Brevard County · Selling
Selling and buying at the same time in Brevard County
Sell first, buy first or together: a plan for your situation, with both closings lined up.
Free · Agents who know Brevard County · Every step in one app
Selling one home and buying another at the same time is one of the most stressful moves there is. You are a seller and a buyer at once, with two sets of dates, two sets of paperwork and one big question: what if the timing does not line up? Many people lose sleep over the idea of owning two homes, or owning none.
That worry is normal, and it has real answers. People do this every day. The key is choosing the order on purpose, sell first, buy first or both together, and then writing your contracts so the dates protect you.
Below is how each order works, what Florida rules matter for your property taxes, and what to gather so both closings land where you want them.
What’s different for you
- Choose the order. Sell first, buy first, or together, from four questions about your situation.
- Link the closings. Your purchase can wait on your sale so you never own two homes by accident.
- One Moving Day. One plan, one countdown, one money number.
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
There are three basic orders
You can sell first, then buy. You can buy first, then sell. Or you can try to close both around the same time. Which one fits depends on whether you need the money from your sale to buy, whether you can carry two housing payments for a while, and how sure you are about timing.
Your sale money often becomes your down payment
What you keep from your sale is the price minus your mortgage payoff and selling costs, including Florida's deed tax of 70 cents per $100 of the price. If you need that money to buy, your purchase depends on your sale closing first. Ask for a written estimate of what you would keep before you set a budget for the next home.
Contracts can link the two deals
A purchase contract can include terms that make your purchase depend on your sale, or give you extra time. A sale contract can include terms that let you stay in the home for a short time after closing. Sellers in a busy market may see a sale-dependent offer as weaker, so your agent explains the trade-off before you offer.
You may be able to carry your tax savings with you
If your current home has a Florida homestead exemption, Save Our Homes limits how fast its assessed value rises. Florida's portability rule lets you transfer up to $500,000 of that difference to a new Florida homestead. In Brevard County you have from January 1 of the year you move until January 1 three years later to set up the new homestead, and you file form DR-501T with the Property Appraiser by March 1.
Moving to a less expensive home moves less of the benefit
If the new home's market value is higher than the old one, the full benefit can transfer, up to $500,000. If it is lower, only a share transfers, based on the new home's market value compared to the old one. The Property Appraiser's office can run your numbers.
The new home gets a new tax bill
Buying triggers a new assessment at full value as of the next January 1. Florida requires a disclosure telling buyers not to rely on the seller's current taxes. Plan your next home's budget on its likely new taxes, then apply for homestead by March 1.
Two loan papers to read
For the purchase, your lender must give you a Loan Estimate within three business days of your application and a Closing Disclosure at least three business days before closing. If closings are tight, ask everyone to keep those dates in mind.
Your options
What to gather
- Your latest mortgage statement, to estimate your payoff
- A written estimate of what you would keep from your sale
- A pre-approval from a lender that shows whether you need the sale money
- Your current homestead details and the Property Appraiser's record, for portability
- A list of must-have dates: lease end, work start, other fixed plans
- A plan for the gap: stay-after time, short-term rental or storage
- Moving quotes for one move, and for two if you may need storage
- A calendar with both contracts' key dates side by side
Mistakes to avoid
- Shopping before knowing your number. Get your net sale estimate and pre-approval first. Your real budget depends on both.
- Forgetting portability. If your current home has homestead, file for the new homestead and form DR-501T by March 1 and within the time limit, or you may lose the transfer.
- Signing two contracts that don't fit together. Line up both contracts' dates before you sign the second one. Your agent can add terms that give you room.
- Planning on zero delay. Closings can move a few days. Leave a small cushion or have a backup plan for where you will sleep.
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
What if my sale falls through?
Your plan can make the purchase depend on the sale; your agent explains how for your contract.
Should I sell my house before buying another?
It depends on whether you need the sale money, whether you can carry two payments and how sure your timing is. Many people sell first to know their budget; others buy first to move once. Your agent and lender walk through it with your real numbers.
What if my sale falls through after I'm under contract to buy?
Your purchase contract can include terms that make it depend on your sale, which can protect you. Without those terms, you may still be bound to buy. Ask your agent how your contract handles it before you sign.
Can I keep my low property taxes when I move within Florida?
Florida's portability rule can transfer up to $500,000 of your Save Our Homes difference to a new Florida homestead. You must set up the new homestead within the time limit and file form DR-501T by March 1.
Can I stay in my home after I sell it?
Sometimes. A sale contract can allow a short stay after closing if the buyer agrees. Get the terms in writing, including who pays for what and the move-out date.
Can I close on my sale and my purchase on the same day?
Often, yes. Same-day or back-to-back closings work best when both title companies and your lender know the plan early.
How long does it take to get my money after selling?
The title company pays out after closing once the deal is final and funded. Ask your title company when your funds will be sent, especially if you need them for a purchase the same day.
Do I need two agents?
Not always. One agent can handle both if they cover both areas. If your next home is in another county, a local agent there can help.