- February 10, 2022
- 323
- Blog Post
Congratulations on the closing of your new home!
The first time you buy a house could be either the most exciting time of your life or the worst nightmare.
Realtors can not guarantee which direction the process will go, but certainly, the more information you know about the process, the fewer surprises you might encounter. In my country, we have a saying: “In warned war, soldier does not die”.
This information is intended to guide first-time homebuyers in Florida after closing.
The first thing you need to know as first time home buyers after closing is:
- When to expect to receive the keys of your new house.
In a resale transaction, the contract you signed most likely says that the keys will be released at funding. What does this mean? This means that the lender, mortgage broker, or bank used to process your loan, after all the parties have signed all the documents, they release the funds to the seller’s bank account. Once the funds are in the seller’s bank account, that’s when you obtain the keys to your house.
- During Final Walkthrough: The seller probably already disconnected electricity and water. Don’t panic, this is totally normal. What you need to do is call FPL to activate the electric bill under your name and go to the city related to your property to activate water.
- Make sure you received all the keys related to the property such as front door key, pool key if there is a community pool, mailbox key, shutter keys if the property has accordion shutters.
- Florida Homestead Tax Exemption: When the property you just bought will be your primary residence, you might be eligible to receive a homestead exception up to $50,000. If you are a new Florida resident, or you did not previously own a home, check this link for valuable information such as application forms, deadlines etc… Property Tax Exemption
- Painting and Repairs: You most likely would love to paint your house in your favorite colors and put your signature to make it your own. I recommend saving this contact on your phone for painting and some house repairs:
M. M. Cares Painting and repair: mmcarespaint@gmail.com They are professional and reliable. Have handy the phone number of an electrician, a plumber, and an A/C professional.
Enjoy your new home and share this article with your friends if you know someone that is buying a house.
If you are looking to relocate to South Florida or want to buy or sell your home here in Miami, Broward, or Palm Beach, please call me and let me guide you (305) 968-9184