Buying a Home In Jacksonville--minus the mistakes!

In Jacksonville FL these are the mistakes I am finding most common.  This reflects Jacksonville FL and the greater surrounding area(s).

• Someone else buys the house.  We search, we view, you ponder.  I understand the need to ponder.  I completely understand that you may not want to make a quick decision, but in this market you really need to, or you may miss your home.  I have seen this happen all to many times.  And we are both discouraged.  Moral:  if you see a house you like, offer.  I'll be ready, you should be as well.
• Your agent matters.  Ask questions.  How savvy at negotiating is your agent?  Is your agent willing to work around your schedule?  Will they be there during the entire process.  Will they be there for the inspections.  What are they expectations they have, and you have, and do they match.  Is your agent determined to have high volume or high satisfaction, or both.  And if both, do they have a team in play.
• The net number.  The offer needs to be appealing to the seller and the net number needs to be the best it can be.  How does your agent gauge what is or is not a good offer.  How do they help you get that home.  What will they do to make it work.  Is your agent about the money, or your experience, or both--which is completely okay as we are professionals and need to make sure our bottom line is met (hopefully exceeded) but not at your expense.  Find out--it matters.
• Know your lender.  Ask questions.  Know what is offered, and what is not.  What is your interest rate, and when does your rate lock expire.  Do you qualify for any programs or assistance.  How often do they miss closing dates, and why.  Set expectations up front so you will not be disappointed.  And, make sure they do the FHA 203k program, just in case....
• Think resale.  I know.  You are just moving in--why think about that?  I once bought a home, in Port Orchard Washington.  We stayed there exactly 14 months and then sold that house.  Profit--yes.  And we used the same agent.  She knew the house inside and out, and saw some improvements (fence, sod).  She sold it the first week, and it was good.  But, we had not considered resale.  If the average is 5 years with each home, then think ahead!

Homes are getting snapped up right and left in this market here in Jacksonville Florida.  It is an unusual market, and the foreclosures increase each day.  There is an increasing number of seller owned and they are coming on at reasonable pricing--my thought is so they will make the tax incentive with a move up!  Either way there is not a need to look at 20 homes any longer, we can do that online.  There is a need to keep moving in the process and to execute the offer as you find a home that works for you!