AJ Ackerman

Tip #10: Cash versus Finance The idea that there is nothing better than cash is a common concept in the purchasing of real estate. In buyer offers, the more ideal of the two is the cash buyer, as their deal typically comes with less hassle and shortens the amount of time needed to close the sale. As much as sellers might be drooling over the idea of a cash buyer, you must consider all your options in the cash versus finance situation prior to purchasing your home. Tax Benefits Financing your home has substantial tax deductions like loan origination fees and pre-paid interest, as well as interest throughout the life of the loan for first time houses and vacation homes. These items are not paid when a buyer purchases a home with cash, but may offer significant deductions around tax time. Preparing for Homeownership Make sure that prior to pre-qualifying for a mortgage that you are ready to take this step in purchasing a new home. Buying a home is a big step financially in comparison to renting a home. When items are purchased in cash not only are the escrow and property taxes rolled into your payment, but your liquidity is probably significantly decreased if this is your first purchase. Make sure that if you do pay in cash that you have plenty of extra money saved for additional expenses like taxes and insurance or other unexpected projects that might arise. No Interest Interest on a finance loan versus cash purchases can equal hundreds of thousands of dollars throughout the life of the loan. Paying a lump sum of cash will save you this amount in interest and is ultimately the least expensive option. The most ideal situation is to partially finance your new home (with a 20% down payment). Find a high interest investment for the rest that you would have paid in cash and make payments on a mortgage for the life of the loan. This will allow you to earn interest on your money, deduct the interest on your loan and avoid closings costs and fees associated with financing a loan. Regardless of which route you choose in the end, make sure that you have a buyer representative with the market knowledge, experience and care of the agents at AJ Ackerman & Associates. Contact us today to learn how we can help you understand the financial aspects of the buying process and select which option is best for you. 12 Tips to Buying Real Estate in Southwest Florida Learn more by visiting my website.

Because of the Housing Crisis across America. It would be very difficult for owners to rent based on credit only. You should have no problem finding a rental with bad credit. They will typically do a background check though. So hopefully you have no record. =) Good Luck

Tip #12: First Time Home Buying Buying your first home can be a very exciting process. Prior to making your offer, you must take extra steps to ensure that you’re properly prepared for the process. Weigh your options First time home buying isn’t always the best decision for everyone, even though it’s a generally accepted trend. It is perfectly acceptable to enter into the thought process cautiously and weigh all the options prior to purchasing. Owning your own home is the American Dream. Growing up you may have envisioned your dream home and the family that would live in it – purchasing a home will get you one step closer to making your dream a reality. Things to consider prior to making the decision to purchase your home: You can deduct mortgage interest from your taxes if you elect to finance versus paying cash, which is the most significant portion of your payment. Property taxes are deductible on your taxes. Up until recently, the government was offering a first time home buyer’s tax credit to those that purchased in a weak economy. Things to consider while you’re looking for your first home: Pay attention to the home’s surroundings – next door, the backyard, and even down the street. Make sure the accessibility is at a level that’s right for you. Take lots of notes. Recall how you felt about a house, noting the pro’s and con’s of each and taking notice of unique elements that distinguish them. Bring your camera – you’ll be looking at so many homes that you can’t possibly remember minute details. Take pictures so you can go over them later. Rate the home on a 1 to 10 scale. It will keep your focused on the top rated homes and allow you to compare from there. Remember to stay focused on what you want and don’t get too lofty in your aspirations or stretch your home budget too much. Avoiding short sales or foreclosures will keep you much happier in the long run more than an extra bedroom or bathroom may have. Find an agent who concentrates on educating you in the first time home buying process. Contact us to provide you with guidance and education throughout the process. 12 Tips to Buying Real Estate in Southwest Florida Learn more by visiting my website. Copyright © 2010. AJ Ackerman & Associates. All Rights Reserved.

Hi Scott, The first thing you need to do is contact a bank or martgage company. =) Try asking friends and family if they trust anyone in the business. A real estate agent should also be able to direct you to a trustworthy source. Be sure to interview a few people on the phone if you have no recommendations. Good Luck!

