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First-Time Home Buyers

First-Time Home Buyers · Miami-Dade & Broward

Know the cash. Understand the steps. Buy your first home.


Use three money buckets and a first-offer checklist to make the buying process easier to understand. Pol Realty helps first-time buyers across Miami connect the questions with the right next step, in English or in Spanish.

Full buyer representation Bilingual English · Spanish Trusted local lenders Miami-Dade & Broward
Before the Home Search

The down payment is only one part of the cash plan.


Start with three buckets. Your lender estimates the loan-related amounts, and other providers quote the services you pay for separately. Ask when each payment is due so the same dollars are not counted twice.

1 · Money due before closing

Deposits and inspections

The escrow deposit that accompanies your offer, the general inspection, a four-point inspection and wind mitigation report for older homes, a termite inspection, and the appraisal. Record whether each payment is later credited or already included in the lender’s estimate.

2 · Money needed at closing

Cash to close

Use your lender’s Estimated Cash to Close. It accounts for the down payment, closing costs, prepaid taxes and insurance, deposits already paid, and credits. Do not add the down payment to that total a second time.

3 · Money after the keys

Settling in

Plan separately for moving, utility setup, immediate repairs, hurricane shutters or supplies if the home needs them, furnishings you truly need, and a cushion for surprises.

Then · The monthly cost

The full payment

Principal and interest, property taxes, homeowners insurance, windstorm coverage, flood insurance if the lender or the zone requires it, mortgage insurance, association dues, utilities, and upkeep. Ask which costs are inside the quoted payment and which you pay separately.

Costs and timing vary. This page does not estimate your eligibility or approve a loan. Your lender’s Loan Estimate is the document to read line by line, and we are glad to sit down with you and go through it.

Your First-Offer Readiness Check

Can you explain these five things in your own words?


My comfortable payment

I understand the full monthly housing cost, including insurance and dues, and how it fits my own budget.

My cash timeline

I know which payments happen before closing, what remains due at closing, and what I want left afterward.

My representation

I have discussed the buyer agreement, the services included, and how compensation works. Contributions from another party are not guaranteed.

My offer terms

I understand the deposit, the inspection period, the financing and appraisal contingencies, included items, and the proposed closing date before authorizing an offer.

My unanswered questions

I know which questions need a lender, an attorney or title company, an inspector, an insurer, or an association, and when their answers are needed.

An unchecked box does not mean “you cannot buy.” It means “let’s answer this before you commit.”

Help That Exists

Loan programs and down payment help to ask about


First-time buyers in Florida have more options than most people realize. These are the ones worth raising with your lender.

Florida Housing programs

The state’s housing finance agency offers first mortgages for eligible buyers that can be paired with down payment and closing cost assistance, including programs for teachers, nurses, first responders, and other community workers. Income and purchase price limits apply.

Miami-Dade and Broward assistance

Both counties, and several cities within them, periodically offer purchase assistance for eligible first-time buyers. Funding and rules change, so confirm what is open when you are ready to buy.

FHA loans

Federally insured loans that allow lower down payments and more flexible credit requirements. A frequent fit for first-time buyers, with condo approvals to verify for high-rise purchases.

VA and USDA loans

Veterans and qualifying service members may purchase with no down payment through a VA loan. USDA loans cover limited rural-designated areas and are rarely available inside Miami-Dade, so ask early.

Pol Realty is a real estate brokerage, not a lender or financial advisor. Program names are listed for general guidance only. Eligibility, terms, and current availability must be confirmed with a licensed mortgage professional. We are glad to introduce you to lenders we trust.

Owning in Florida

Two things to do after closing


File for the homestead exemption

If the home is your permanent residence, apply with the county property appraiser by March 1 of the year after you move in. The exemption reduces taxable value and starts the Save Our Homes cap on annual assessment increases.

Review your insurance each year

Windstorm and flood coverage change in price. A wind mitigation report, impact windows, or a newer roof can reduce premiums. Ask your agent to shop the policy at each renewal.

How It Works

From curious to keys in hand


1

Get pre-approved

Before you tour homes, a lender confirms your budget and issues a pre-approval letter. It tells you what you can comfortably afford and makes your offer credible to sellers.

2

Free buyer consultation and wish list

We sit down with you to understand your budget, your must-haves, your deal-breakers, and the neighborhoods that fit your life and commute. You leave with a clear search plan.

3

Tour with a checklist

We visit homes together and look past the staging at the roof, the windows, the air conditioning, the flood zone, and the association, so surprises surface early.

4

Offer and inspection period

We write an offer with terms that protect you, negotiate on your behalf, and coordinate inspections and the appraisal within the contract deadlines.

5

Insurance, title, and closing

We help you line up insurance, review the closing statement with the title company, do the final walk-through, and hand you the keys.

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions first-time buyers ask in Miami


How much do I need for a down payment?

It depends on the loan program. Some allow a small percentage down, and assistance programs may cover part of it. Your lender gives you the real number for your situation.

Should I buy a condo or a house first?

Condos often cost less to enter but carry dues and association rules. Houses carry roofs, insurance, and upkeep. We compare the full monthly cost of both so you choose with open eyes.

What does it cost to work with you as a buyer?

We explain our buyer agreement, the services included, and how compensation works before you tour a single home, so there are no surprises.

Can you help if I am buying from outside the United States?

Yes. We work with international buyers every week and can connect you with lenders who offer foreign-national loans. Guía para compradores →

Your Advisors

Ana Maria and Nicolas Pol


A family owned boutique brokerage serving Miami since 2007, in English and Spanish, for local families and international buyers alike.

Ana Maria Pol

Ana Maria Pol

Principal Broker & President

954.270.8759
ana@polrealty.com

Nicolas Pol

Nicolas Pol

Real Estate Agent & Marketing Coordinator

954.604.2415
nicosellsmiami@gmail.com

Dedicated to you. Committed to excellence.

Pol Realty · 9825 SW 77th Pl, Miami, FL 33156 · info@polrealty.com · Equal Housing Opportunity. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. This page is general guidance, not legal, tax, lending, or insurance advice.