Palm Bay · Buying guide
Buying a home in Palm Bay
The steps, the Florida costs nobody explains, and a quick monthly estimate.
Free · Agents who know Palm Bay · Every step in one app
Palm Bay has more residents than any other city in Brevard County.
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.
Palm Bay in numbers
- The typical home here is valued at about $283,200, which is 17% lower 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.
- 80% of homes are lived in by their owners, close to the county's 77%.
- Owners with a mortgage pay about $1,549 a month in housing costs, about the same as typical rent ($1,601).
A typical Palm Bay home costs about 3.9 times the typical household income here ($72,614 a year), compared with 4.3 times across Brevard. With 10% down, the loan on a $285,000 home would be $256,500, and Florida's mortgage taxes at closing would be about $1,411.
Palm Bay next to its neighbors
Palm Bay 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 Palm Bay 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.