Pathway to Home Ownership
Lisa Jones, GRI, CDPE, PSA, SFR Licensed Real Estate Sales Associate
ERA Grizzard Real Estate
600 N Donnelly Street, Mount Dora, FL 32757 Direct: (352)250-3320
[email protected] MyOwnFloridaHome.com
Lisa Jones
ERA Grizzard Real Estate www.MyOwnFloridaHome.com
[email protected] 352.250.3320
About Lisa When you meet Lisa and ask her about the local real estate market, you will soon discover how passionate she is about her profession. She became licensed in 2006 when not only the local real estate market, but the national economy, began to rapidly change, and not for the better. Ask her why she became a Realtor and she will tell you that the skills she brings from her prior positions in sales and administration are a great fit for the real estate industry. She is a natural born problem solver and loves a challenge. Through it all, she keeps a positive attitude and is constantly trying to learn additional skills to be the best agent for the buyers and sellers she represents. Continuing education is very important to her for the success of her buyers and sellers. She has attained several designations including the GRI, Graduate of the
Realtor Institute, SFR, Short Sale Foreclosure Resource and the CDPE, Certified Distressed Property Expert and most recently the PSA, Pricing Strategy Advisor. During the housing crisis, she and her team has successfully assisted nearly 50 local families avoid foreclosure in the Lake and Marion County areas. Since the market recovery, Lisa has moved into the Traditional Sales market. "The experience and skills I gained in the Short Sale arena make me a very effective listing agent where Price, Presentation and Promotion are the keys to a successful sale." In addition to being a full time Realtor with ERA Grizzard Real Estate, Lisa is a wife, mother and professional singer. If you are looking for a Rock Star agent, look no further.
Lisa Jones
ERA Grizzard Real Estate www.MyOwnFloridaHome.com
[email protected] 352.250.3320
My Buyer Services • Needs Analysis Interview • Communication Guarantee • Assistance with Lender Pre-Approval • Online Property Match and Email Notification • Personal Home Tours with Listing Details • Comparative Market Analysis of Property prior to offer • Writing a Contract to protect you and your interests • Offer Presentation and Expert Negotiation • Coordination with Inspector, Lender and Attorneys or Title Company to ensure timely closing • Property Walk Through prior to closing • Attend Your Closing • Follow Up After Closing
Lisa Jones
ERA Grizzard Real Estate www.MyOwnFloridaHome.com
[email protected] 352.250.3320
Lisa Jones, GRI, CDPE, PSA, SFR Licensed Real Estate Sales Associate
ERA Grizzard Real Estate
[email protected] 352.250.3320
Communication Guarantee After many years in this business, we have seen first-hand the number one complaint expressed about Real Estate Salespeople is a lack of communication with their clients. In an effort to better serve our clients, part of our service model is to provide a written communication guarantee. We take pride in our open lines of communication. We make a commitment to: 1. Determine your preferred method of contact at our initial Needs Analysis Interview. Phone calls/Text/emails 2. Respond to any questions or requests within 24 hours, however, it will most likely be faster than that. 3. Set you up on an ERA Search platform, Online and/or App, so that I can be notified as soon as you find a home you are interested in viewing. This will insure that you are only searching Active Property listings. Many of your favorite real estate websites will still show properties under contract or even recently sold as still on the market. 4. If you find a For Sale by Owner, please contact me. We can assist you with this as well. In the current market, the majority of these sellers will cooperate with a local Realtor.
