What is here
6 free checklists from Moore Realty Group in Apopka, Florida, each available as a PDF and as text on this page. They use Florida's 2026 rates and deadlines and were checked on November 12, 2026.
Apopka home buyer's checklist
From first budget to keys, in order. Tick each box before you move to the next stage.
Before you look
- Check your credit reports and fix errors
- Add up your monthly debts before you talk to a lender
- Get a written pre-approval, not a pre-qualification
- Ask the lender about Florida Hometown Heroes and Orange County assistance
- Price the true monthly cost: loan, Apopka property tax, insurance, HOA and any CDD
- Sign a written buyer-broker agreement (MLS rules have required one before touring since August 2024); the fee is negotiable
Choosing the home
- Confirm city of Apopka or unincorporated Orange County (different tax districts)
- Ask for HOA fees, rules and any CDD assessment in writing
- Check the FEMA flood zone for the address
- Ask the roof's age and the ages of the water heater, HVAC and electrical panel
- Drive the commute at the hour you would actually drive it
The offer
- Review recent closed sales nearby with your broker
- Decide deposit (commonly 1% to 3% of price), inspection period and closing date
- Financing contingency: know your loan-approval deadline (30 days if left blank)
- Verify wire instructions by phone before sending the deposit
Inspection period (15 days if left blank)
- Home inspection
- 4-point inspection (roof, electrical, plumbing, HVAC)
- Wind mitigation inspection (can lower the premium)
- Get bindable insurance quotes before the period ends
- Specialists as needed: roof, pool, septic, well, termite (WDO)
- Decide: proceed, renegotiate or cancel in writing before the deadline
To closing
- Appraisal ordered and reviewed
- Review the title commitment, survey and HOA estoppel
- Compare the Closing Disclosure to your Loan Estimate as soon as you receive it
- Final walk-through
- Wire cash to close using instructions you verified by phone
- Bring government ID to closing
After closing
- File for the homestead exemption by March 1 with the Orange County Property Appraiser
- If you left a Florida homestead within the last three tax years, file for portability
- Set up utilities and update your insurance mailing address
- Keep the closing statement and title policy with your tax records
Florida closing cost cheat sheet
The rates behind every Florida closing statement, with who customarily pays in Orange County. Customs are negotiable; statutes are not.
| Item | Who usually pays | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Documentary stamps on the deed (outside Miami-Dade) | Seller | $0.70 per $100 of price |
| Documentary stamps on the note | Buyer | $0.35 per $100 borrowed |
| Intangible tax on the mortgage | Buyer | 0.2% of the loan |
| Coverage | Who usually pays | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Owner's policy, first $100,000 | Seller in Orange County | $5.75 per $1,000 |
| Owner's policy, $100,000 to $1 million | Seller in Orange County | $5.00 per $1,000 |
| Lender's policy issued with it | Buyer | $25 plus endorsements |
| Reissue credit (prior policy under 3 years) | $3.30 / $3.00 per $1,000 |
| Item | Who usually pays | Typical |
|---|---|---|
| Settlement or closing fee | Each side or split | $350 to $600 |
| Title search | Seller | $300 to $500 |
| Municipal lien search | Seller | $150 to $300 |
| HOA estoppel letter | Seller | $299 standard cap; more if rushed |
| Recording | Buyer | $10 first page, $8.50 after |
| 4-point and wind mitigation | Buyer | $75 to $175 each |
| Item | Amount | |
|---|---|---|
| Deed stamps (seller) | 4,300 x $0.70 | $3,010.00 |
| Owner's title (seller) | $575 + 330 x $5.00 | $2,225.00 |
| Note stamps (buyer) | 3,870 x $0.35 | $1,354.50 |
| Intangible tax (buyer) | $387,000 x 0.002 | $774.00 |
Ranges for settlement, search and inspection fees are typical Orlando-area figures, not quotes. Ask your title company for a written estimate.
Florida seller's pre-listing checklist
What to gather, fix and decide before the sign goes up. In Florida, the buyer's insurer has as much say as the buyer.
Paperwork to gather
- Mortgage payoff statement (ask your servicer)
- Last property tax bill
- Survey, if you have one
- HOA contact, dues and any pending assessments
- Permits and receipts for roof, HVAC, water heater, electrical, plumbing
- Warranties and manuals
- Your owner's title policy (a reissue credit may apply if under three years old)
What insurers and lenders check
- Roof: age, permit date, remaining life
- Electrical panel brand and wiring type
- Water heater age
- HVAC age and service record
- Plumbing supply-line material
- Consider a pre-listing 4-point inspection so there are no surprises
Know your number
- Ask for a broker price opinion built from closed sales
- Run a seller net sheet at three prices
- Remember deed stamps: $0.70 per $100 of price
- Budget for tax proration: you credit the buyer for January 1 to closing
- Broker fees are negotiable: get them in writing
Disclosure
- List every known defect that materially affects value and is not obvious
- Disclose past insurance claims, roof leaks, sinkhole or flood history you know of
- Gather HOA and CDD disclosures
- When unsure, disclose and ask your broker or a Florida real estate attorney
Getting it ready
- Deep clean, declutter, neutral repairs first
- Pressure-wash, fresh mulch, trim trees off the roof
- Replace burnt bulbs, fix dripping taps, service the AC
- Clear attic, panel and water-heater access for inspectors
- Decide what stays and write it down
Before you accept an offer
- Compare financing type, deposit, inspection period and closing date, not only price
- Check the buyer's pre-approval letter
- Understand any request to pay the buyer's broker or closing costs
- Put every deadline on a calendar the day the contract is signed
Moving to Apopka: first 90 days
The order that saves the most hassle after you arrive. Confirm current requirements with each agency; rules and fees change.
