PAGE 4 November 11, 2009
The Newscaster/Nature Coast News
Real Estate Today
DAV transports Area veterans to
Gainesville VA Hospital
Be Careful When Paying the Buyer's Closing Costs
A Guest Commentary by Darryl Diamond
Needs donations for new van.....
Well I’m sorry to say many buyer’s end up
Disabled Army Veteran T.J. Harrison of Dunnellon is aware that he has access
saying the heck with that,
In addition to good credit, home
to what is likely the best medical care available in this country, but he knows all too well
we have not saved a dime
buyer’s need to save for down payment
that many veterans do not have reliable transportation for making the trip to the Veterans
for these fees so let’s see
money, and they also need additional money
Administration Hospital in Gainesville. That’s why he donated money for the new van the
if we can get the sellers to
for closing costs.
Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Transportation Network desperately needs to continu-
pay for these closing costs.
If you pay cash for a property, your
ereliably transporting our revered veterans back and forth from this area to the VA Hospital
My wife Vicki
closing costs are low as you only need to pay
in Gainesville.
and I just sold one of our
a fee to place the deed in your name, and
The DAV Transportation Network’s old van is quickly approaching 150,000 miles,
homes where we agreed to pay up to $8,000.
for peace of mind, you need to purchase title
with their three weekly trips transporting veterans to and from Gainesville - starting in
of the buyers closing costs. We agreed,
insurance.
Lecanto, making several stops along the way to pick up veterans, then ending up at the
and it turned out that when the buyers only
On the other hand, if you finance,
VA Hopspital in Gainesville - and going back to Lecanto in reverse order (see LOCAL
used $5,000. of this money, they asked the
there are many items you have to pay for
SCHEDULE below).***
closing agent to credit them the additional
in order to prove to your lending institution
Joe Stephens, a Vietnam Veteran and local driver for the DAV, is soliciting dona-
money. As the addendum was not clear, and
that the property you are mortgaging is in
tions from organizations, businesses and individuals to raise the remainder needed ($25,000)
we did not wish to postpone the closing, we
good condition and worth what you are pay-
for a new van. The actual cost is $34,000, but state and national DAV groups contribute the
allowed the left over $3,000 to be placed
ing.
difference. Once the vans are purchased by the local communities, the Department of Vet-
on the closing statement as a “credit” to the
Roof inspections, termite inspec-
erans Affiars assumes the cost of maintenance and fuel, and the local (Lecanto for our area)
buyer from the seller.
tions, structural inspections mostly on older
Veterans Service Office is responsible for the transportation schedule.
If we agree to contribute some type
mobile units, wood rot inspections, lot size
Stephens has permission to place the names of the top ten sponsors on the door
of help with closing costs in the future, the
certifications (surveys), appraisals, radon
of the new van, and if ten contributors each donate $2500, the service office will have the
agreement will make it clear that any pro-
gas inspections, lead based paint inspections
money it needs. The goal can also be reached if each of the 20,000 to 25,000 veterans who
ceeds left over after all closing costs are paid
(On homes built before 1978), and other
live in Citrus County donates $1. Stephens is collecting donations through Chapter 70 of
will be credited back to us. We will be more
inspections are usually required by lenders
Inverness, a not-for-profit organization, and contributions are tax-deductible. Donations can
careful when offering to pay closing costs,
before they give you your mortgage. This
be mailed to: DAV Van Project - c/o Joe Stehens - 2797 W. Xenox Dr. - Citrus Springs, FL
and you should be too.
boils down to an additional few thousand
34433.
Darryl, Vicki, Shirley, and Paul are
dollars needed by the buyer’s before they
Stephens is also happy to speak to area groups about the DAV Transportation Net-
“The Diamond Team” We are the seasoned
can close.
work program and can be reached by phone to schedule a meeting at (352) 489-5245.
professionals at Diamond Investments Inc.,
Then there is that fee which was
Any area veteran who would like to schedule a ride on the DAV Van to the VA
and we are available for all of your real es-
previously mentioned for recording your
Hospital in Gainesville (and back) should call the Veterans Service Office in Lecanto at
tate needs.
deed in your name, and a fee to record your
(352) 527-5915. Your appointment in Gainesville should be scheduled between the arrival
If you are looking to buy proper-
mortgage. In my opinion, it is very clear that
and departure times (9:10 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.).
ty, we would appreciate the opportunity to
these fees are saying to the buyer “welcome
show you the many great deals we presently
to the neighborhood, now through these fees
***LOCAL SCHEDULE TO/FROM VA HOSPITAL IN GAINESVILLE, Every Monday, Wednesday & Fri-
have, some with owner financing. Please
your local government needs you to pay for
day: The Van leaves the Citrus County Transit Office in Lecanto at 7:00 a.m. * Route: 491N, to
call us at 352-447-4442. I’ll see you around
the roads, the schools, and other services
44E, to 41N & arrives at the Inverness K-Mart at 7:30 a.m. *
“The Campus”
you will be using when you move here”.
Route: 41N to 486W to 491N to Beverly Hills & arrives at the Lecanto VA Clinic at 7:45 a.m. *
ew! email news to: news@thenewscaster.com
ROUTE: 491N, to 41N to Dunnellon & arrives at Tractor Supply Company in Dunnellon at 8:10
N
a.m. * ROUTE: 41N to Williston & arrives at Hardees in williston at 8:40 a.m. * ROUTE: Hwy.
Coastal
Hair Port
121 to Gainesville, Van takes a right on S.W. Archer Rd. and arrives at the Veterans Administra-
tion Hospital at 9:10 a.m. UPON ARRIVAL, VETERANS SHOULD CHECK-IN WITH THE DAV TRANS-
at Plaza 40
PORTATION ON THE MAIN FLOOR. The DAV Van leaves the VA Hospital at 2:00 p.m., and the
Carting
return trip is in reverse order: Gainesville, Williston, Dunnellon, Lecanto VA Clinic, Inverness
Shopping Center
K-Mart, and the Citrus County Transit Office.
10-20-30 yd.
Hwy. 40E, Inglis
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