The Keyes Company · Orange County

Buying in Ocoee, Orange County

Insurance, association paperwork and the closing calendar. That is where a Ocoee transaction is decided.

Direct representation

The parts that go wrong, and when

Insurance decides more Florida closings than any feature of the property does. A quote on the specific address, obtained during the inspection period rather than after it, is the single most useful thing a buyer can do for their own timeline. Age of roof, construction type and elevation drive the number, and a carrier declining to quote at all is something you want to discover while you still have a contingency to rely on.

Plainly, then

Worth knowing before we speak. Florida presumes a transaction broker relationship between a licensee and a buyer or seller unless something else is agreed in writing, as Section 475.278, Florida Statutes contemplates. That phrase describes a defined set of duties and it is not identical to the agency arrangement most people assume they are getting. I will tell you in writing which relationship applies before you rely on me for anything, and until that is signed no brokerage relationship exists at all.

What tends to decide a Florida closing

  • Windstorm and flood are underwritten separately from the main policy across much of Florida. Price them on the specific address before you are under contract, not after.
  • For condominium buildings of three storeys or more at the relevant age, Florida requires milestone structural inspections and a structural integrity reserve study. Both change assessments and financeability. Read them before waiving anything.
  • The homestead exemption reduces taxable value on a Florida primary residence, and the Save Our Homes cap limits how fast the assessed value rises afterwards. Portability may carry a benefit from a prior Florida homestead. Your county property appraiser is the authority, not your agent.
  • Title in Florida is customarily handled through a title company rather than an attorney as a matter of course, which changes who you call when a question arises mid-contract.

Other cities in Florida

Questions people actually ask

Why does everyone keep asking about the roof?

Because insurers price on it and some decline on it, and a lender who cannot see cover in place cannot close. Age, material and permit record all matter. On an older roof, get an insurance answer during the inspection period rather than after it — it changes what the property costs to own, which is a separate question from what it costs to buy.

What relationship will we have — are you my agent?

In Florida the presumption is a transaction broker relationship unless something else is agreed in writing, as Section 475.278, Florida Statutes contemplates. That carries a defined set of duties, including dealing honestly and fairly, skill and care, and limited confidentiality. I will tell you plainly and in writing which relationship applies before you rely on me, and none exists until it is agreed.

What do I have to disclose as a seller in Florida?

Florida sellers are required to disclose known facts materially affecting the value of the property which are not readily observable — the rule from Johnson v. Davis — and it is broader than most sellers expect. The practical version: if you know about it and a buyer would not see it on a walkthrough, disclose it. Where the boundaries of that duty are genuinely unclear, that is a question for an attorney rather than for me.

Do I need to worry about the flood zone and elevation?

Look both up before you are under contract rather than after. The flood zone determines whether cover is required by a lender, and on an older property an elevation certificate can move the premium substantially. That certificate is a surveyor’s document rather than an agent’s opinion, and the seller may already hold one. Ask for it early — it is one of the few pieces of paper that can change the arithmetic of a purchase by a large amount.

How does the homestead exemption work?

It reduces the taxable value of a Florida primary residence and, through the Save Our Homes assessment cap, limits how fast the assessed value can rise afterwards. Portability may let you carry a benefit from a prior Florida homestead. The county property appraiser is the authority on your specific situation — I am not a tax adviser.

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Jacob Campbell · Florida Real Estate Sales Associate, license 3623732 · The Keyes Company · 561.301.7130