Carole Lea Gilman
726 Thomas Drive
Panama City Beach, Fl 32408
Cell: 850-814-6090
Toll Free: 877-232-9937
Fax: 850-249-7373
clgilman@gmail.com

Below are some articles that you might find useful in the home buying process. Please feel free to click on one of the links below to read more.

Buyer Articles:

Home Buying Services
Home Buying Tips
Financing
House Hunting Tips

Below are some articles that you might find useful in the real estate selling process. Please feel free to click on one the links to read more.

Home Selling Services
Home Selling Tips
Title and Closing Services

Work With Coldwell Banker
If you are thinking of selling your home - one of the biggest decisions you will ever make - you owe it to yourself to consider Coldwell Banker as your partner in this important step.

I would appreciate the opportunity to explain to you why we can offer what we call "Truly Remarkable Service" to help you sell your home at the best price in the shortest amount of time possible.

While most real estate companies offer one level of standard service, we believe you should expect more, and that's exactly what Coldwell Banker delivers - more. We offer you more exposure, buyers, advantages and results.

Locally-owned real estate companies have limited resources and networks that can only take you so far. With Coldwell Banker, we combine our local traditions with global connections to bring you truly remarkable service. Our agents do more because Coldwell Banker customers deserve more.

Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate on Thomas Drive has been recognized with the Premier Office Award. Serving the Panama City Beach and surrounding areas this full service real estate office can help with all of your real estate needs.

My Marketing Plan

I spend a great deal of time and money on advertising for my customers. I feel that this is extremely important on working to get their property SOLD! I have even hired an assistant to help me make sure the ads are taken care of for my customers. You will find listed below some of the different types of advertising that I do. You will notice that there is more to it than just local area magazines. We advertise on the internet, at the grocery store, in several real estate magazines, as well as with the local Chamber of Commerce, and this is just the tip of the iceberg!

• Enclave Atlanta
• Enclave Nashville
• Homes and Land
• Interior and Designs of the Emerald Coast
• PanamaCityBeach.com
• Panama City Beaches Chamber of Commerce
• Premier Beach Homes
• RealEstateAgent.com
• Realtor.com
• StarKart – Grocery Store Shopping Carts
• The Real Estate Book - The Beaches of South Walton & Destin, Fl.
• The Real Estate Book - Panama City and Beaches
• Unique Homes Magazine

During the course of your listing, you will receive email updates, information on where you can see your property being advertised and more. My customers come first, and as soon as you get to know me you will know it right away! If you are interested in reading customer testimonials, contact me today!

BUYERS

Buying real estate is a serious venture. It can be an absolute pleasure or a massive headache. Purchasing property is a serious investment in the dwelling, the area and your future.

When buying real estate, whether it be a home, condo, land or any other property - you're bound to have many questions. For example, "In what area can I find a property that suits my needs?", "How much money will I need to afford the monthly payments?" and "How long will the buying process take?" Take a look at the information below to help you with this process.

Make Your Offer Fly
The general Rule is that the deposit should be at least 3-5 percent of the offering price. Remember the larger your earnest deposit the better your chances of having the offer accepted.

The typical homebuyer searches for a home for about 8 weeks and looks at 10 houses. If you have looked at more homes or for much longer, sit down with your REALTOR® and redefine your needs.

Be Cautious
Do not max yourself out financially. Today's easy lending standards often mean you can qualify for a home that is more expensive than your financial comfort zone. Discuss your personal needs and lifestyle in depth with your REALTOR®. It can help keep your home purchase price in line with your financial comfort level.

Remember, the stock market affects the housing market. If the stock market is stable, housing prices remain stable. If the stock market is declining, housing prices drop. Most people tie up their assets, which we call wealth, in one of two main places: homes or investments. If investment returns are high, people generally buy larger homes and spend more on their housing needs. However, when investment returns drop, most people are less willing to spend the high dollar for homes and are out looking housing for bargains. Be sure where you want to put your money before you do it!

Some Advice
If your new mortgage reads "payment must be------or more", you have the right to and are free to make extra principal payments every month. This is a wise investment. Even $25 extra a month pays your loan off sooner and saves on interest payments.

Consider paying your mortgage every two weeks. To do this, divide your monthly mortgage payment by 2 and pay that amount every two weeks. This equates to making 13 monthly payments every year and with a 30 year mortgage can lead to a mortgage pay off 7 or 8 years earlier! Always check with your mortgage lender for permission to do this and to get exact payoff information.

I Can Help
Always check with your REALTOR® when in doubt about purchase and financing. In this age of heavy telemarketing and abundant TV commercials, you want to deal with a lender you can trust. Your REALTOR® can recommend reputable mortgage representatives who can help find the best rates and mortgage programs for you. Call Today!

Financial Planning
The first step in the home search is always to get a pre-approval! This will allow YOU the decision of what price home you can afford. Many people will choose to purchase a home that is well below what they can afford due to upcoming expenses such as college, weddings or just because they don’t want to be “house poor”. Whatever you decide use these resources to your advantage and complete the first step…getting your mortgage!

