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How do I shop for a
new home?
How does
the lender decide how much I can afford to spend for a new home?
Where can
I find out about local schools?
I’m new to the Gainesville
area. Where can I find further information?
Where can I find out
about property taxes in Gainesville?
What should
I look for when walking through a house?
How long has
G.W. Robinson Builders been building homes in Alachua County?
How long will it
take to build my new home?
How do I select
interior finishes in my new home?
How much down payment
do I need for a new home?
What are closing costs?
How
do I shop for a new home?
Over the past 40 years, we’ve found the most important first step
is to think about your personal and family situation. Then consider:
- How much space do you need?
- Which part of town do you like best?
- How much can you afford to pay?
- Do you want to live in the city or out of town?
- How many bedrooms and bathrooms do you need?
After you have a list of required features for
your home, begin to look at homes in your area. Compare features,
locations, size and cost. Talk to people who live in homes built
by a builder you are considering. Talk with people in neighborhoods
you are considering. Do your research carefully.
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How
does the lender decide how much I can afford to spend for a new
home?
Lenders look at your debt-to-income ratio. That figure compares
your gross or pre-tax income to housing and non-housing expenses
(long-term debt such as student loans, car loans, child support,
alimony). The Federal Housing Authority (FHA) uses a guideline
that says your monthly mortgage payments should be no more than
29% of your gross income, while the mortgage payment plus non-housing
expenses should total no more than 41% of income. Lenders also
look at the cash you have for a down payment, your credit history
and closing costs to determine your maximum loan amount.
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Where
can I find out about local schools?
Contact your G.W. Robinson Sales Consultant, who will supply you
with a list of all local schools for the community you are considering.
For further information, contact the Alachua
County School Board for public school information at 352/955-7300.
For specific zoning information, visit the Alachua County School Board zoning site.
Gainesville also offers an excellent selection
of private schools, such as:
- Brentwood School
352/373-3222
- Cornerstone Academy
352/378-9337
- Countryside Christian School
352/332-9731
- Flowers Montessori School
352/376-4700
- Gainesville Christian Academy
352/371-1075
- Gainesville Country Day School
352/332-7783
- Jordan Glen School
352/495-2728
- Millhopper Montessori School
352/375-6773
- Oak Hall School
352/332-3609
- Queen of Peace Catholic Academy
352/332-8808
- St. Patrick Interparish Catholic School
352/376-9878
- Trilogy School
352/373-5839
- Westwood Hills Christian School
352/378-0638
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I’m
new to the Gainesville area. Where can I find further information?
Try the local
library, The
Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce and The
Alachua County Visitor’s and Convention Bureau.
Where
can I find out about property taxes in Gainesville?
Contact the local property appraiser’s office at: www.acpafl.org
or call 352/374-5230.
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What should I look for
when walking through a house?
The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) suggests
you consider the following:
- Is there room for both the present and future?
- Are there enough bedrooms and bathrooms?
- Is the house structurally sound?
- Do the mechanical systems and appliances work?
- Is the yard big enough?
- Do you like the floor plan?
- Will your furniture fit in the space?
- Is there enough storage space? (bring a tape measure to answer
these questions.)
- Does anything need to be repaired or replaced?
- Will the seller repair or replace the items?
- Imagine the house in good weather and bad, and in each season.
Will you be happy with it year-round?
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How
long has G.W. Robinson Builders been building homes in Alachua
County?
G.W. and Kate Robinson built their first home in 1968. Since then
G.W. Robinson Builders has built nearly 2,500 homes in Alachua
and surrounding counties. The G.W. Robinson team is most proud
of the unusually high number of second and third homes they have
built for their customers – a true testimony to the quality and
service they deliver on every home they build.
How
long will it take to build my new home?
Construction schedules depend greatly on the size, floor plan
and complexity of your home and the topography of the lot you
have selected. Typically, a home will take 120 to 180 days to
build after permits have been issued. For more specifics, discuss
with your G.W. Robinson Sales Consultant.
How
do I select interior finishes in my new home?
The G.W. Robinson selections coordinator will help you coordinate
materials for your home. She will direct you to our partner vendors
so you can chose tile, floor coverings, wallpaper and bathroom
fixtures, electrical fixtures, kitchen cabinets, paint colors
and appliances.
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How
much down payment do I need for a new home?
Some mortgage lenders require as little as 5% of the purchase
price for a down payment. But the larger the down payment, the
smaller your monthly loan repayment and the less you have to repay.
When you consider how much down payment you will make, don’t forget
to figure out how much you will need to spend for moving expenses,
utility deposits, repairs and decorating.
What
are closing costs?
Closing costs generally include:
- Attorney or escrow fees (yours and the lender’s)
- Property taxes (to cover taxes to date)
- Interest (paid from date of closing to 30 days before first
monthly payment)
- Loan origination fee (lender's administrative cost)
- Recording fees
- Survey fee
- First premium of mortgage insurance
- Title insurance (yours and lender’s)
- Loan discount points
- First payment to escrow account for future real estate taxes
and insurance
- Paid receipt for homeowner’s insurance policy
- Any documentation preparation fees
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