How to Buy a House in Florida: A Homebuyer’s Guide
Updated: August 7, 2024
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The average Florida home is worth about $406K, up about 25% in the last year and higher than the national average of $365K. Cost is a primary consideration when purchasing a home, but you must also consider other factors, such as mortgage lending terms.
To help you navigate the process and avoid excessive debt, MoneyGeek outlined the steps to buying a home in Florida. As part of our analysis, we cover mortgage rates, location selection and home inspections.
Florida's average home costs $406,876, an increase of 25% over the past year.
Homebuyers must meet certain credit standards, debt-to-income ratios and income requirements to take out a mortgage. Also, buyers are usually required to pay a down payment upfront.
Buying a home in Florida involves identifying the right location, calculating interest rates, getting pre-approved and having a home inspection before closing.
Location is important when determining how much a Florida house will cost. According to 2022 data, the median home price in Brooksville is $329,737, whereas the average home price in Masaryktown is $241,288.
When choosing the best place to buy a house in Florida, you’ll need to consider other factors besides cost, such as lifestyle, neighborhood amenities and the area’s cost of living.
Purchasing a home that meets your needs and budget can be overwhelming. If you are unsure of how to buy a house in Florida, consult a real estate agent. An agent will guide you through finding and touring homes and negotiating with the seller.
Ask family and friends for real estate agent recommendations. MoneyGeek suggests looking for an agent with the following qualities:
Your homebuying priorities will ultimately determine which agent is right for you.
Costs of living can vary greatly depending on where you live in Florida. When looking for the least expensive place to buy a house in Florida, remember that living costs in a particular area will also be a factor.
Your living expenses should be taken into account when choosing a location, such as:
Use MoneyGeek's cost of living calculator to calculate how the cost of living varies among Florida locations.
Compared to the national average of 100, Florida has a cost-of-living index of 105, one of the highest in the country. Choosing a home in an affordable area will allow you to save money on expenses.
While suburban living is more affordable, hospitals, schools, malls and other social amenities are limited. Despite their higher cost, cities offer a wide range of amenities. You should carefully weigh property prices and living costs before choosing a place to live.
Some of the most affordable neighborhoods in Florida are Jacksonville, Cape Coral, Gainesville, Dade City and Dunedin.
You should understand the mortgage rates available to you when looking to buy a home in Florida. Consider your profile and needs when deciding which mortgage option is best for you. Different mortgage options offer different rates.
You may qualify for a larger mortgage and lower interest rate based on your income, credit history and debt-to-income ratio. You can also compare lenders to find the best mortgage rates for your profile.
Several types of mortgages are available to Florida homebuyers, each with different rates, eligibility requirements, terms and limits.
Before making a decision, consider your credit score, job history, debt-to-income ratio and income. Depending on your preferred lender, you may need to meet specific requirements.
Each loan type has an average interest rate as follows:
Be sure that you qualify for the loan type before you apply. The VA loan program, for example, is only available to military personnel and their families.
Know what kind of mortgage you can afford before looking at homes. MoneyGeek’s mortgage calculator can help you estimate your mortgage based on your situation and financial background. MoneyGeek's FHA vs. conventional loan calculator can also help you decide which loan type is best for you. Whether you are a first-time buyer or need housing assistance, make sure you compare your financing options.
Each lender has different requirements, terms and limits but typically assesses your mortgage application based on the following factors:
The down payment requirements for different types of mortgages vary. The typical down payment requirement is 20%, but some loans have down payment requirements as low as 3.5%. Some home loans, like VA and USDA home loans, don’t require a down payment.
Down payments are one of the largest upfront costs when buying a home. To qualify for conventional loans, buyers typically need a 20% deposit. However, you can get a mortgage with just a 3.5% down payment through low-down-payment mortgages. There are also zero-down-payment programs available, like VA and USDA loans.
You generally need to meet certain criteria to qualify for a zero-down-payment mortgage. For example, VA loans are only available to military members, and USDA loans are for people purchasing rural properties.
The amount of your down payment will affect your interest rate and monthly payment. Higher down payments generally mean lower interest rates and monthly payments.
Lenders generally require you to purchase private mortgage insurance (PMMI) if your down payment is less than 20%. FHA and USDA loans also require PMI, but not VA loans. PMI can sometimes be canceled after borrowers make timely payments for a few years.
For some homebuyers, a 20% down payment can be prohibitively expensive. Florida offers several programs to assist with down payments. Here are a few examples:
You can also explore programs for first-time Florida homebuyers.
