For Buyers Only Real Estate Video Blog with Sharon Stevens

The Greatest Experience Gilberta Had

2017-11-21T07:11:00.000-08:00

I found out on the Internet about them [Sharon and Dwight], and it was really great. The experience that other people had with them helped a lot to get an idea about them. And sure enough, we were very happy with the choice that we made. They were great, they helped us every step of the way, and we’re happy with everything. I would say that they helped us all the time throughout the whole process. But what stuck in my mind is that when we had the inspection done, we weren’t able to be there, so they volunteered. They said, ‘We’ll be there for you,’ and watched the inspection of the house and everything, and that was really great of them, we really appreciate that. I would tell them that this [was] the greatest experience that we had and they will get the job done, definitely. And they’re going to be there for you every time and whenever you need them, even after the closing and everything.

Interested in researching brand new homes and neighborhoods? Find Them Here
Prefer a Re-sale Home? Search all homes for sale

A Quick Stucco Tutorial

2017-11-17T10:14:00.000-08:00

I’ve decided to give you an up close and personal look at a new construction build to answer some questions you may have about stucco.

Interested in researching brand new homes and neighborhoods? Find Them Here
Prefer a Re-sale Home? Search all homes for sale

Our attention to detail is second to none, so today I’m outside at a new construction build we’re assisting with to answer some questions you might have about stucco. Follow along with me in the video above to see what I mean.

The front of this home features both stucco siding and lap siding. Aside from a paint job maybe once every 10 years, lap siding is virtually maintenance-free. Stucco siding, on the other hand, can have some maintenance issues from time to time because it’s basically concrete.

“

Stucco requires some maintenance from time to time because it’s basically concrete.

Most builders use two to three coats of stucco, depending on the kind of finish they’re looking for. For this house, we did three coats: a scratch coat, a smooth coat, and a finish coat. This three-coat process makes for a very sturdy siding.

Stucco also needs to be painted every once and awhile, and because concrete expands and contracts, every now and again you might find a hairline crack in stucco siding. To fix this, you only need to apply a little bit of caulk over it and paint over that. As you can see, this home has a very smooth stucco finish that’s not very pronounced. More pronounced stucco finishes tend to chip more often.

If you have any more questions about stucco siding or any other real estate topic, don’t hesitate to reach out to me anytime. I’d be happy to help you.

Working With For Buyers Only Is Like a Breeze

2017-11-06T07:59:00.001-08:00

Working with them is like a breeze. We got the perfect results that [we] were actually expecting. Working with them is like somebody’s holding your hand every step of the way because we’re first-time homebuyers and we’re very overwhelmed with the entire process. So they made sure that they [were] there for us and we feel that they’re looking after us at every step of the way from [the] documents to the weekly videos that Dwight is [sic] doing for us and also for a lot of the negotiations with the builders. When we were really close at the closing of the house, we wanted to put it off, but we really needed to talk to them so we just texted them. And what happened was Sharon and Dwight I think was [sic] attending a class at that point, but Sharon stepped out of that classroom and then made sure that all our questions about the documents for the closing are [sic] all answered before going back to the class. She could have just probably give [sic] us a call later, but she felt that it’s [sic] important that she answer that time. So whenever we text, call, or anything they just respond so fast to us. For us, [we were] very new to the home buying process. We were really, really thankful that they’re there at every step of the way.

Interested in researching brand new homes and neighborhoods? Find Them Here
Prefer a Re-sale Home? Search all homes for sale

Where Is the Best Ice Cream in St. Augustine?

2017-10-30T07:55:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered where the best ice cream parlor in St. Augustine is? Today we have the answer.

Interested in researching brand new homes and neighborhoods? Find Them Here
Prefer a Re-sale Home? Search all homes for sale

If you want to taste the best ice cream in St. Augustine, look no further than Coneheads Ice Cream at 570 A1A Beach Boulevard.

We’ve been there a few times before, but we decided to stop in again and sample all their fantastic new flavors. Follow along in the video above to see what we’re talking about.

Out of 162 Google reviews, Coneheads currently boasts a 4.6-star average. The store’s most popular sundae is their hot fudge sundae, and we got to go behind the counter to get an up-close and delicious look at how it’s made. All of their ice cream comes from Working Cow Ice Cream, which is free of all GMOs. All of their whipped cream is also made fresh from real cream.

