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Latest in Blog

Tides Hollywood Beach condo Florida Short Sale!
Real Estate Agent Sue Weaver Addresses Whether Home Staging Really Sells Hollywood Florida Homes
Hollywood Florida and Hallandale Florida Buyers Sometimes Wonder Are Home Inspections Worth The Money?
Real Estate Agent Susan Weaver Explains Why Buyers Need Representation in the Hollywood Florida Real Estate Transaction
The Top 5 Ambiance Blunders Sellers in Hollywood Florida Make when Selling Their Home, by Susan Weaver expert real estate agent.
Tips for Crafting the Best Purchase Offer for Hollywood Florida Property, by Hollywood Florida Real Estate Expert Susan Weaver
Law Everywhere! Traversing the Intricate Waters of Real Estate Laws
Susan Weaver with Coral Shores Realty Explains What To Expect At Closing
3 Important Factors Most Real Estate Agents Overlook when Staging a Property in Hollywood Florida, By Experienced Agent Sue Weaver
How To Buy Insurance For Your Investment Property by real estate expert Sue Weaver

Contact Information

Sue Weaver

Coral Shores Realty

1948 Harrison St.

Hollywood, FL, 33020

Office: 954.668.9056

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Tides Hollywood Beach condo Florida Short Sale!

Tides Hollywood Beach Condo Florida Short Sale!

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.

Hollywood Florida and Hallandale Florida Buyers Sometimes Wonder Are Home Inspections Worth The Money?

Hollywood Florida Buyers Sometimes Wonder Are Home Inspections Worth The Money?

Have you ever wondered if home inspections are worth the money? According to Hollywood Florida real estate agent Sue Weaver, the answer is emphatically YES. There are so many great reasons to have an inspection, but there is a lot of risk if you don't have one.

The reason for having a home inspection is to get a detailed idea about the overall condition of the Hollywood Florida home you are considering buying. This will include all of the major components all the way down to the doorbell, and everything in between. In fact, you will be shown things that you would never consider checking.

If a problem is discovered that requires attention then you will have the opportunity to enlist an expert as to how extensive the repair will be. This eliminates any defects being hidden by the sellers- either intentionally or unintentionally. Without an inspection you would be required to take the seller to court and prove that they knowingly sold the home with a problem. The burden of proof would be up to you.

When the inspection is complete you should receive a written, detailed report that analyzes every part of the home. It will highlight every area of concern, from current problems to potential ones. This is an invaluable tool to decide if the home is worth the money you are willing to pay. Unless you are a trained inspector yourself there is no way you can completely check every part of the home.

Your highest priority is finding a good inspector. You can easily find an inspector, but a good one is another thing. You want to make sure that they are certified with FL guidelines. They should belong to at least one certification agency that specifies guidelines that should be followed. And it is imperative that they are bonded and insured.

When you have an inspection you should expect it to last approximately 3 to 4 hours, if properly conducted. This isn't an unreasonable amount of time to have the home checked out thoroughly. In most states, if a problem is found and you feel that it is a deal breaker for you then you will the opportunity to back out of the contract. Of course, your Hollywood Florida real estate should be able to advise you on this.

For more information about choosing the right home inspector in Hollywood Florida, contact Sue Weaver with Coral Shores Realty at today.

Real Estate Agent Susan Weaver Explains Why Buyers Need Representation in the Hollywood Florida Real Estate Transaction

Real Estate Agent Sue Weaver Explains Why Buyers Need Representation in the Hollywood Florida Real Estate Transaction

One of the most common questions that Hollywood Florida home buyers ask is why do they need a real estate professional to help them buy a home? It might seem like it would be a lot easier to just go out on your own, drive around Hollywood Florida and find the house that you're interested in. Many buyers do this and just call the listing agent directly to proceed with the real estate transaction. However, this can present a problem in some cases.

Most of the time, the listing agent on the house represents the seller. Many listing agents do not take on a dual agency capacity meaning that they cannot or will not represent both parties. In fact, some states do not even allow the practice of an agent representing two parties. Either way, it makes a lot more sense for a Hollywood Florida home buyer to have their own representation when dealing with a real estate transaction.

