Jamie Engel & The Florida Keys Home Team Realtors

That depends....each area of the Florida Keys is different so it depends on what you are looking for; what you like to do; and how much you have to invest. There are 1,700 islands that make up the Florida Keys that cover 137 square miles. 43 of these islands are connected by bridges with a total of 42 bridge connections and many outlaying islands that are not connected. There are 4 areas of the Florida Keys from North to South: The Upper Keys (at the south end of the 18-mile stretch and the entrance to the Keys ) then south of that are the Middle Keys; then you would cross the 7-mile bridge and enter the Lower Keys, and at the very end of the 1000 island chain is Key West. Each of these areas is has it's own special character. As far as price ranges, Key West is the most expensive real estate; Islamorada comes in a close second; with Key Largo, Marathon and the Lower Keys coming in after that.

Pre-Qualification is the is the preliminary interview process where the Loan Officer asks questions of the Buyer to help determine how much the Buyer can afford. Pre-Approval is the next step where the Buyer then provides the documentation and verification of the answers that were given.

An Appraisal determines the value of a property and, a Home Inspection helps determine the condition of a property. Both of these are important parts of the home buying process. You should do both to help you better understand what you are purchasing and both will give you better insights to help you avoid any financial missteps. A appraisal is performed by a licensed professional appraiser who walks through the home, and then compares the home's features with other comparable recent sales in the same area. A home inspection is performed by a licensed professional home inspector who will go through the home to verify the home's condition on the day of the inspection. The Inspector will check from the roof to the structural foundation on the outside, and then check the electric, plumbing, appliances, etc. on the inside. The Inspector will then produce a report to explain what was found and what might need to be repaired, or replaced.