Jupiter FL Gated Communities

Why Use an Exclusive Buyer’s Agent for New Home Construction?

Because the builder’s agent’s job is to convince you to buy only their homes at the highest price. Your Exclusive Buyer Agent’s job is to even the odds and negotiate for the lowest price and best terms for YOU!

If you’re building what you buy, you might think, “Why would I need an agent?” However, new construction is a complicated and expensive process. The advantages are many; aside from the obvious ones. The fact that having buyer agent representation is often FREE cannot be repeated often enough. So too, should the misconception that not using a buyer’s agent will save money be constantly repeated – that simply doesn’t happen.

A seasoned agent with experience in new home construction can give you invaluable insight during the process. Whether they’ve done business with those particular builders, or are aware of other comparable communities in the area, they can provide a wider context to your transaction. They might have an existing relationship with your builder, easing any tensions that might arise.

Remember that that site agent represents the builder/developer. Most real estate agents are sub-agents of the Seller or Transactional agent. In neither case do they have a fiduciary responsibility to the Buyer.

The site agent is an employee of the builder and is obligated to represent the best interests of the builder, not the homebuyer. They are expected to work to secure the builder the best deal.

The further you get into the home shopping process, the more challenging it becomes to bring in an agent. In fact, if you’ve already registered with a community, it might be too late.

Benefits of Using an Exclusive Buyer Agent for New Home Construction:

Compare and evaluate builders’ reputations and history of their construction quality and service.
Help you compare and evaluate advantages and disadvantages of new construction homes vs. resale homes.
Provide information about the community.
Help buyer with evaluation and selection of a building lot and options. Lot location and certain options have a very real bearing on resale value.
Help buyer evaluate which options should be done by the developer during construction and which are more affordable to be done by an outside vendor post closing.
Truly negotiate on behalf of the buyer. Many builders are offering “free” options and upgrades, but some are also making additional price concessions.
Review the Agreement of Sale (PA) prior to buyer signing. This is not a legal review (only an attorney can do that), but an experienced agent will be able to spot terms and conditions that are atypical and of potential concern to the buyer. The agent may then be able to negotiate terms and conditions that are more favorable to the buyer but still acceptable to the builder. Keep in mind most new construction contracts are written by attorneys that represent the builder and these contracts are therefore heavily weighted in favor of the builder.
Recommend a real estate attorney for final contract, title commitment and to hold your escrow funds.
A buyer’s agent serves as an extra set of ears as a witness at court or arbitration– When the builders sales representative is familiar with all rules, features and prices and it’s all new to buyer – it is good to have experienced person on buyer’s side listening with buyer and taking notes, a lot of information is verbalized in short period of time.
Attend the signing of the Agreement of Sale
Assist with the buyer’s financing and review financing paperwork. This is especially important if the builder is tying “free” options and upgrades to the use of a builder-affiliated lender.
Check on the property during construction and keep a photo record at different stages.
Assist in options selections to optimize budget and maximize resale.
Be your leverage with the builder as problems arise during construction.
Keep everything in writing– Sometimes even the very nicest builder makes verbal promises that later become a point of contention. An experienced buyer’s agent is conditioned and trained to “put it in writing” even though at the time it doesn’t seem necessary.
Arrange for a final inspection with a license building inspector and generate a “punch list” to be completed before final closing.
Document and help resolve any issues with construction, financing, title, etc. throughout the process.
Attend a pre-settlement walkthrough with the buyer to make sure that all items are satisfactorily completed or that a proper punch list is established to assure completion after settlement.
Obtain and review a preliminary HUD-1 settlement statement to be sure it is accurate and advise the buyer of the amount needed for settlement.
Assist buyer with utilities, security and HOA requirements, decorators, service professionals, schools, et. al.
Attend settlement with the buyer.
A buyer’s agent will be there even after the home closes. It is routine for issues to arise during the first year of a new home. Site agents tend to forget a buyer’s name after the contract is signed.
NO ADDITIONAL COST TO YOU!

Read My Reviews from New Home Construction Clients!

