Sara Homan, Realtor, Ocala Fla The Horse Capital of the World

Every state has it's own rules, actually various areas in a particular state can handle things differently according to their contracts.

Knowing your rights and responsibilities is vital! The story's below!

I've practiced real estate in NY and now in Florida...the process is very different in both states! Mainly the difference is that in NY the offer is written and then goes to the seller's attorney who writes a contract, normally within 2 weeks. During that time period the buyer will have a home inspection and make a final decision based on the results. There usually is no escrow turned over until a contract is written therefore it is not in jeopardy.

Florida is more defined concerning escrow. When an offer is made by the buyer and the seller agrees and signs on the dotted line a contract has come into being and escrow is then a viable component in this transaction. This process can take place in a matter of a couple hours or a day or two.

Read the contract before you sign! Most Florida contracts provide for a time frame for inspections and possibly a dollar amount of repairs needed. The buyer can choose to decline the house based on the outcome of the report and that in essence would protect the escrow from being kept by the seller.

An "As Is" contract can be:

1. Based on the outcome of a home inspection or

2. The buyer can waive the right to decline the home based on an inspection.

The obvious safer choice is to base your final decision on the outcome of an inspection. On the other hand if a buyer waives his right to an inspection's results it can put his escrow in jeopardy.

The Story

Last week I got a call from a woman who I have been working with for a while, she had finally gotten a contract on her home and would be closing in a little over 2 weeks. She had to buy a home quickly!

The buyer of her house had made the offer for cash and put down a reasonable escrow deposit. The contract was an "As Is" contract and no inspection would be performed. He waived his rights to the results! OH NO! Especially when he had a change of heart and decided to have an inspection...

The saga continues!

This dear lady, in a frenzy to find a home came to Ocala the next morning and thankfully I was able to find them a home that they fell in love with and were able to close on in 2 weeks! We wrote a contract contingent on a home inspection and subject to her house closing and all cash being exchanged and available for the purchase of their new home.

Both transactions would be cash...simple, right? Not so fast!

The buyer of her house contracted a case of "buyer's remorse" and decided to have an inspection on the QT and thought it would be his trump card to escape the contract and get his escrow back! NOT IF YOU WAIVED YOUR RIGHTS!

Bottom line: Both transactions were canceled and now the buyer of her house will likely lose his escrow while her escrow was protected by the contract.

Choosing a Realtor who knows how to properly assist their buyers is VITAL! It may not be the cure-all but it certainly can help keep you from a world of hurt and from losing a bunch of money unnecessarily!

Thinking of moving to Florida? I'd love to assist you!

The styles of homes and the structure of the homes can vary from ranch to two story and from Concrete Block to Concrete Block with Stucco to Wood Frame to even some Mobile Homes.

There are several 55+ Adult Communities here in Ocala to choose from. Subdivisions included in this selection are: Cherrywood Estates, On Top of the World (a golf course community) Marion Landing, Oak Run (Golf Course) Palm Cay, Pine Run, Spruce Creek, Spruce Creek Preserve.

Many of the homes have 2 bedrooms and 2 baths with a 2 car garage, however we also have 3 bedroom homes, 1 bath homes and garages range from 0-2 and some may have a golf cart garage.

Homes on or near the golf course are often higher priced, however access to the golf courses are convenient from all locations.

Square footage of the living area of these homes range from 672 sf to 2016 sf. Many of the homes have lanai's that may be screened, open or enclosed for convenient enjoyment in the early morning or evening hours.

Most Communities have in ground pools, some have indoor heated pools. Some communities have golf courses and most have wonderful community clubs and groups to allow you to find new friends and enjoyable times.

Call For More Information Today!

Sara Homan, Realtor

1866-757-3862 or 352-209-4044

sarahomanrealtor@hotmail.com

www.greenerpasturehomes.com

For more information or to schedule an appointment to see homes please call at 352-2094044 or out of state 1866-757-3862 or email me below:

Escape the cold and winter snow. Bring a light coat or sweater and come on down buy a home in a 55 + Adult Community for Under $100,000 (of course that is if you are 55+). There are plenty of homes to choose from and plenty of communities too! I venture to say "You'll like Ocala enough to call it Home!"

Listen to the Demo of Merry Gentlemen as my friend Mike Pollice sings it...you'll never be the same again!

Today I went back into my listing history to see what has happened with listings I've had that didn't sell. I don't like taking overpriced homes and then having to wrestle my sellers for price reductions.

Times are tough and accuracy in pricing is vital! The market is not as difficult as it appears, the majority of homes that are currently on the market are overpriced creating a dam in the river of real estate.

It's not normal that a house should sit on the market for repeated 6 month listings and not get a showing, but there are plenty of houses all over the country that are doing just that.

Now some of my listings that expired off the market have not relisted nor have the others sold in spite of multiple listings... My conclusion is that the sellers were not committed to selling. Getting "their" price is not how real estate works, sorry to say! Reality is sometimes a difficult pill to swallow but results come to those who will be honest with themselves and their Realtor.

So what's a buyer to do? I tell my buyers to never be discouraged, we'll look at homes that are priced right and those that are overpriced so they can draw their own conclusion and make fair and reasonable offers. There are people who will listen to reason and others who won't. We'll work with those homes that are serious about selling.

The housing market is like a botanical garden with plenty to pick from, so the prettier the home and the best priced home will get the most attention and sell the quickest.

Why would a buyer want to pay for an appraisal on an overpriced house just to fall out of contract if the house will not appraise and the seller won't accept the appraisal price to sell their home.

No dear sellers don't waste your time with the unrealistic approach. Price your house with sound advice from a competent Realtor and sell it smart!

Buyers, select from a variety of homes that interest you and pick the one with the best qualities... You Mr & Mrs Buyer are the determining factor of the value of a home by the offer you make, that's why it is called a "buyer's market".

The market may be slow but homes that are priced right are still selling! The hindrances to homes selling are minimized by some very simple things, like fixing up & painting, decluttering and most of all pricing your home right. Having an assertive Realtor is the key when placing your home for sale!

Take a look at these homes that have defied the market and successfully obtained a new owner, even in this market!

If you are looking for a Realtor who is ready willing and able to market your home for success, I'd be more than happy to assist you in finding that Realtor. Just call or email me today so you too can defy the market.