Brevard County · Selling
Selling my first home in Brevard County
Every step of the sale in order, in plain words, and what you’d keep at the end.
Free · Agents who know Brevard County · Every step in one app
Selling a home for the first time can feel like a test you never studied for. There are new words, a lot of paperwork and real money on the line, and it is easy to worry that you will miss something or leave money on the table. That worry is normal, and it usually means you care about doing it right.
Here is the good part: a home sale follows the same basic order almost every time. You learn what the home is worth and what you would keep. You get it ready and list it. You review offers, pick one, and get through the buyer's inspection and appraisal. Then you sign, a title company handles the money, and you hand over the keys.
You do not need to know everything on day one. You only need to know the next step, and who to ask when something is new. This page walks you through it in plain words.
What’s different for you
- Know what you’d keep. Your agent prices the home from recent sales nearby, and CloseHive shows what you’d keep after costs.
- Get it ready. A few small fixes, a deep clean and good photos matter more than big projects.
- Pick the best offer. See every offer side by side in plain words, then choose.
- Sign and close. Sign from your phone; the title company handles the money.
When you start in CloseHive from this page, your plan already includes these steps, along with the usual ones for selling in Brevard County. You always see what to do next, and your agent handles the how.
What to know
What you would keep is not the sale price
From the price, closing pays off your mortgage and any other liens (claims against the home), then the selling costs. Those can include the agents' pay, title and closing fees, the documentary stamp tax on the deed, your share of property taxes for the year and any repair credits you agree to. Ask for a written estimate of your net (what you keep) before you list and again for each offer.
The deed tax in Florida
Florida charges a documentary stamp tax when a deed is recorded. Outside Miami-Dade County, including Brevard, the Florida Department of Revenue lists the rate as $0.70 per $100 of the price. On a $300,000 sale that is $2,100. The law lets any party to the sale pay it, so your contract says who does.
You must tell buyers about hidden problems you know of
Florida's courts have said a home seller must tell the buyer about facts the seller knows that materially affect the value, are not easy to see, and that the buyer does not know. Florida law also says a seller does not have to disclose that a death happened in the home. When in doubt, write it down and ask your agent or an attorney how to describe it.
Florida forms you will sign or give
A Florida seller must answer three yes or no questions at or before the contract is signed: whether flooding damaged the home while you owned it, whether you filed a flood insurance claim, and whether you got flood help such as from FEMA. Florida also requires a radon notice on at least one document signed at or before the contract. If the home was built before 1978, federal rules require a lead paint disclosure, any reports you have, a federal pamphlet and a 10-day chance for the buyer to test.
Taxes on your profit
The IRS lets many sellers leave out of income up to $250,000 of gain (profit) on a main home, or $500,000 for a married couple filing jointly, if they meet the rules. Generally you must have owned and lived in the home at least 2 of the last 5 years, and not used this break on another home in the last 2 years. If you get a Form 1099-S at closing, you must report the sale even when the gain is excluded. A CPA or IRS Publication 523 can tell you how this fits you.
What happens between contract and closing
Most Florida contracts give the buyer a set number of days for inspections, then time to finish their loan and appraisal (a lender's check of value). The buyer may ask for repairs or a credit. If the appraisal comes in low, the price may be renegotiated. Your agent tracks each deadline so you know what is coming.
Your homestead exemption ends with the sale
If you have a Florida homestead exemption, it applies to the home you live in, and it does not move with you on its own. When you buy a new Florida home, you can file to bring part of your Save Our Homes savings with you, called portability. There is a time limit, so ask the Brevard County Property Appraiser how it works for your dates.
Your options
What to gather
- Your mortgage payoff amount, requested from your loan servicer
- Your deed and the closing papers from when you bought
- Any home equity loan or line of credit, which must also be paid off
- HOA or condo contact info and rules, if you have one
- Receipts and permits for big work like a roof, air conditioning or windows
- Your past flood claims or flood help, for the flood disclosure
- Any inspection, survey or wind mitigation reports you already have
- Your last property tax bill and homestead exemption info
- A written net estimate from your agent, before listing
- A plan for where you will live after closing
Mistakes to avoid
- Pricing from hope instead of recent sales. Buyers and appraisers look at what similar homes nearby just sold for. Ask to see those sales before you pick a price.
- Skipping disclosures to avoid scaring buyers. Hiding a known, hidden problem can lead to a claim after closing. Disclose in writing and let the buyer decide.
- Spending big before listing. Large remodels often cost more than they add. Small fixes, a deep clean and good photos usually matter more; ask your agent which items buyers in your price range care about.
- Forgetting to plan the move. Closing day can come fast. Line up movers and your next place early, or ask about staying a few days after closing in writing.
- Trusting wiring instructions sent by email. Scammers send fake wiring instructions that look like they came from the title company. Confirm any bank details by calling a number you already know, never one in the message.
Brevard County in numbers
- The typical home in Brevard County is worth about $339,600, and 77% of homes are lived in by their owners.
- Typical rent here is about $1,556 a month, including utilities.
Free help
Questions people ask
How long does selling take?
From listing to closing, many homes take one to three months; your agent shows you what’s normal nearby.
How long does it take to sell a house in Florida?
It depends on price, condition and the local market. Once you accept an offer, closing often comes after the inspection and loan periods written in the contract. Your agent can show how long similar homes nearby took to sell.
How much does it cost to sell a house?
Common costs include the agents' pay, title and closing fees, the deed tax ($0.70 per $100 of the price outside Miami-Dade) and your share of property taxes. Ask for a written net sheet so you see the full picture.
Do I have to fix things the inspector finds?
Not always. The buyer can ask for repairs or a credit, and you can say yes, no or offer something in between. What happens next depends on your contract's terms.
What if I still owe money on my mortgage?
That is normal. The title company pays off your loan from the sale money at closing, and you get what is left.
Do I pay taxes when I sell my home?
Many sellers do not, thanks to the IRS home sale exclusion of up to $250,000 ($500,000 for many married couples). You still may need to report the sale. A CPA can confirm.
What do I have to tell buyers?
Known problems that affect value and are not easy to see, plus Florida's flood questions and radon notice, and the lead paint rules for homes built before 1978.
Can I sell my house and buy another at the same time?
Yes. Many people line up both closings, or make the purchase depend on the sale. Your agent can explain the options for your contract.