“

We guarantee you’ll love Coneheads Ice Cream.

Coneheads has been around for seven years, and it is by far the best place to come for ice cream. Even if you get stuffed at dinner, there’s always room for ice cream, so stop on in at Coneheads and we guarantee you’ll love it.

If you have any more questions about Coneheads or would like to talk real estate with us, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d be happy to speak with you.

The Long-Distance Move Was Hassle-Free for James

2017-10-24T07:15:00.000-07:00

I actually was just going on the web looking for brokers down in Florida and I saw their website and I saw all the positive reviews that they had. So I gave them a call and right from the outset I spoke to Sharon initially and like I said the initial process of doing the search, what we were looking for, providing the information so that I could make an educated decision on a long-distance basis so that when I got down there we were all set up to go and look and they made the process very, very hassle-free and stress-free or as much as it could be given the fact that we were doing something long-distance. They go out of their way to make sure that you get the right home in the right location. They are very honest people, very helpful people, and anything that you need, they will provide for you. Nothing is too over the top in terms of if you’re asking them if they could do something for you additionally as a result of you buying long distances. It wasn't anything that they turned down any kind of a request and whatnot, and so I think the main thing would be I get the vibe that they’re very honest people, very helpful people and they truly want to make sure that you are happy with the home that you purchase. The situation that I’m in is that I’m in New York and we’re buying a house down in Florida, and because I really couldn't do anything with my wife being disabled, they were very, very helpful in locating contractors for me to have work done on the home. And in terms of arranging meetings with the guy and also doing some searching for me with respect to getting somebody down there. And they also came to the home while the person was there, and then they’ve been checking up on the work that’s getting done while we closed on the house. They’ve been going through the house, checking up, sending me videos and whatnot. They took videos of the home to show my wife because she wasn’t able to come down there when I went down to purchase it. So they went above and beyond normally what I would figure a broker would do.

Interested in researching brand new homes and neighborhoods? Find Them Here
Prefer a Re-sale Home? Search all homes for sale

Have You Heard of the ZIP System?

2017-10-16T12:14:00.003-07:00

If you’ve ever paid attention to homes as they’re being built, you might have seen that some have a green seal over the wood. That’s the ZIP system.

Interested in researching brand new homes and neighborhoods? Find Them Here
Prefer a Re-sale Home? Search all homes for sale

I’m out here at a community in northwest St. Johns County called Cedar Point. Landon Homes and Dream Finders Homes are building here. We wanted to take some time today to talk about something folks have been asking us about—the ZIP system. It’s a building system we’ve been using on some of the new construction here in northeast Florida.

You may have seen this in other communities, where the walls look green as they’re building the house. That’s the ZIP system.

Instead of using standard plywood or OSB strand board on the siding of the house, they use an OSB sheeting (about 7/16 thick, and 9/16 if it’s on the roof) with an impregnated green coating on it. The coating protects from moisture and wind. It saves the builders the trouble of having to go back through and put on the Tyvek wrap. Some builders use it, and some don’t, but it saves them a step in the process.

“

It’s a great product that adds structural integrity to the house

The glue they use on the OSB is special as well; even if you pierce the coating with a nail, unless you go all the way through, the seal remains. They use rubberized flashing tape to seal all the joints.

It’s a great product that adds structural integrity to the house, and it saves builders a step by removing the need to Tyvek wrap everything.

If you have any questions about the ZIP system, please feel free to contact us.

Introducing My Wife and I to a Whole New Area

2017-10-04T11:16:00.000-07:00

My wife and I, we came out to the St. John’s, St. Augustine area to look for a home, and Sharon and Dwight were real estate folks we contacted through my daughter and my son-in-law who had them also, and Dwight decided that he just started to show us around and introduce us to an area we’ve never been to because we’re from Pennsylvania. Once we walked around, he showed us all these developments, we found what we were looking for, and then we went back to Pennsylvania. and probably about a month-and-a-half later, we started the process of purchasing our home, and again Dwight and Sharon were very instrumental in putting together the bidding process for our home, and once that was accomplished, they guided us with some additional things that we weren't aware of that helped us with purchasing our home. Dwight and Sharon were there because we were in Pennsylvania, and Dwight on a weekly basis would check our house because it was under new construction. He would do a video and send us the video that kept us in the loop and kept us informed with what was going on throughout the construction process of our new house until closing. So for my wife and I, it was a great experience. I have a brother-in-law who lives in Pennsylvania who is very interested in coming out here to Florida, I would direct him to contact Dwight because Dwight would be the guy who shows them because they’re not familiar with the area just like my wife and I and introduces them to the St. Augustine and St. John’s area.

