Planning For Your New Home

Planning For Your New Home Navigating Today’s Fast-Changing Real Estate Market Requires Expert Help

Not long after planning a wedding, couples looked toward beginning their life together. Often, this means finding a new home. Perhaps this will be a starter home for a younger couple just stepping out into life on their own. Perhaps it will be a larger home for a combined modern family. Some couples want to skip the starter home step and find the permanent home of their dreams.

However, in today’s challenging and quickly changing real estate market, that means having a team of experts on your side to help make your real estate dreams come true.

First National Bank Coastal Community, which recently opened a branch office on South Shore Blvd. in Wellington, has expertise working with a team of experts in all facets of the home-buying market.

Do you have questions about mortgages, such as whether to buy or refinance, lock in a fixed rate or take an adjustable rate? Are you looking to decide between buying and renting? Are you looking for a program for first-time homebuyers? Do you have questions about current market conditions or homeowners’ insurance requirements? Do you know the requirements of title insurance? All these and more can be answered by experts such as Mary Coates, the mortgage team lead at FNBCC; Jim Corbin, a Realtor with Illustrated Properties; Pam Van Woerkom, the president of Coastal Title Services; and Chris and Stephanie Barker of the Barker Insurance Group.

Mary Coates, senior vice president and Florida residential mortgage manager for FNBCC, knows that buying a home can be a challenging experience.

“I would love to help others navigate these uncertain times and be able to buy the homes of their dreams. This can be a stress-free process with the right people on your team,” Coates said.

Upon graduating from Florida Atlantic University in 1988, Coates began her start in the mortgage industry.

“I’ve done it all, and as such have a great deal of experience in all the aspects of the mortgage process,” she said. “I became a residential mortgage loan originator in 1997. I’ve been through good times and bad, but I have always maintained a passion for this business even when times were tough. I really enjoy helping people with their dream of buying a home and being immersed in that process.”

Coates is eager to connect with people in the Wellington community to let them know all that FNBCC has to offer local residents, such as how they execute their origination and closing process, along with other pertinent topics such as the current market and rate environment, in addition to various programs. They can help potential homebuyers get immersed in all aspects of real estate.

Mary Coates is based out of FNBCC’s office at 2000 PGA Blvd., Bldg. E., Suite 5500, in Palm Beach Gardens. For more info., call (561) 324-8661.

Also key to a successful homebuying experience is having a Realtor with expertise in the market you’re looking in, such as
Jim Corbin with Illustrated Properties.

“Illustrated Properties is a family owned and operated business that is No. 1 in sales in northern and central Palm Beach County, and the No. 1 independently owned brokerage in Florida,” Corbin explained. “With 18 offices and 700 sales associates, we can handle all real estate needs one might have. We also have property management, mortgage, title and insurance services in our family of companies.”

Corbin has been a Realtor selling in Wellington since 1978 and has been with Illustrated Properties for 20 years. He holds many designations of post license education programs.

Much of Corbin’s business is word of mouth and referrals, and he has many longtime and repeat customers. Excellent customer service is crucial, and knowledgeable professional expertise sets Corbin apart from many other agents.

When looking for real estate information, Corbin can offer insight into the current state of the market; how the market is changing and why; ways to get an offer accepted; how the market is in other areas of the U.S. and in Europe and Asia; new techniques for offers; insurance issues with real estate; and much more.

To learn more about Realtor Jim Corbin at Illustrated Properties, call (561) 798-2224 or visit www.jimcorbin.com.

If you’ve ever purchased a home, you have likely also purchased title insurance. But do you know what it really takes to properly insure the title to your property? Pamela Van Woerkom, is the owner operator of Coastal Title Services and is a true veteran of the industry.

A licensed title agent since 1992, she has 30 years in the real estate title industry. Prior to that, Van Woerkom was in the banking/finance sector. Because of this vast experience and knowledge, she is a valuable resource to her clients, as well as all real estate professionals.

Van Woerkom believes in a hands-on approach with her clients and prides herself on offering the best customer service possible to ensure clients’ needs are satisfied. Her experience has allowed her to handle a variety of transactions, from large commercial properties to simple land deals. No matter the size of the transaction, she firmly believes that all deals deserve the same high level of professionalism and attention.

What exactly is title insurance? When a property is financed, bought or sold, a record of that transaction is generally filed in the public archives. Likewise, records of other events that may affect the ownership of a property, like liens or levies, are also archived.

When you buy title insurance for your property, a title company searches these records to find — and remedy, if possible — several types of ownership issues. First, the title company searches public records to determine the property’s ownership status. After this search, the underwriter will determine the insurability of the title.

Yet even the most skilled title professionals may not find all problems associated with a property. Some risks, such as title issues due to filing errors, forgeries or undisclosed heirs, are difficult to identify. So, after the title company finishes its searching, it also provides a title insurance policy that will help protect buyers from a variety of issues that might be uncovered later.

If you take out a mortgage loan when you buy your property, your lender will require a loan policy of title insurance. This protects the lender’s interest in your property.

Pam Van Woerkom can be reached at Coastal Title Services Inc., located at 824 W. Indiantown Road in Jupiter. For more info., call (561) 835-5900 or visit www.coastaltitlesvcs.com.

Chris and Stephanie Barker have been helping Wellington residents with their insurance needs for decades. When it comes to property insurance, the current market is perhaps the most challenging ever.

Did you know that in the past year, several property insurance carriers have filed for bankruptcy and many that are still financially stable have pulled out of writing new business in Florida? If you want to know how this is impacting the insurance market and want to make sure you know what to do if you are purchasing a home, contacting the Barkers can get you the information you need.

“We believe information is knowledge,” the Barkers explained. “For many years, we have talked to customers looking to purchase home insurance coverage and have discovered many understood little to nothing of what they had purchased in the past. We strive to share this information with anyone who wants to know more about it.”

This includes topics such as: necessary coverage; the fine print included in policies (co-insurance and being underinsured); deductibles; where you can save money and where you need to make sure you are accurately insured; different policy types and which one will work best for you; and important inspections needed for insurance.

“It is important for loan processors, Realtors, insurance brokers and customers to build a bridge of knowledge so we can give our community the best possible service,” the Barkers said.

Barker Insurance Group is located in the original Wellington Mall. For more info., call (561) 242-3603 or visit www.barkerinsurancegroup.net.

First National Bank Coastal Community’s new branch is located at 12140 South Shore Blvd. in Wellington. FNBCC is available to help with all your banking needs. For more information, call (561) 231-5444 or visit www.fnbccfl.com.

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