home search, you will be that much closer to your new home. I'll gather the necessary property information your lender will need to close the loan and you will be in pretty frequent contact with your loan processor until the sale is closed.
Step 8 - Close the Deal
You will receive a "Good Faith Estimate" of closing costs at the time the loan application is submitted to the lender. The estimate is based on the loan officer's past experience and may not include all the closing costs. I will be glad to review the "Good Faith Estimate," answering questions and highlighting missing costs and estimates I believe to be low. Unless negotiated out in the contract, buyers will normally have to bring some amount of money to the closing table. That will be a cashiers check or certified funds made payable to the title company. The title company's closing officer will review the closing statement for the seller and the buyer, collect and disperse checks to the appropriate parties, you will receive your keys and any other documentation applicable and the deal is closed.
Step 9 - Move In
Congratulations! It's time to move into your new house and make it your home. Enjoy this exciting time. I'll give you a checklist to help you remember the numerous details that will make your moving day a pleasure.
Thank You so much for visiting the DeLand Real Estate site and guide. If anything is unclear, be sure to drop me an email or give me a call.
Good Luck with your homebuying!
See below, an interesting article on homebuying in this market:
April 22, 2007
Through the Eyes of Newcomers
Finding the perfect home in Volusia County
By NICOLE SERVICE Staff Writer, Daytona Beach News Journal
Adam Colando wanted that perfect 1950s home, but living out of state, he knew it would be a challenge.
Lee and Janet Earls faced a similar challenge, even though they were a little closer in Coral Springs, but they only had 90 days to find a new home, while former North Carolina residents Ted and Judy Gaylor were simply looking to downsize.
You would think that with about 700,000 houses, condos and townhouses on the market statewide, finding the right home for these recent buyers would be a snap.
"This is a buyer's market pure and simple,"
"The inventory of homes in Volusia is the highest it's ever been."
But as the newcomers' stories show, sometimes it's a matter of luck, faith and acting quickly.
Finding the right home for someone from out-of-town, much less out of state isn't getting easier, Realtors said.
"There is plenty of inventory," ______ said. "But when you start looking at the property taxes and insurance, we hear the same thing over and over again -- it's too high."
There is also an issue of sellers being unrealistic and sitting on the price of a home from 2005, and buyers being rather picky, Hall said.
"Many houses have been on the market for a year or more," she said. "The good times done gone away."
Meet Stetson student Adam Colando
Twelve months ago, when Adam Colando decided to attend school at Stetson University in DeLand, the nontraditional student knew renting and the dorms weren't for him.
"(Owning) offers a sense of security," Colando said. "Plus, it's a good investment."
In his previous home-hunting experience, Colando said he tried to do it himself, driving around neighborhoods and even at one time writing up his own contract and printing it at Office Depot.
This time around he decided to use a Realtor -- .
"Having done it both ways, I found it was much easier with a Realtor," Colando said. "I think that's the best way."
He also said he had little faith in the Internet because "the good houses are never listed on the Internet," and he was looking for very special 1950s house.
Still it took Colando nine long months to find his perfect home in Athens Park.
"It was built in 1956," he said. "It is made of red brick, and has a crawl space and wood floors throughout."
It was definitely love at first sight, he said, so much so he put in a bid and wrote a deposit check right there in Hall's car.
"I brought my check book with me to secure the deal," he said.
I will never share your personal information with any outside sources!
Your Guide to DeLand Real Estate and Volusia County Properties around Central Florida including these areas: DeLand, Orange City, Glenwood in DeLand, Victoria Park in DeLand, Victoria Commons in DeLand, Victoria Hills in DeLand, Brandywine in DeLand, Bent Oaks in DeLand, The Reserve at Bent Oaks in DeLand, Tomoka Woods in DeLeon Springs , Barberville, Beresford Lakes Terrace in DeLand, Hontoon Peninsula in DeLand, St. Johns River along Volusia County, Lake Beresford in DeLand, River Ridge in DeLand, Hontoon Marina in DeLand, Quail Hollow in DeLand, Blue Springs in Orange City, Daytona Park Estates in DeLand, Enterprise, Enterprise in Orange City, Saxon Woods in Orange City, Longleaf Plantation in DeLand, DeBary, DeBary Golf & Country Club, DeBary Plantation, Deltona, Lake Helen, Cassadaga, Osteen, DeLeon Springs, Astor, Pierson, Seville, Lake Lindley, Lake Winnemissette, Samsula, Sanford, Lake Mack, Lake County, Whisperwood Mobile Homes, Meadowlea Estates Manufactured Homes, The Oaks, North Ridge in DeLand, Stetson University, Port Orange, Ormond Beach, Countryside, Holly Hill, Samsula, Forest Trace in DeLand, Mallory Square in DeLand, Port Orange Landings, Daytona Beach, Daytona Beach Shores, Seminole County real estate, Sanford, Orlando, Orange County real estate, DeLand Mobile Homes, A Better Place, Shops of DeLand, The Trails, Trails West in DeLand, Glenwood Springs in DeLand, Berry's Ridge in DeLand, Northridge in DeLand, Riviera Bella in DeBary, Blue Lake in DeLand, Glenwood Reserve in DeLand, Stone Island in Deltona, Glenn Abby in DeBary, and more!
Put the Power of Total Realty, The Jennifer Clark Team and Technology to work for you!
Michael Halpin, Realtor®, e-PRO and Volusia Property Showcase.com
Total Realty 2683 S. Woodland Blvd. DeLand, FL 32720