Interested in researching brand new homes and neighborhoods? Find Them Here
Prefer a Re-sale Home? Search all homes for sale

How They Put Me and Their Clients First

2017-09-27T07:34:00.003-07:00

They were very pleasant to work with, very professional, extremely thorough, very very accessible, which is important because I’m on the road a lot, I’m not able to be there for everything, and so they made sure they were the ones tracking me down and keeping me up to speed, which is really helpful. I would just tell them that they’re a great team. They’re very knowledgeable about the business that they’re in. and they really care about their clients and go above and beyond to really make sure that we're satisfied clients.

Interested in researching brand new homes and neighborhoods? Find Them Here
Prefer a Re-sale Home? Search all homes for sale

One of My Favorite Things About St. Augustine

2017-09-25T08:42:00.000-07:00

Join me for a trip to my favorite farmers market at the pier on St. Augustine Beach.

Interested in researching brand new homes and neighborhoods? Find Them Here
Prefer a Re-sale Home? Search all homes for sale

One of my favorite things about living in St. Augustine is the selection of great farmers markets that are available. My favorite farmers market is open every Wednesday morning at the pier on St. Augustine Beach.

The farmers market is open from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and features between 60 and 80 vendors each week. There are all sorts of local food stalls, crafts, and other fun things to see.

To get an idea of the complete experience, watch the video above.

“

There are 60 to 80 vendors at this market, so you can find all sorts of treasures.

Some of the things we encounter on this journey to the market include local tea and spices by Cultivate, great artwork, hand-popped kettle corn, jewelry, fruit, vegetables, and a fresh cup of coffee from the Coffee Growers Alliance.

Some of these vendors venture all the way from Orlando to sell their fares at this market.

If you have any other questions about the farmers market or you would like to know more about real estate, just give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

Helping My Son and Daughter-In-Law with Their Coast-to-Coast Move

2017-09-21T07:26:00.003-07:00

"First of all my situation was very different since I was trying to find a house for my son and daughter-in-law who were living in California and wanting to purchase a house before they were moving to Florida. So even though I felt pressured dealing with this situation, as soon as I met Dwight and Sharon, I felt very reassured and positive rapport with both of them and realized that the team had very special and unique qualities and that we were in good hands.Sharon’s expertise in the housing market, as well as her listening and communication skills, made such as tremendous difference through this process since she was always taking into account my feedback on the various listings.Her personal attitude and grasp of this area made it very easy to find a house I thought they would love, not to mention Sharon’s videos of every aspect of the house inside and out made quite an impression on my son and daughter-in-law in California. In addition, Dwight’s extensive knowledge of construction, as well as his personal and professional dealings with the contractors, made this long-distance purchase as seamless as possible. He not only helped with every aspect of buying this house, but he has repeatedly checked in with them since their move and offered his help and advice on every aspect of this house. Sharon’s negotiation skills were amazing and Dwight’s constant presence through the walkthroughs and rapport with the builders gave me constant reassurance and eased my mind during this process.Their advice and professionalism and also their follow-through along every aspect of this coast-to-coast real estate purchase could not have been handled any better. They surpassed every expectation I could have. But the most important aspect of this team that makes them so successful is their professional and positive rapport and the mutual respect with construction team members since I’ve never seen negotiations go so smoothly. It was obvious that the contractors were very willing to negotiate and work with this amazing team. Sharona and Dwight made me feel that I had met two new friends who were helping me find a new house for my kids. They also respected my input and I never felt the usual high-pressure sales tactics and restraints. They made this entire process very positive and each step along the way so stress-free. I have already recommended this dynamic duo to some of my friends and I will never be able to thank them enough for all of their help and expertise along our journey. So my honest opinion of Sharon Dwight as a real estate team is priceless I’ve never been so pleasantly surprised I’ve ever been in anything I’ve ever purchased. I’m 62 years old, bought many houses, many cars. I’ve never been so surprised with the teamwork and positive rapport everybody had with each other. Usually, I always feel like I have to do the negotiation and do all the hard work. I actually sat back and just watched everyone else work together to make this happen and it seems so seamless and stress-free, it was amazing."

