Buy Owner Blog

Home buyers, there’s still time to lock in a home purchase before the federal tax credit’s April 30 deadline. True, you won’t have several more months to look around, but you will have a pretty big incentive sweetening the deal.

Here’s how to find and buy the home of your dreams fast.

1. GET PREQUALIFIED FOR A MORTGAGE.
No sense visiting homes if you can’t afford them. Getting prequalified for a mortgage lets you know exactly what you can or can’t afford to spend. Then you’re ready to search. Plus, this will make sellers more comfortable with accepting an offer from you…

[...more...]

You’ve found the perfect home, or so you think.

Imagine searching endlessly for that one place where you feel warm and comfortable. After weeks, months, years even, you fall in love with a beautiful house and sign your name on the dotted line. However, a few months go by and you’re feeling empty and unsure of your decision. You’re feeling home buyer’s remorse.

Buying a home is a big commitment. In many cases, it is a lifelong commitment. And just as you would with any life-changing decision, when it comes to buying real estate, you need to weigh the pros and cons and consider all of your wants and needs before agreeing to any contracts. Otherwise, you may find yourself stuck in a house you don’t even like.

[...more...]

As part of a special feature at the Buy Owner Blog, we’ll be highlighting cities throughout the nation, profiling their attractions and conveniences, as well as pointing out some currently for-sale homes in the area!

Make your new home in the award-winning city of Pembroke Pines, which offers proximity to parks, golf, beaches and highways.

The second most populated city in Broward County, Pembroke Pines is an award-winning area that offers the best of South Florida living! Residents of this community enjoy access to A-rated schools, numerous parks and recreation opportunities, shopping, dining and championship golf courses like Grand Palms Golf Club.

[...more...]

As part of a special feature at the Buy Owner Blog, we’ll be highlighting cities throughout the nation, profiling their attractions and conveniences, as well as pointing out some currently for-sale homes in the area!

Today’s featured city: Hudson, Florida!

Located south of the Florida Nature Coast and 40 minutes north of Tampa, the city of Hudson has been called one of the top three vacation-home destinations in the country by the Wall Street Journal.

Greater Hudson extends across 50 square miles of northwest Pasco County, which include the three distinct areas of Waterfront, Old South and Suburbs. [...more...]

Stretching over 176 square miles of Sonoran desert, the city of Peoria is a major suburb of Phoenix and also encompasses Lake Pleasant, which is Arizona’s second largest lake. Because of its close proximity to the city and its large amount of nature, in 2008, Money Magazine ranked Peoria as one of the 100 best places to live. Other attributes of Peoria are its 35 miles of nature trails, a multitude of shopping and dining opportunities, well-planned neighborhoods, highly rated schools and spring training for major league baseball teams, the Seattle Mariners and the San Diego Padres, inside the Peoria Sports Complex. [...more...]

As part of a special feature at the Buy Owner Blog, we’ll be highlighting cities throughout the nation, profiling their attractions and conveniences, as well as pointing out some currently for-sale homes in the area!

Today’s city: The Woodlands, Texas!

Situated outside Houston, The Woodlands is the #1 ranked master-planned community in Texas and has been nationally recognized as a model for community planning and development.

[...more...]

Shopping for a home? Here’s a tip on spotting motivated sellers:

A seller that goes beyond the limits is probably a seller that is anxious to move, willing to negotiate with you and probably able to make the buying process as easy as possible.

So what should you look for?

Recent tips we have shared with sellers included how to improve curb appeal, how to stage an unfinished basement, what repairs to make before selling so that the house is move-in-ready for buyers, how to stage the spare bedrooms so everyone living in the home enjoys their personal space and how to add green innovations for cost savings and eco-friendly living. [...more...]

As part of a special feature at the Buy Owner Blog, we’ll be highlighting cities throughout the nation, profiling their attractions and conveniences, as well as pointing out some currently for-sale homes in the area!

Today’s city: Fayetteville, Georgia!

Set approximately 22 miles from Atlanta, Fayetteville offers the charm of small-town living with the convenience of being close to a big city. This is an area that is rich in history, with such historical must-see spots as the Holliday-Dorsey-Fife House Museum and the Fayette County Courthouse. Built in 1825 and located at the center of the Fayetteville town square, the Fayette County Courthouse is the oldest surviving courthouse in Georgia.

Living in Fayetteville, you can visit the Villages Amphitheater in the heart of downtown Fayetteville for outdoor concerts and events and get all your shopping done at Fayette Pavilion.
[...more...]

As part of a special feature at the Buy Owner Blog, we’ll be highlighting cities throughout the nation, profiling their attractions and conveniences, as well as pointing out some currently for-sale homes in the area!

Today’s City: Naples, Florida!

Naples is one of the largest cities flanking the outskirts of Florida’s booming southwest city, Fort Lauderdale. Surrounded by sandy beaches on the Gulf of Mexico, this large city offers a quaint downtown area of shops and dining, modern and massive golf courses and prime real estate.

Though Naples is located near large cities, nature comes first in this lush, attractive location just outside of the Everglades. Everglades Excursions are available on a safari wagon, along with nature tours, canoe and kayak trips, cruises, fishing and bird watching in the Everglades and the 10,000 surrounding islands. [...more...]

As part of a special feature at the Buy Owner Blog, we’ll be highlighting cities throughout the nation, profiling their attractions and conveniences, as well as pointing out some currently for-sale homes in the area!

Today’s city: Lakeland, Florida!

Located conveniently between Tampa and Orlando, Lakeland is within a half hour of big-name attractions such as Busch Gardens, Disney World, SeaWorld and Universal Studios, yet it retains a small-town feel with rural areas and incredible charm. The Lakeland Square Mall offers plenty of shopping and dining, and downtown historic Lakeland features a strong commercial sector, the Munn Park District and Lake Mirror Park, lined by City Hall and Lakeland Terrace Hotel.

Lakeland is the biggest provider of rec programs and activities in Polk County, with more than 400 separate programs at 45 parks, playgrounds and other venues throughout the city. The Lakeland Center, hosts over 500 events each year, from conventions to Broadways shows, concerts and sports events.
[...more...]