Increase your chances of getting your dream house instead of losing it to another buyer, with these easy steps. Get prequalified for a mortgage. You’ll be able to make a firm commitment to buy and make your offer more desirable to the seller. Stay in close touch with your real estate sales ... Read More

There are so many wonderful neighborhoods and communities in SW Florida. When you're coming from outside the area, finding the right one is not always easy. We can help you with your options, from boating communities to city neighborhoods, condominium complexes to rural areas and more. We provide ... Read More

A real estate transaction is complicated. In most cases, buying or selling a home requires disclosure forms, inspection reports, mortgage documents, insurance policies, deeds, and multi-page government-mandated settlement statements. A knowledgeable guide through this complexity can help you avoid ... Read More

Condominiums and townhouses offer an affordable option to single-family homes in most areas. But consider these facts before you buy. Storage. Some condos have storage lockers, but usually there are no attics or basements to store belongings. Outdoor space. Yards and outdoor areas are usually ... Read More

The neighborhood you choose can have a big impact on your lifestyle—safety, available amenities, and convenience all play their part. Make a list of the activities—movies, health club, church—you engage in regularly and stores you visit frequently. See how far you would have to travel from each ... Read More

While your opinions on the type of home you want to own may change during the homebuying process, use this easy checklist to help you prioritize and make the shopping process less time consuming. How close do you need to be to: (a) public transportation _______ (b) schools _______ (c) airport ... Read More

Credit scores range between 200 and 800. Scores above 620 are considered desirable for obtaining a mortgage. These factors will affect your score. Your payment history. Whether you paid credit card obligations on time. How much you owe. Owing a great deal of money on numerous accounts can indicate ... Read More

1. Develop a family budget. Instead of budgeting what you’d like to spend, use receipts to create a budget for what you actually spent over the last six months. One advantage of this approach is that it factors in unexpected expenses, such as car repairs, illnesses, etc., as well as predictable ... Read More

Owner’s manuals for items left in the house. Warranties for any items left in the house. A list of local service providers—the best dry cleaner, yard service, etc. Garage door opener. Extra sets of house keys. Code to burglar alarm and phone number of monitoring service if not ... Read More

1. Give your forwarding address to the post office, usually two to four weeks ahead of the move. 2. Notify your credit card companies, magazine subscriptions, and bank of the change of address. 3. Develop a list of friends, relatives, and business colleagues who need to be notified of the ... Read More