Interested in researching brand new homes and neighborhoods? Find Them Here
Prefer a Re-sale Home? Search all homes for sale

What Happens After the Contract Is Signed for Your New Home?

2017-09-14T09:41:00.003-07:00

From contract to closing, there are many steps that need to be taken before you can call your new home your own.

Interested in researching brand new homes and neighborhoods? Find Them Here
Prefer a Re-sale Home? Search all homes for sale

What happens after the contract is signed for your new home?

There are a lot of things that go on behind the scenes from contract to closing, so it’s very important that everyone involved in the transaction work together and be proactive.

First, you must turn in your escrow deposit to the closing attorney or title company within the time frame specified in the contract. This time frame is usually one to three days.

Next, you need to schedule all your inspections for the new house. These can include a general home inspection, a termite inspection, a well and septic inspection, and any other inspection you feel you need. It’s important that you get these done as soon as possible so you can start negotiating repairs for the home.

Your most important job at this juncture is to remain in contact with your lender in case they need any additional documentation. We also recommend keeping copies of anything you send them in case they ask for something you’ve already sent. We know this sounds frustrating, but it happens.

“

It’s very important that you, your agent, and your lender work together.

Also, don’t change your credit status during this process, or at least check with your lender before doing anything that might affect it, like opening or closing a credit card or buying a car.

Once the repair negotiations are done and all the necessary repairs are made, it’s time to order an appraisal. Make sure the inspection report is squared away before doing so. If the house appraises for the price you’re paying or higher—perfect! If it appraises lower, you can renegotiate the price, walk away from the deal, or work out another plan. Though you’re the one who pays for the appraisal, it’s mainly done for the benefit of the lender because they’re trying to protect their investment.

While that’s going on, you’ll need to gather all the necessary information needed in order to transfer the home’s utilities to you and obtain homeowners insurance.

After that, if your financing is good, all the repairs are handled, and everything else checks out, you can set the closing date. At that point, the contract you signed 30 to 45 days ago is pretty much a done deal.

Now you can celebrate your new home!

As always, if you have any questions or you’re thinking about buying or selling a home in the St. Augustine area, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d be glad to help you.

Day Trip with Dwight and Savannah

2017-08-28T11:28:00.001-07:00

Dwight and Savannah recently headed out to Cumberland Island National Seashore. They saw so many amazing things that they had to record them and share with you.

Interested in researching brand new homes and neighborhoods? Find Them Here
Prefer a Re-sale Home? Search all homes for sale

Dwight and Savannah recently took a trip out to Cumberland Island National Seashore and had a great time. While they were there, they took a ton of great footage that they wanted to share with you. You can see all of it in the video above, but here’s what they did on their trip.

First, they boarded a ferry out to the island in St. Mary’s, Georgia. They were greeted to the island by over 120 feral horses that roam the 9,800 acres that the island sits on. It was pretty amazing to see. They even saw a young foal nursing from her mother. While the horses are feral, they are descended from Spanish domestic breeds. They didn’t give them any trouble, but they certainly kept their distance.

The earliest record of horses on the island was all the way back in 1742 at the battle between the Spanish and English over Ft. St. Andrews, but the modern occupation of the island began with Spanish missionaries in the 16th century.

“

This was an amazing trip.

The Dungeness Ruins were also quite a sight to behold. They were originally built by Catherine Greene, widow of Revolutionary War hero Nathanael Greene. Later, Thomas and Lucy Carnegie built on top of the original foundation. However, the building burned down in 1959 and remains in ruins to this day.

If you have any questions about Cumberland Island or anything real estate-related, give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you.

What’s the Good News From Our St. John’s County Market?

2017-08-07T13:00:00.000-07:00

The latest statistics from our second quarter market show that St. John’s County is experiencing many positive real estate developments.

