Buying FAQs

Fractional ownership is not a scam, but it is the wrong tool for a first-time buyer. It sells you a deeded slice of a luxury home, often one-eighth, that you use only a few weeks a year, much like a timeshare. That cannot solve the real problem, because a first-time buyer needs a full-time place to live. Most lenders will not finance a fractional share, and the live-in versions,...

It depends on the price and your risk tolerance. A failed milestone inspection or pending assessment usually blocks Fannie and Freddie financing, pushing you toward non-QM loans at higher rates. Verify what the work costs, whether it has started, and whether it is on budget. Condo ownership also means surrendering control over every building decision to the...

The biggest legal mistakes first-time homebuyers make are missing contract deadlines, skipping proper financing vetting, and not protecting their escrow deposit. In Florida, most residential purchase contracts are "time is of the essence" agreements, meaning every deadline carries legal weight. Miss the wrong one by even a day, and your earnest money deposit could be at risk. In...

Define your goal before you shop, because house hacking and pure investing demand completely different plans. South Florida rewards appreciation, not cash flow. You will bid against buyers racing tax deadlines and foreign investors who poured a record $4.4 billion into the region in 2025. Plan to invest repeatedly, not just...

Every property in South Florida sits inside a FEMA-designated flood zone. That designation directly affects your insurance costs, your mortgage requirements, and your total monthly payment. Homes in high-risk zones like AE or VE require mandatory flood coverage if you are financing. Properties in Zone X carry lower risk and optional coverage. Recent FEMA map updates reclassified...