Darin Dugenske

Sandra,
Riviera Middle on 62nd is being closed and is not projected to reopen. It was a good school and had some good teachers which are being placed at other shools. There are still some good schools around depending on the how your child is as a student.

My daughter just graduated from St. Pete High so I have been out of midle school for a little while. Some of the people I know have indicated they like Lealman and Thurgood Marshall. They may be a little of a drive but sound like they have had some good experiences.

Hope that helps. If you have any other questions please do not hesitate to contact me. I also know a couple of great realtors in the area that may be able to help you find the right home for you and your family.

Kind regards,
Darin - Thu Jun 12 2008, 07:06

Karen,
This is a wonderful town. The downtown area is special and provides you the feeling that you are away from all the major cares. It seems like you have stepped back in time to a place theat is not surrounded with the current hustle and bustle many other towns have. With that being said it has all the amenities you could want in town and within short drives. It has a great micro brewery and many other things in town.

What the others have described is only a taste of what Dunedin offers. It definately worth checkiing out to see if it meets your lifestyle.

Personally I live on the water in North East St. Petersburg which our family enjoys tremendously. But that is the great thing about this entire area no matter what you like there is a place for you to feel right at home. And, you are close enough to all of them so you get to enjoy all the experiences.

Good luck with your home search. I am not a realtor but have had the honor of working with some great professionals so if I can be of any assistance please let me know.

Kind regards,
Darin - Tue Jun 10 2008, 08:55

Halley,
If you are still out there looking for a response. One of the best places to start the process is with a mortgage professional that you feel has your best interest in mind. During the process you and this person will be sharing your personal financial situation as well as comfort levels.

This person should review with you income, debit, taxes, insurance, possible HOA (Home Owner Association) fees as well as others issues that you should be aware of to prepare you for home ownership. You will be able to discuss scenarios of monthly expenses and your threshold to ensure you have covered your entire picture. And in some cases help you imrove/repair your credit if needed.

Reach out to someone you feel will work with you through the process and not just stick you in a product to make the quick deal. Ask questions to ensure you understand what is going on and how things work. This should be your trusted advisor not just a transaction taker.

Once you find that person and work out what you can afford and your comfort zone then you will be ready to work with a real estate professional to help you find your home in Lake Worth.

If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact me.

Kind regards,
Darin - Tue Jun 10 2008, 06:11

Myrtle,
I am sorry to hear about your experience with AmeriDream as that is not the way things should flow. Based on experience this is a good vehicle for the right situations and should have been explained to you so you understand. Typically, the lender is the one the one to explain how it works. AmeriDream and Nehemiah as well as others have representatives that are in the field helping people understand the programs. - Tue Jun 10 2008, 05:40

Sharee,
The AmeriDream and others like it are insitutions that gift money. This gift can be used as down payment assistance and closing costs. There is a fee to the seller as well as the costs of the gift. In addition the home must have an appraisal that will work within the specific home and gifting desired.

We utlize these programs on a regular basis as they have helped many people with down payment assistance. This programs and others like it work in conjunction with support from the seller and are utlized in conjunction with FHA loans.

The loan limits will vary based on where you live and FHA new guidelines. The amount of the gift can 1% - 10% and with some other gift programs have been able to get it even higher up to about 12%. When I reference the higher percentages these have been applied when working with builders and not many ocassions with a seller.

The comments from Lucien are a good overview as well. The programs are pretty basic as long as you have a willing and motivated seller. The links to AmeriDream and Nehemiah are good information as well. Last month we did about 9 Nehemiah gifts with builders.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me and will be happy to address any questions you have.

Kind regards,
Darin

First Horizon Home Loans
11300 4th Street N
St. Petersburg, FL 33716
Office: (727) 576-5776 x1129#
Fax: (214) 486-2347
Cell: (727) 599-8200
E-Mail: DDugenske@FirstHorizon.com
Website: http://www.FirstHorizonUSA.com/DarinDugenske - Mon Jun 9 2008, 18:20

Stephan,
From a little different prospective I work for a direct lender. Yes, we offer specific products and services that are directly related to our firm and not offered through third parties. We also offer products and services as a correspondent with each of those firms (simialr to a brokerage firm). As many of the other professionals in the industry we work hard to provide our clients with the best solution to their specific needs.

In years past, there were "creative" products that one firm offered that another did not. In this day and age the product offerings have been slimmed down and many are now offerings are the same.

I agree with many of the comments below especially about those that indicate you should work with someone you feel comfortable with. This is probably one the most important factors. You will be working on probably your largest priced one time purchases, sharing your personal financial situation as well as your overall goal and you should feel confident whether a broker or lender they have your best interest in mind.

We are all here trying to get your business and in this virtual world you can work with anyone you have the most comfort. It is worth your time to reach out to those that have expressed interest and see if there is a connection that provides you confidence.

Good luck with your search in finding the right person that will help you reach your goals.

Kind regards,
Darin - Mon Jun 9 2008, 19:27