Melbourne · Buying guide
Buying a home in Melbourne
The steps, the Florida costs nobody explains, and a quick monthly estimate.
Free · Agents who know Melbourne · Every step in one app
Melbourne is home to Melbourne Orlando International Airport and sits on the Indian River.
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.
Melbourne in numbers
- The typical home here is valued at about $306,400, which is 10% lower than Brevard County as a whole ($339,600).
- The typical home here was built around 1985, about 41 years ago. Ask about the roof's age early, because Florida insurers look at it closely.
- About 40% of homes here are rented, more than the county's 23%. Expect some buyers to be investors.
- Owners with a mortgage pay about $1,689 a month in housing costs, $164 more than typical rent ($1,525). Many of those owners bought years ago at lower prices, so today's buyers often pay more.
A typical Melbourne home costs about 4.6 times the typical household income here ($66,991 a year), compared with 4.3 times across Brevard. With 10% down, the loan on a $305,000 home would be $274,500, and Florida's mortgage taxes at closing would be about $1,510.
Melbourne next to its neighbors
Melbourne is valued lower than all three of its closest neighbors, so your money may go further here.
Questions buyers ask
Will my property taxes in Melbourne 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.