Why Buy With Us?
Buying a home in today’s market can be challenging. The Bartos Group is here to guide you. We have helped hundreds of buyers and sellers reach their real estate goals. See what they have to say in our Client Reviews. Because we use a team approach, our agents are not distracted by many of the tasks that the average agent needs to deal with. Therefore, they can focus on helping you design your lifestyle in Southwest Florida and purchase your piece of paradise.
The first decision you have is what do you enjoy doing in Paradise? Here are a few questions to ask yourself.
· Do I want to be close or on the beach so I can have the sand in my toes every day?
· Is golfing important? Do I want to live in a golf community where I can play as much as I want?
· Am I a boater? Do I want to live on the water with my boat in my backyard to jump in and cruise or fish?
· Do I prefer to be in a community where social activities abound?
These are just a few of the questions to answer as you design your Paradise Lifestyle.
Real Estate For Sale
The Bartos Group covers all of Southwest Florida from Marco Island to Fort Myers. Whether you are interested in condos, homes or lots, we are well versed in many of the communities. Click on the area that you are interested in:
- Marco Island Real Estate
- Naples Real Estate
- Bonita Springs Real Estate
- Estero Real Estate
- Fort Myers Real Estate
Pre-Approval/Proof of Funds
Providing proof to the seller that you are qualified to purchase their home could be the difference between getting your offer accepted or losing out on the home your really want. Therefore, a little effort before you start visiting homes will go a long way. If you are financing, it is best to get a pre-approval letter from a lender. Although you can get a mortgage with any lender, it is advisable to use a local lender so that they understand the nuisances of Collier and Lee County. The lender will ask you for copies of certain financial records (i.e., W-2s, Tax Returns, etc.) in order to Pre-approve your ability to cover the loan. If you are planning to pay cash, it is best to provide proof of funds, either a statement showing sufficient cash assets or a letter from your financial institution stating that you have sufficient liquid assets to cover the purchase. Once received, the pre-approval letter or proof of funds is presented with the sales offer.
Escrow & Closing Costs
Once your offer is accepted, our team will walk you through the closing process. If you have already picked a closing agent you will need to do so. You have a choice of closing with an attorney or a title company, aka the CLOSING AGENT. See Service Providers. Based on the contract terms, you will need to provide your initial deposit into escrow with your closing agent. Escrow is an account were the closing agent holds your funds until they are dispersed to the seller’s closing agent before being dispersed to the seller. Most closing agents require that the funds be wire transferred to the escrow account to assure there are no delays in the funding and they will provide instruction as to how to transfer the money. Closing Costs will vary depending on the closing agent that you use. However, it generally runs about 1.25-1.5% of the purchase price. You may also receive some prorated credits for items like property taxes, security deposits, etc. that may be due in the future. You can ask the closing agent for an estimate of their closing fees once you have identified the property.
Home Warranty
Eventhough you have inspected the home and everything is in working order, it does not mean that it will stay that way. Sometimes, systems break after you have taken possession of your home. A Home Warranty can minimize the cost of repairing these unexpected system failures by insuring the systems and providing a flat service fee for repair. For a few hundred dollars, the buyer can avoid paying thousands if a major system fails. For a minimal service fee, you can have system repair and/or replace, if needed. For more information, see our preferred provider 2-10 Home Warranty or research your own.
Property Investment
Many of our clients are looking to capitalize on the seasonal rental opportunities that Southwest Florida has to offer. Others may want to rent their property until they are ready to retire and spend more time here. Either way, there are many questions when selecting a property for rental. The Bartos Group can help you assess your property requirements and select the right kind of property to meet your investment goals. We will assist you in the search, selection of properties as well as quantifying the potential return on investment. Download our white paper on Picking the Right Rental Property.
Download Our Rental White Paper
Relocation
When moving to Southwest Florida, you will need to learn about the area and what is required to go about your daily business. From where to get a driver’s license to how to apply for your homestead exemption as well as much more information can be found on our website.
Our relocation guide includes the most up-to-date and vital information for people looking to move to our area.
Value Added Service Providers
Purchasing a home can be complicated enough but when you don’t live in the area full time, you often don’t know where to turn to services needed to purchase and maintain your property. That why the Bartos Group has compiled a list of services providers that can assist you in these area. From closing companies to home inspectors to pool maintenance, we try to provide you with service providers that you can contact to address your every need. We rely on our customers to provide us with recommendations as well to assure that our service providers list has high quality options. We also encourage you to speak with your neighbors and friends for their recommendations. Go to our Service Provider list.
