Ocala is a beautiful place to live: in the middle of Florida’s horse country, there’s plenty of sunshine, great schools, and ample public transportation options. It’s a short drive to theme parks, beaches, and major sporting events. If you want to buy a home in Ocala, here are five simple steps to finding your dream home.
Figure out Your Budget
Homes in Ocala vary wildly in price, depending on where you’re looking and what you’re looking for. Determine how much you can afford to spend, so you know where to look to get the most bang for your buck. Even without a preapproval, you should have a rough idea of what you can afford to spend, based on your income, current rent or mortgage payments, and what you have saved for the down payment.
Get Preapproved
Preapproval for a mortgage does several things. One is that it shows sellers that you’re serious. When you express interest in their home, they’ll know you’re a true buyer, not just a looky-loo. Second, it lets you know the top of your budget, so that you don’t look at houses you can’t afford. Last, it speeds up the process once you find your dream home.
Determine Needs and Wants
Determine the things you need, such as a certain number of bedrooms to fit your whole family, and then create your list of wants, such as an in ground pool. Keep the two lists separate, so that you can keep your needs as a priority when you’re looking at homes. The wants list will come in handy if you find two homes that meet all your needs and you’re trying to decide between them.
Start Looking Online
Use a site like Foxfire Realty, Inc. to start looking at available properties in Ocala. You can search for places based on being over 55, wanting a farm, or even filtering by price to look for places within your budget. Find a few places that you’re interested in and take notes on them.
Find a Real Estate Agent
Now that you have a few places in mind, call an agent to set up some viewings. Seeing the homes in person will help you narrow down your decision even more, and a real estate agent can guide you to make sure you submit a good offer or ask for contingencies that protect you in the event of a problem.
Ocala is a lovely place to live, in close proximity to so many things to see and do. Whether you’re retired, single and starting out, or raising a family, you can’t go wrong finding a home in Ocala. A qualified agent can help you find the home of your dreams.
