David Shippey
863.521.4517

Xcellence Realty

Welcome to Xcellence Realty. If you are interested in buying a home or selling your home, I encourage you to contact me through email or phone so we can further discuss your plans.

How do I navigate on your website? Let me explain a few ways. If you are visiting my website looking to find your next home, Welcome. You will notice a number of ways to search on my website for real estate in the area. I suggest you review the choice searches by clicking Sitemap on the bottom right of  my webpage. You will find searches for Million Dollar Homes, Retirement Homes, Gated Community Homes, Lakefront Homes, Chain of Lake Homes, Pool Homes, Luxury Homes, Golf Community Homes, 5 Bedroom Homes, 6 Bedroom Homes, Active Adult Homes, 55+ Homes, New Construction Homes, No HOA homes, and Historic Homes.

Buyers can also search by a MLS number, City, Map, Community Name, and Zip codes under the Property Search tab. I think you will really enjoy the map abilities provided.

There are also a number of popular communities listed on the bottom of my website and the top under Featured Subdivisions.

Let me know if I can answer any questions or further assist in the selling of your home or purchase of your next home.


Buyer Tips


1. FIND YOUR REALTOR

If you are considering a home purchase, the very first thing you should do as a buyer is find the right Realtor for YOU.

How do you do that? Ask family and friends about the Realtor they used. What did they like? What did they not like? How many years of experience does he/she have in real estate? How does his/her type of service match up to your lifestyle?

Also, make sure to look at the Realtor's reviews from previous buyers. Look for common themes and get a feel for his/her work ethic. Every Realtor is a bit different from the next. Ultimately, find someone you can trust!


2. PRE-APPROVE NOT PRE-QUALIFY

What is the difference between being pre-approved and pre-qualified? Quite a bit actually!

Pre-qualified means the lender checked your credit scores and asked how much income you make each year.

Pre-approved means the lender looked at your credit scores, pay stubs, funds available, bank statements, income tax returns, w2 or 1099, investments, debt/income ratio, and verified employment!

In short, being pre-approved ensures your approval for financing is strong and less likely to fall through before closing.

Not sure which lender to choose for the pre-approval process? Ask your Realtor! He/She will be happy to give you a recommendation.


3. HOME FEATURES

Determine what you NEED in your next home. How many bedrooms? How many baths? How many people will be living in the home? Do you need a garage? If yes, for how many vehicles?

Does the laundry room need to be inside, or is a laundry hookup the garage ok? Do you need extra rooms like a home office, craft area, or bonus room?

Do you need a kitchen with a lot of countertop or cabinet space? What about an outdoor space -- acreage, screened porch, large yard?

Make a list of your WANTS too! Having separate lists of needs vs wants will help you quickly identify "deal breaker" items.

Share those lists with your Realtor to keep your home search moving in the right direction.


4. MAX PURCHASE PRICE

You already found a good Realtor, know your loan pre-approval amount, and made a list of needs and wants.

Next up -- decide how much you are willing to spend for a home that matches your list of needs.

Pro tip: if you're pre-approved for $400,000 but want to stay between $300,000 to $350,000, let your Realtor know. This will help them better curate the potential home list they share with you.



Thinking about buying a home? Ready to get started now? Call me today for a consultation with no obligation ~ David Shippey, Xcellence Realty, 863-521-4517.