Interested in researching brand new homes and neighborhoods? Find Them Here
Prefer a Re-sale Home? Search all homes for sale

I was reading The St. Augustine Record recently and, between all the Trump-Russia hoopla, I found an interesting article about the high number of homes and building permits being put together in St. John’s County and the ensuing price increases this has caused.

The latest statistics from our second quarter market reflect these exciting developments. During the month of June, 366 building permits were issued. This brings the total number of permits issued so far this year to over 2,000, and we’re on pace to reach 4,000. The median home price for the year is $310,000, which is up from $230,000 in 2012. By comparison, Clay County’s median home price is $185,000 and Duval County’s is $176,000.

Keep in mind, this information comes from a wide range of expert national indicators. In explaining why St. John’s County is experiencing this real estate boom, they all note factors such as our high quality of life, low cost of living, and excellent school systems. They also expect this positive trend to continue for up to 10 years into the foreseeable future.

“

Living in St. John’s County is like living in a postcard.

It’s like we always say—living in St. John’s County is like living in a postcard. It’s growing at a steady rate with all of its commercial development, and its infrastructure is following suit. We have quality builders and steadily increasing appraisal values, which means if you buy a house today, it will likely increase in value by the time you want to sell it.

It’s also worth mentioning that we’re one of the safest counties in all of Florida when it comes to weather-related issues. This means we have lower insurance rates, and with the county being as fiscally responsible as they are, we also have some of the lowest tax millage rates in the state.

If you’d like to read the above-mentioned article in its entirety, click here.

If you have any other questions about what’s happening in our St. John’s market or you’re thinking of buying or selling a home, feel free to reach out to us. We’d be glad to assist you.

Cure Your Meat Withdrawal at Smokin’ D’s

2017-07-24T13:18:00.002-07:00

Smokin’ D’s works hard to make arguably the best barbecue in St. Augustine.

Interested in researching brand new homes and neighborhoods? Find Them Here
Prefer a Re-sale Home? Search all homes for sale

In my latest St. Augustine area business showcase, I’m visiting Smokin’ D’s—a restaurant located right on the corner of US1 and SR206 at 110 State Rd. 206 East.

Many people claim they serve the best barbecue in town, and that’s a hard point to argue—they’ve won the local Rhythm & Ribs competition the last three years running.

Smokin’ D’s smokes their meat all night long before finishing it on the grill the next day. They have all the premium choices of meat you could ask for, whether it’s beef, pork, chicken, or turkey. They also feature an array of perfectly complementary sides, including baked beans, cole slaw, yellow rice, and potato salad.

“

They work each day until everything is gone.

Starting at 11 a.m. each day, they cook until everything is gone. They usually last until around 7 p.m., so you’d be wise to get here before dinner if you want to partake. They also do a lot of catering and special events.

Feel free to follow along in the video above to get a behind-the-scenes look at Smokin’ D’s kitchen. You can also visit their website at http://www.smokindbbq.com/ for more information.

In the meantime, if you have any questions, feel free to give me a shout. I’d be happy to help.

Mortgage Advice for Future Homebuyers in St. Augustine

2017-07-11T09:23:00.001-07:00

If you’re looking to buy a home in our area because you’re retiring here or you’re relocating for a job, there are some important mortgage implications you need to know about.

Interested in researching brand new homes and neighborhoods? Find Them Here
Prefer a Re-sale Home? Search all homes for sale

We have many clients moving to our area because they’re either retiring or undergoing a job relocation. If you’re facing a similar situation, there are some important implications you need to be aware of in terms of obtaining a mortgage.

According to Anne-Marie Fish of CornerStone Lending, one of the best things you can do is speak with a lender in advance and explain your situation. Whether your employer will allow you to relocate so you can get everything done while you’re still in your working years or you’re waiting until after retirement to move, they can evaluate your full financial picture to see which option is the most financially feasible and allow you to plan your schedule.

“

Speak with a lender and explain your financial situation.

Selling your current home and buying a new one can be a complicated process, but getting pre-qualified in advance can help you plan that process and lets you know if you can carry two mortgages at once or if you need to sell the first house before you move into the other.

