SCFirst Home BrevardA local first-home planning guideAsk a mortgage question →

YOUR FIRST HOME ON THE SPACE COAST

Your first home starts with a plan, not a price tag.

Explore the real costs of buying in Palm Bay, Melbourne, Viera, Cocoa and the beachside communities. Build a cash-to-close starting point, compare ways to finance and learn the questions to ask before falling in love with a listing.

Try the planning tool →Talk with Jesse

Locally focused on Brevard CountyJesse Griffith · NMLS #2023557Mortgage services: New American Funding

PRACTICAL LOCAL INFORMATION

Work backward from your comfortable payment

A list price is only one part of affordability. Property taxes can change after a sale, and your insurance, HOA or condo dues, mortgage insurance and escrow deposits all matter. Start with the payment you would be comfortable making each month, then work out the price range and available cash that fit your finances. You do not need to know the perfect loan program before asking questions.

Understand the four pieces of cash to close

The down payment is not your entire amount due at closing. Lender costs, title and settlement charges, prepaid homeowners insurance, property taxes and initial escrow funding may be substantial. An earnest-money deposit is typically credited at closing; it is not necessarily an additional expense.

Down payment depends on the loan product and eligibility
Closing charges and prepaids depend on the specific home and contract
Seller and lender credits have eligibility and program limits

Compare assistance without assuming you qualify

Florida Housing programs and local government assistance may have income, occupation, homebuyer education, purchase price, property, credit, lender and funding restrictions. Assistance is not necessarily a grant: it may be an additional loan that becomes payable on sale, refinance or maturity. Check current written terms and funding before relying on an amount.

Ask whether help is a grant, deferred second mortgage or forgivable second mortgage
Compare the assisted first mortgage with a standard loan
Verify current funding and participating-lender requirements

Make the offer with fewer surprises

Before touring homes seriously, review realistic taxes and insurance, flood-zone exposure, roof age, inspection findings and HOA or condo documents. Those variables can shift your payment or lender eligibility. An informed financing discussion can keep you from spending money on inspections for a property that cannot meet your program requirements.

Request property-specific tax and insurance estimates
Confirm financing and seller-concession terms in your contract
Use a secure lender portal for income, assets and credit documents

INTERACTIVE PLANNING WORKSHEET

Estimate a cash-to-close starting point

Try your own assumptions. Closing costs and seller credits are illustrative, not program quotes or guarantees.

Example purchase price ($)Example down payment (%)Assumed other closing costs (%)Assumed allowable seller credit ($)Earnest-money deposit already paid ($)

Illustrative additional cash at settlement$10,500

Down payment $10,500 + assumed other closing costs $9,000 − seller credit $5,000 − deposit $4,000. Earnest money counts toward cash already paid. Not a Loan Estimate. Does not include loan-specific adjustments, all reserves, unknown repair costs or down-payment assistance. Credits may not cover a down payment and may have limits.

SOURCES AND NEXT STEPS

Research beyond this page

CFPB homebuying guide Florida Housing programs Brevard County housing resources

Program rules, funding, listing schedules, rates and eligibility can change. Review official agency information and a current lender Loan Estimate. This page does not quote a rate, promise assistance funds or guarantee approval.

COMMON QUESTIONS

What should I know next?

Do I have to put 20% down?

Not necessarily. Some mortgage programs allow much less, and VA financing may allow zero down for eligible buyers. Every program still has credit, income, asset and property requirements.

Does down-payment assistance mean free money?

Often no. Some assistance has repayment obligations, lien terms or conditional forgiveness. Ask for the full second-mortgage documents and program restrictions.

Will my monthly payment stay the same?

Principal and interest on a fixed-rate loan are generally stable, but taxes, insurance, and association dues may change.

WHEN YOU ARE READY

Take the next step with a real person.

Ask a Brevard-based mortgage loan officer to work through your payment, closing costs, timing and options. Sensitive financial documents belong in the lender's secure application, not a general contact form.

Request mortgage guidance →Schedule a conversation Start secure New American Funding application ↗

Where would you like to go?

Your first home starts with a plan, not a price tag.

Work backward from your comfortable payment

Understand the four pieces of cash to close

Compare assistance without assuming you qualify

Make the offer with fewer surprises

Estimate a cash-to-close starting point

Research beyond this page

What should I know next?

Take the next step with a real person.

Where would you like to go?

Your first home starts with a plan, not a price tag.

Work backward from your comfortable payment

Understand the four pieces of cash to close

Compare assistance without assuming you qualify

Make the offer with fewer surprises

Estimate a cash-to-close starting point

Research beyond this page

Explore the next step in your home journey

What should I know next?

Take the next step with a real person.