Brevard County · Selling
Selling to buy a bigger home in Brevard County
Sell and buy in the right order, with one Moving Day and one money number.
Free · Agents who know Brevard County · Every step in one app
Moving up to a bigger home is exciting, and it can also keep you up at night. You are juggling two of the biggest deals of your life at once, and the hardest question is usually about timing: what if you sell and have nowhere to go, or buy and get stuck paying two mortgages?
That fear is common, and it has real answers. People handle this every day by choosing an order on purpose (sell first, buy first or both together), knowing their numbers before they shop, and writing the timing into their contracts.
You do not have to guess. Once you know what you would keep from your sale and what your lender will approve, the right order usually becomes clear, and every step after that follows a plan.
What’s different for you
- Choose the order. Sell first, buy first or both together: CloseHive recommends one from four questions, and your agent confirms.
- Line up both closings. Your sale and your purchase share one Moving Day, so you don’t own two homes by accident.
- Use what you’d keep. The money from your sale becomes your next down payment.
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
Your sale money is often your next down payment
What you keep is the sale price minus your mortgage payoff, any other liens and the selling costs. That number, not the price, is what you can put toward the next home. Ask for a written net estimate before you start shopping so your budget is real.
The three orders, and what each one protects
Selling first protects you from owning two homes, but you may need a short-term place to live. Buying first lets you move once, but you may carry two payments for a while. Doing both together means lining up two closings close to each other, which takes careful dates in both contracts.
Your purchase can depend on your sale
A purchase contract can say the deal depends on your current home selling or closing by a date. Sellers often see that as a weaker offer, so it may cost you in price or terms. Your agent can explain how this is written in a Florida contract and what sellers nearby are accepting.
Your lender looks at both homes
If you buy before you sell, a lender will want to know how you will handle the current mortgage. Ask your lender early whether you qualify while still owning your current home, and what papers they need if your sale is already under contract.
Moving your property tax savings
If you have a Florida homestead exemption, portability lets you bring part of your Save Our Homes savings to your new Florida home. The Brevard County Property Appraiser says you can move up to $500,000 of that benefit. When you move up to a home worth more, the new taxable value is the new home's market value minus your savings from the old one. You file Form DR-501T by March 1, and you have until January 1 of the third year after you leave to set up the new homestead.
Florida property tax changes on the 2026 ballot
Florida voters were asked in November 2026 about Amendment 3, which would raise the homestead exemption starting in 2027. The Hillsborough County Tax Collector explains that portability rules stay the same either way. Check with the Brevard County Property Appraiser for the rules in effect when you buy.
Taxes on your sale
Many sellers can leave out of income up to $250,000 of gain on a main home, or $500,000 for married couples filing jointly, if they owned and lived in it at least 2 of the last 5 years. A CPA or IRS Publication 523 can tell you how it fits your sale.
Your options
What to gather
- A written net estimate for your current home
- A pre-approval for the new home that says how your current mortgage is treated
- Your current mortgage payoff amount
- A list of must-haves for the bigger home, and a monthly cost you are comfortable with
- Your homestead exemption details, to file for portability
- Dates that matter: lease ends, school calendars, work start dates
- A backup plan for housing if the closings do not line up
- Moving quotes for a larger move
Mistakes to avoid
- Shopping before you know your net. Guessing your sale money can lead to falling for a home you cannot afford. Get your net estimate and pre-approval first.
- Forgetting to file for portability. The tax savings do not move on their own. File Form DR-501T with the property appraiser by March 1 after you set up the new homestead.
- Setting both closings with no cushion. A delay in one deal can break the other. Leave a few days between them, or put a backup plan in writing.
- Looking only at the purchase price. A bigger home often means higher taxes, insurance and utilities. Compare the full monthly cost, not just the price.
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
Do I have to sell before I buy?
Not always. It depends on whether you need the sale money and how sure you are of timing; your agent walks through it with you.
Do I have to sell my house before I buy a bigger one?
No. You can sell first, buy first or do both together. The right choice depends on whether you need the sale money, whether you can carry two payments and how sure your timing is.
Can I make an offer that depends on selling my house?
Yes, a purchase can depend on your sale closing by a set date. Some sellers accept it and some do not, so it can affect your price and terms.
What happens to my property taxes when I move up?
With portability, you may bring part of your Save Our Homes savings with you, up to $500,000. Your new taxable value starts from the new home's market value minus that savings.
How long do I have to file for portability?
File Form DR-501T by March 1 of the year you claim the new homestead. You have until January 1 of the third year after leaving your old homestead to set up the new one.
Will I pay taxes on the profit from my current home?
Many sellers can exclude up to $250,000 of gain, or $500,000 for many married couples filing jointly. A CPA can confirm.
What if I sell and cannot find a new home in time?
Many people rent short-term or agree in writing to stay in the sold home for a few days after closing. Plan this before you list.