Stay Informed on the Local Market

When buying a home in Hollywood Florida, most of the home buyer's effort is put into finding the right home. But very little thought is usually put into writing the purchase offer.

Often the real estate agent drags out a "standard purchase contract." The truth is there is no such thing as a standard purchase contract.

However, there are many different forms printed by local or state Realtor associations, local multiple listing services, individual real estate offices and form publishing companies in Hollywood Florida. State law frequently mandates some provisions in realty purchase offers, but buyers and sellers are free to negotiate additional provisions.

Avoid vague provisions

If you are presented with a printed purchase offer form by a real estate agent located in Hollywood Florida to sign, consider who wrote the form. Most printed purchase offers are prepared by attorneys working for clients with vested interests, such as real estate brokers and realty trade associations.

Although it takes time, be sure to read the form before signing it. When you first start looking with an agent like me at homes in Hollywood Florida for purchase, ask the agent for a blank copy of the purchase offer that agent uses. Then study it before making a purchase offer. If you don't like or understand a clause, unless it is required by state law, don't hesitate to cross it out. Just because it is printed doesn't mean it can't be changed.

Well-written purchase offer printed forms contain blanks for the names of the buyer, address of the property, purchase offer price, financing details and amount of the good faith earnest money deposit.

There is no rule of thumb as to how large the deposit should be. But real estate agents in Hollywood Florida encourage buyers to make as large a deposit as possible, thus enhancing the probability the buyer will complete the purchase as agreed.

If your purchase offer is considerably below the seller's asking price, a large earnest money deposit often impresses the seller into accepting a low offer. However, be sure the deposit is not to be given to the seller until the sale closes but shall be held safely beyond the seller's control.

Well-written printed home purchase forms contain a detailed finance contingency clause. Read it extremely carefully. Be sure it says your purchase offer is contingent on both the buyer and the property qualifying for a specific mortgage.


Damage clause a good idea

Many printed purchase offers contain a liquidated damages clause. That means the exact damages would be hard to determine if the buyer defaults, so the buyer and seller agree in advance that default damages will be limited to a specified amount. This is usually a good clause for the buyer to sign because it prevents litigation.

Most home buyers want their offer contingent upon their approval of a professional inspection report on the home. Smart buyers accompany the inspector, who should be able to explain any defects discovered, their importance and estimated cost of repairs.

The purchase offer often specifies the seller is to pay for necessary repairs, up to a designated maximum amount. Additional inspection clauses may provide for termite, pest control, energy efficiency, radon, plumbing, electrical, roof and other customary reports that are subject to the buyer's approval.

Often a home in Hollywood Florida is being sold "as is." That means the seller will not pay for any repairs. However, be sure the purchase offer specifies the seller and real estate agent have disclosed all known property defects in writing. Some states require such disclosures, whereas they are voluntary in other states. It is usually a good idea for the buyer to make the defect disclosure part of the purchase contract.

The general rule is no personal property now on the premises is included in the sale of real estate. If you want any personal property included in the sale price, such as the stove, refrigerator, washer, dryer, drapes and carpets, be sure to list them specifically even if the agent's listing sheet says they are included.

For FREE Instant Email Notification of  Hollywood Florida Real Estate  &  Hollywood Beach Florida Real Estate  short sales, foreclosures and regular listings, as soon as they become available, please visit our website at http://www.Hollywood-Beach-Florida-Real-Estate.com  or email me at  Sue@SueWeaver.com.

For FREE Instant Email Notification of  Hollywood  Florida Real Estate and Hollywood Beach Florida Real Estate  short sales, foreclosures and regular listings, as soon as they become available, please visit our website at http://www.SueWeaver.com  or email me at  Sue@SueWeaver.com.

For FREE Instant Email Notification of  Hollywood  Florida Foreclosures  and Hollywood Beach Florida Real Estate  short sales, foreclosures and regular listings, as soon as they become available, please visit our website at http://www.SueWeaver.com  or email me at  Sue@SueWeaver.com.

Visit my Hollywood Beach Video Blog at http://susierealtor.kewego.com/.

Subscribe to my youtube Southeast Florida Real Estate channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/susierealtor.

Visit my active rain real estate blog at http://activerain.com/blogs/sueweaver.

Read my Southeast Florida Real Estate Blog at http://susierealtor.wordpress.com/.

Read my Southeast Florida Real Estate Blog at http://www.southeastfloridarealestateblog.com.

There is a lot of free information available to you about buying, selling or investing in Hollywood Florida real estate. For complete information about the Hollywood Florida real estate market including current homes for sale, property values and more please visit the most complete website online dedicated to everything Hollywood Florida real estate. So please feel free to contact me with any of your mortgage questions and I will me more than glad to answer your questions. Call me on my cell at or email me at Sue@SueWeaver.com.

Staging a home is a detailed and intricate process. Youíre going through the process of making your home as nice as possible to get the highest price possible. When it comes to staging, there are many things most real estate agents to right. However, based on my years of experience in the Hollywood Florida market, Iíve found that most agents tend to leave out these three important factors.

