Your Complete Home Buying Guide

In preparing to find your dream home, you want to make the wisest investment for you and your needs. You’ve determined your wish list and figured out your budget, but now what? Now, Kenny Silverman & Associates helps you find your dream home:

Discuss your search criteria with us for your perfect home

Then, we set you up with an automatic search of the Multiple Listing Services (MLS) within your criteria. This provides you with access to information on every available home for sale in the MLS.

You will receive new or updated listings as they become available.

If needed, we can help you narrow down the listings to your favorites that you want to view (discuss pros and cons).

We take you to the properties that you would like to view and find the one you see as your dream home.

Once you have found your dream home, we discuss the terms of your offer, draw up a contract and submit the contract to the Listing Agent for the Seller to review

We handle all details and negotiations

Once an offer has been accepted, we walk you through the remaining steps to close on your new home including, but not limited to:

- Appraisals
- Inspections
- Insurance
- Mortgage
- Title/Escrow

While details are important in finding a new home, try to think bigger picture. Superficial things like carpet, paint color or décor may catch your attention, but can be changed relatively quickly and inexpensively (based on your budget). What should take priority are the bigger things that are harder, or perhaps impossible, to change like location, size, physical configuration, school zones, etc.

Your primary goal will be to find a home that will meet your family’s needs. You will have your standard requirements like bed and bath counts, pool, etc., but you should have additional considerations such as:

• Neighborhood/Location – What is important to you? Proximity to employment, schools, restaurants, shopping, beaches, highways, public transportation, nightlife, peace and quiet, etc.

• Schools – Many families consider schools as one of the most important considerations when looking for a home.
• How Long Will You Live In This House? – A house can be a great investment, but your current housing needs may not always be the same as they are in the future. You may get a job it a new state, outgrow your house or decided to downsize. It’s never too early to think ahead when evaluating your current investment.
• Price – How much can you afford? Understand what you can comfortably afford to pay for your house is important. Use a mortgage calculator and/or ask a professional to help determine and keep your purchase within your budget.

All legal Florida residents are eligible for a Homestead Exemption on their qualified homes, condominiums, co-op apartments, and certain mobile home lots. The Florida Constitution provides this tax-saving exemption on the first and third $25,000 of the assessed value of an owner/occupied residence. While a complicated formula is used to explain this — as the additional $25,000 only applies to the non-schools portion of your tax bill — the bottom line is that the basic homestead exemption could save a homeowner hundreds to thousands of dollars in annual tax savings for all homes with a value of $75,000 or higher.

You are entitled to a Homestead Exemption if, as of January 1st, you have made the property your permanent home or the permanent home of a person who is legally or naturally dependent on you. By law, permanent residence is determined on January 1st of each year. Please make sure you file for the Homestead Exemption in a timely manner or you could miss out on these tax savings.

When qualifying for Homestead Exemption, you will need the following documents for all owners applying:

1. Florida Driver’s License or Florida ID if you do not drive
2. Florida car registration
3. Florida Voter’s ID (if you vote)
4. Immigration documents if not a U.S. citizen.

Documents should reflect the address of your homesteaded property.