Mortgage Calculator

Plan Ahead For Your Mortgage
There are a few financial tricks to know and traps to avoid when you are thinking about buying a house. Qualifying for a mortgage is far more difficult than qualifying for a credit card or a car loan. Although there are literally hundreds of different mortgage programs available, they are almost all based on the same qualification information - some combination of income, monthly expenses, and credit history. Planning ahead, in some cases as far as one year, can help many people avoid hassles.

Using "Gift" Funds
If you are receiving a gift for all or part of your down payment, arrange to receive the funds six months before mortgage application. Place the funds in your own bank account. Reason: many mortgage lenders place restrictions on the amount (percentage of down payment and the source of gift funds. However, when you make mortgage application, the lender checks only three months' bank statements. If the funds are present on the oldest statement, they are "your" funds, not a "gift". If your parents plan to give you a gift just in time for closing, they must be prepared to show your lender that the funds actually exist in their bank account at the time you apply for your mortgage. All parents are different, but many of them strongly resent having to supply their own bank statements to prove the gift.

Large Purchases
Okay, you are excited about buying your house but you need new furniture and appliances. Your car is falling apart. Defer any purchases--particularly credit card or installment contract purchases--until after closing on your new home. Monthly credit card obligations can ruin your expense ratio very quickly. Your idea of the debt you can handle and your lender's idea of the debt you can handle may be two entirely different numbers. Unless you have a VERY high income, do not buy a new car or a new boat prior to applying for a mortgage. Car leases count just as car payments do. Current Mortgage Payment History Lenders check your credit history. If you currently own a home, make sure you do not have any late mortgage payments for 12 months prior to applying for your new mortgage. If your budget is tight, ALWAYS pay your mortgage first. According to Fannie Mae guidelines, lenders cannot issue you a new mortgage if you violate the 12 month rule. Mortgages belonging to consumers with a sloppy payment record do not meet Fannie Mae guidelines and therefore cannot be sold into the mortgage market. The lender must keep those mortgages for its own loan portfolio, something the lender probably won't want to do. Portfolio loans usually have much higher interest rates than do Fannie Mae loans.

Avoid Credit Disputes
If you get into a credit dispute over a small sum, just pay it. It may be against your principles to do so, but the incredible hassle involved in trying to clear it up isn't worth it. Unfortunately, the credit bureaus are powerful; individuals are not. Hospitals are particularly notorious for reporting small unpaid balances to credit bureaus. Frequently, these are amounts people assume have been paid by the insurance company but for one reason or another are not covered by the insured's policy. Credit bureaus do make mistakes, but unfortunately the burden of proof is on you, not on them. Check your own credit several months prior to even looking for a house. This will give you time to clear up any problems or misunderstandings! A little financial planning and detective work prior to house hunting can go a very long way in making your mortgage application easy and stress free.

SELLERS

When selling your property, there are no guarantees that a buyer will simply walk through the front door. In many cases you may have to bring your home to the buyer. Effective marketing will help ensure that your property receives maximum exposure to attract a ready, willing and able buyer.

The appearance of your property, a buyer's first impression, and other considerations can also affect the sale of your property. Have you considered the property prices in your area and the value of your property are also factors used for pricing?

6 Tips for a Faster Sale
1. Carefully inspect your front door and the area around it. Clean any glass and remove all cobwebs and traces of insects. Give your door a fresh coat of paint. Wash your mail box. Keep the porch swept and place an attractive mat in front of the door for people to wipe their feet.

2. Pet odors kill many sales! Make sure your pets are not present during showings and eliminate all smells associated with your cat or dog. Be especially aware of cat box odors and animal urine in carpeting. Carpeted basements, which are sometimes slightly damp, can be a real turn-off. Install an electronic HEPA filter and remove or replace carpeting if necessary. Have someone with a VERY good sense of smell perform a "sniff" test in every nook and cranny before you show your home to perspective buyers. You may not be able to smell odors that a stranger can!

3. Make sure your windows sparkle. Open all blinds and curtains during showings. A light and bright home is much more appealing to buyers than a dark and dismal cave. Everyone feels better when the sun shines in. If it is a gloomy day, turn on lights. When your home is for sale, it's not the time to be overly concerned about extra use of electricity.

4. Make sure the outside of your home is clean and neat. Cut back bushes that block windows. Plant flowers in spring and summer. Rake leaves, sweep walks and driveways, and keep snow shoveled. Some prospective buyers won't even get out of the car to look inside if they don't find the outside appealing.

5. Always put out fresh towels in your bathrooms before showings. Attack and destroy mold and mildew around tubs and in showers. Remove clutter from bathroom counters. Nobody likes grungy bathrooms!

6. Remove clutter from attics, garages, basements before you put your home on the market. It's a great time to get rid of all that junk you've been hauling around for years. Make sure all stairs are clear and well lighted. Put new bulbs in the attic and basement. Let your prospective buyers know you aren't hiding anything, and you have LOTS of storage space.