Step 1: define your budget and investment goal
Before looking at a single property, define how much you can invest (including down payment/full price + closing costs + a buffer for the unexpected) and your main goal: cash flow, appreciation, personal use, or short-term rental. The goal completely changes what type of property and area makes sense to look at.
Related tool: you can run your own analysis with real inventory data in our Florida ROI Report calculator before moving forward.
Step 2: build your local team
You need at least: a Florida-licensed real estate agent who understands foreign buyers, an attorney or title company for closing, and — if you'll rent or sell in the future — a CPA experienced in non-resident taxation.
If you'll be financing, add a lender specialized in foreign national loans to this list from the start, not after finding the property.
Step 3: search, offer, and negotiate
With your agent, filter by area, property type, and budget. When making an offer, it's common in Florida to include an earnest money deposit held in an escrow account until closing.
Negotiate not just the price: also the inspection period, who pays which closing costs, and the closing date.