Think of it this way: When an agent lists a Hollywood Florida property for sale, they promise the seller to do their very best to get the most money for the property. When an agent contracts with a buyer to represent them, they promise the buyer that they will do their very best to get the buyer a fantastic deal on their property. If an agent is representing both parties, those interests can be conflicting because it might be impossible for the agent to get the seller the most money and the buyer the least money at the very same time.

Most of the time, the services of a Hollywood Florida buyer's agent are paid for by the seller via the commission. The commission amount is set out at the beginning when the house is listed, so someone is going to make that money regardless. As a buyer, it makes more sense for you to have representation that is paid for by the seller but has your best interests at heart.

If you would like to know more about how buyer representation works in FL, visit my website at www.SueWeaver.com or contact me directly at . I'd be glad to assist you by answering questions about the process!

Tips for Crafting the Best Purchase Offer for Hollywood Florida Property, by Hollywood Florida Real Estate Expert Susan Weaver

Once youíve found piece of Hollywood Florida real estate that you like, the next step is the purchase offer. Buyers are oftentimes intimidated by what seems to be a complicated legal document. In reality, the purchase offer is much simpler once itís explained and properly understood. In this article, weíll give a brief overview of the purchase offer process, including the most important clauses to include in your purchase offer.

The purchase offer is a binding legal document that covers all the details of the sale. It includes the sale price, contingencies, financing details, closing costs, repairs needed, closing date and a lot more.

The selling price is obviously the most important factor in a purchase offer. However, the clauses you include in your purchase offer are also vitally important. The clauses or contingencies in the contract are what protect you from making a purchase before you have all the information you need.

Some of the more important clauses to include in your contract are:

1) The Inspection Clause

On any property you put an offer on, this is an absolute must. This clause states that as the buyer, you have the right to inspect the property. The offer is contingent on your approval of the results of the inspection.

2) The Financing Clause

If you didnít have the financing clause and you backed out of the contract because you didnít qualify for your loan, you would lose your deposit. The financing clause basically says that the contract is contingent on you getting the loan youíre applying for.

3) Contract Assignment Clause

For real estate investors, this is an important clause. This gives you the right to ìflipî the deal to other investors or get other people involved if necessary. Basically, this clause removes you from being the only person who can close the deal.

These are some of the most common and most important clauses in a real estate purchase contract. Although the legal language in the contract can be intimidating, just realize that all the document is meant to do is protect the buyer, seller and their agents by covering every possible point before the purchase.

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. So 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.

Susan Weaver with Coral Shores Realty Explains What To Expect At Closing

Sue Weaver with Coral Shores Realty Explains What To Expect At Closing

When a home sells things may differ slightly from state to state, but as a whole the majority of the details remain the same. Here is an idea of what you can expect at your Hollywood Florida closing.

Depending on what state you reside in you may be closing at any number of locations. For example, in some areas you close at a title office, in some cases an attorney's office and sometimes it may even be at one of the real estate agent's office. Regardless of where it is, the general rules are the same. Both buyers and sellers must have photo identification with them.

It is extremely important that buyers not take out any new credit or make considerable credit card charges before closing. Your loan approval depends on the fact that nothing new occurs before you close. Any significant shift in debt can kill the whole deal.

Sellers should come to closing with all house keys. Also, make sure to tell buyers where all garage door openers are. If there is a home alarm, tell them how to set it and how to disarm it so they won't accidentally set it off.

If a buyer is putting money down they will need to bring that amount to closing in the form of certified funds. This typically means a certified check or cashier’s check from the bank. Personal checks cannot be accepted- regardless of whether the money is in your checking account. You will need to verify with your Hollywood Florida loan officer exactly how much you will need.

If you are signing as power of attorney for someone make sure what documentation you will need ahead of time. For example, if a document has to be notarized and it isn't it could delay the closing or cause it to reschedule completely.

Make sure before the day of closing that you have gone over the settlement statement with your loan officer. You want to make sure you know all of the numbers that you will see on the paperwork so there are no surprises. Also, make sure your loan officer can be contacted in case there are any questions.

For detailed information on how closings work in Hollywood Florida, contact real estate agent Sue Weaver at .

3 Important Factors Most Real Estate Agents Overlook when Staging a Property in Hollywood Florida By Experienced Agent Susan Weaver

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.

