[2BNTV]

I used a MLS buyer's agent, Linda Sears, 352.205.0713.

Very happy with her services as she negotiated the buying price of my home, to my benefit. Very knowledgeable and pleasant.

[ColdNoMore]

Two of the nicest, hardest working realtors you'll ever have the pleasure of doing business with.


Tim & Sheila Davis with ERA Grizzard Real Estate

[kstew43]

whoops.....

[kstew43]

Originally Posted by Barefoot

In Post #1, Steve said "The Villages or Stonecrest."
People are merely making helpful suggestions about good agents that they've used in TV.

you are so right.....i have the flu and taking so many medications.....

[graciegirl]

I am sure that everyone likes the person they worked with.

I am a huge fan of the way The Villages sell homes. It obviously works. They no longer offer limosine rides and free stuff to get you here.

I think all of us who live here are the extended selling arm of this place.

Everyone should investigate thoroughly, but this is the most impulsive bunch of money we ever spent and I was sick with buyers remorse the first time we bought here in Hadley, after just three days of looking and with no intentions to buy.

We loved that house,loved that neighborhood, enjoyed it for four years, decided to live here full time and sold it and built this house and do not wonder why this is the fastest growing area in The United States.

I don't care if some of you think I defend the developer. I am a pretty smart old person who has never been in any trouble with the law and have the most wonderful grandchildren in The Villages.

Incoming.

[Nucky]

I am normally not one to complain. I am disappointed at the non service that is being provided so far by the person who is supposed to be helping us find our home. There are many differences between purchasing in our present home area and Florida, I was not born with the knowledge that I now seek to make an educated decision. I am more than upset when a Realtor/Salesperson answers a question with a question on a regular basis. This is not a joke it is a very important decision in our life. When a person MLS/Villages tries to line you up with their bank, inspector, title company, lawyer....watch out. I believe I have now found the correct Realtor/Salesperson to help us to the finish line and it feels great but like Ronald Reagan said "Trust But Verify". You have to have eyes in the back of your head. The best person I have spoken to who is a true professional and a credit to home inspectors was Frank D'angelo, he gave me a fountain of information in the hour he spent talking to me. I am grateful to him and other TOTV posters who help those who need a hand. I'm sure there are many fine people to help, so far the luck of the draw hasn't been great but things are looking up.

[rubicon]

Originally Posted by Vic&Judy

Stephen,

Many, if not most agency relationships in Florida are considered "transactional agency" in nature, and as such have no fiduciary responsibility to buyer or seller. While fiduciary relationships are possible, they must be disclosed to all parties in the transaction.

To my knowledge, "dual agency" (representing both buyer and seller) are not permitted. They may exist in certain other states, hence confusion when an out-of-state buyer comes to Florida.

Ask your potential agent to disclose their relationship to sellers and to you as a possible buyer.

Vic and Judy: It appears that you offer good counsel to the OP, especially if an agent, sales person realtor, broker ,etc is going to claim transactional agency.

I was a fiduciary agent for my company and it is an enormous responsibility. In its simplest form a fiduciary undertakes to act for and on behalf of a buyer or seller. A fiduciary holds both legal and ethical obligations.

If it is true that people selling only village homes are only transactional agents then it leaves one to wonder.

I say this because no matter how many times you have bought or sold a home unless you are a trained expert lawyer, realtor, etc leaving this complicated piece of business to a person who can claim s/he only acted as a go between and not on behalf may leave the buyer/seller in a lurch.

I am of a mind, and people may refer to meas naive, that business transactions must be made openly honestly and ethically which in my meaning is FULL DISCLOSURE

I abhor "gottcha" moments in business dealings.

I do not often make personal recommendations for doctors, dentist realtors lawyers because what you posses now are knowns from your experience but unknowns are out there...just ask the people that invested with Bernie Madoff

Personal Best Regards:

[VillagerNut]

I am able to explain how sales reps and realtors work in The Villages. Sales reps that work for the developer always represent the seller as a single agent. What that means is they have no representation for the buyer regardless of who they are. that relationship will be disclosed at the time of the contract. That also means they have no responsibility to the buyer. If you want to know where the transfer station/dump, lift stations, etc. are located you need to work with a Realtor that represents the buyer as a transaction broker or else an exclusive single agent for the buyer. All Realtors can offer both type of representation if they are a knowledgeable Realtor! But a broker cannot represent both the seller and buyer in the same transaction, so that is why a lot of brokers work as a transaction broker because it is easier to explain to sellers and buyers. But they still have to disclose material facts to you. Ask the Realtor if they work exclusively in The Villages or not. The ones that are really good do not work the outside area because I do not have the time. To see Stonecrest, Del Webb etc. you will probably need somebody different. Good luck! Go to Zillow.com to see ratings for agents.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by VillagerNut

The ones that are really good do not work the outside area because I do not have the time.

I assume you are a MLS agent? Could you please clarify the above statement. Are you saying that MLS agents that specialize in The Villages are better than MLS agents who work in The Villages plus in surrounding areas, like Stonecrest?

[VApeople]

Originally Posted by Nucky

I am more than upset when a Realtor/Salesperson answers a question with a question on a regular basis.

There is no reason to get upset. Just make sure your question is very clear and repeat the exact question again. If they do not give a satisfactory answer, repeat the question again. And again.

Pretty soon they will understand you want your questions answered clearly.

[ColdNoMore]

Originally Posted by VApeople

There is no reason to get upset. Just make sure your question is very clear and repeat the exact question again. If they do not give a satisfactory answer, repeat the question again. And again.

Pretty soon they will understand you want your questions answered clearly.

I'll have to respectfully disagree.

I might ask a specific question twice, but if it is a reoccurring issue I'm dumping the agent/salesperson.

I don't do well with passive-aggressive people and that is exactly what folks who answer questions with questions are.

[Nucky]

Originally Posted by VApeople

There is no reason to get upset. Just make sure your question is very clear and repeat the exact question again. If they do not give a satisfactory answer, repeat the question again. And again.

Pretty soon they will understand you want your questions answered clearly.

You and I think alike. I will get the answer to my questions or go to another agent. I am loyal to a fault. If you ask how much the taxes are on a home and the answer is ninety dollars ($90) a year that's fine that the present owner is getting all the deserved credits but it is not how much I would be paying. They do not readily give the tax amount in a Village listing you have to bleed that information out of the salesperson. Really the entire give and take of the conversations or emails are tough. I'm cooled off now and it does take a lot to get me revved up. I have a MLS agent that seems to be a crackerjack. Very responsive and knowledgeable. Time will tell.

[Nucky]

Originally Posted by ColdNoMore

I'll have to respectfully disagree.

I might ask a specific question twice, but if it is a reoccurring issue I'm dumping the agent/salesperson.

I don't do well with passive-aggressive people and that is exactly what folks who answer questions with questions are.

You are correct. I should probably change agent's but I will continue on this basis for a while longer. Ten years ago they would have been ejected already. Forgetaboutit! Good advice..Thanks.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by Nucky

I have a MLS agent that seems to be a crackerjack. Very responsive and knowledgeable. Time will tell.

Nucky, I know you are probably aware of this already - you need to work with a Villages agent as well as an MLS agent.
The Villages has all the new homes and the majority of resale listings.

[Carla B]

Nucky, maybe you do this already, but if you know the address of the house and the county it's in there is a wealth of information on the appraisers' and tax collectors' websites. There you can find such things as the sales history, property taxes, square footage, the appraised value of the property and those around it.