Military & Veterans Buying a Home in Central Florida

Buying a Home While Serving or After Military Service

Military and veteran buyers may face considerations that other home buyers do not. PCS timelines, VA financing, relocation from another state, property tax benefits, accessibility needs and long term retirement plans can all affect the type of home and community that makes the most sense.

Our role is to help you understand the local market, compare your options and identify potential issues before they become problems.

Using a VA Loan to Buy a Home in Central Florida

The VA home loan benefit can be one of the most valuable home buying benefits available to eligible active duty service members, veterans and certain surviving spouses. But a VA loan is still a mortgage, and choosing the right home, lender and real estate representation matters.

VA financing can be used to purchase many types of homes in Central Florida, including existing single family homes, qualifying condominiums and new construction, provided the borrower, property and transaction meet applicable VA and lender requirements.

One of the biggest misconceptions we encounter is that using a VA loan puts a buyer at a disadvantage. It shouldn’t. An experienced real estate professional can help a seller and their agent understand the strength of a well qualified VA buyer and address misconceptions about VA financing before they become an obstacle.

Florida Benefits for Veterans and Military Families

Florida offers a variety of benefits to eligible veterans, active duty service members and their families. These benefits can be especially important when deciding where to buy a home and calculating the long term cost of homeownership.

Depending on eligibility, benefits may include property tax exemptions or discounts, educational benefits, employment assistance, veteran services and other state programs. Some benefits are based on disability status, age, military service or deployment, so they do not apply equally to every veteran.

The Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs is an excellent starting point for determining which programs may apply to you.

Florida Property Tax Benefits for Veterans

Florida provides several property tax benefits that may be available to qualifying veterans, active duty military members and surviving spouses. Depending on eligibility, these benefits can reduce the taxable value of a Florida homestead and, in certain circumstances, may provide a complete exemption from property taxes.

Eligibility can depend on factors including disability rating, age, combat related disability, deployment, surviving spouse status and whether the property is your permanent Florida residence. Because these benefits can have a significant effect on the long term cost of owning a home, they are worth investigating before you purchase.

Property tax exemptions are not automatically applied when you buy a home. Applications are generally made through the Property Appraiser in the Florida county where the home is located.

Official Florida Property Tax Benefits for Active Duty Military and Veterans

Military & Veteran Buyers Deserve Their Own Representation

Whether you are purchasing a resale home or considering new construction, it is important to understand who represents whom in a real estate transaction. The listing agent represents the seller, and the sales representative at a new home community represents the builder.

Having your own real estate broker gives you someone focused on your interests throughout the transaction. That can include evaluating properties, comparing communities and builders, reviewing comparable sales, negotiating terms, coordinating inspections and helping you understand the many decisions that come with purchasing a home.

For VA buyers, knowledgeable representation can also be important when dealing with misconceptions about VA financing. A VA financed offer should be evaluated on its actual terms and the buyer’s qualifications, not outdated assumptions about VA loans.

New Construction for Military & Veteran Buyers

Central Florida continues to offer a wide selection of new construction homes, particularly in growing areas such as St. Cloud, Lake Nona, Kissimmee and communities throughout Osceola and Orange Counties.

New construction can be attractive to military and veteran buyers because of builder incentives, new home warranties, energy efficient features and the opportunity to choose a home that may require less immediate maintenance. Some builders and their preferred lenders may also offer financing or closing cost incentives that can be worth comparing with other financing options.

Remember that the sales representative in a builder’s model center represents the builder. Having your own real estate representation gives you someone who can help compare builders, communities, incentives, lot premiums, HOA and CDD costs and other factors that can affect the true cost of your new home.

Explore our Central Florida New Construction Homes guide

Retiring From the Military and Moving to Central Florida

For many military retirees, the final move is different from every PCS that came before it. For perhaps the first time in years, your next home does not have to be determined by your next duty station. You can choose where you actually want to live.

Central Florida offers military retirees and veterans a wide range of choices, including established neighborhoods, new construction communities, lakefront homes, gated communities, golf communities and 55+ active adult communities.

When comparing homes, we encourage buyers to look beyond the purchase price. Florida property taxes and available veteran exemptions, homeowners insurance, HOA and CDD fees, healthcare access, airport access, maintenance responsibilities and the long term suitability of the home can all affect what it actually costs to live there.

St. Cloud, Lake Nona, Orlando, Kissimmee and surrounding Central Florida communities can provide very different lifestyles and costs of ownership. We can help you compare those differences rather than simply showing you houses.

55+ Communities for Veterans & Military Retirees

Central Florida has become a popular destination for active adults and retirees, and veterans considering a move to Florida may want to include 55+ communities in their home search.

These communities can offer amenities such as clubhouses, fitness centers, swimming pools, pickleball and tennis courts, walking trails, social activities and, in some communities, exterior or lawn maintenance. Just as important, homes may be designed with single story living and features that can make them easier to enjoy and maintain over the long term.

Not all 55+ communities are alike. HOA fees, CDD assessments, community rules, included services, amenities and home styles can vary considerably. We can help you compare what you are actually getting for the cost rather than choosing a community based solely on its amenities or advertising.

Official Military & Veteran Resources

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — VA Home Loans
Official information about VA-backed home loans, eligibility, Certificates of Eligibility and other VA housing assistance.
Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs
Florida’s primary state resource for veterans’ benefits, services, claims assistance, education, employment and other programs.
Florida Property Tax Benefits for Active Duty Military & Veterans
Official Florida Department of Revenue guide explaining property tax exemptions and discounts that may be available to qualifying military members, veterans and surviving spouses.
Military OneSource — Moving & PCS
Department of Defense resource for PCS planning, moving, housing and relocation assistance for service members and military families.
Osceola County Veterans’ Services
Local assistance for veterans, service members, dependents and survivors with VA claims and federal, state and local veterans’ benefits, including services available in St. Cloud.
Orlando VA Healthcare System
VA healthcare serving veterans throughout Central Florida, including the Orlando VA Medical Center at Lake Nona and community-based outpatient clinics throughout the region.

Experience Helping Central Florida Veterans Buy Homes

Brian Warner, Broker with Florida International Real Estate, served in the United States Navy and understands that helping veterans and military families purchase a home is about more than simply understanding a VA loan.

Brian has been helping veterans purchase homes in Central Florida using their VA home loan benefits since 2009. Over the years, he has worked with veteran buyers through the home search, VA financing process, inspections, negotiations and closing, while helping them navigate some of the issues that can be unique to a VA financed purchase.

His commitment to the veteran community extends beyond real estate. Brian has been an active volunteer in the veteran community over the years, supporting veterans, military families and organizations that serve those who have served our country.

Ready to Buy a Home in Central Florida?

If you are active duty military, a veteran or a military retiree considering a move to Central Florida, we would be happy to help you explore your options. Whether you plan to use a VA loan, purchase new construction, buy a resale home or are still deciding where in Central Florida you want to live, you are welcome to contact us with questions.

Put our Central Florida real estate experience and commitment to the veteran community to work for you.

Whether you are serving on active duty, transitioning from military service, retiring in Florida or have been a veteran for many years, we would be honored to help you explore your Central Florida home buying options.