Melbourne · Buying
Buying a condo in Melbourne
Your days to review the association papers, the building inspections and reserves, in plain words.
Free · Agents who know Melbourne · Every step in one app
Melbourne is home to Melbourne Orlando International Airport and sits on the Indian River.
Buying a condo in Florida can feel more complicated than it used to. You may have heard about new building inspection laws, big special assessments, and fees going up. If you are worried about buying into a building with hidden problems, that worry makes sense.
What this means in Melbourne
- The typical home here is worth about $306,400. With 10% down, that is a loan of about $275,800; owners here typically spend about $1,689 a month on housing costs (Census), which gives you a real local starting point for your budget.
- About 39% of homes in Melbourne were built before 1980. Older Florida homes often need a 4-point inspection (roof, electrical, plumbing, heating and cooling) before an insurer will cover them, so ask for one early, before your inspection window closes.
- To look up a home's flood zone in Melbourne, use City of Melbourne Flood Hazard Information. A home's flood zone decides whether a lender requires flood insurance.
- To open a City of Melbourne water account you need ID and proof of ownership or a lease. A $20 service start fee shows up on the first bill, and a deposit may be billed too.
What’s different for you
- Review the condo papers in 7 days. You can cancel within 7 days, not counting weekends and holidays, after signing and getting the papers.
- Check inspections and reserves. Buildings 3+ stories need milestone inspections and a reserve study; read the summaries.
- Ask about special assessments. Big repairs can mean extra payments.
- Apply for association approval. Some buildings must approve new owners first.
When you start in CloseHive from this page, your plan already includes these steps, along with the usual ones for buying in Melbourne. You always see what to do next, and your agent handles the how.
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.
Questions people ask
What is a milestone inspection?
A safety inspection Florida requires for condo buildings 3 or more stories tall by their 30th year (25th in some areas), then every 10 years.