Buying a home in Central Florida
The steps to buying a home here, and what to check along the way: the county, the CDD, the HOA and the community’s rental rules.
- Buying your first home The steps from pre-approval to closing are set out below.
- New construction Builder contracts, deposits and lot premiums are covered on the new construction page.
- Buying from outside Florida Florida property taxes, insurance, and CDD and HOA fees are covered in the questions below.
- Rental property Whether a home can be rented short-term depends on county zoning, city ordinance and the HOA.
Steps to buying a home
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Step 1: Choose who you work with
Florida brokerages work with buyers as transaction brokers unless both sides agree otherwise in writing. We will explain the relationship and the required disclosures before you sign anything.
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Step 2: Get pre-approved
A pre-approval letter from a lender shows how much you can borrow. Sellers usually expect one with an offer.
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Step 3: Check the county
Property tax rates and school districts are set county by county, and county zoning affects whether a home can be rented short-term.
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Step 4: Search for homes
Search homes for sale from the Stellar MLS on the map, and save the ones you want to see.
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Step 5: Compare the costs
CDD assessments, HOA dues, flood zone and insurance all add to the cost of owning a home here. Ask for the HOA and CDD documents and an insurance quote before you make an offer.
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Step 6: Make an offer
An offer sets the price, the deposit, the contingencies and the closing date. Recent sales in the same subdivision are the usual guide to price.
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Step 7: Inspections and appraisal
After the offer is accepted come the inspection, the seller’s disclosures and the lender’s appraisal. If you plan to rent the home out, get the community’s rental rules in writing.
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Step 8: Closing
At closing you sign the loan and title documents, the funds are paid and you receive the keys.
Calculators and tools
Do I need to be pre-approved before touring homes?
It is not required, but it is recommended. A pre-approval shows how much you can borrow, sellers usually expect one with an offer, and in new-construction communities some builders will not hold a lot without one.
What should buyers from outside Florida know?
Property taxes, CDD and HOA fees, insurance and flood zones may work differently in Florida from what you are used to, and tax rates and rental rules change by county. Ask for each of these figures for any home you are considering.
Can I buy a home here and rent it out short-term?
In some communities yes, in others no. It depends on county zoning, city ordinance and the individual HOA. Within a master-planned community such as ChampionsGate, one section may allow it and another may not. Read the recorded HOA documents and the county and city rules before you make an offer.
How long does buying a home usually take?
It varies with your search, your financing and the market. New construction follows the builder’s schedule, which can be months. Ask us for a timeline for your purchase.
Talk to an agent about buying
Tell us what you are looking for and where, and an agent will reply.
Call or text (407) 574-3962