Filed under: Blog, Boca Raton real estate, closing costs, contracts, Down Sizing, Exclusive Buyer Agency, Florida Real Estate, Home Buyer Advice, Home Buyers, Home Financing, home Inspections, Home Maintenance, Homebuyer Advice, International Home Buyers, Jupiter FL Gated Communities, Mortgage Information, new home construction, Real Estate, Real Estate Investment, Relocation, Retirement, second home, South Florida Real Estate, vacation home by Kim Bregman
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Short-Term Rentals As Investments

Companies such as Airbnb and VRBO have brought the short-term rental market into the mainstream, making it easier than ever for investors to profit from real estate ownership.

Rather than getting tied into long-term leases, property owners can capitalize on local demand for temporary and vacation rental housing. In recent years, the industry has transformed from a side-gig for homeowners looking to make extra income into a booming industry in many markets across the country.

Although considered great investments, these types of properties require proper management and good knowledge of a local real estate market.

A short-term rental is a property that has a lease term of fewer than 12 months. It could be a single or multi-family home, a condominium, or a townhome. An owner typically buys this type of property with the intent of leasing. It is important to understand the leasing restriction of the community or municipality.

South Florida is an ideal location for a successful short term rental investment and more and more people are looking to real estate to diversify their investment and hedge against inflation.

A short-term property can be profitable under the right management. But don’t think that it will generate passive income without much effort. Before you invest your money, you must look at several components that determine whether your property will create a profit or not.

– Vacation destinations are considered the best for these types of properties, as they are often favored by tourists because of their competitive prices over expensive hotels and five-star resorts.

– Local laws and regulations set a stage up for the real estate market. For example, some cities, like Delray Beach and Boca Raton have strict policies when it comes to how many days your property can be occupied. These types of restrictions could limit your ability to generate a steady income.

If you want to buy a property in the area that is favorable toward short-term rentals, make sure to use a Realtor that is familiar with local laws and regulations governing the real estate market. Additionally, you should also find out what the rules are for a platform such as HomeAway, VRBO or Airbnb.

“Zoning can be an issue zoning and municipal ordinances will dictate which properties can and cannot be used as Short Term Rentals ( STR). This differs from one city to the next. Likewise, municipalities might dictate how many properties within certain boundaries can be used as STRs. For buyers, knowing what the zoning regulations are before purchasing a property is key.

Even if the property is turnkey, investing in the necessities to ready the property for rental could be a considerable. Furnishing, equipping, and securing a property property to make it safe and well-performing are additional costs that an investor needs to consider in their ROI analysis. The cash outlay can be significant in the beginning and may take a fair amount of time for the property to breakeven and start to generate a positive cash flow.

Owning and operating short-term rentals is considered a business by most local governments, and owners must comply with specific workplace regulations and business licensing rules established in their local communities. There are transient occupancy taxes that are also required to pay. Knowing local and government regulations is crucial to operating an STR.

Owners of STRs should not think they can outsmart the local governments. Cities and Counties are becoming much savvier on tracking Short Term Rentals using data mining, machine learning, and other technologies. Right now, governments can find out when, where, and for how long properties have been rented. As technology continues to expand, it’ll be important for buyers to make sure they are adhering to local guidelines; otherwise, their investment might cost them in fines and legal fees rather than make them money.

Since STRs are rental properties and therefore investments of a specific nature, the normal loan pre-approval likely won’t be enough. A lot of lenders will not finance for STRs or hotel properties.

When shopping for a mortgage it is important to make clear to the lender how the buyer intends to use the property, and merely stating that it will be used as an investment isn’t enough. Likewise, a regular homeowner’s insurance policy won’t cover an STR either. You will need to secure insurance specific to owning a rental property and it will be more expensive than a normal Homeowners Insurance Policy.

A short-term rental property is one of the best ways to generate a steady income from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars a month. Although it’s often considered a form of passive income, running it requires real estate prowess, time and money investment, and excellent communication skills. However, with the right management and favorable market conditions, a real estate investment can become a successful enterprise and generate thousands of dollars per year.

Filed under: 2022 Real Estate, Blog, Boca Raton real estate, downtown boca raton, Exclusive Buyer Agency, Exclusive Buyer Agent, Florida Real Estate, Foreign Home Buyers, Home Buyer Advice, Home Buyers, Homebuyer Advice, Homeowners Insurance, International Home Buyers, International investors, Jupiter FL Gated Communities, Real Estate, Real Estate Investment, real estate news, Real estate trends, second home, short term rentals, South Florida Real Estate, vacation home by Kim Bregman
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