Has your new year arrived with the resolution to purchase a new custom Florida home? Owning a home means paying yourself rather than a landlord, building equity for the future, and enjoying a space that truly fits your household.
But like any New Year’s resolution, buying a new home requires work and commitment. We at ICI Homes are offering a few tips to help you leverage that new-year enthusiasm.
Here’s how you can make it happen.
Setting the stage
Buying a new custom Florida home is a big purchase worth plenty of careful planning and decision-making, especially if you’re a first-time homebuyer. So take the time to pour through your ideas, financial considerations, and personal preferences and constraints.
Start with the math. Get your financial house in order by checking credit scores, eliminating existing debt and saving for a down payment (20 percent is the industry standard). Then, since most of us buy our homes via mortgages, get pre-approved for a home loan.
Make lists
There’s no better way to clarify your thoughts than writing them down.
Make lists of needs, wants and must-haves in a new custom Florida home, using input from trusted friends and/or members of your household. Jot these on a notepad, laptop or other digital device, or dictate them on your phone.
Want quartz kitchen countertops? Note it! A fire pit on the lanai for S’mores? Put it in words!
Set a budget
We can’t stress this enough: know your home-buying budget and stick to it. Keeping your search of new custom Florida homes within a comfortable price range ensures several important things:
You won’t waste time looking at homes out of your preferred price range.
You’ll quickly hone in on the size, attributes and pricing of homes that do fit your range.
You’ll give yourself a buffer against overextending your budget.
If you’re pre-approved for a mortgage, you’ll know exactly what you’re seeking price-wise.
Know your location
ICI Homes has built new custom Florida homes all over the Sunshine State for 45 years and we’re likely where you want to be. But it’s also important to research the areas near our communities.
Check out school districts, shopping, dining and entertainment options, and houses of worship. What arts, cultural and sporting events are nearby? Parks and outdoor recreation? How many miles to the beach? To grocery stores? Disney World?
Exercise patience
Anyone who’s begun a weight-loss goal on January 1 knows those pounds won’t vanish by January 4. It’s smart to assume the same about finding a new custom Florida home.
Examine floor plans, model homes and ICI Homes’ master-planned communities in person or virtually. Take a ridiculous amount of photos! Unforeseen circumstances always can accelerate or delay finding that new custom Florida home, but building a solid knowledge base will give you the confidence and certainty to act when you find “the one.”
Ready for your new custom Florida home? Talk to ICI Homes here.