Commercial real estate in Hollywood Florida - Growing up, growing out

Commercial real estate in Hollywood Florida is the soundest, most secure method for investing monies within the American free economic system. To an investor, his properties can yield significant income benefits, appreciation and tax shelters.

Overall, commercial real estate professionals have been pleased with Hollywood Florida economy and its impact on real estate properties over the past decade.

In the thriving commercial real estate world, one finds an arena for sophisticated businesspeople, who, if they've mastered the game, can make "big bucks". It's a business that promotes tremendous competition, excitement and energy. Commercial real estate, like all industries, has a jargon all its own, yet the terms all lead to one basic action.

Typically, investors include brokers, developers, syndicates, limited partners, speculators and out-of-town investors. Reasons for investing in commercial real estate in Hollywood Florida are as diversified as the people who do the investing. But the basic attraction of real estate investing is an assumption that property represents a long-term, sound investment.

Commercial real estate development occurs because you have other things going on within the city to create a demand, particularly other businesses filtering into the area. There is a proliferation of office development due to a growing service sector. Manufacturing space is static, and retail is like the tail wagging the dog. Retail will do well if the economy is doing well. It seems as though industry is booming in office, warehouse and industrial properties.

A major trend of the 90s has been the rehabilitation of downtown buildings and districts. Every building downtown has turned over at least once if not twice.

Fortunately, for most investors, the real estate market has been a solid vehicle. The 1996 tax law, however, put a damper on some investment transactions as tax shelters were stripped away from non-residential real estate properties. The 1996 tax law really made a dinosaur out of tax shelters. That's why it's important that real estate deals today must make economic sense. Investors now look for cash returns on their investments as tax shelters have become basically obsolete.

Over the past nine years, real estate professionals have been cutting small pieces out of the same size pie. Their greatest concern has been that real estate seems to keep shifting buyers and sellers from the city to the suburbs, and yet not enough new business has been generated to warrant these changes. Part of the shifting is due to small investors buying their own business properties. Why rent out space when you could conceivably purchase property and make a profit at the same time?

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 queries. Call me on my cell at or email me at Sue@SueWeaver.com.

Hollywood Florida Real Estate Professional Susan Weaver Talks About Buying a Home from a For Sale By Owner

Hollywood Florida Real Estate Professional Sue Weaver Talks About Buying a Home from a For Sale By Owner

Many people are under the mistaken impression that a Hollywood Florida real estate agent cannot help them if they choose to buy a for sale by owner home. In fact, nothing can be further from the truth! The truth is that a Hollywood Florida home buyer needs an agent even more when it comes to purchasing a for sale by owner property. This is for several different reasons.

First of all, for sale by owners tend to overprice their home when it comes to comparing it with other market prices in the area. Because they are not getting the experience of a real estate professional, some home sellers simply price their home buying using the logic that they want a particular amount of money out of it at closing. As we all know, just because you want a certain profit from your home does not mean that the home is worth that price.

This is one of the reasons why having a Hollywood Florida real estate professional representing you as a buyer on a for sale by owner is vitally important. The agent will be able to look at the market figures and tell you for certain if that home is worth the listed price.

Another perk of having a real estate professional represent you during the home buying process is that they will be able to give you good advice on how the real estate transaction works in FL. By not having a professional representing either side of the transaction, the buyer and/or the seller can make huge mistakes that can have legal implications in the real estate transaction.

When it comes to purchasing a for sale by owner in Hollywood Florida, you should know that there are specific requirements in the real estate contract that need to be adhered to in order to avoid any legal risks. As a Hollywood Florida real estate professional, I can assist you with maneuvering the tricky waters of the FL real estate contract. Plus, if you visit my website you will see many tips and tricks about how to purchase a home in Hollywood Florida.

Dealing with an Agent during the Home Buying Process in Hollywood Florida?

If you are buying a home in Hollywood Florida there is a good chance that you will be dealing with a real estate agent who has been hired by the seller. While this may seem like a good thing, there are many cases where real estate agents have been tough to deal with. The good thing is that if you know what you are doing as a buyer you should not have any problems dealing with the real estate agent, and any extra baggage that they may carry. Just remember, a bad real estate agent is not a reason to stay away from a home that you really like. You will only have to deal with him or her for a short period of time, so if you do not like their attitude try to grin and bear it!

