Everything you need to navigate the Northeast Florida market with confidence. Financing, the search, offers, inspection, and the path to keys in hand.
Serving Northeast Florida
Buying a home is one of the largest financial decisions you'll make. You need an agent who knows the inventory, the negotiation, the inspections, and the closing process cold.
You also need someone who will tell you when a house is wrong for you, even when you love it. That's the job. And it's the job we do every day at Momentum Realty, the #1 independent brokerage in Northeast Florida.
A clear path with predictable checkpoints. You always know what's next.
Pre-approval is the most important step you take before house hunting. It tells you the price range you can actually afford and signals sellers you're serious.
Need a lender recommendation? I work with a vetted list of local lenders who close on time, communicate clearly, and don't surprise you at closing. Ask me for an intro.
Mortgage rates change weekly. This is the current national average 30-year fixed rate from the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey.
Buyers are often surprised by closing costs. Here's what to budget for so there are no surprises at the table.
Enter the purchase price and your down payment percentage. We'll estimate the cash you need to bring to the table, broken down by line item.
| Line Item | Estimate |
|---|---|
| Down Payment | $0 |
| Earnest Money (1-3% at offer, applied to purchase) | $0 |
| Home Inspection (paid to inspector) | $0 |
| Appraisal (paid to lender) | $0 |
| First-Year Homeowner's Insurance (FL avg) | $0 |
| Closing Costs (low estimate, ~2% of price) | $0 |
| Closing Costs (high estimate, ~4% of price) | $0 |
| Total Cash Needed (low range) | $0 |
| Total Cash Needed (high range) | $0 |
Post-NAR settlement, every buyer needs a signed Buyer Broker Agreement before an agent can show homes, write offers, or contact builders on their behalf. Here's what it means.
A Buyer Broker Agreement is a legal document that formalizes the working relationship between you and your buyer's agent. It outlines the duration of the agreement, the geographic area for your search, the type of property you want, and how the agent is compensated.
Think of it like a listing agreement, but for the buy side. It exists to make the relationship clear so you know exactly what to expect from me and I know exactly what to deliver for you.
The National Association of Realtors settlement now requires real estate agents to have a signed Buyer Broker Agreement before they can perform services for you. This means before I send listings, contact builders, schedule showings, negotiate, or write offers, we need this agreement in place.
The settlement also brings increased transparency around commissions and fees. You'll have a clearer understanding of costs and more control over how those costs are handled, whether through seller concessions or direct payment.
FSBOs and new construction developments have specific protocols. If you walk into either one without me, you can lose your representation, or worse, end up paying my commission out of pocket.
For Sale By Owner listings can be appealing, but contacting a FSBO seller directly without me can create complications. The seller may assume you're unrepresented and refuse to pay a buyer's agent commission, shifting that cost to you.
Always tell me about any FSBO you're interested in. I'll reach out to the seller, establish terms, and discuss commission upfront. This protects your representation and ensures you get the full value of my services without an extra bill.
Most builders have a "first visit" rule. If you walk into a new development without me or without being registered ahead of time, the builder can refuse to recognize me as your agent later. They may argue they were the procuring cause of the sale.
Tell me before you visit any new construction. I'll either accompany you or register you ahead of time. This 5-minute step protects your right to representation and ensures I can negotiate upgrades, contract terms, and resale considerations on your behalf.
Down payment, mortgage insurance, and credit requirements differ widely by loan type. Here's the side-by-side. All information subject to change and individual lender regulations.
Knowing the local data changes how you write an offer. Here's where the Northeast Florida market sits right now, refreshed quarterly from RealMLS Summary Statistics.
National Association of Realtors data shows the typical buyer views just 4 to 6 properties before making an offer. That's because their agent did the homework upfront. The right strategy session shortens the search.
You see the kitchen. I'm checking the roof age, the FPL panel, the slope of the lot, and where the next subdivision is being built. Here's what an experienced agent's eyes catch.
The next step is simple. A 15-minute call to talk through what you're looking for, your timeline, and how the search will work.