Finance
How Much Money Do You Really Need to Buy Your First Home in Florida?
The 20% down payment is a myth. FHA asks 3.5% — $14,000 on a $400,000 home, not $80,000. What loan programs actually require, the closing costs nobody mentions,…
Finance
Can You Buy a House in the U.S. Without a Social Security Number?
No federal law requires a Social Security number to own property in the U.S. With an ITIN you can access a mortgage through specialized lenders: the requirements, the…
Finance
What Credit Score Do You Need to Buy a House in Florida?
580 for FHA, 620 for conventional. But the difference between 620 and 760 on the same $350,000 home is more than $130,000 in interest. What your score really…
Finance
First-Time Homebuyer Assistance Programs in Florida (2026)
Between $10,000 and $35,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance, at 0% interest and with no monthly payments. FL Assist, Hometown Heroes, HFA Preferred PLUS and county…
Process
Buying a House in Miami as a Foreigner: What Nobody Explains
Any foreign national can own property in Miami, whatever their immigration status. But there are details — FIRPTA, Foreign National Loans, legal structure and hidden costs — that…
Process
Buyer’s Agent vs. Listing Agent: A Difference That Can Cost You Thousands
The agent who shows you the house works for the seller, not for you. What an exclusive buyer's representative actually does, what can go wrong without one, and…
Finance
Renting vs. Buying in Miami in 2026: What the Numbers Say
Buying costs more per month than renting in Miami. But at five years the numbers flip: the renter pays $182,000 and accumulates nothing; the buyer pays $204,000 and…
Process
Common Mistakes First-Time Homebuyers Make in Miami (and How to Avoid Them)
Believing you need 20% down, ignoring closing costs, waiving the inspection to win the offer. The mistakes we see most often in first-time buyers across South Florida —…
Finance
Can You Get a Mortgage in Florida With a Work Visa?
Yes — with an H-1B, L-1, E-2 or TN you can buy a home in Florida. But since May 2025 FHA is no longer an option for non-permanent…
Finance
Is Now a Good Time to Buy a House in Florida?
"I'll wait for rates to come down" is the most repeated line of 2026 — and the most expensive. The math of waiting a year, what rate forecasts…