_____________________________________ Realtor _____________________________________ Buyer
Lisa Jones
_____________________________________ Buyer
ERA Grizzard Real Estate www.MyOwnFloridaHome.com
[email protected] 352.250.3320
The Buying Process The Buying Process is one that has many complicated steps. It is not simply finding a home. Making an offer, closing and moving in. There are many important that must be followed and below are the most important ones. It is our job to orchestrate the successful execution of each of these steps: • Getting Lender Pre-Approval • Determining Wants and Needs • Searching for Homes • Reevaluating your Wants/Needs • The Search Continues • Finding the Right Home • Determine the Correct Offering Price • Writing the Offer • Negotiating with the Seller(s) • Inspections and Renegotiations • Appraisal and Repairs • Closing • Possession
Lisa Jones
ERA Grizzard Real Estate www.MyOwnFloridaHome.com
[email protected] 352.250.3320
Lisa Jones, GRI, CDPE, PSA, SFR Licensed Real Estate Sales Associate
ERA Grizzard Real Estate
[email protected] 352.250.3320
Assist with Lender Pre-Approval Here are the most common items requested when getting pre-approved:
Social security number for anyone who is on the mortgage loan. The lender needs this to verify your identity, and also to pull your credit. Proof of employment. Your mortgage lender will probably request a list of employers for the last two years (at a minimum). They want to verify your employment, because it relates to your ability to repay the loan. Proof of income. These mortgage documents are used to validate your income. It can come in several forms. This will be your two most recent pay stubs, or the electronic equivalent, that shows your year-to-date earnings. It's your average annual income the lender wants to know about. The lender will also use tax records to verify your earnings (see next item). Tax documents. This is a standard document for mortgage pre-approval. So there's a 99% chance you will have to provide tax documentation at some point. Most lenders want to see your W-2 statements and tax returns for the last two years. Among other things, your W-2s show how much money you earned over the previous year(s). Place of Residence. The lender wants to know where you've lived for the last couple of years, and maybe longer. Bank account information. When you apply for mortgage pre-approval, the lender will want to know how much money you have in the bank. They need to ensure you have sufficient funds for your closing costs, down payment, and cash reserves (if applicable). This is another standard mortgage document for pre-approval. All lenders require this. Credit information. Do you have other outstanding loans that you're currently repaying (car loans, student loans, etc.)? If so, the lender may ask for documents related to those accounts. They need this information to measure your debt to income ratio. Gift letters. Are your family members going to help you with your down payment? If so, you need to provide a gift letter along with your other mortgage documents. They need to make sure the money is truly a gift, and that your relatives don't expect any form repayment. Monthly expenses. Some mortgage companies will ask for an itemized list of your monthly payments. This list might include your rent, credit cards, student loans, etc. Self-employment documents. Do you run your own business? If so, you might have to provide some additional documents during the mortgage pre-approval process. This might include balance sheets, a profit-and-loss statement, or federal tax statements for the last two years.
Lisa Jones
ERA Grizzard Real Estate www.MyOwnFloridaHome.com
[email protected] 352.250.3320
Lisa Jones, GRI, CDPE, PSA, SFR Licensed Real Estate Sales Associate
ERA Grizzard Real Estate
[email protected] 352.250.3320
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it expensive to use a buyer’s agent? The compensation that the buyer’s agent receives is typically paid from the proceeds of the seller. In such cases, there is NO COST for a buyer to be represented by an agent. In the unusual case that the buyer is interested in purchasing a property that the Seller is unwilling to pay the agent, the Buyer’s Agreement (defined below) would outline the compensation.
What is a Buyer’s Agreement? A buyer’s agreement is a contract between the Buyer(s) and the real estate agent. Contracts can vary in length and conditions. The agreement lays out the commitments of the buyer to the agent and the agent to the buyer.
Can my agent provide me with information on and show properties listed by other companies? Yes, your agent can show any properties listed with any company. However, the property must be in Florida.
Can I go to open houses without my agent? Yes. However, when meeting the agent hosting the open house it is best that you immediately identify yourself as working with another agent.
What if I am unhappy with my agent? Let your agent know you are unhappy right away, and the reasons why. It may be a simple misunderstanding that can be corrected. If the issues are more substantial, tell the agent that you no longer wish to work with them. If you have signed a buyer agency agreement, you will need to ask for a written termination letter of that agreement. Don’t let a poor relationship keep you from finding another more suitable agent for your needs. It is important for you to have an agent who you feel comfortable with and who is ready to represent your needs.
Lisa Jones
ERA Grizzard Real Estate www.MyOwnFloridaHome.com
[email protected] 352.250.3320
Lisa Jones, GRI, CDPE, PSA, SFR Licensed Real Estate Sales Associate
ERA Grizzard Real Estate
[email protected] 352.250.3320
Recommended Lenders The Mortgage Firm
Mary Rhodes
(352)383-3046
Lendello Mortgage
Nicole Caldwell
(972)302-2062
Academy Mortgage
John Mathews
(352)630-7385
United Southern Bank
Kelly Guzman
(352)483-5892
I Inspect
Kevin Bressman
(407)497-5190
True Vue
David Hatmaker
(352)459-4670
TLC Inspections
Gus Czaplak
(352)435-5190
WIN Home Inspections
Jim & Kat Schweitzer
(352)978-5815
Home Inspectors
Home Owner’s Insurance
Darr Shackow (DSI)
http://www.darrschackowinsurance.com
(352)326-4007
Sihle Insurance
https://www.sihle.com
(407)869-0962
Hillcrest Insurance
http://www.hillcrestinsurance.com/
(352)383-8164
Southern Insurance Group
http://www.clermontinsuranceagency.com/ (866)461-7809
Merrill Insurance Group
https://www.merrillinsurance.com/
(352)589-5200
These are only recommendations. Services are only suggested by past experiences and are NOT REQUIRED.
Lisa Jones
ERA Grizzard Real Estate www.MyOwnFloridaHome.com
[email protected] 352.250.3320
