I would not buy a house in Florida.

I would not buy a house in Florida without first consulting with, and then using, the services of a real estate agent. Why is it important to take advantage of the skill and professionalism of a full-time agent when buying a house in Florida, especially now?

There are several reasons and they all involve money. Let's look at a few of those reasons.

• The excessive home inventory, in nearly every Florida market, require the assistance of an agent to help sift through all the available homes for sale to find those that match your desired criteria. This will save you time, and time is money.
• Price comparison. Let's say you are interested in a home in a certain neighborhood. Before making an offer on the home, you might want to know what the sales price of similar homes, in and around the area, have been. Your real estate agent can find out what comparable homes in the neighborhood are listed for, and what some homes sold for. They will also be able to tell you if there are short sale situations or bank-owned homes for sale which, when sold, could drastically lower the future value of the home you are interested in.
• Mortgage Information. The mortgage industry is experiencing issues of its own as a result of the current real estate market. Your agent can introduce you to trusted sources in the lending industry which will allow you to compare available programs in order to find the best rate, down payment, closing costs and loan terms.

If you are going to buy a home, having a real estate agent assisting you through every step is an advantage that you should not pass up.

Related Florida real estate views:

Why would anyone offer to buy a home at list price or above in this market?

Home inspectors recommend caution when buying foreclosed homes

How can I make sure I am not paying too much for a home?

- Greg Staker, Watson Realty Corp. 407-304-0255