If you’re moving here because of a job relocation and wondering whether you should buy a house before or after the transfer, the answer depends on your personal preference. There are plenty of options for both scenarios. Just because you’re relocating doesn’t mean you have to wait until you get down here and start working to begin the mortgage process. Lenders look for 30-day pay stubs once a person has started a new job.

Cornerstone Lending also gives you the option of purchasing the house in this area before you close. There’s a time frame in which you can close before you start your new job if you have an employment letter that doesn’t have any contingencies or conditions. That way you don’t have to move twice and you can simply move from one home to the next.

If you have any questions about this topic, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d be happy to help you.

How we made the home buying process simple and fun for Andy

2017-07-05T13:10:00.000-07:00

“I just want to say that I’ve never met a more professional group of individuals as well as a fun group to work with. They made home buying for us so easy and fun and they worked for us, not against us like a lot of realtors will play both sides of the fence. I can not tell you enough good things about them and I hope this helps other people decide to use Sharon and Dwight from For Buyers Only Real Estate.”

Interested in researching brand new homes and neighborhoods? Find Them Here
Prefer a Re-sale Home? Search all homes for sale

Go on an Art Walk Through St. Augustine

2017-06-20T09:02:00.000-07:00

The St. Augustine Art Association has an amazing show right now that you won’t want to miss.

Interested in researching brand new homes and neighborhoods? Find Them Here
Prefer a Re-sale Home? Search all homes for sale

One of our favorite art galleries is the St. Augustine Art Association. Don’t miss their show, “Sailor Life! Life on the Menendez Galleon.”

According to Tina Trousdell, the show is a series of charcoal and acrylic drawings on raw canvas that depict the lives of the early Spaniards who established St. Augustine in 1565. Each of these drawings is based on research of what these Spanish soldiers and sailors encountered as they made the crossing.

“

These drawings depict the sailors’ experiences during the crossing.

”

It was a very difficult time for them, despite the pay. Menendez asked the King of Spain for a high salary, but some Spaniards were pressed into service. Basically, these sailors could either go to St. Augustine or go to jail.

To learn more about the artist Don Trousdell, and see his other art collections visit his website. Watch the video above for a quick preview of “Sailor Life!”

As always, if you have any real estate questions, just give us a call or send us an email. We would be happy to help you!

How We Helped Liz and Her Dogs Move Into Their New Home Quickly

2017-06-05T08:00:00.000-07:00

“I got very positive results. I was able to purchase a home considering I was coming from out of town on my very first visit. I was moving from Chicago down to St. Augustine and my home in Chicago had gone up for sale and they needed to close and get in there a little more quickly than the house was available that I had purchased in St. Augustine. So, in that mean time when I was floating around with no home Dwight and Sharon had made arrangements for me and that was going way above and beyond. I really do appreciate it considering I have two dogs!”

Interested in researching brand new homes and neighborhoods? Find Them Here
Prefer a Re-sale Home? Search all homes for sale

Follow These Tips for a Successful Home Loan Process

2017-06-01T12:39:00.000-07:00

What should you know before getting a home loan? Anne Marie Fish is here to let you know.

Interested in researching brand new homes and neighborhoods? Find Them Here
Prefer a Re-sale Home? Search all homes for sale

We’re excited to be here today with Anne Marie Fish of Cornerstone Home Loans to discuss some common questions that buyers have prior to obtaining a loan. The first one is, “What should buyers know about credit scores and credit reports?”

The first thing you should know is that you can pull your credit score once per year on annualcreditreport.com for free. It won’t affect your score, either. This gives you the opportunity to really start the process off right by knowing what’s on your credit report and if there are any errors so you have a starting point. If a lender pulls your score after that, you will take a bit of a ding, but you will also have 30 days to shop around for the best lender with the best rate without having to have the score pulled again.

“

There are even 0% down payment options available.

”

The next question we have for Anne Marie is, “How much do you need for a down payment?” While having 20% is ideal, not everyone has that much cash and that’s OK. That’s why there are so many other programs out there that give you the opportunity to get into a home with less money. There are even 0% down home loans available.

Another tip Anne Marie has is to not open or close any credit cards while you’re in the mortgage process. The same goes for making large purchases. However, paying down credit card debt is favorable to your score. It’s best to keep the boat as steady as possible until your home purchase is finalized.

