First-Time Home Buyer St. Augustine Guide

Buying your first home in St. Augustine or St. Johns County? Here is the plan, step by step.

Search St. Augustine homes for first-time buyers

Call or Text Tanya: (904) 439-9842

Buying your first home is exciting and a little overwhelming. This first-time home buyer St. Augustine guide walks through the steps, the costs people forget, and the neighborhoods where first-time buyers often start. Get a personalized plan from Tanya.

How Do I Buy My First Home in St. Augustine? Quick Answer

Start with a mortgage pre-approval so you know your price range, then choose an agent who represents you as the buyer. Ask about down payment assistance, since Florida Housing and local SHIP programs may help eligible first-time buyers. Budget for HOA dues, CDD assessments in newer communities, and homeowners and flood insurance. Then tour homes, make an offer, complete inspections during the inspection period, and close with a title company, usually 30 to 45 days after the contract.

First-Time Home Buyer St. Augustine Steps

  1. Get pre-approved. A lender reviews income, credit and assets and tells you what you qualify for. See Florida first-time home buyer programs on our affiliated mortgage site.
  2. Sign a buyer agreement. Florida buyers now sign a written agreement with their agent before touring, which spells out services and compensation.
  3. Set your must-haves. Commute, St. Johns County school zones, HOA rules and budget.
  4. Tour and make an offer. Tanya uses recent neighborhood sales to help you offer with confidence.
  5. Inspect and insure. Get a home inspection, plus a four-point and wind mitigation report on older homes, and insurance quotes early.
  6. Close. Review your Closing Disclosure, do a final walk-through and sign.

Down Payment Help for First-Time Buyers

Florida Housing Finance Corporation offers first mortgage and down payment assistance programs through approved lenders, and St. Johns and Duval counties administer State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) assistance for eligible buyers. Income limits, purchase price limits and funding change often, so confirm current availability with a participating lender.

Costs First-Time Buyers Forget

  • CDD assessments in many newer St. Augustine communities, which appear on the property tax bill.
  • HOA dues and capital contribution fees at closing.
  • Homeowners and flood insurance, especially near the coast.
  • Closing costs such as lender fees, title insurance and recording fees. Estimate them with the buyer closing cost calculator.

Where First-Time Buyers Often Start

Popular starting points include St. Augustine Shores, Moultrie, Treaty Oaks, North City and newer communities such as Bannon Lakes and Trailmark. Military buyers can also see military relocation.

Start Your First-Home Search

Tell Tanya your budget and must-haves, and she will send matching homes and a step-by-step plan.

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Why Buyers and Sellers Work With Tanya Cosmini

Tanya Cosmini is the Broker/Owner of Realty ONE Group Elevate, with offices in Jacksonville and St. Augustine. She has helped clients buy and sell more than 500 homes representing over $400 million in Northeast Florida real estate, and she holds the Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist (CLHMS), Accredited Buyer's Representative (ABR) and Military Relocation Professional (MRP) designations. Call or text Tanya at (904) 439-9842.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who counts as a first-time home buyer?

Many programs define it as someone who has not owned a home in the past three years, but each program sets its own rules.

Does it cost money to use a buyer's agent?

Buyer agent compensation is set in your written buyer agreement and is often negotiated with the seller or builder. Tanya explains your options before you tour.

How much do I need for a down payment?

It depends on the loan program. Talk with a lender about your options and any assistance you may qualify for.

Related Pages

Information is general and believed reliable but not guaranteed; confirm details such as fees, school assignments and programs with the provider. Affiliated companies are owned within the same family; you are free to choose other providers. Equal Housing Opportunity.

Our Family of Companies

  • Realty ONE Group Elevate, a full-service real estate brokerage with offices in Jacksonville and St. Augustine
  • Title Company of Florida, title insurance, escrow, and closings statewide, with a $299 settlement fee for veterans, active duty military and first responders
  • Rental Property Partners, property management in Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Ponte Vedra

Affiliated business disclosure: Realty ONE Group Elevate is owned by Tanya Cosmini. Title Company of Florida is owned by her husband, Sam Gorniak, and Rental Property Partners is owned within the same family. Because of these family relationships, the owners may benefit when you use more than one of these companies. You are not required to use any of them and are free to choose other providers.