Tip #12: First Time Home Buying Buying your first home in the Southwest Florida area can be a very exciting process. Prior to making your offer, you must take extra steps to ensure that you’re properly prepared for the process. Weigh your options First time home buying isn’t always the best decision for everyone, even though it’s a generally accepted trend. It is perfectly acceptable to enter into the thought process cautiously and weigh all the options prior to purchasing. Owning your own home is the American Dream. Growing up you may have envisioned your dream home and the family that would live in it – purchasing a home will get you one step closer to making your dream a reality. Things to consider prior to making the decision to purchase your home: You can deduct mortgage interest from your taxes if you elect to finance versus paying cash, which is the most significant portion of your payment. Property taxes are deductible on your taxes. Up until recently, the government was offering a first time home buyer’s tax credit to those that purchased in a weak economy. Things to consider while you’re looking for your first home: Pay attention to the home’s surroundings – next door, the backyard, and even down the street. Make sure the accessibility is at a level that’s right for you. Take lots of notes. Recall how you felt about a house, noting the pro’s and con’s of each and taking notice of unique elements that distinguish them. Bring your camera – you’ll be looking at so many homes that you can’t possibly remember minute details. Take pictures so you can go over them later. Rate the home on a 1 to 10 scale. It will keep your focused on the top rated homes and allow you to compare from there. Remember to stay focused on what you want and don’t get too lofty in your aspirations or stretch your home budget too much. Avoiding short sales or foreclosures will keep you much happier in the long run more than an extra bedroom or bathroom may have. Find an agent who concentrates on educating you in the first time home buying process. Contact us to provide you with guidance and education throughout the process. 12 Tips to Buying Real Estate in Southwest Florida Learn more by visiting my website. Copyright © 2010. AJ Ackerman & Associates. All Rights Reserved.

Tip #3: How to Choose an Agent Real estate agents have gotten a bad reputation as “salespeople” who hold selfish interests in your home. On the other end of the spectrum, successful and reliable agents, while experts in marketing and sales, are experts in negotiation and advisement when you are selling or buying your home. Knowing what to look for and how to pick an agent will ensure that the process goes seamlessly and quickly. Many horror stories have circled about agents pushing expensive listings (that yield maximum commission), their own listings, or demanding that buyers make decisions on few options before they are ready to do so. The most important aspect of the buying or selling process is knowing how to pick an agent who will keep your best interests in mind. Personality Make sure that you mesh well with the personality of your agent. You will inevitably spend a lot of time with your agent discussing deals whether you’re buying or selling. Trust must be established with an agent that you get along with before a successful transaction can occur on either side of a deal. Experience Choose an agent that has experience in selling real estate in general as well as in your desired area. An experienced agent that specializes in one area in particular is usually the first to know about great deals in your desired neighborhood, often before they come onto the market. What should you ask your real estate agent? Is this your full time job? An agent can only dedicate as much time to your listing or finding you the right home as they spend working day to day. Find a dedicated agent who will be working for you when you need them and not on a part time basis when it suits them. What are the comparable sales in the area? By knowing how much the surrounding homes are selling for, as a buyer you can make a competitive offer. As a seller, you can set a reasonable sales price. In short, choose an agent with knowledge and experience. The most market savvy individuals who see your relationship as lifelong are the right people to guide you through the process. Contact us for real estate advice in buying and selling Southwest Florida real estate from experts you can trust.

The beautiful thing about making a decision to live on Florida’s gulf coast is the number of bodies of water around that exist. Buying a home on the water in the Southwest Florida area can be one of the best investments you’ll ever make. With Fort Myers Beach, Vanderbilt Beach, Sanibel & Captiva Islands, the Caloosahatchee River, and manmade canals and lakes all within 40 miles of the central Southwest Florida area, buying a home on the water was never so available. Certain water bodies are more desirable than others. It is important to assess pricing in comparison to location. Cape Coral, for example, has many properties listed as waterfront or gulf access, yet it can take up to an hour to get to the gulf by boat in most cases. Wastewater runoff and leftover septic tanks from homes that have paid the water assessments are also things that make purchasing a home on a canal less than appealing. Buying a home on the waterfront or canal in Cape Coral can run from $150,000 to over a million depending on the size of the home. Fort Myers real estate on the Caloosahatchee River can range from a few hundred thousand to a few million dollars, while beachfront property can go into the multimillions in places like Sanibel and Captiva. If a beachside mansion doesn’t quite fall into your budget, consider purchasing a beachside condominium or purchasing a home with quick and easy access to the beach. The amazing thing about the Southwest Florida area is literally everywhere you go, you can access the water in no time at all. Inexpensive houses can be found in central locations with close access to amenities and minimal beach traffic. You’ll be laying on the beach, enjoying the Florida sun in no time. Buying a home on the water (whether you are a first time home buyer or a seasoned property owner) can be slightly more complicated than purchasing a regular new or used home. Extra insurances must be secured for protection against floods and hurricanes. Ensure that your buyer’s representative knows the area and can educate you completely about the risks and rewards of purchasing a home on the water. Contact us for the expertise you need in purchasing your waterfront home. 12 Tips to Buying Real Estate in Southwest Florida Learn more by visiting my website or calling me.