Getting pre-approved for a mortgage is the next step after choosing a lender. Some sellers require a mortgage pre-approval before they show you their properties. Pre-approval requires a hard credit check and is a commitment from the lender to lend you a specific amount.
Pre-approval differs from pre-qualification, which shows you qualify for a loan but is not a commitment from the lender.
Mortgage lenders will request personal and financial information to evaluate your debt-to-income ratio and credit history. A mortgage application may also require you to submit additional supporting documentation to prove your eligibility.
Documents you should expect to provide include:
Depending on your situation, you may also need to provide other documents. For example, if you’re self-employed, you’ll need to provide a statement of unpaid accounts receivable and profit and loss statements.
Pre-approval can take up to 10 days. You can speed up the process by having all the required documents on hand.
You will receive a pre-approval letter from your lender, which typically expires in 30 to 90 days. Try to time your pre-approval to when you are ready to look for and purchase a home. If your pre-approval expires, you’ll need to reapply.
Your pre-approval letter tells you how much you can borrow from a lender. In addition, it shows you're serious about home ownership and have the financial resources to take out a mortgage. There is no limit to the number of pre-approval letters you can request. However, lenders will conduct hard credit checks each time, which can affect your credit score.
In a pre-approval letter, you will typically find the following details:
Remember that a lender's pre-approval letter is only valid for 30 to 90 days.
Home inspections are an important part of the purchasing process. A home inspector can provide objective information about the home’s current condition and whether repairs are needed. In most cases, the buyer pays for the home inspection.
Make sure your Florida home inspector is licensed, even if the state does not require it. The home inspection typically includes an assessment of the following areas:
To assess potential homes for buyers, home inspectors can use Florida's State Properties Commission's facility inspection checklist. You should also consider a separate evaluation to ensure the property is risk-free, even if the seller requests an inspection before mortgage approval.
Depending on your agreement, a professional home inspector may provide expert advice on required repairs and upgrades based on their assessment. Your real estate agent can give you guidance about inspections in your area since inspection guidelines may vary at the county level.
Before committing to financing a home, mortgage lenders perform appraisals to determine the home's value. A professional will appraise the property and, in some cases, specify a value that differs from the seller's expectations.
Lenders also use appraisals to determine whether you have overborrowed since the home may be repossessed if you default on your mortgage. As part of a standard appraisal, market trends for similar properties are considered as well as the structure of the home.
The Florida Real Estate Commission is responsible for reviewing and managing Florida appraisers.
The lender will send you a mortgage offer once your ideal home is appraised. Make sure you go over the details of the offer. During this stage, mortgage loan applicants must pay application fees and other closing costs.
Carefully review all documents before signing them and ask the lender about any unclear terms. The mortgage paperwork will typically include:
Closing expenses may range from 2% to 5% of a home's total cost depending on the lender, loan terms and location.
The following are common costs across Florida lenders:
Use MoneyGeek's detailed guide to find the best place to buy a home in Florida and confidently go through the purchase process. To avoid additional charges, ensure you pay your monthly mortgage premiums by the due date once you purchase your home.
Florida's average home price and cost of living are higher than the national average. Therefore, investing in a home that will give you good value for your money is essential.
Buying a home in Florida is possible through both conventional or government-backed mortgages. Various down payment assistance programs are available in Florida, such as The Florida Assist (FL Assist) and The Florida Homeownership Loan Program (FL HLP) Second Mortgage.
In Florida, the median home price is $406K, although prices can vary depending on where you choose to live. You may save money by shopping around and comparing costs between neighborhoods.
Make sure you stay within the conforming loan limits in Florida when choosing a mortgage loan. In contrast to conventional loans, FHA loans vary from county to county.
Consider the cost of living in your ideal neighborhood when calculating the total cost of purchasing your home. Choosing an area close to great amenities can increase the cost of your property, but it may also boost its desirability and quality of your life. For instance, local amenities, such as parks, provide residents with a place to relax, engage in recreational activities, and be social, which promotes a healthier mental and physical state.
MoneyGeek answers questions about Florida home buying.
If you're considering buying a home in Florida, you should ask yourself the following questions:
No matter where you live, owning a home comes with many financial and personal obligations. Make sure you are financially prepared before making a home purchase.
A Florida home is worth more than the average home in the United States. Since costs increased 25% in the past year, you’ll likely make a good investment by purchasing a home now if you have the financial capacity.
Property taxes in the state average $1,290 per year, or 0.91% of the value of owner-occupied housing.
Some of the most affordable neighborhoods in Florida are Jacksonville, Cape Coral, Gainesville, Dade City and Dunedin.
