Question 1

What does it cost to sell a home in Volusia County, Florida?

Accepted Answer

In Central Florida the seller customarily pays for the owner's title insurance policy and selects the closing agent. Add documentary stamp tax on the deed at 70 cents per $100 of the sale price, recording fees to clear any existing liens, property taxes prorated through the day of closing, and the commission agreed to in the listing agreement. Every one of these is negotiable in the FAR/BAR contract.

Question 2

Do I have to pay the buyer's agent commission when I sell my house?

Accepted Answer

No. Since August 2024, buyer broker compensation is no longer advertised in the MLS and no seller is required to offer it. You decide what, if anything, to offer, and it is negotiated in your listing agreement or in the offer itself. Many Volusia County sellers still offer something, because it widens the pool of buyers who can afford to write on the house.

Question 3

Can I take my homestead tax savings with me when I sell?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Florida's Save Our Homes portability lets you move up to $500,000 of accumulated assessment savings from your current homestead to your next Florida home. You must establish the new homestead on or before January 1 of the third year after leaving the old one, and file with your county property appraiser by March 1. In Volusia County you can file online or in person at 123 W. Indiana Avenue in DeLand.

Question 4

How long does it take to sell a home in DeLand or Deltona?

Accepted Answer

There are two clocks. The first is days on market until you accept an offer, which moves with price range, condition and season rather than any single countywide average. The second is closing, usually 30 to 45 days on a financed contract and about two weeks on cash. Evelyn checks the current numbers for your neighborhood and price band instead of quoting a county figure.

Question 5

What should I fix before I list my house?

Accepted Answer

Usually less than sellers expect. Paint, decluttering, deep cleaning and yard work return the most in Central Florida. Big-ticket items like a roof or an air handler are worth talking through first, because in some price ranges a credit at closing nets you more than doing the work yourself. Evelyn walks the house with you before anything gets spent.