Are You Ready For Home Ownership?

Owning a home may be your dream, but in order for the purchase to be the happy and satisfying experience it was meant to be, you need to ensure that you are financially and mentally prepared for the responsibilities that come with it.

Some people have a notion that home ownership is like renting, but with the power to have pets and paint the walls whatever color you like. However, while these privileges are available to homeowners in most municipalities, they come with the responsibilities of a mortgage, taxes and home maintenance. Preparing for home ownership requires you to take critical stock of your finances and your expectations.

Search now for Affordable homes in the area.

Questions for Prospective Homeowners

 

Are you ready to buy?

Owning your own home is about more than just being able to decorate any way you like; it's about being prepared to maintain your home over the years, realizing that part of your income and time will go towards repairs and maintenance. It's about being willing to take the risks of home ownership with a realistic expectation of the rewards.

How much can you afford?

It can be discouraging to find that your salary won't stretch as far as the home you want to own. However, sacrificing a huge part of your income just to pay the mortgage can very quickly make home ownership a burden rather than a point of pride. It's better to buy a modest home now and look at purchasing your "dream home" in a few years. If you are interested in an online prequalification through our wonderful mortgage affiliate you can find the application here:

What is your debt-to-income ratio?

This is something that lenders take very seriously. Your overall debt should not be more than 40% of your income, and your housing debt should not be more than 32%. What 32% of your income will buy depends on where you want to live. In rural or downtrodden areas for example, it can buy a very comfortable residence and ample acreage. In highly sought-after urban areas however, it may not even buy a 400 square foot bachelor suite.

What do you want?

Do you like the idea of cleaning your own gutters? Do you shudder at the thought of lawn care? Would you rather just pay a fee every month and have everything done for you? Would obeying rules about when you can have your garbage cans out bother you, or do you want to live in a neighborhood where everything is 'just so'? The answers to these questions can help you narrow down the search for the right type of property for you.

We Can Help

You need a good agent who will work hard for you. Our real estate team is dedicated to helping you find the right home, at the best price. We want you to find the home that will make you happy and successful in real estate ownership.

When you hire us to help you buy your first home, we want to know what you want and how much you can afford. Then we'll find a way to merge these two priorities and find a residence that you'll enjoy owning.

Keep your objectives in mind when visiting a home. Sometimes the idea of owning a home can overwhelm your practical sense, so keep your feelings in check. Keep a list handy of the features that you need and want in a home, and judge each home by the list instead of by details that could distract you from your goal. When you're alone with your agent, you can go over the pros and cons of each home. We can help you stay on track while still keeping our eyes out for a great property.

Make the offer. This can be a maze of "buyer", "seller", "chattels", "deposit", and "completion". We'll be happy to prepare the paperwork and go through it with you before submitting it. Remember, the seller may reject or counter your offer, so even at this late date, avoid setting your heart on the home you hope to own. You'll probably have to write a deposit check to the seller's broker that proves the seriousness of your offer.

Get all necessary inspections done. A home inspector will check for signs of harmful materials like asbestos, lead paint and mold. They'll also check for evidence of pests, faulty wiring and leaks. This is a crucial part of the home purchase. Not getting an inspection done means that you could be stuck in a home with a bad case of black mold and no recourse other than to pay for its removal. Inspections will cost a few hundred dollars, but again, this is more than worth it in the end. There are several inspectors in the area that we'd be happy to recommend.

Do a final walkthrough before closing the deal. We'd be happy to do this with you to make sure that everything agreed upon is completed prior to the final signing.

From the first interview that determines your requirements to the moment that you receive the keys, we can help you with the complicated process of buying a home. Don't hesitate to contact us to find out more about how we can make the home buying process easier!

Contact us for more information about first time home purchasing.

All Listings $100,000 - $200,000 $200,000 - $300,000
672 Properties Found. Page 1 of 45.
Photo of Listing #1217749
New Listing

2664 Peacock St, JACKSONVILLE

$300,000 - 3 Beds, 2 Baths, 1,380 Sf

MLS® # 1217749

DUVAL HOMES REAL ESTATE LLC
Photo of Listing #1216266

7932 Morse Ave, JACKSONVILLE

$300,000 - 3 Beds, 2 Baths, 1,560 Sf

MLS® # 1216266

RE/MAX UNLIMITED
Photo of Listing #1216137

7717 Vandalay Dr, JACKSONVILLE

$300,000 - 3 Beds, 2 Baths, 1,315 Sf

MLS® # 1216137

OPENDOOR BROKERAGE, LLC.
Photo of Listing #1213594

6489 Skyler Jean Dr, JACKSONVILLE

$300,000 - 3 Beds, 2 Baths, 1,574 Sf

MLS® # 1213594

COLDWELL BANKER VANGUARD REALTY
Photo of Listing #1213706

6283 Blank Dr, JACKSONVILLE

$300,000 - 3 Beds, 2 Baths, 1,526 Sf

MLS® # 1213706

MARK SPAIN REAL ESTATE
Photo of Listing #1207455

1648 Brookside Cir E, JACKSONVILLE

$300,000 - 3 Beds, 2 Baths, 1,691 Sf

MLS® # 1207455

PUBLIC SERVICES REALTY
Photo of Listing #1206917

15724 Equine Gait Dr, JACKSONVILLE

$300,000 - 3 Beds, 2 Baths, 1,655 Sf

MLS® # 1206917

UNITED REAL ESTATE GALLERY
Photo of Listing #1203059

6871 Langford St, JACKSONVILLE

$300,000 - 4 Beds, 2 Baths, 1,856 Sf

MLS® # 1203059

KST GROUP LLC
Photo of Listing #1179488
New Listing

11529 Oaklawn Rd, JACKSONVILLE

$300,000 - 3 Beds, 3 Baths, 2,380 Sf

MLS® # 1179488

ROUND TABLE REALTY
Photo of Listing #1213598

855 Pacific Blvd, ST AUGUSTINE

$299,999 - 3 Beds, 2 Baths, 1,192 Sf

MLS® # 1213598

AWESOME REAL ESTATE, INC.
Photo of Listing #1212983

430 Madeira Dr, ORANGE PARK

$299,999 - 4 Beds, 2 Baths, 1,777 Sf

MLS® # 1212983

ROUND TABLE REALTY
Photo of Listing #1217817
New Listing

7851 Weather Vane Dr, JACKSONVILLE

$299,995 - 3 Beds, 1,627 Sf

MLS® # 1217817

SAVVY AVENUE, LLC.
Photo of Listing #1216379

3339 Victoria Ct E, JACKSONVILLE

$299,990 - 3 Beds, 2 Baths, 1,231 Sf

MLS® # 1216379

LOKATION
Photo of Listing #1214676

2901 Tinsley Rd, JACKSONVILLE

$299,990 - 4 Beds, 2 Baths, 1,710 Sf

MLS® # 1214676

LA ROSA REALTY NORTH FLORIDA, LLC.
Photo of Listing #1212100

5858 Calvary Dr, JACKSONVILLE

$299,990 - 3 Beds, 2 Baths, 1,618 Sf

MLS® # 1212100

ALL COUNTY COMPLETE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

The data relating to real estate for sale on this web site comes in part from the Internet Data Exchange (IDX) program of the Northeast Florida Multiple Listing Service, Inc. Real estate listings held by brokerage firms other than Round Table Realty are marked with the listing broker's name and detailed information about such listings includes the name of the listing brokers. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

©2023 Northeast Florida Multiple Listing Service, Inc. All rights reserved.

Listing information last updated on March 20th, 2023 at 11:02am EDT.