The first thing that you need to remember is that a real estate agent is hired by the seller to get them the best possible deal on their home. For this reason, they are going to be doing everything they can to sell you a Hollywood home, and if they are lucky sell it to you at list price. To take this a bit further, real estate agents only get paid when they sell homes. They get a commission or percentage of the selling price. So again, the more money that they sell a home for the more money they are going to make as an agent. Just like any other type of sales person, a real estate agent has their financial needs at the top of their to do list.

If you are having a tough time dealing with a real estate agent, make sure that you express this to them. Tell the real estate agent that you really like the home you are interested, but that they are making things difficult on you. This may help them to open their eyes and see that they are not giving themselves the best chance to succeed. In other words, try to keep the lines of communication open if at all possible. This will give you a much better chance of working with them on a business level that does not put you off.

All in all, dealing with real estate agents is not always the easiest thing to do when buying a home. They have their own agenda, and you have yours at the same time. But at Coral Shores Realty we take care of that for you when lookign for a house in Hollywood Florida come to me and i promise to make sure your buying experience is a pleasant one. The key to success is acting professionally, and doing whatever it takes to get past the differences that may be putting you off.

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 www.SueWeaver.com" mce_href="www.SueWeaver.com">Hollywood Florida real estate.

Real Estate guru Sue Weaver gives you excellent advice on what you need to have your Hollywood Florida Home Inspector look for

It is best not to use this as an excuse to try and get a better deal, but it can be a great way to get the seller to help with the cost of some of the repairs that may be needed to be completed for closing.

If there are repairs that need to be completed on your Hollywood Florida home you will want to get some estimates on the costs for these repairs and weigh the costs of having them done before the closing as opposed to doing them at a later time yourself.

Keep in mind that the lender may have repair requirements that they need completed themselves to process the loan. After the appraisal the lender will let you know what has to be repaired before you can get the loan.

When your inspections are out of the way it is time to have the appraisal of your house in Hollywood Florida scheduled. The lender needs to be contacted and informed that the appraisal needs to be ordered.

The appraisal is one of the costs that will have to be paid up front (along with any inspections that need to be done on the property.) The quicker all these steps take place the quicker you can close on the house.

If you are not working with a Realtor, it is best to contact your mortgage broker or lender once a week just to make sure they are not missing any documentation that you may need to get them, and that the process is moving ahead smoothly.

Once a week you will also want to contact your escrow officer that is in charge of the closing at the title company.

They are very busy, but just let them know it is important that you stay notified of anything you can do to help with the loan. Like any other business it is the squeaky wheel gets the grease.

At this time you will also want to call your insurance agent and inform them you will be buying a house and will need coverage for the closing of the loan. The title company will send you out a form that you will fill out with your insurance information, but it is a good idea to contact your agent up front and get the wheels moving as fast as possible.

Whenever the title company or the lender calls you requesting information get it to them in a timely manner. The quicker you respond the quicker the loan process will take place.

You can generally expect a closing to take about 30 days from the time an offer is accepted, If you have all your ducks in a row you can move the closing forward about a week. But that is about the quickest you can expect the closing to happen.

You can talk with your mortgage broker and get a figure from them as well on what their average closing time is in Hollywood Florida.

There are a lot of people involved in any single home purchase in Hollywood Florida, but by understanding the order in which things take place, it will help you to make sure you will get the keys to your property in a timely manner and that you will have made the process as easy as possible.

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 www.SueWeaver.com visit the most complete website online dedicated to everything Hollywood Florida real estate. So please feel free to contact me with any of your real estate 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.

How The HUD Home Buying Process Works : Tips From Local Real Estate Agent Sue Weaver

If you are looking to purchase a Hollywood Florida home then this is an excellent time to do so. But even though buyers search diligently on the internet for the perfect buy they often overlook one group of homes- those owned by HUD.

For a home to be classified as a HUD home it has to meet the requirement that it was originally financed with an FHA loan. When the homeowner loses the home to foreclosure then it becomes a HUD property. This is an area where you can get phenomenal buys- if you know what to do.

