Florida real estate guides

Plain-English guides for buying new construction, buying and selling in Florida, and choosing a brokerage, from the Firelight Realty Group team.

• New constructionBring your agent to the first builder visitMost Florida builders require your agent to be registered on your very first visit. Here is why that rule matters, what the sales rep won't mention, and how to protect your cash back.
• New constructionBuilder's lender or your own?Builder incentives are often tied to the builder's preferred lender. Here's how to compare the offers side by side, what a rate buydown is really worth, and how credits interact with your closing costs.
• Buying in FloridaFlood zones, insurance, HOAs and CDDsFour costs that surprise Florida homebuyers after the offer: flood risk, homeowners insurance, HOA rules and CDD assessments. What to check, what sellers must disclose, and where to look.
• Selling in FloridaWhat full service should mean when you sellListing fees vary, but so does what you get. A plain checklist of what full-service representation should include when you sell a home in Florida, and questions to ask any agent.
• Selling in FloridaIs 1.69% a good listing fee in Florida?How a 1.69% full-service listing fee stacks up against Florida's average listing commission, the traditional 3%, discount and flat-fee listings, cash-offer companies and selling on your own, with the math at real Florida prices.
• For agentsHow Florida agents can compare brokerage splitsThe headline split is only part of what a brokerage costs you. A practical way for Florida agents to compare splits, caps, fees and support, with a worked example.
• Local guidesLiving in Lake NonaWhat Lake Nona is like to live in: Medical City, Town Center, getting around, the kinds of homes you'll find, and what to know before visiting a builder.