As a retiree, you may find yourself busy with volunteering, hobbies, cooking, crafts, entertaining, relaxing and making new friends. But for some, the best “hobby” of all time is… …shopping. Lucky for retirees in Cape Coral, this area is a mecca for shopping enthusiasts. Coconut Pointe® – This shopping center boasts 113 stores and 25 restaurants – all surrounding several acres of lakes with a boardwalk. It is a “Main Street-style” shopping destination with Mediterranean Revival-style architecture that is designed to fit gracefully with the architectural flavor of Southwest Florida…and in my humble opinion, it’s the best mall around! Gulf Coast Town Center – This is a destination shopping mall featuring national retailers. This outdoor mall currently has over 100 stores and restaurants on 200 acres, with even more scheduled to open. Tanger Outlets – If you’re headed to the beach or coming back from a trip to Sanibel, you’ll be close to the Tanger Outlets. This mall has more than 30 upscale designer outlets and brand name manufacturers like Brooks Brothers, Bon Worth, Coldwater Creek, Lane Bryant, and more. Miromar Outlets – This is another outlet store, located further south in Estero. This larger mall has over 140 stores, as well as lots of tasty restaurants if you need to refuel during your shopping excursion. Bell Tower Shops – This open air shopping plaza is best known for being a great place to shop or have a nice dinner before or after seeing a movie at the Regal Cinemas. The Bell Tower Shops are conveniently located on Daniels Parkway and U.S. 41. This mall hosts many special events, like Yappy Hour for dogs, live music concert series at the fountain, and several charity events. Notable retailers in the Bell Tower include Brookstone, Chico’s, Clarks, Draper’s and Damon’s, and Soma Intimates. There are also some amazing restaurants, including Blue Pointe Seafood, Cru, Bistro 41, Grimaldi’s Pizzaria, and Da Ru Ma Japenese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar. In central and downtown Fort Myers, shoppers can browse traditional retailers like Sears and J.C. Penny’s in the Edison Mall or visit boutiques and antique shops in downtown Fort Myers. The Franklin Shops on First Street is home to many cute and quirky independently owned shops that specialize in unique gifts, art, and clothing. If you’re looking for a good bargain, you could try the nearby Fleamasters Fleamarket, which features over 900 booths that feature one-of-a-kind merchandise. Cape C

Tip #12: First Time Home Buying Buying your first home in the Southwest Florida area can be a very exciting process. Prior to making your offer, you must take extra steps to ensure that you’re properlynprepared for the process. Weigh your options First time home buying isn’t always the best decision for everyone, even though it’s abgenerally accepted trend. It is perfectly acceptable to enter into the thought process cautiously and weigh all the options prior to purchasing. Owning your own home is the American Dream. Growing up you may have envisioned your dream home and the family that would live in it – purchasing a home will get you one step closer to making your dream a reality. Things to consider prior to making the decision to purchase your home: You can deduct mortgage interest from your taxes if you elect to finance versus paying cash, which is the most significant portion of your payment. Property taxes are deductible on your taxes. Up until recently, the government was offering a first time home buyer’s tax credit to those that purchased in a weak economy. Things to consider while you’re looking for your first home: Pay attention to the home’s surroundings – next door, the backyard, and even down the street. Make sure the accessibility is at a level that’s right for you. Take lots of notes. Recall how you felt about a house, noting the pro’s and con’s of each and taking notice of unique elements that distinguish them. Bring your camera – you’ll be looking at so many homes that you can’t possibly remember minute details. Take pictures so you can go over them later. Rate the home on a 1 to 10 scale. It will keep your focused on the top rated homes and allow you to compare from there. Remember to stay focused on what you want and don’t get too lofty in your aspirations or stretch your home budget too much. Avoiding short sales or foreclosures will keep you much happier in the long run more than an extra bedroom or bathroom may have. Find an agent who concentrates on educating you in the first time home buying process. Contact us to provide you with guidance and education throughout the process. 12 Tips to Buying Real Estate in Southwest Florida Learn more by visiting my website or calling (239) 565-7867. Copyright © 2010. AJ Ackerman & Associates. All Rights Reserved.