Factor #1 ñ Scent

Scent plays a big part in staging a home. Remember that a home purchase is an emotional decision. The sense of smell plays a big part in influencing oneís emotions.

Having any odors, stale air, muskiness or strange smells will kill your chances of making the sale. Itís absolutely critical that your house smell at least neutral, if not good.

There are many ways to change the scent of your house. You could burn incense an hour before showing the house. You could install some air fresheners. You could even use essential oils that are used in aromatherapy to truly create a luxurious feel.

Factor #2 ñ Lighting

Lighting is another very important factor that many agents overlook. The lighting in the house literally colors everything else. A house that appears bright will feel vibrant, happy and alive to the buyer. A house thatís dim will feel gloomy, dark and dead.

Natural lighting is the optimal source of lighting. If you canít get natural lighting to work or to be well lit enough, the get some artistic indoor lighting. Avoid hard lights and avoid fluorescent lights.

Factor #3 ñ Furnishing

Itís very common for agents to show an empty house. While this does create a clean and open look, the reality is that most people donít have a very strong ability to imagine what a house will look like with furnishing.

Itís important to have good furnishing in the house when youíre staging it so that the buyer can really get a feel for what the house will feel like when itís furnished. Pick just a few key pieces to help the buyer do that.

There is a lot of free information available to you about buying, selling or investing in Hollywood Florida real estate. For complete information about the Hollywood Florida real estate market including current homes for sale, property values and more please visit the most complete website online dedicated to everything Hollywood Florida real estate at www.SueWeaver.com. Please feel free to contact me with any of your real estate or mortgage related questions and I will be more than glad to answer your questions. Call me on my cell at or email me at Sue@SueWeaver.com.

For FREE Instant Email Notification of  Hollywood Florida Real Estate  &  Hollywood Beach Florida Real Estate  short sales, foreclosures and regular listings, as soon as they become available, please visit our website at http://www.Hollywood-Beach-Florida-Real-Estate.com  or email me at  Sue@SueWeaver.com.

For FREE Instant Email Notification of  Hollywood  Florida Real Estate and Hollywood Beach Florida Real Estate  short sales, foreclosures and regular listings, as soon as they become available, please visit our website at http://www.SueWeaver.com  or email me at  Sue@SueWeaver.com.

For FREE Instant Email Notification of  Hollywood  Florida Foreclosures  and Hollywood Beach Florida Real Estate  short sales, foreclosures and regular listings, as soon as they become available, please visit our website at http://www.SueWeaver.com  or email me at  Sue@SueWeaver.com.

Visit my Hollywood Beach Video Blog at http://susierealtor.kewego.com/.

Subscribe to my youtube Southeast Florida Real Estate channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/susierealtor.

Visit my active rain real estate blog at http://activerain.com/blogs/sueweaver.

Read my Southeast Florida Real Estate Blog at http://susierealtor.wordpress.com/.

Downtown Hollywood Florida Apartment for Rent!

For FREE Instant Email Notification of Hollywood Beach Florida Real Estate  short sales, foreclosures and regular listings, as soon as they become available, please visit our website at http://www.Hollywood-Beach-Florida-Real-Estate.com  or email me at  Sue@SueWeaver.com.

For FREE Instant Email Notification of Hollywood Beach Florida Real Estate  short sales, foreclosures and regular listings, as soon as they become available, please visit our website at http://www.SueWeaver.com  or email me at  Sue@SueWeaver.com.

Hollywood Beach Florida Short Sale at the Tides

For FREE Instant Email Notification of Hollywood Beach Florida Real Estate  short sales, foreclosures and regular listings, as soon as they become available, please visit our website at http://www.Hollywood-Beach-Florida-Real-Estate.com  or email me at  Sue@SueWeaver.com.

For FREE Instant Email Notification of Hollywood Beach Florida Real Estate  short sales, foreclosures and regular listings, as soon as they become available, please visit our website at http://www.SueWeaver.com  or email me at  Sue@SueWeaver.com.

One of the many dire predictions done these past few months by many Hollywood Beach Florida  ‘bubbleologists’ out there -

that is all those who indulge in the contemplation of bubbles in the Hollywood Beach Florida real estate market of all sizes and colors, whether real or imaginary, coming our way - was that by now real estate markets everywhere would be inundated and swept away by a tsunami of foreclosures of apocalyptic proportions.

The general rationale among those specializing in the fine art of staring at crystal balls (or perhaps at several empty bottles of rum) was that the steady increase in interest rates, the consequence of a tightening monetary policy implemented by the Fed since mid-2004, would have led by now to a collapse of the adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) market, since consumers could not possibly cope with the increased monthly payments. This, in turn, would dramatically increase mortgage defaults and foreclosures, with the end result that real estate markets everywhere would be flooded with excess inventory at deflated prices, thus causing markets to crash - the tsunami I was talking about.