Buying property for the first time is one of those experiences you want to nail on the first try. It’s not something you do every day. For most people, it’s not even something you do more than once or twice in your life. So you want it to go well. If your plan is to move to Florida, or even if you already live there, you want to feel as prepared as you can be before diving into this process head first. Buying your first family house in Florida 101 guide will be your introductory course into all things Florida real estate.

How to buy a house in 2019

Buying your first family house in Florida doesn’t differ that much from purchasing a home for the first time anywhere else. First you want to be clear on what it is that you need, want and are able to afford. When buying a family home, it is also important to consider good school districts. Also, think about what kind of neighborhood you want your children to grow up in. Think about all of the things that are a part of life that you value. Is it important to be close to a metropolitan area? Or do you desire a more suburban lifestyle?

Once you have these things figured out, you’re ready for the next step which is hiring a real estate agent. Some people like to do home buying a little differently, so they prefer to skip this step.However, even if you are already a Florida resident, you could use the realtor to help you find your dream home easier and make a better deal for purchasing it. You can come to them with all of your criteria for a house you might be interested in. They’ll be able to take you to showings that might elude you otherwise. The best part is, the real estate agent’s fee in Florida doesn’t come from your own pocket. The realtor fees are charged from the seller’s proceeds.

Putting the money together

An important note when buying your first family home in Florida is being aware of the different financing options that are available to you. There is a wide variety of federal loans which can provide you with all the financial assistance you may need. If you are a Florida native, you will be eligible for Florida state loans as well. There are different requirements for these loans. However, they are available in all Florida counties. They mostly state that the property has to be in Florida. Florida must also be the primary residence of the buyer. You may be required to take a homebuyer education course before getting the loan. This can come in as quite useful later on as well. If you are a first time home buyer, make sure to familiarize yourself with all of your many options.

Choosing the right place

If you have an idea of what you want to get out of your new home, go to your realtor and have them guide you through your options. If you are buying your first family house in Florida, you may want to take into account that lots of people that do the same like to choose one of Florida’s smaller towns but that is still near one of its major cities. For example, if you decide to call Plantation FL your home, you’re kind of getting the best of both worlds. You will be able to raise your family in a small suburban town. At the same time, you’ll still belong to Miami’s larger metropolitan area with all that that entails.

Finding the house and making an offer

Let’s say you are now very close to buying your first family house in Florida. Your real estate agent has presented you with some options. You have found one or two that you like and that fit many, if not all of your criteria. There are several things you should be aware of. Unlike many other states, Florida’s law doesn’t require the current homeowners to fill out a seller’s disclosure per se. However, the sellers, as well as the real estate agents, are actually required by law to disclose any defects that may not be obvious to the buyer. So tread lightly. Making an offer requires a formal contract that hashes out all of the details of the deal you are trying to make, the requirements and terms for the buyer and seller both.

There may be some back and forth between you as the buyer and the seller in reference to the price. Once the written offer has been officially accepted, your realtor will draw up the purchase contract. There are two types of contracts: the standard one and the as-is contract. The standard one requires the seller to fix any problems found during the exception. The other kind of contract doesn’t require this from the seller. However, it allows the buyer to pull out of the deal with a full refund should something unfavorable come up during the inspection. Throughout this process, you may want to have a lawyer look through things for you before agreeing to anything in writing.

Moving out

If you are already a Florida native, you might have an easier time moving than the families who are moving out of state. For example, when moving out of Davie, FL, there are plenty of local moving companies that can organize your move for you. This will rid you of the large and unnecessary burden of managing a move. It will free you up to spend your time on other things. If this is your first time moving as well, there are lots of checklists for first timers you can find online.

Buying your first family house in Florida 101

Hopefully this guide has been at least a little bit helpful to you if you are buying your first family house in Florida. It’s quite a complex process and can be pretty intimidating. However, bear in mind that keeping yourself informed will be of great help when making some of these life altering decisions.