Before the truck arrives
- Confirm whether the address is inside the City of Apopka or unincorporated Orange County
- Ask the seller or landlord which water, sewer, electric and trash providers serve the address
- Start electric and water service in your name for closing day
- Bind homeowners insurance effective on the closing date
- Forward your mail with USPS
First two weeks
- Change the locks and garage codes
- Find the main water shut-off and the electrical panel
- Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
- Register with the HOA and get gate or amenity access
- Photograph the home's condition for your records
First month
- Update your driver license and vehicle registration with Florida (check FLHSMV for current deadlines)
- Register to vote at your new address
- Service the air conditioner and change the filter
- Walk the roof line and gutters from the ground after the first heavy rain
- Learn your FEMA flood zone and your county's evacuation guidance
By March 1
- File for the homestead exemption with the Orange County Property Appraiser
- File for portability if you left a Florida homestead within the last three tax years
- Keep proof of residency: Florida license, vehicle registration, voter registration
Before June 1 (storm season)
- Review your wind deductible and flood coverage
- Trim trees away from the roof
- Stock water, batteries and medications
- Know how to shutter or protect openings
Get to know Apopka
- Wekiwa Springs State Park: reserve day-use entry ahead
- Kelly Park / Rock Springs: arrive early, the park closes at capacity
- Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive: open Friday to Sunday and federal holidays
- West Orange Trail
- Northwest Recreation Complex and the Apopka Amphitheater
Florida homestead filing checklist
File once, by March 1, and it renews automatically while you live there. Miss the deadline and the exemption generally waits until the next tax year.
Do you qualify?
- You owned the home on January 1 of the tax year
- It was your permanent residence on January 1
- You are a Florida resident and claim no residency-based exemption elsewhere
What to have ready
- Florida driver license or ID showing the property address
- Florida vehicle registration
- Florida voter registration, or a declaration of domicile
- Social Security numbers for all owners living there
- Recorded deed or closing statement
- If you are not a U.S. citizen: permanent resident card
How to file
- File online or in person with the Orange County Property Appraiser (ocpafl.org)
- Deadline: March 1 of the first tax year you want the exemption
- File portability (Form DR-501T) at the same time if you left a Florida homestead within the last three tax years
- Ask about additional exemptions: senior, veteran, disability, widow or widower
| Tax year | School taxes | Other taxes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $25,000 off assessed value | up to $51,411 off |
| 2027 (Amendment 3, estimate) | $25,000 off | up to $150,000 off |
| 2028 (Amendment 3, estimate) | $25,000 off | up to $250,000 off |
Amendment 3 was approved by voters on November 3, 2026 (unofficial until certified; implementing law pending). People who become Florida residents after 2026 phase in from $50,000. Save Our Homes then caps annual assessment increases at 3% or inflation, whichever is lower.
Land buyer's due-diligence checklist
Vacant land has no inspection report. This is the list to work through during your feasibility period, before your deposit is at risk.
The parcel
- Parcel ID and legal description match the contract
- Acreage per survey, not per listing
- Boundaries marked and walked
- Current survey ordered; note encroachments and easements
- Price per acre compared with closed land sales nearby
What you may build
- Zoning district and future land use confirmed with the county in writing
- Minimum lot size, setbacks and maximum density
- Deed restrictions or HOA covenants
- Any open code-enforcement cases or liens
Access
- Legal, recorded access to a public road
- Who maintains the road
- Driveway or culvert permit needed
- Easements across the parcel for neighbors or utilities
Water and waste
- Existing well: depth, age, flow, water test
- New well: permit requirements from the water management district
- Septic: site evaluation and permit from the county health department
- Distance to public water and sewer, and connection cost
Ground and water
- FEMA flood zone
- Wetlands: ask for a delineation if any area looks wet
- Soil type and drainage
- Protected species or tree-removal rules
- Past use: fill, dumping, tanks, groves
Money and paper
- Financing terms in writing: land loans usually need a larger down payment
- Property tax as vacant land; ask about agricultural classification rules
- Title commitment reviewed, including mineral rights and old easements
- Feasibility period end date on your calendar
- Utility availability letters where needed
General information for Florida buyers and sellers. Not legal, tax, lending or insurance advice. Rates: Florida Department of Revenue, Florida Administrative Code 69O-186.003, Orange County Comptroller, Orange County Property Appraiser.
