Renting and Want to Buy A St. Johns House in November?

Are you renting and want to buy a St. Johns County house in November? If you made the move to Florida summer of 2023 and are nearing the end of your lease – now’s the time to think about next steps in your home journey.

Is buying a house on your 2024 to-do list?

Here are some thoughts on how to make the transition from renting to owning:

1. Check your lease to give proper notice that you plan to leave (most require 30-60 days notice). That means at earliest you’ll likely need to provide notice in September but it could be October. Remember all leases are different

2. Secure your pre-approved (if you have not already). Pre-approval helps you to know what you can afford. You’ll find the letter is required when you get to the offer phase.

3. Start looking at homes with your real estate agent. Be realistic about what you need/want in your Florida home & what you can afford. Remember–buying a house means costs you are hopefully familiar with (i.e. taxes and insurance) and some possibly new to you (flood insurance, HOA, CDD fees and/or hurricane deductibles).

4. If buying is not in the cards for 2024–but you plan to buy eventually: think about reducing costs with the goal to increase savings. Work with a lender to devise a game plan unique to your financial situation & plan for the future.

5. Remember that average residential real estate transaction takes 30-60 days to close. This should align nicely with the end of your lease–but be mindful of dates. If you need to do work to your new home–you may need to plan with a longer timeline.

Ready to Buy A St. Johns House?

If you’re ready to call Florida home – please reach out to schedule a consultation. From St. Johns, to the Jacksonville metro area and down to St. Augustine – I welcome the opportunity to be of assistance with your search. We can talk through the rental to ownership transition and I have some great connections who will make this process easier on you.