Antaeus Balevre

Faith,
You should call the agent to see if she or a member of her team will be at the open house. The realtors name is SOPHIA NAKIS. She is with COLDWELL BANKER RESIDENTIAL. Her phone number is 813-251-3030 (x127).
Hope that helps.
Antaeus Balevre Broker Associate (941) 400-0155
Prudential Palms Realty - Thu Oct 9 2008, 12:04

Hi Lorie,

I spoke with a business acquaintance who works for a property management company. They handle the dues collecting, and property management for many Homeowners Associations.
She says that the best thing to do is to contact the management company and explain your situation. Their company will usually wave the late fees if there is mitigating circumstances.

Good luck!
Antaeus Balevre Broker Associate – (941) 400-1055
Prudential Palms Realty - Thu Oct 9 2008, 10:53

Having a pre-approval letter will show the seller that you are a serious buyer, and give you more negotiating power. It will also expedite the buying process, as you will not have to wait weeks for the bank to approve your loan.

It’s not unusual for a REALTOR in the Sarasota/Bradenton area, to put 100 or 200 miles on their car showing a customer property. In this market, and with the price of gasoline the way it is, many REALTORS are “tightening up”. That is, they are making sure that potential buyers are serious about buying a home, before they take them around.

Antaeus Balevre (941) 400-1055 - Mon Sep 29 2008, 09:38

I forgot to send you the Bruce Williams WEB site address for Northwood Park. It's http://www.bwhomes.com.
Antaeus Balevre (941) 400-1055 E-mail antaeusb@verizon.net - Mon Sep 29 2008, 09:17

I think Larry and Vicki mean that Brandon is about 45 to 60 minutes from Northside hospital in St. Petersburg. The distance is about 35 miles.

The average price of a home in Brandon will vary according to neighborhood, amenities, location, and a lot of other factors. I did a quick search on the mid Florida MLS, using the following criteria: A single family home with a pool, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, and a minimum size of 2000 Sq. Ft.

The search returned 25 properties ranging in price form $225,000 to 1.3 million.

There are other places closer to St. Petersburg that I think are better situated for your commute. For instance; Bruce Williams builds a great home, and has built a single family home community, called Northwood Park, that is very close to St. Petersburg.

Northwood Park is situated in a prime location that is ideally suited for working professionals and growing families - just off the beaten path, but only minutes from downtown St. Petersburg via a quick drive over the Skyway.

The community consists of about 109 home sites, most with water or wooded views. A brand new elementary school nearby and the community's own park are just two of the benefits to buyers with young children. Prices for a brand new home range from $217,000 for a 3 bedroom 2 bath 1658 Sq. Ft. home, to $282, 000 for a 2410 Sq. Ft. home. There is even one model that is almost 3000 Sq. Ft. prices at around $317,000.

I hope this information helps. If you are interested in this community, and would like more information, please call me at (941) 400-1055. - Sun Sep 28 2008, 11:12

Bill,

The 20% down payment is the buyers way of telling the bank or mortgage company that they are financially committed to paying off the remaining loan balance.

No down payment loans, and “no paper” loans are one of the reasons that some banks and mortgage companies are in financial difficulty now.

I doubt that any lending institution would allow the seller to put up a 20% down payment. If they did, the buyer would have no financial investment in the property at all, and could just “walk away” without losing anything.

As Jeff stated in a previous answer, FHA would require as little as 3% down.

If you are a vet, you can get a VA mortgage. The VA does not set a maximum loan amount or require a down payment. The qualification requirements are also relatively easy for veterans.. In addition, the VA allows the seller to pay some of the closing costs for you. You would need to obtain your Certificate of Eligibility form the Veterans Administration first.

Good luck in your search!

Antaeus Balevre
Antaeusb@verizon.net
Prudential Palms Realty
Sarasota, FL
(941) 400-1055 - Sun Aug 3 2008, 07:31