When you’re in the process of looking for a home and a mortgage, you have to have a really good team on your side. Have a Realtor that is working for you—same with your lender. These should be people you are comfortable with and people you can trust.

If you have any questions for Anne Marie, reach out to her here. If you have any other questions for us, you can always give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

How We Ensured Thomas He Could Get a VA Loan for His Brand New Condo

2017-05-30T08:00:00.000-07:00

“I had great results. I was working with some other real estate agents and I was kind of getting the run around when I was trying to get a VA loan. I really haven’t purchased a home in 25 years so a lot has changed. Well, a lot of real estate agents were trying to blow me off and tell me you can’t get a VA loan on a condo. So, long story short I contacted Dwight and Sharon. I looked them up online. They really understood, since this is the business that they’re in, they work for the buyer. I told them what I was looking for and within a couple of days I had a contract signed and I went and looked at the condo, brand new.”

Interested in researching brand new homes and neighborhoods? Find Them Here
Prefer a Re-sale Home? Search all homes for sale

How We Made Christine Part of the Team

2017-05-22T09:03:00.000-07:00

“Well, I got a beautiful home and I am happier than I could’ve imagined. Everything went well. All of my questions were answered and I bought a house! I always felt like we were a team. I was a solo home buyer and I lived out of the area so whenever I couldn’t be there for the inspection or the walk through they were always there in my place. I think another thing that set them apart is that they sent a video every week and posted it on a website that they created for me personally so that I could stay informed and see the progress of the construction first hand.”

Interested in researching brand new homes and neighborhoods? Find Them Here
Prefer a Re-sale Home? Search all homes for sale

See How We Spent Our Vacation in Cancun

2017-05-18T14:38:00.000-07:00

We just had an amazing vacation down in Cancun, and we’re more than pleased to be able to share our experience with you.

Interested in researching brand new homes and neighborhoods? Find Them Here
Prefer a Re-sale Home? Search all homes for sale

We just had a fabulous, reenergizing vacation with our family and friends at the Excellence Playa Mujeres in Cancun, Mexico and we wanted to share our experience with you.

This is our annual “honeymoon” destination and if you check out our video recap above, you’ll see why we look forward to it every year. Excellence Playa Mujeres is an all-inclusive, adults-only resort with spectacular amenities and customer service. We got the vacation started with a few deluxe martinis and then made use of the resort’s relaxing lazy river pool and adjoining beach.

We look forward to Excellence Playa Mujeres each and every year.

That’s just a snapshot of all the things we did on our wonderful vacation, but we’re happy to share all the good times we had. If you’d like to learn a little more about Excellence Playa Mujeres, you can visit their website here.

If you have any other questions, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We’d be happy to speak with you.

The Importance of Home Inspections When Buying

2017-04-19T08:51:00.000-07:00

Home inspections are one of the most important aspects of buying a home, and here in Florida, there are plenty of inspections you can get to give you peace of mind.

Interested in researching brand new homes and neighborhoods? Find Them Here
Prefer a Re-sale Home? Search all homes for sale

Today we wanted to take a moment to address the topic of home inspections: why we need them and what goes on during one. Joining me to explain is BJ Johnson, one of our preferred inspectors from Inside & Out Property Inspectors.

You want an inspector that has a builder’s background or some kind of construction experience. This lets you know that they have an idea what’s going on behind the walls. There’s no perfect house, so the knowledge helps.

There’s no shortage of the kind of inspections you can get, like a WDO, or wood destroying organism inspection. This kind of inspection even requires a special license and looks for things like wood decay and termites. Water can cause this decay as well. A wind mitigation report is another type of inspection, and it’s probably the only inspection that helps reduce your homeowners insurance.

“

There’s no shortage of the kind of inspections you can get.

”

If the home is 30 years or more old, you’ll generally be required to get a four-point inspection by the insurance company to determine whether you’re insurable.

Inspectors also have a special set of tools they’ll use during an inspection, like a FLIR camera. This is an infrared camera that takes thermal images and helps buyers find potential issues in a home with moisture, insulation, or covered up heating ducts that people can’t see. In fact, BJ found a heating duct that was incorrectly covered up by the sheetrock guys with this tool in the house we’re currently standing in.

When the inspector is done, they give you a complete report that the buyer can look over.

