How to Buy Your First Home in Florida: An 8-Step Roadmap

Step 1: Get Pre-Approved and Compare Lenders

Start with a lender, before you look at a single listing. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau says a lender must give you a Loan Estimate within three business days of receiving your application, and it recommends requesting more than one and comparing them. That comparison shows the rate, the fees, and your estimated closing costs side by side.

A pre-approval also sets the price range you should search in. Ask the lender to include taxes, insurance, and any HOA or community fees in the monthly payment, because in Florida those can change the number more than buyers expect.

Step 2: Find Out Which Assistance and Loans Fit

Low down payment loans and assistance programs are separate tools. The CFPB says FHA loans allow down payments as low as 3.5 percent, and Freddie Mac describes a conventional Home Possible option with 3 percent down. VA loans are a no-down-payment option for many eligible borrowers. Local assistance programs open and close as funding changes, so our down payment assistance guide lists where the Central Florida programs stand.

Bring questions about all of them to the lender in Step 1. Do not rule yourself out before asking.

Step 3: Choose the Area Before the House

The same budget buys very different homes depending on the area, and the difference usually shows up as drive time and monthly fees. Drive your commute at the hour you would actually make it, and price the fees for each community. Our guide to the best areas to live in Orlando sorts the region by what you are trying to get.

Step 4: Compare New Construction With Resale

A new build and an established home carry different costs, timelines, and negotiating rules. Decide which fits your timeline and budget before you start touring, because new communities have registration rules that resale does not. Our new construction versus resale guide compares the two side by side.

Step 5: Write an Offer That Protects You

Price is one term in an offer. The deposit, the closing date, the inspection and financing contingencies, and any request for the seller to cover costs all affect whether an offer is accepted and what happens if something goes wrong. Give up protections only for a reason you understand, and get advice before you waive one.

The CFPB notes that a buyer generally pays the costs of the transaction unless the contract or state law shifts some of them, and that a seller credit is usually reflected in the price. Ask us how a seller credit would work in your offer.

Step 6: Inspection, Appraisal, and Underwriting

Once you are under contract, three checks run on overlapping deadlines. The inspection shows the home's condition and gives you a basis to negotiate repairs. The appraisal tells the lender what the home is worth. Underwriting verifies your finances, so avoid changing jobs, opening new credit, or moving large sums of money until you close.

Step 7: Insurance, Title, and the Closing Disclosure

Get a homeowners insurance quote early, because insurance has to be in place before the loan funds and it can affect whether a home fits your budget. Title work confirms the seller can transfer clear ownership.

The CFPB says your lender must provide the Closing Disclosure at least three business days before your scheduled closing, and that you should compare it with your most recent Loan Estimate. Read it before the final walkthrough, which is your last look at the home before you sign.

Step 8: Close, Then File for Homestead

At closing you sign, funds are disbursed, the deed is recorded, and you receive the keys. After you move in, file for the Florida homestead exemption with your county property appraiser, generally by March 1 of the following year. Our homestead guide explains why your first tax bill can differ from the seller's.