How Does Buying a Home in Palm Beach County Work With Treu Group, Start to Finish?

Buying a home in Palm Beach County with Treu Group follows nine steps: a planning conversation, financing and an insurance preview, choosing areas and property types, touring and comparing, valuing the home, writing the offer, due diligence, the contract-to-close period, and closing day. Each step below explains what happens and links to a deeper guide, so you can read only what you need right now.

Step 1: What happens in the first conversation?

We start with what has to be true about your next home: the lifestyle, the commute, boating or golf, new construction or resale, and the timeline. If you are coming from out of state, we also talk about how many trips you can make and whether you will buy remotely. Before we tour anything, Florida requires a written buyer agreement that spells out the services and how the agent is paid. I walk you through it line by line. Here is what the written buyer agreement means and how to find a buyer's agent you trust.

Step 2: How do you set a budget that includes Florida costs?

Talk with a lender early and get a pre-approval, not just a pre-qualification. In Palm Beach County your monthly cost is more than principal and interest. It includes property taxes, homeowners insurance, flood insurance in some areas, HOA dues, and in some newer communities a CDD assessment. I suggest getting a rough insurance estimate before you fall in love with a house, because roof age and location can change the quote. Read property insurance for Palm Beach County buyers before you shop.

If you own a home now, the order matters too: buy first, sell first, or both at once. See can you buy before you sell? and, if you are moving up, how to turn your equity into your next budget.

Step 3: How do you choose where to buy?

Palm Beach County runs about 45 miles from Jupiter and Tequesta in the north to Boca Raton in the south, and each area has a different mix of homes, clubs and commutes. Most of our buyers start by comparing two or three areas:

• Palm Beach Gardens neighborhoods and communities
• Jupiter vs Palm Beach Gardens
• Lake Worth Beach, Delray Beach and Boynton Beach
• Martin County: Stuart, Palm City, Jensen Beach and Hobe Sound

If you are relocating for work, this step usually starts with the commute. Our relocation timeline lays out the order of decisions from out of state.

Step 4: Resale, new construction, condo or waterfront?

The property type decides which questions matter most, so we sort that out before touring:

• New construction: builder contracts, deposits, lot premiums and inspections work differently. Start with how buying new construction works in Palm Beach County. I live in Avenir, so I know that process from the buyer's side too.
• Condos: reserves, structural inspections, assessments and association approval come first. See what to check when buying a condo.
• Waterfront: the type of water comes first, then the dock and seawall. Compare ocean, Intracoastal, canal and lake.
• Luxury, $1M and up: insurance, jumbo financing and club terms add steps. See due diligence for a $1M+ home.

Steps 5 and 6: How do you tour, compare and value homes?

I set up a search around your criteria, and then we tour in person or by live video. For out-of-state buyers, I often preview homes first and send honest notes on what the photos do not show: road noise, the view from the back of the lot, the age of the roof and AC. When comparing, look past the finishes. Lot, water access, HOA rules, insurance and the condition of major systems usually matter more over time than a kitchen you can change later.

Before we write an offer, I pull recent sales, pending sales and competing listings and walk you through how the home compares. The asking price is the seller's opinion. Your offer should be based on the market. This step is also where we talk about appraisal risk if you are financing.

Step 7: What goes into a Florida offer?

In Florida, the agent writes and negotiates the offer on a standard contract form. Price is only one term. The others include the deposit amount and timing, the inspection period, financing and appraisal contingencies, the closing date, and what stays with the home. A strong offer is the one that fits the seller's needs without giving up your protections. Title insurance is a good example of a negotiable term: in Palm Beach County the seller typically pays for the owner's title policy, but it can be negotiated.

Steps 8 and 9: What happens from contract to closing?

Once your offer is accepted, the clock starts. Your deposit goes to escrow, inspections happen in the inspection period, the lender orders the appraisal, insurance is bound, and title work is completed. Closings in Florida can be handled by a title company or an attorney. Before closing, we do a final walkthrough to confirm the home's condition and that agreed repairs were made. Then you sign, funds are wired, and you get the keys.

Two guides cover this in detail: what happens after your offer is accepted and the contract-to-closing timeline in Palm Beach County. If you want to avoid the most common slip-ups along the way, read homebuyer mistakes to avoid in Palm Beach County.

How do you get started?

Most buyers start with a conversation about areas, budget and timing. Book a buyer consultation or call me at 561-352-3056. Our office is at 2000 PGA Blvd #4440, Palm Beach Gardens.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the first step to buying a home in Palm Beach County?

Start with a planning conversation and a lender pre-approval. In Florida you will also sign a written buyer agreement with your agent before touring homes.

Who writes the offer in Florida?

Your real estate agent writes and negotiates the offer, usually on a standard Florida contract form. Closings can be handled by a title company or an attorney.

Who pays for title insurance in Palm Beach County?

The seller typically pays for the owner's title policy in Palm Beach County, but it is a negotiable term in the contract.

Can I buy a Palm Beach County home from out of state?

Yes. Many buyers tour by live video, sign documents electronically and close remotely, though most like to visit at least once before or during the inspection period.

What costs should I budget for beyond the mortgage?

Property taxes, homeowners insurance, possibly flood insurance, HOA dues, and in some newer communities a CDD assessment.

Published: July 27, 2026 | Updated: October 16, 2026