Buyer's Guide

Buying a Home in South Florida and Tampa Bay Areas

Finding and purchasing a home that will meet your needs is a significant and often stressful time. Our goal is to make this transition as smooth as possible. We are experts in the area, and once we learn what it is that you’re looking for, finding your dream home is simple.

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Before you start looking for a home you should ask yourself a few questions:

  • Where do you want to live? Are there particular neighborhoods or communities that you like?
  • What kind of house would you like (need)? Are you looking for a particular style? How many bedrooms and bathrooms do you want?
  • Is a home office a necessity? Do you need a bonus room or flex-room?
  • Do you entertain often? Is a home suitable for entertaining something you’re looking for?
  • Do you want a yard, pool, gated or guard gated community?
  • Have you determined your price range or consulted a lender to determine the best price range?

Searching for your dream home can be a time-consuming experience. Working with our professional team will make the process much more efficient!

First-Time Home Buyers

Meet with a mortgage broker and find out how much you can afford to pay for a home.

While knowing how much you can afford is the first step, sellers will be much more receptive to potential buyers who have been pre-approved. You'll also avoid being disappointed when going after homes that are out of your price range. With Pre-Approval, the buyer actually applies for a mortgage and receives a commitment in writing from a lender. This way, assuming the home you're interested in is at or under the amount you are pre-qualified for, the seller knows immediately that you are a serious buyer for that property. Costs for pre-approval are generally nominal and lenders will usually permit you to pay them when you close your loan.

Make 2 lists. The first should include items you must have (i.e., the number of bedrooms you need for the size of your family, a one-story house if accessibility is a factor, etc.). The second list is your wishes - things you would like to have (pool, den, etc.) but that are not absolutely necessary. Realistically for first-time buyers, you probably will not get everything on your wish list, but it will keep you on track for what you are looking for.

Consider hiring your own real estate agent, one who is working for you, the buyer, not the seller.

In a convenient location, keep handy the items that will assist you in maximizing your home search efforts. Such items may include:

  • One or more detailed maps with your areas of interest highlighted.
  • A list or file of the properties that your agent has shown to you.
  • Paper and pen for taking notes as you search.
  • A camera to snap pictures of homes you have toured to help you remember your favorites and features you really liked.

Are the rooms laid out to fit your needs? Is there enough light?

Instead of thinking with your heart when you find a home, think with your head. Does this home really meet your needs? There are many houses on the market, so don't make a hurried decision that you may regret later.

A few extra dollars well spent now may save you big expenses in the long run. Don't forget such essentials as:

  • Include inspection & mortgage contingencies in your written offer.
  • Have the property inspected by a professional inspector.
  • Request a second walk-through to take place within 24 hours of closing.
  • You want to check to see that no changes have been made that were not agreed on (i.e., a nice chandelier that you assumed came with the sale having been replaced by a cheap ceiling light).

Testimonials

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  • Karina was a blessing. I was so stressed at selling my home of 38 years but she made the entire process possible. She has a very positive and calming attitude. I have had several realtors as I moved nine times but none that were so helpful or caring as her and as keeping me aware of everything. She did far more for me than just selling my house. I praise her to any one I may hear is thinking of buying or selling. She is the best..
    — Seller
  • Karina is the greatest realtor I have ever worked with. She is very knowledgeable and a very caring person. She looks out for all the needs of her client along with working very hard to get you the best offer for your home. She constantly goes above and beyond the duties of a realtor. She is wonderful!
    — Buyer & Seller
  • Karina is excelente she worry about your need and always very responsible. She look for the best benefied for you. Love have her as my realtor. She is bullying. She is very friendly and carrying. Karina go more the beyond for your need. I will high referrel people to her I can warranty her service.
    — Pablo R.
  • I recently had the pleasure of working with Karina, and I cannot say enough positive things about her. She is an outstanding real estate agent who helped my team purchase a property in Lutz. Karina is the epitome of a rock star agent - she's a go-getter who is extremely hard-working, professional, and knowledgeable. Throughout the entire transaction, Karina was calm, cool, and collected, even while she was traveling to further her education as an agent to offer her clients more value. Her dedication to her craft is truly remarkable, and it's evident that she genuinely cares about her clients and their needs. What impressed me the most about Karina w...
    — Tyler B.
  • Karina was a joy to work with on our recent home purchase in Palm Harbor. She was so accommodating to our schedule as an out of town buyer looking to relocate to the area. We totally love Karina and would highly recommend her to anyone looking for an outstanding real estate agent in the area.
    — Sherri S.
  • Our “downsizing sizing” experience with Karina was wonderful. She was spot on with respect to all of her recommendations from determining a listing price to prepping the house to sell as well as navigating the inspection and sale process. She also provided excellent guidance and suggestions for us as we shopped for a new residence. As needs arose, she always had recommendations that proved insightful and beneficial. Our happiness and success were her priority, and we are thankful for her services and support in the process.
    — Lorrainne J.
  • As newcomers in the Miami area, we were delighted to have Karina as our guide in the local real estate market. We were highly impressed by Karina's knowledge, professionalism and support throughout the whole process. From the beginning of our interaction, she understood our needs, which made it easier to focus on the right opportunities available and shorten the purchase process. Her negotiation skills and support through closing were invaluable. We felt that she really cared about us and put our interests above everything. Highly recommended!
    — Buyer & Seller
  • Karina was an excellent representative for us. She worked hard to keep the process moving and got all our questions answered quickly. If we move again we will definitely call her.
    — Buyer
  • Karina is a wonderful realtor with great knowledge and expertise in her line of work. She was honest, professional, quick, and reassuring to us throughout the process. I would definitely use her for all future transactions.
    — Christie
  • Amazing! We are really thankful that we got linked to Karina. We went looking for a house on Jan 2018 and by March 2018, we closed. She listened carefully to what we needed for our family and took us straight to the properties that would match. We also have two little kids that went along this adventure and she was super amazing with them. Extremely professional and on point with everything.
    — Buyer
  • Karina was very friendly and effective when it came to looking for the place that I needed. She was available via call, text and email all the time which is very important to me. I felt that I was truly understood and taken care of with her service.
    — Dana G.
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Contact Details

Karina Furlin, P.A.

Phone

(305) 213-4672

Email

[email protected]

Phone

(727) 335-9953

Address

30522 US Highway 19 N Ste 107 Palm Harbor FL 34684

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