If you have any questions about the inspection process or you need to hire an inspector, you can call Inside & Out Property Inspectors at 904-395-1900 or visit their website.

In the meantime, you can always give us a call or send us an email if you’re thinking about buying a home in the St. Augustine area. We look forward to helping you!

Mistakes to Avoid with New Construction

2017-04-03T13:01:00.001-07:00

Hiring a Realtor when buying a new home is always a smart move. Here are a few reasons why.

Interested in researching brand new homes and neighborhoods? Find Them Here
Prefer a Re-sale Home? Search all homes for sale

A lot of homebuyers are unaware of how smart of an idea it is to have a Realtor represent you on the purchase a brand new home. How can we help?

In a lot of different ways. First, we are expert negotiators and will negotiate the best terms on your behalf. There are a lot of things that certain builders can and can’t do when it comes to negotiating a deal and with our knowledge and experience, we can help point you in the right direction and help you get the best deal possible.

“

Our services cost you nothing.

”

After that, we can help you throughout the build. We are on job sites weekly for the six new builds we are working with right now. We keep an eye on them to make sure everything is being done the right way, from the process of negotiation to the design center all the way to closing.

The best part about our service is that it costs you nothing. Our commission is paid by the builder, as they set aside a lump of money for that purpose alone. It will cost you the same to build a new home whether you have representation or not. Better to be safe than sorry.

If you have any questions, give us a call or send us an email. We would love to hear from you soon.

Everything You Need to Know About CDDs

2017-03-21T08:34:00.001-07:00

What is a CDD and how does it differ from an HOA? We’ll answer that for you today.

Interested in researching brand new homes and neighborhoods? Find Them Here
Prefer a Re-sale Home? Search all homes for sale

Today we’re answering the question, “What the heck is a CDD?”

Most people are familiar with what homeowners association fees entail, but because we’ll be comparing an HOA to a CDD, we’ll give you a brief breakdown.

The homeowners association, or HOA, covers the operations and maintenance of the amenities in the neighborhood. When that community was first built, however, the initial costs of putting in those amenities was tacked onto the sales price of each home. The HOA took over from there.

“

CDDs and HOAs ensure you can enjoy the community amenities from the day you move in.

”

A CDD, or community development district, covers the cost of the initial amenities so there are no extra costs for them tacked onto the sales prices of the homes when they are built. So how do they come up with the money?

The cost is based on how much money it will take to put the amenities in as well as how many homes will be in the community. There are two portions of the CDD. The first is the bond, which pays for the initial costs, and the second is the maintenance portion. The maintenance portion works in the same way HOA fees do, in which case you pay a set amount each month to help maintain those amenities.

Both HOAs and CDDs work to make sure you can enjoy all a particular neighborhood or community has to offer right from the time you move in.

If you have any more questions about how HOAs and CDDs work or you have any other real estate questions, please feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We’re happy to help!

For Buyers Only Real Estate Video Blog with Sharon Stevens

The Greatest Experience Gilberta Had

A Quick Stucco Tutorial

Working With For Buyers Only Is Like a Breeze

Where Is the Best Ice Cream in St. Augustine?

The Long-Distance Move Was Hassle-Free for James

Have You Heard of the ZIP System?

Introducing My Wife and I to a Whole New Area

How They Put Me and Their Clients First

One of My Favorite Things About St. Augustine

Helping My Son and Daughter-In-Law with Their Coast-to-Coast Move

What Happens After the Contract Is Signed for Your New Home?

Day Trip with Dwight and Savannah

What’s the Good News From Our St. John’s County Market?

Cure Your Meat Withdrawal at Smokin’ D’s

Mortgage Advice for Future Homebuyers in St. Augustine

How we made the home buying process simple and fun for Andy

Go on an Art Walk Through St. Augustine

How We Helped Liz and Her Dogs Move Into Their New Home Quickly

Follow These Tips for a Successful Home Loan Process

How We Ensured Thomas He Could Get a VA Loan for His Brand New Condo

How We Made Christine Part of the Team

See How We Spent Our Vacation in Cancun

The Importance of Home Inspections When Buying

Mistakes to Avoid with New Construction​

Everything You Need to Know About CDDs

Mistakes to Avoid with New Construction