The Real Estate Industry in Florida is a $50 Billion Dollar a year business!

Every one dollar that is spent on a new construction generates over two dollars of economic activity. The Real Estate Industry in Florida provides more than 700,000 jobs with annual wages over $13 Billion Dollars.

Homestead Exemption

As a Florida resident, you are eligible to declare the first $50,000 of value on your new home as exempt for tax purposes. The criteria for this exemption is:

          * The home was purchased before December 15th and was made your permanent
             residence before January 1st; for multiple owners, all must reside on the property.

          * It is not rented out

          * Or claimed under another exception.

Florida homes have a distinctive personality all their own. Most have large vaulted ceilings, screened in swimming pools, large windows, spacious lanais (outside rear porch area, which is usually near the pool) and stucco finishes outside. You won't find many basements or stand up attics or traditional windows.

One of the main advantages of Florida property is the value. You get much more of the money in Florida! The typical Florida home has two to three bedrooms with one to two baths. These homes also come with shingle or Spanish tile roofing. Carpets and tile floors. These home are mostly made of concrete block with a stucco finish. Also, vaulted ceilings and open floor plans are very common. Pools are another common amenity and as the property values increases the value of the pool also appreciates.

Deed Restrictions are a major Florida oddity for some new residential communities.

Some Deed Restrictions that we have seen are as follows:

          * No chain link fences, but stockade type were allowed.
          * No satellite dishes, unless concealed by stockade fence.
          * No clothes lines, unless concealed by stockade fence.
          * No parking of RV's, campers, boats, or vehicles with your company name
            in your own driveway or street after certain hours (usually 6pm-6am)
          * Restrictions allowing your pets to roam your own property without a fence or leash.
          * In some adult only communities, children are not allowed to stay for extended periods
            of time - even for vacations!

These are just a few that we've encounter. So, please read the deed restrictions, restrictive covenants, and declaration and by-laws of the homeowners association of any community you are thinking of moving into.

Some real estate experts suggest that a potential new resident travel throughout the state and rent rather than buy for the first year. This way you can find a community that provides the activities, interests and hobbies that he or she have always wished to develop.

Ready to Buy a Home

Whether to build a new home or buy an existing resale home?

When shopping for your Florida home, who should you use? Who knows the area and the values of homes? A REALTOR! Even if you're shopping for a new home to be built take a realtor with you.

Main reasons why you should always take a Realtor with you is because price does not change when you use your realtor. On-site agents are employed by the builder. Builder's use their own contract with clauses written to protect them. When you are on the builder's turf, the builder sets all the rules.

All the benefits when using a Realtor:

          * Compare resale's with models of different builders.
          * Advise on marketability of different area, price ranges and floor plans.
          * Compare prices of same model/plans from same builder at different communities.
          * Advise on options to house in terms of value.
          * Assist in preparation of Sales Agreement and Clauses.
          * Coordinate timing of certificate of Occupancy and dates.
          * Coordinate walk through inspection prior to closing.
          * Follow through with all details to closing.

Before looking at any houses there are things that you better know before hand:

          * What's the neighborhood like?
          * What are the taxes?
          * What will the utility costs be?
          * How far will you have to travel for school, church, shopping, doctors office, hospitals?
          * What is the traffic flow like in front, alongside and near the property?
          * Are there any railroad tracks or airport flight overhead?
         * What are other comparable homes in the area selling for? You don't want to overpay
            or get carried away with too many snazzy options or finishing touches.
          * What are the closing costs going to be?
          * Who has the best rates and services in the mortgage field? Banks or Mortgage
            Brokers?

How to protect yourself

Coordinate your initial visit to a community with your realtor. If you are visiting a new home community without your realtor, make you you follow these rules:

          * Do Not Sign Anything! Even a harmless guest or registration book.
          * Tell the builder's agent that you are working with a Realtor. ( Takes the pressure off)
          * Give the builder's agent the business card of your Realtor, if you're interested in that
             builders models then go back with your Realtor when you are ready.

Now your ready to go forward

Our web site has numerous numbers of different Builders, Real Estate Companies and Realtors to help your move to Florida easy.

Start your research by visiting our Counties Page to find these companies. Good Luck!