The first thing you will need to do is find yourself a HUD authorized buyer's agent. The great thing about this is that as a buyer's agent the commission is paid for by HUD so they will basically be working for you for free. Some people will try to argue that having an agent's commission in the deal will cause the price of the home to be higher, but that isn't the case. In fact, you will come out better for being represented.

Another reason to be represented is that only an authorized HUD agent can open up HUD homes. They have a special key required to gain access. These agents attend specialized training in order to obtain the HUD status so they will know the ins and outs of the process.

In order to get one of their homes you have to start by bidding online. If your bid wins then you have 48 hours to have an originally signed contract at the HUD location. Anything later and your bid is thrown out. No exceptions. At this point you can typically expect to close within 45 days.

If you are skeptical working with a government agency, don't be. Believe it or not, HUD is right on top of things. Their support lines are manned every weekday and the personnel answering the calls are knowledgeable and thorough. They are well ahead of many banks in resolving issues in a timely manner.

Just remember that HUD has their guidelines, too. If something needs to be signed or an initial was left out they will give you ample time to correct it.

To find out the exact process of buying a HUD home in FL, contact local real estate agent Sue Weaver to learn more about the process. The direct number is or visit the website at www.SueWeaver.com today.

Solid Advice on Buying a Home in Hollywood Florida From Real Estate Agent Sue Weaver

Solid Advice on Buying a Home in Hollywood Florida From Real Estate Agent Sue Weaver

When buyers are looking for a new home, it can be a very exciting time. However, there is a right way and a wrong way to start searching for new property. Unfortunately, many buyers go about this process in completely the wrong way. Here are some common mistakes that buyers make:

1.Going at it alone: It is very tempting for buyers to go out and pick up real estate magazines around Hollywood Florida looking for their new property. It seems like it would be very simple to purchase your own home without the use of a Hollywood Florida real estate agent. However, this is one of the most dangerous mistakes that buyers make because the real estate process in FL is a complicated one. There are many regulations and laws that are vitally important during the process. Using an experienced, qualified agent is important to protect the buyer.

2.Not getting pre-qualified: In all of the excitement of looking for their new property, many buyers start looking before they get pre-qualified with a mortgage lender. This is not a good thing to do because of several reasons. First of all, the seller is going to want to see some kind of documentation from a lender that the buyer can qualify. Secondly, buyers often find themselves very disheartened when they start looking at properties that turn out to be above their price range. It's very hard to go down in price range once you've looked at houses that are above what you can afford.

3.Not pinpointing specific search criteria: It's very important to pinpoint exactly what you want in a property before you start looking. This will help you avoid settling for a property that doesn't really meet your needs. It will also help the real estate agent that is assisting you to narrow in on the perfect home for you.

For more free information on buying a new home in Hollywood Florida, visit my website at www.SueWeaver.com. You can find free tips and tricks about buying homes in Hollywood Florida as well as information on properties that have recently sold. You can also call me directly at anytime.

3 Things You Must Know About Hiring a Contractor in Hollywood Florida, by Real Estate Expert Sue Weaver

If you're a seller or investor who wants to get the best price for your property, chances are at some point you're going to have to work with a contractor. In this article, we'll go over 3 essential things you must know about working with contractors to ensure the most affordable, most timely, and highest quality work.

Tip #1 - Be Very Specific

When you're requesting a bid or when you're talking about a job with a contractor, be very very specific about what you're looking for.

After you've agreed on a number, you should also be very meticulous about being specific in what you put in writing.

Taking this precaution will ensure you get exactly what you want, no more and no less.

Tip #2 - Find a Good, Reliable Contractor

Speak with several contractors before you decide on one for sure. Get a feel for the quality of the contractor's quality of work and integrity. Don't just decide based on price.

If your contractor is experienced, they should have references you can check. Check them.

Once you find a contractor you might want to work with, double check their license with the Secretary of State website. Remember, you're entrusting your property with this person, so it absolutely makes sense to do careful due diligence beforehand.

Tip #3 - Payment Tips

In general, it works in your favor to pay your contractor by project rather than by hours. A contractor can estimate how many hours it will take to complete a job, but that's just an estimate and the contractor can always exceed that estimate.

