Plan financing
We can help you prepare for lender conversations and connect you with lender options if you want them. You choose your lender; the lender determines loan terms and approval.
THE BUYER’S GUIDE
Know your next step before you take it.
From the first conversation to the final walk-through, we’ll help you understand the process, weigh your options, and keep track of the details that matter to you.
START WITH CLARITY
What is a buyer broker agreement?
It is a written agreement between a buyer and a real estate brokerage. It describes the services the brokerage will provide, how long the agreement lasts, and how compensation works. It gives you a chance to discuss those terms before touring homes together.
For agents covered by the national MLS practice rules, a written agreement is needed before an in-person or live virtual home tour. You can talk with an agent about their services or visit an open house on your own without signing one first.
The terms are negotiable. Review the services, duration, property scope, and compensation with us. Compensation is not set by law. The agreement should state an amount or rate clearly; you can also discuss whether a seller may contribute toward it. We’ll explain the document and answer questions before you sign.
Learn more: National Association of REALTORS® consumer guide
WORKING TOGETHER
Your goals guide the search.
We’ll listen to what matters to you, point out tradeoffs, explain the steps in an offer, and help you make informed decisions. We’ll discuss the brokerage relationship and the duties that apply before you choose how to work with us.
Florida distinguishes a transaction broker’s limited representation from a single agent’s fiduciary representation. We won’t assume a particular relationship or promise a duty that the signed documents do not establish.
Read Florida’s brokerage relationship lawWHAT TO EXPECT
How we help you buy.
Tour and evaluate
We’ll arrange showings, discuss the home and neighborhood, and help you compare the options against your priorities and budget.
Make an offer
We’ll review comparable sales, explain offer terms and deadlines, prepare your offer, and communicate your instructions during negotiations.
Inspect and follow through
We’ll help schedule your home inspection and track contract deadlines. Your chosen inspectors evaluate the property; we’ll help you understand the next steps once their reports arrive.
Get ready to close
We’ll coordinate with your lender and closing team, help arrange the final walk-through, and keep you informed about outstanding items before closing.
BEFORE YOU CLOSE
Check the land and the flood risk.
Two homes on the same street can have different flood designations, elevation information, and property boundaries. We’ll help you gather the records and connect with the right professionals while your contract deadlines are still open.
Start with the map.
Look up the address on FEMA’s official flood map or Lee County’s flood zone tool. A or V zones are generally higher-risk areas where federally backed mortgages can require flood insurance. A home outside those zones can still flood. Ask your lender what it requires and get a flood insurance quote early; most homeowners policies do not cover flooding.
Search FEMA flood maps Lee County flood zone guideLook for the building’s elevation.
An elevation certificate records building elevations and other floodplain details. If one exists, share it with your insurance agent and ask whether it helps with a quote or a local building question. It does not, by itself, remove a lender’s insurance requirement. If no certificate is available and one is needed, ask about having a qualified surveyor prepare it.
Search Florida elevation certificate resourcesKnow what you are buying.
A current boundary survey helps locate property lines, buildings, fences, and possible encroachments. Review it alongside the title documents for easements or other restrictions. If anything raises a concern, we’ll help you bring it to the title company or a real estate attorney before the applicable contract deadline.
A survey and an elevation certificate answer different questions; ask the closing team which documents are already available and which may need to be ordered.
Flood insurance zones and hurricane evacuation zones are different maps. Check the local evacuation guidance separately when planning for storms.
PROPERTY TAXES
Look beyond the current tax bill.
A seller’s current tax bill may reflect exemptions or assessment limits that will not apply to you. Check the property record and use an estimate based on your circumstances when planning your budget.
For a home in Lee County, search by address on the Property Appraiser’s site; the property record links to its tax estimator. The Tax Collector shows current and prior tax bills. Estimates are not a promise of your future tax bill.
READY WHEN YOU ARE
Let’s talk about your search.
Tell us what you’re looking for and where you are in the process. We’ll help you decide on a practical next step.
Send us a message Or call Genesis at (239) 849-7629