Views that Never End! Emerald Grande W-225

Emerald Grande W-225

$1,295,000

Emerald Grande is the centerpiece of HarborWalk Village and one of the most sought after resorts along the Emerald Coast. You'll love this beautifully decorated condominium with spectacular panoramic water views of Destin's East Pass, Harbor, Crab Island, and the Gulf of Mexico. Wake up each morning and enjoy a cup of coffee on your wraparound balcony while watching the boats come and go. With 3 bedrooms and 3 baths that offers generous living space and stylish finishes, you'll enjoy a perfect setting for relaxing and entertaining. Beautiful hardwood floors and plenty of natural night flow throughout. Other special highlights include granite countertops in both the kitchen and bathrooms, recessed lighting and crown molding throughout. This condo is completely rental ready & currently with the on-site rental program with future rentals already in place!

Six Tips for Shopping for a Neighborhood

There’s more to shopping for a home than just looking for a house. A big part of the purchase is about the neighborhood and surroundings.

So before you move, know what to look for:

1. Where is it? The cardinal rule of real estate is location. Is the house close to schools, new jobs, parks, downtown or public transportation? Figure out the locations and distances that are most important to you.
2. Keep your budget in mind. Don’t let high-gloss brochures interfere with your bottom line. Luxury neighborhoods are beautiful, but make sure you’re financially comfortable buying a home in a fancy location before you commit.
3. Thriving or declining? Is your dream neighborhood improving, or settling into obsolescence? Are the neighbors keeping up their properties? Is there an abundance of ‘For Rent ’ signs?
4. Extra fees. If your dream neighborhood has a homeowner’s association (HOA), make sure you budget for monthly HOA dues.
5. Holding value. Shopping fixer-uppers? Remember not to improve the property beyond the rest of the neighborhood. Putting too much work into your house may mean you won’t recoup all your investment when you sell.
6. Go before you buy. Explore your new neighborhood outside of the open house times. Are the streets usually full of cars? Is there a drummer or noisy dog living next door? Talk to potential neighbors and get the scoop before you submit an offer.

Of course, you don’t have to find your dream house on your own. If you or someone you know is ready to buy a new home, call me today!

Newly Listed: 3 Bedroom/2 Bathroom Home in Navarre Only $184,000

This well-designed 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, home in Promise Creek is waiting for you! This home offers a large open floor-plan with split bedroom design. This home backs up to a wooded preserve and offers a fully fenced in backyard with a storage shed included. Close to the beach, base, and schools, you will fall in love with all this home has to offer. Call today to make an appointment to view this beautiful home. This home qualifies for 100% Rural Housing loan for qualified buyers. 

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What do you need to get a mortgage?

There is no getting around the amount of documentation needed to acquire a mortgage in a post-recession world. When you are applying for a mortgage you will face more paperwork than ever before. It is a good idea to go ahead and gather some of the essentials needed prior to submitting a mortgage loan application to help the process move along as smoothly as possible. Below is a list of documents that are usually required to complete a mortgage loan application. Your mortgage loan originator can tell you about any additional requirements or documents that may be needed to close on your new home.

• Social Security number
• Two forms of government identification
• W-2 forms from the previous two years if you collect a paycheck
• Profit and Loss statements or 1099 forms is you own a business
• Recent paystubs
• Most recent federal tax return and possibly the last two tax returns
• A complete list of your debts
• A complete list of assets
• Cancelled checks for your rent or mortgage payments

Why Buy in 2016?

Home Shopping? Get Preapproved First

In any type of market, it is always a great idea to pursue a preapproval from a lender in advance of beginning a home search. 

A preapproval verifies the borrower's information and documentation to determine exactly how much the lender would be willing to lend. This is great information to have as a buyer as this allows you to know exactly how much house you can afford. You know up front what your estimated monthly payments will be and can estimate closing costs that may be due. Also, having a preapproval can speed up the underwriting and loan approval process which can help you get into your new home much more quickly. 

Another reason that a preapproval is beneficial is that it allows the seller to know that you are a serious buyer. There are many times that a seller will require a preapproval prior to accepting any offer or contract on a home. This is especially true for bank owned properties and short sales. Having your preapproval in hand allows the seller to know they will be working with a qualified buyer during the process. Even if a seller doesn't require it, having a preapproval can separate you from other buyers who haven't taken the initiative to start the lending process. 

To-Do List for First-Time Buyers

Homebuyer Checklist

Here are 9 things to take care of once you have an accepted offer.

• Earnest Money - make sure that you deliver the earnest money in the format and timeline agreed upon in your sales contract.
• Property Inspection - choose your inspector and get them scheduled to determine if any repairs are needed.
• Lender Docs - let you lender know that you are under contract and make sure to get them all of the requested documentation on time.
• Appraisal - make sure your lender orders the appraisal as soon as possible.
• Insurance - choose your homeowners insurance provider and provide the relevant information to your lender and closing company.
• Utilities - schedule all of your utilities to be transferred or turned on before closing.
• Schedule Closing - schedule your closing early on to make sure the closing agent has a convenient time slot open. 
• Final Walkthrough - before closing, do one final walk through to make sure that everything is ready for closing.
• Close the Deal - Bring your photo ID and certified funds (if applicable) to closing.