Buying a home in Southwest Florida starts with a loan pre-approval and choosing an area, and ends with closing at a title company. In between come the offer, the inspection period and insurance. Agata Bulanda of Gulf Shores Realty ERA Powered guides buyers in Polish in Sarasota and Charlotte counties.
Florida: a year-round home, a winter home or a place to retire
Southwest Florida draws Polish Americans from all over the United States. Some move here for good, others look for a home for the winter months or for retirement. North Port, Venice, Port Charlotte and Sarasota each have their own character, from quiet neighborhoods of single-story homes to cities with Gulf beaches and a busy cultural life.
Agata Bulanda is a real estate agent with Gulf Shores Realty ERA Powered, with an office on Toledo Blade Blvd in North Port. She holds a Florida license and has about 20 years of experience in the local market. She is originally from Poland, has lived in the United States since 1990, and works with clients in Polish or English in Sarasota and Charlotte counties.
From pre-approval to an offer
A purchase usually starts with a conversation with a lender and a loan pre-approval. Cash buyers prepare proof of funds instead. Either way, it shows what price range makes sense and tells sellers the offer is serious.
Many people buy a home in Florida while still living in another state. It helps to plan the trip so the selected homes can be seen in a few days, and to sign some documents remotely if the contract and the title company allow it.
Next comes choosing an area and touring homes. What matters is the distance to the beach and stores, access to I-75, the age of the home and, in newer communities, the HOA fees and the extra charges for community infrastructure that can appear on the property tax bill. Once a home looks right, the agent prepares the offer and negotiates the terms with the seller’s side.
Inspection and insurance: what is specific to Florida
After the contract is signed, the buyer has an inspection period set in the contract. The inspector checks the roof, systems, air conditioning and structure. For older homes, Florida insurers often require a separate 4-point inspection covering the roof, electrical, plumbing and air conditioning, and a wind mitigation report can lower the premium.
Homeowners insurance is now one of the larger costs in Florida, so it makes sense to get a quote during the inspection period. If the home is in a high-risk flood zone on FEMA maps and the purchase is financed, the lender will also require flood insurance. These costs belong in the budget next to the mortgage payment and property tax.
Closing and the first months in the new home
In Florida, the transaction is usually closed by a title company, which checks the title, prepares the documents and handles the money. After buying a home you live in full time, you can apply for the homestead exemption with the county Property Appraiser. It lowers the taxable value and limits how much that value can rise each year. Eligibility is based on January 1, and the filing deadline is March 1.
Why a conversation in Polish matters
Contracts, inspection reports and insurance policies are in English and full of technical terms. Agata Bulanda explains every stage in Polish, keeps track of the contract deadlines and helps gather the documents. She is also a notary public, so she can explain which documents need a notarized signature and where to get it done.
Before the first call, it helps to write down the key questions: the budget, whether the home is for year-round living or for the winter, how many bedrooms are needed and how close to the beach or family it should be.
More on Poland.us
We also write about Agata Bulanda’s work in these articles: selling a home in Southwest Florida, step by step and buying a building lot in North Port and Port Charlotte.
Contact
Agata Bulanda works with Gulf Shores Realty ERA Powered, with an office on Toledo Blade Blvd in North Port, Florida. Phone: 941-323-6519. Polish and English spoken.
More information and a contact form: Agata Bulanda, Gulf Shores Realty on Polish Pages.
