Buying a home starts with a plan. Our Tampa Bay buyer services help you compare neighborhoods, find the right property and navigate the details from your first tour through closing. Work with Felicity Rollins and Buy In The Bay Realty Group for clear communication and practical local guidance.

Tampa Bay Buyer Services With Local Broker Experience

 

Blackboard with check boxes with the words buy and rent, with buy checked off for our buyer services page at buy in the bay realty group

Work with Felicity Rollins, broker and owner of Buy In The Bay Realty Group. With more than 20 years of real estate experience, including work with builders and developers, Felicity helps you look beyond the listing photos and understand how a property fits your plans.

Our Tampa Bay buyer services combine a focused home search, property comparisons, offer negotiation and coordination through closing. Whether you are buying your first home, relocating, moving up or investing, we start with your priorities and explain the next steps.

Plan My Home Search Browse current listings

Using digital assets for your next home? Explore our Bitcoin and cryptocurrency real estate specialty.

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Your Homebuying Plan: From First Conversation to Closing

 

  1. Set your priorities. Discuss your timing, preferred locations, property features and budget. Review the services and terms of your buyer agreement before touring together.
  2. Prepare your financing. Connect with lenders or organize proof of funds. Compare the purchase price with the full cost of ownership.
  3. Search and tour. Review matching homes, narrow your shortlist and arrange showings around the properties that interest you.
  4. Build your offer. Consider comparable sales, condition, financing, contingencies and the seller’s timing before choosing terms.
  5. Complete your due diligence. Coordinate inspections and track contract deadlines, financing, insurance and association-document review.
  6. Prepare for closing. Work through remaining items with your lender and closing agent, arrange a final walkthrough and confirm your closing appointment.

Each purchase is different. Your signed contract establishes the deadlines and obligations for your transaction.

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Find Homes and Compare Tampa Bay Neighborhoods

 

Start with your must-haves: price, home type, space, commute and the features you use every day. We help you compare options and adjust the search as you learn what matters most.

Looking farther afield? Browse Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Manatee and Sarasota County. Send us any listing you find and we can help confirm its availability and arrange the next step.

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Financing and the Full Cost of Ownership

 

We can introduce you to lenders to discuss financing for your situation, including conventional, FHA, VA, renovation, condominium and self-employed borrower options. The lender determines program availability and eligibility; you choose whom to work with.

Compare loan estimates, lender fees, discount points and cash needed at closing alongside the interest rate. Your monthly budget should also account for property taxes, insurance, association fees and maintenance. For condos, ask about reserves, assessments and building documentation early.

Our role is to help coordinate the purchase and raise property-related questions with the appropriate professionals. Your lender confirms financing terms, and your insurance professional provides coverage options and quotes.

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Offers and Negotiation With a Clear Strategy

 

A strong offer considers more than price. We review comparable properties and the home’s condition, then discuss your financing, deposit, requested closing date and contingencies. You decide the terms you are comfortable offering.

Our Tampa Bay buyer services include preparing and presenting your offer, communicating with the listing side and helping you evaluate counteroffers. If inspections uncover concerns, we can help you consider repair or credit requests within your contract deadlines.

We can also help you follow Coming Soon listings and confirm when showings are permitted. Availability and seller decisions vary; no offer strategy guarantees acceptance.

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Inspections, Property Details and Closing Coordination

 

Our Tampa Bay buyer services continue after your offer is accepted. We help track the steps and deadlines so you know what needs attention. We can provide contacts for inspectors, surveyors and other professionals; you choose the providers you want to hire.

  • Property condition: Review inspection findings, roof and system ages, and questions that need a qualified specialist.
  • Insurance and ownership costs: Request property-specific quotes and review flood information, taxes and association expenses.
  • Condo and HOA documents: Review the documents provided, including rules, budgets and assessments, and seek answers from the association or appropriate professional.
  • Closing preparation: Coordinate with your lender and title or closing agent, follow outstanding items and arrange the final walkthrough.

For a first purchase, we take time to explain unfamiliar steps and terminology. Ask questions early so you can make informed decisions.

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New Construction, Investment Properties and Cryptocurrency

 

New construction

Felicity’s builder and development experience helps you evaluate floor plans, upgrades, incentives and construction timelines. Contact us before your first builder visit or registration so we can review the builder’s requirements for working with your broker. Explore new-construction properties.

Investment homes and foreclosures

We help you identify properties to investigate and questions to ask about condition, rental restrictions and projected expenses. Browse Hillsborough County foreclosure listings or official resources from Fannie Mae HomePath, Freddie Mac HomeSteps and HUD Home Store. Confirm the specific property’s bidding rules, financing options and deadlines.

For Sale By Owner

Found a home being sold directly by its owner? Contact us to discuss the property and how we can assist with communication, offer terms and transaction coordination.

Buying a Home With Bitcoin or Cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrency real estate is one of our specialty services. Whether you plan to convert Bitcoin or Ethereum into dollars or explore a seller-approved direct crypto payment, we help you connect your funding approach with your Tampa Bay property search and offer strategy.

Our dedicated guide explains purchase options, lender documentation, tax-planning questions and the steps toward closing. Seller acceptance and settlement arrangements must be confirmed for each transaction.

Explore Bitcoin Homes & Crypto Real Estate

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Buyer Agreements and Compensation

 

Before touring together, we review a written buyer agreement covering our services, its duration and compensation. Broker compensation is negotiable and is not set by law. We explain the terms so you understand your responsibilities before signing.

Seller or listing-broker contributions may be requested and negotiated, but they are not guaranteed. We discuss any potential amount you would be responsible for under your agreement. For background, read the NAR consumer guide to written buyer agreements.

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What Buyers Say About Working With Felicity

 

“Felicity is warm and funny with just the right amount of straight-forward honesty.”

— Susan and Bob, Dunedin homebuyers. Read their full review.

“She made the buying process run smoothly and offered valuable guidance every step of the way.”

— Alex V., St. Petersburg investment-property search. Read the full review.

Explore more client reviews and homes our clients have bought and sold.

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Buying and Selling at the Same Time

 

If you have a home to sell, we can discuss how the sale and purchase fit together. Timing, financing and any sale contingency should be part of your plan before you make an offer.

Explore our Tampa Bay seller services and tell us about both properties so we can help you plan the next steps.

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Plan Your Home Search With Felicity

Tell us about your home search. Use the Comments field to share your preferred areas, price range, property type, bedrooms and bathrooms, financing status, whether you are already working with an agent, whether you need to sell a home first, and any questions.

Prefer to call? 813-906-1325

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