Buyer information and links

What stage are you at in the buying process?

• Thinking about buying?
• Getting to know the area
• Actively looking for homes and making offers...
• Now that you've got a contract on a home...
• Getting ready to close on your new purchase...
• Closing Day!
• Now that you've closed on your new home...
• Misc & For the realtors...

For SELLER information, click here

• Start browsing homes on the Internet
• First time homebuyers programs (you haven't owned in three years)
• Mortgage calculator: calculate what your payments would be
• Mortgage brokers and Loan Consultants (can pre-qualify you and tell you how much home you can afford)
• How to Interview a Lender
• Request a free personalized website of properties with automatic notification emails every time a new property enters the market. Set your own search criteria.
• Eight Reasons to Buy a Home
• Top 10 Reasons to Hire a Real Estate Agent
• Who Pays the Real Estate Commission?

• Buyer's Broker Agreements & Buyer's Broker Contracts
• Earnest money deposits: What are they and how much should you "put down"?
• Home warranty information: How is a home warranty useful and why would someone sign up for one?
• How Much to Offer for a Home
• Tips for Writing Purchase Offers
• Writing Purchase Offers in a Buyer's Market
• Tips for Writing Winning Purchase Offers in a Seller's Market
• Writing & Accepting Real Estate Counter Offers
• Why Overpriced Homes Are Worth a Second Look
• Multiple Offers, Competing Home Offers

Pinellas County links of interest to real estate buyers

• Check out the MLS area map to select WHERE you want your new home
• Check your hurricane evacuation level
• Flood insurance maps
• Pinellas County public records
• Pinellas County aerial maps and lot dimensions
• Pinellas County Property Appraiser website
• Tax Collector's website
• Pinellas County Schools
• Crime Tracker (maps of reports to police)

• Homeowner's Insurance: The fastest and most efficient insurance agent I know: Antoinette Sante of Borruso. 727-612-6234. [Tip: If you will be closing during Florida's hurricane season, you might want to get your insurance paid before closing. If a hurricane or named-storm comes into the area a few days prior to your closing, the insurance companies will not write policies until after the hurricane passes. This could delay your closing day. You will want it to be a "done deal" before your closing day.] Another insurance agent to call is Rebecca Avrin of Allstate 727-669-9500.
• Mortgage brokers and Loan Consultants. Make sure to get some comparison quotes from a few sources.
• Welcome Home Relocation, a moving solutions company. Offers coordinating, floor planning, sorting, packing, unpacking and other services related to getting you moved.
• Home and termite inspections
  • Form: For your protection: Get a home inspection
  • Tom Tafelski of Thomas Inspection Services, Inc. 727-535-5576 (website) He's also a certified roofing inspector. Very professional. Very thorough.
  • Dan Brave, Detailed Inspection Services, Inc. 727-321-9296 (website)
  • Mike Oberacker, Property Inspector (website)
  • Certified Inspection, Inc. Professional Home Inspections. (brochure) (website)
  • The Home Team Inspection Service (brochure) (website)
  • Chuck Bellish of Home Facts Inspections, Inc. 727-525-7945 (website)
  • Larry Norquest (aka "Larry the Bug Guy") Termite inspector, All-Pro Team Pest Management, Inc. (727) 585-2185 (727) 409-4136
  • Doug Smithwick, Terminix, 727-423-0373. Low price for termite inspections if you tell him I referred you. I get no money for the referral, only "brownie points". You get the discount.
• Energy-efficiency brochure
• Energy-efficiency information (re F.S.553.996)
• Information about Radon Gas: Includes a phone number where you can order a brochure on radon by leaving your name and address or view a brochure online or print it out.
• EPA brochure: "Protect your family from lead in your home"

• PODS, Portable On Demand Storage. 10% off local moving and storage. 5% off long distance moves.
• Moving company: Innercoastal Hauling Inc. Jim Gardner 727-465-4650. 30 years experience in hauling and moving. Free estimates.
• Telephone: Verizon 800-483-4200
• Electricity: Progress Energy 727-443-2641
• Electricity (Tampa): TECO 727-826-3333
• Water, Sewer and/or Trash Removal: City of Clearwater 727-562-4600
• Water, Sewer (City of Dunedin) 727-298-3024
• Trash (City of Dunedin) 727-298-3215
• Gas (Clearwater): Clearwater Gas System 727-562-4900
• Gas (St Pete): TECO Peoples Gas Company 727-826-3333
• Gas (Tampa): TECO Peoples Gas Company 813-275-3700
• Pinellas County Utilities 727-464-4000
• Cable: Knology 800-566-5643
• Cable: Brighthouse Networks 727-329-5020
• Newspapers: St. Petersburg Times 727-895-1181
• Newspapers: Tampa Tribune 813-259-8225
• Auto registrations and drivers licenses click here or here.727-893-2121

Disclaimer: This list is not intended to represent all services. Phone numbers are subject to change at any time.

Sellers: It is advisable to schedule the cancellation of your hazard/homeowners insurance for the day following closing.

• US Post Office 800-275-8777
• Library: Clearwater Public Library 727-462-6890
• Shopping: Countryside Mall 727-796-1079 27001 US Hwy 19 N, Clearwater FL
• Clearwater Mall, 2600 Gulf to Bay Blvd, Clearwater, FL
• Airport: St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport 727-535-7600
• Airport: Tampa International Airport 727-461-5294
• Hospital: Morton Plant Hospital 727-462-7000 323 Jeffords St, Clearwater FL
• Emergency Numbers: Fire/Ambulance/Police 911
• Taxi: 799-2222 / 525-3333
• Schools: Pinellas County Schools 727-586-1818
• Banks: Wachovia Bank, Bank of America, Washington Mutual, AmSouth Bank
• Us Government information, Florida Governor Jeb Bush, Senators, State Representaties, Voter registration, IRS/taxes, Consumer Action
• Furniture stores: The Bombay Company, Rooms to Go, Pier 1 Imports, Kane's Furniture, Consignment shops in Clearwater, FL

Boating and Marina information

General referral fee policies

Contracts and Forms

• Residential Sale and Purchase Contract
• Residential Sale and Purchase Contract's Addenda
• Transaction Broker Notice
• Exclusive Buyer Brokerage Agreement
• Seller's Property Disclosure
• Seller's Mold Addendum to Disclosure