Probably the most important decision!  Our local area is a diverse one with many types of properties spanning from Gulf access pool homes to quaint beachfront cottages and everything in-between. Your budget will dictate the type of home you can comfortably purchase and locations that offer the right combination. Therefore this is the most crucial decision of all.

What do you want to do with your property? Is it a permanent residence for you and your family? Is it an investment that you will occasionally use for vacations and plan to rent out when not in use? Do you like golf?  Are you a boater? There are many types of property in Florida that cater to a myriad of lifestyles and resident requirements.  Your long-term plans for ownership is an important decision when narrowing down what sort of property will work for you.

You need to truly know what type of home you are interested in when starting to search for suitable matches for your wish list.  You may have an idea of the sort of lifestyle you would like but what about personal space and upkeep responsibilities?  Would living in a condo with resort type amenities and all maintenance taken care of by the community appeal to you?  Or do you like more privacy afforded by a private house with your own yard and pool to look after?  Every home comes with its’ own level of personal responsibility in terms of upkeep and costs associated with ownership.  You need to decide what suits your needs and then focus on the property type that satisfies this requirement.

The statement “location, location, location” is a powerful one and something a buyer must consider very carefully. A location error by the buyer can be disastrous when purchasing the right property to satisfy ownership requirements.  It is at this point that you should seriously consider making contact with a local Realtor and tap into their knowledge of the area. Share with them your buying plan based on the points raised on this page.  You should then be rewarded with accurate information and appropriate property purchase suggestions to match your wish list.