Rather than overpaying because your contractor billed by hour, agree to pay per project only.

Do not release payment until the job is complete. Once a contractor has been paid, often times they won't finish the job or the finished work will be of lesser quality. Even if the contractor asks, do not pay release payment for the job until the work is complete.

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.

Making an Earnest Money Deposit in Hollywood Florida

When an offer is made on a house in Hollywood Florida, it's usually accompanied with a check. This check is what is known as an earnest money deposit, made to let the seller know that the buyer is earnest in his or her attempt to purchase the home. An earnest money deposit distinguishes serious buyers from those who aren't so sure about the purchase.

The deposit amount is different from one purchase to the next. Many factors can sway the amount of the deposit. In seller's markets, earnest money deposits are often larger than in buyer's markets. This is because properties tend to have more inquiries in seller's markets. Thus, it takes a little more to convince the seller to accept a certain offer.

In a steady or buyer's market, you shouldn't make an earnest money deposit in an amount that is greater than 2 percent of the offer price. Once you have reached an agreement with the seller, the earnest money deposit is placed into an escrow account where it will stay until closing. At this point, both you and the seller jointly control the money. Usually when the deal closes, the deposit is applied to your down payment and closing accounts.

What happens if the deal falls through for reason? This is where sellers and buyers often disagree. Sellers sometimes feel that buyers should forfeit the earnest money deposit and they should receive the money. On the other hand, buyers contend that it was their money in the first place and the earnest money deposit should be returned to them.

Before anything can be done with the funds, any cancellation fees that apply are taken directly from the earnest deposit. After that point, the buyer and the seller must come to an agreement on what should happen with the deposit. It really doesn't matter who's at fault for the deal going wrong, since the money is held in a third party escrow some sort of compromise must be reached before the funds will be released.

The escrow can only release the funds when one of two conditions have been met either both parties provide a written authorization or an order is issued from a court of law. Obviously it is less costly and time consuming for the two parties to reach an agreement.

In some states there is a statute of limitations on which the escrow can hold the money without receiving a release authorization from the buyers. After this time period has expired, the law requires, in most cases, that the deposit be returned to the buyer.

How to Assure a Smooth Purchase of Your Home in Hollywood Florida.

What's the tangible home purchasing process in Hollywood Florida and how does one ensure that the closing basically occurs at the prepared date.

Read this report before you start on the home purchasing process and ensure you will be moving into you new home on time rather than living out of a moving wagon. It's important to make certain the closing goes smoothly. There are a ton of people who will be concerned in the exchange of purchasing your place. Here's a list of who these might include.

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 www.SueWeaver.com visit the most complete website online dedicated to everything Hollywood Florida real estate. So please feel free to contact me with any of your real estate 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.

How to Assure a Smooth Purchase of Your Home in Hollywood Florida.

Sue Weaver Explains How to Choose a Hollywood Florida Real Estate Agent

If you make the decision to buy a home in Hollywood Florida, you want to make sure that you get what you want at a fair price. But with the recent housing market taking a hit, sellers are more and more concerned about who they are dealing with. That's why it pays to be represented in your transaction by a real estate professional. And knowing how to find the right one is equally important, according to Sue Weaver.

Sometimes buyers will have a family member who is licensed in Hollywood Florida and want to keep it in the family. This can work out fine, but if they have not sold homes lately the best thing to do is make sure they are up to date on the guidelines, since they change frequently. There are also times that people have friends that have their license and they may feel obligated to use them because of the friendship. Unfortunately, this is not a good idea. Inevitably, something will go wrong and both sides will be uncomfortable issuing blame. Even if things work out the relationship could remain strained. The best advice would be to avoid this by using an outside party.

When you look for a Hollywood Florida real estate agent one of the first things to consider is where they are located. You want someone who works in the Hollywood Florida area and is familiar with its market data.

Another thing to consider is if they work alone or with a team. There are good points and bad points to this. The good is that they have others helping in the tasks, sometimes one person for each phase of the transaction. The bad part is that if you hire a particular agent, you should be able to talk to them when needed.

For up to date information on the Hollywood Florida real estate market, check out www.SueWeaver.com. You can get buying and selling tips plus recent information about market sales. You can also call Sue Weaver at .