Malabar · Buying guide
Buying a home in Malabar
The steps, the Florida costs nobody explains, and a quick monthly estimate.
Free · Agents who know Malabar · Every step in one app
Malabar is a small town between Palm Bay and the Indian River, known for larger lots.
What would a home here cost each month?
An estimate, not a promise. Change any number to match yours. Insurance and taxes vary a lot by home.
The steps
- Know your budget. Get pre-approved by a lender. In CloseHive, 4 quick questions give you an estimate with no credit check.
- Meet your agent. You'll see local Brevard County agents first and choose the one you like.
- Tour homes. Save homes, ask for tours, and rate each one in 10 seconds so your agent learns what you love.
- Make an offer. CloseHive walks you through every term, one question at a time.
- Inspect and insure. Ask for a wind mitigation inspection: it can lower your insurance. Get insurance quotes during your inspection period.
- Close. Check your final numbers, call the title company to confirm wiring instructions by phone, and get your keys.
Malabar in numbers
- The typical home here is valued at about $451,100, which is 33% higher than Brevard County as a whole ($339,600).
- The typical home here was built around 1993, about 33 years ago. Ask about the roof's age early, because Florida insurers look at it closely.
- 99% of homes are lived in by their owners, more than the county's 77%. Homes here change hands less often, so good ones can go quickly.
- So few homes in Malabar are rented that the Census can't report a typical rent here. Nearly every home is lived in by its owner, so listings come up less often than in bigger cities.
A typical Malabar home costs about 3.5 times the typical household income here ($128,698 a year), compared with 4.3 times across Brevard. With 10% down, the loan on a $450,000 home would be $405,000, and Florida's mortgage taxes at closing would be about $2,228.
Malabar next to its neighbors
Of its closest neighbors, Palm Bay is valued lower than Malabar.
Questions buyers ask
Will my property taxes in Malabar be the same as the seller's?
Often not. Florida limits how fast taxes rise for owners with a homestead exemption, but the limit ends when the home sells. Your tax bill is reset to the new value, so plan with a fresh estimate, not the seller's bill.
What is the Florida homestead exemption?
If the home is your main home, you can take up to $50,000 off its taxable value and cap how fast its assessed value grows. Apply with the county property appraiser by March 1 of the year after you buy.
What taxes do Florida buyers pay at closing?
If you get a mortgage, Florida charges 35 cents per $100 of the loan (stamps on the note) and 0.2% of the loan (intangible tax). Lender, title and prepaid costs come on top.