Carey Frankel

If you are actively searching for a St. Johns County property, you may think that the process is quite straightforward. After all, you’ve likely already been preapproved for a home loan, so the hard job is over, right?

Well, it’s not always that cut and dry. And some home buyers have found this out the hard way.

The truth is that a preapproval for a home loan isn’t a guarantee. In other words, the time between applying for a loan preapproval and filling out the loan paperwork when you finally found a home can make or break your chances of being approved for a home loan. This is because many home buyers make poor financial decisions after they have been preapproved for a home loan; poor decisions that ultimately affect their ability to obtain a home loan. Here are just a few things you will want to avoid before you apply for a home loan:

· Quitting your job or changing professions – Being unemployed for any length of time before you apply for a home loan is always a red flag in the eyes of home loan lenders. Also, individuals who not only change jobs, but change professions, may be looked down upon by lenders. In general, lenders will look for a long period of employment and a period of employment in the same field. An individual who hasn’t quite yet found his or her employment niche may appear financially unstable to home loan lenders.

· Taking on new credit – The time before you apply for a home loan is not the time to make large purchases and take on new debt. In other words, now is not the time to purchase a new car, purchase large amounts of furniture or take out a personal loan. The name of the game when it comes to being approved for home loans is minimal debt, and taking on new debt while you are in the process of purchasing a new home may appear to be financially irresponsible to lenders.

· Passing on bills – Now is the time to make sure each and every bill is paid on time! Don’t slack on any bill, including your student loan, your credit cards and even your utility bills. A long history of responsible credit is more important than ever in the eyes of home loan lenders.

There are a number of things that every homeowner should add to their list of things to do. Maintaining a home is much easier when maintenance issues are taken care of in a timely manner and when preventative actions prevent potential and costly disasters. Here are just a few home maintenance projects to add to your monthly checklist:

· Furnace filter – A furnace filter is necessary, as it removes particles from the air before it moves into our Neptune Beach homes via the furnace ducts. A clogged furnace filter, on the other hand, doesn’t keep our air clean and doesn’t allow the furnace to efficiently operate. Because of this, it is important to clean or change your air filter at least every couple months to allow the furnace to keep functioning at its peak.

· Furnace/air conditioning check – An annual checkup of your furnace and air conditioner by a professional is always a good idea. The HVAC professional will make sure both units are functioning properly. In addition, he will also make sure the furnace is safe and not emitting any carbon monoxide, which could be potentially life-threatening.

· Exterior lighting – It is important to check your exterior lighting at least once a month to make sure it is properly working. Exterior lighting is important for safety and for home security, so it is best to make sure all lights are working as to protect you, your visitors and your home.

· Fire extinguisher – At least every six months, check the fire extinguisher to ensure it is easily accessible, and that it is fully charged and ready to go in case of a fire emergency.

· Garbage disposal – A stinky garbage disposal is not pleasant. At least once a month, flush the garbage disposal with hot water and baking soda and say goodbye to the stench.

· Water softener – Check your water softener at least once a month and replenish the salt water drum with salt, if needed.

Is the smell in your home turning off potential buyers?

Even if you are not aware of any funky odor emanating from your abode, there may still be a problem because, many times, our noses simply become accustomed to a particular smell and therefore fail to notice it after a while.

The best way to ensure you don’t have an odor problem is to ask an impartial friend for an opinion. Your agent will also be likely to give you an honest opinion regarding the odor in your home.

If you are one of the unlucky ones to have an odor problem, one thing’s for sure: you must tackle it and eliminate it if you want to sell your home.

Not to worry, though, as there are a number of solutions to troublesome odors in your Ponte Vedra property:

· Steam clean the carpets – Many times, odors tend to linger in the fiber of our carpeting, so refreshing your home can be as simple as steam cleaning the carpets. For the record, it’s always a good idea to steam clean your carpets if they haven’t been cleaned in a while or if you have pets.

· Don’t cover the odors – Regardless of what you do to remove odors, don’t turn to household air fresheners and carpet fresheners, as they often do little more than create a less-than-appetizing scent that never completely masks the odor problem.

· Clean the garbage disposal – The garbage disposal can be a source of yucky odors. To eliminate this problem, cut a lemon in quarters, run the water to the sink and allow the garbage disposal to grind the lemon for at least one minute.

· Take advantage of baking soda – Baking soda is ideal for eliminating odors all over your house, including the refrigerator, the carpeting, the trash can and the garbage disposal. Simply follow the directions on the box and enjoy this economical odor eliminator.

If you’ve found a great home you want to purchase, you may think it is as simple as making an offer. But there may be a few things you want to consider before making an offer; things that could mean the difference between getting a good deal and getting a great deal.

· Understand recent comparable sales. If you have a good idea of the sales prices of current Ponte Vedra homes, it can provide you with negotiating power. In other words, if your offer is $10,000 lower than the asking price of the house, make sure your agent lets the seller’s agent know that the offer reflects recent comparable sales.

· Find out about the seller’s motivation. Understanding a seller’s motivation may allow you to better negotiate the sales price on the house, and it may give you a good idea of how far you can expect to push the seller during negotiations. For example, if you know the homeowner is selling because of a job transfer, he may be more inclined to accept your offer because he is looking to move on.

· Find out how long the home has been sitting on the market. A home that has been on the market for a few months likely has a frustrated home seller who is looking to unload the property. On the other hand, a home that has been on the market for just a few weeks will likely have a homeowner who is confident the home will sell at or near the asking price.

· Find out what the seller is offering in the form of concessions. Your offer may change depending on what the seller is leaving or offering to you. For example, you may be less inclined to negotiate a lower sales price if the seller is paying your closing costs. Your offer also may include a request for certain concessions, such as partial or full closing costs or home items like kitchen appliances or a ride-on mower.

· Don’t insult the homeowner. The worst thing you can do when making an offer is to make an offer that is far less than the actual value of the home. If you are serious about purchasing a home, make an offer that is realistic and accurate given the area comparables.

Finding your dream home can be quite an exciting experience. But it may also be overwhelming for the new home buyer.

Staring at the multitude of homes on the multi-list at any given time can overwhelm any buyer, so it is important to narrow down your options. In short, not every home will meet your needs, wants and, perhaps most importantly, your budget, so take the time to consider what you really want in your perfect home and what items you can negotiate or pass up.

Here’s how to get started:

· Determine the area, city or neighborhood in which you want to live. If you have a few areas on your list, consider such things as area schools, public transportation, and proximity to your place of employment or shopping centers. You may find a beautiful home that meets all your expectations, but that falls flat when it comes to location. Save yourself a considerable amount of time and narrow your home search by area before you begin looking at properties.

· Refine your search by price. Once you have narrowed down your options by selecting either one neighborhood or a few neighborhoods, cross off all properties that don’t fall within your budget. You may want to include properties that are near your budget, provided you are prepared to remain within your budget during negotiations.

· Further refine your search by other criteria. Consider such things as number of bedrooms and bathrooms, lot size, and square footage. Be careful to not dismiss St. Johns County real estate that don’t meet your exact qualifications, as you could be missing out on your dream home. Keep your wants to a minimum, and remain open-minded when searching for homes. You could be pleasantly surprised to fall in love with a home that, although not perfect on paper, is the perfect home for you and your family!