Make Your Move to Miami-Dade & Broward
One place for market insights, buyer FAQs, trusted vendors, and a clear step-by-step plan—so your move is smooth and confident.
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Vendors
Preferred inspectors, lenders, insurance, closing agents, and more.
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Open Vendors PageSteps to Buying a New Home
From the first conversation to closing day, this roadmap outlines the major steps we'll take together to help you buy your next home with clarity and confidence.
Tips for Success
- ✓ Get Pre-Qualified: Know exactly how much you can afford before shopping. It’s normal to feel nervous—we’ll connect you with a trusted local lender.
- ✓ Always Think Resale: Typical ownership is ~5–7 years. Homes near busy roads/rails often sell for less and take longer to resell.
- ✓ Aesthetics Can Be Changed: Flooring, lighting, fixtures, paint, and wallpaper are all updateable—focus on layout, light, and location.
- ✓ Compare Sales: Use recent comps (size, beds/baths, lot, garage, etc.) to price and negotiate. We’ll prepare a Buyer’s Market Analysis.
FAQ
Q: I’ve never purchased a home before. Where should I begin?
A: Actually, you’ve already started the process—fact-finding is great. Before searching neighborhoods or homes, focus on these priorities:
- Familiarize yourself with your personal finances.
- Review your budget and begin eliminating as much debt as possible.
- Have a down payment and earnest money ready to act when you find the right home.
- Meet with a local Realtor to review the process and create a game plan.
- Talk to an experienced local lender (top priority before looking at homes). Taxes and insurance in our area can significantly affect monthly payments and qualifications.
Your next step is to contact us. As your home-buying specialists, we’ll protect your interests and manage the details of the transaction to your complete satisfaction.
For experienced buyers, a quick brush-up on the process helps—and having a sharp real estate team to protect your interests is essential.
Q: How much are property taxes?
A: Never use the current owner’s tax bill as your reference—taxes reset with each new owner. Use these tools for better estimates:
Miami-Dade Property Tax Estimator
Broward Property Appraiser
Q: I keep hearing that Miami is mostly a cash market—what does that mean, and can I get financing?
A: Many buyers in our area purchase with all cash. With that said, yes—you can get financing depending on what you’re purchasing.
- Single-family homes: Financing is generally straightforward.
- Condominiums: A different scenario. Condo financing here is detailed and requires a lender who is very experienced in South Florida condo guidelines. We’ll go through everything during your buyer consultation.
Q: How long does the process take?
A: Cash: typically ~15 days if desired. Financing: usually ~45 days from contract to close.
Q: Procedures to buy a condo?
A: Once your sale contract is executed, we contact the association and send you the full set of condo documents (rules, regulations, bylaws, financials, etc.).
Associations require an application process and written approval prior to closing. You may be asked for income, employment, and banking documentation; sometimes an in-person interview is required.
And there are about 175 more Miami-specific nuances—we’ll brief you on everything and make a tailored plan. Next step: let’s chat and build your game plan.
Q: What are my upfront costs?
A: Expect some or all of the following:
- Deposits: commonly ~5–10% of purchase price (varies by deal).
- Closing Costs: ~1% if paying cash; ~3–5% if financing.
- Home Inspections: general + insurance inspections; optional add-ons (mold, termite, pool, seawall). Many start around ~$300+ depending on size/scope.
- Title work / Attorney / Closing Agent: title search, escrow, settlement, recording.
- Mortgage Costs: lender fees + appraisal (ask your lender for a Loan Estimate).
- Homeowner’s Insurance (houses): required if financing; you’ll secure this prior to closing.
- Condo Insurance (condos): the association carries a master policy; you’ll obtain an HO-6 policy for the unit.
- Condo-specific fees: application, move-in, elevator deposits—varies by building.
Every transaction is different. We’ll review a personalized estimate during your buyer consultation.