KC KELBY CONTRERAS The Florida Real Estate Specialist

Answers ยท FAQs

Every question deserves a straight answer.

These are the questions that come up on nearly every first call, answered in plain English with the numbers attached. If yours is not here, that is exactly what the contact form is for.

Selling

How much does it cost to sell a home in Florida?

Agent commissions are negotiable and are typically settled at closing. Sellers also pay title, escrow, and recording costs, prorated property taxes, and any concessions agreed in the contract. Before listing, Kelby prepares a net sheet that shows every line item, so you know exactly what the sale puts in your pocket.

How long does it take to sell in Palm Beach County?

Countywide, homes are taking a median of roughly 51 days to reach contract, with sellers collecting about 92.5 percent of asking on average. The range is wide: accurate pricing and preparation can put you under contract in weeks, while overpricing can stretch the process into months.

Should I sell now or wait for lower mortgage rates?

Nobody can time rates with certainty. What is knowable is your home's realistic value, your net proceeds, and your next housing cost. Kelby's approach is to run both scenarios with real numbers, then let you decide with full information, rather than guessing at the market.

Do I need to make repairs before listing?

You need to decide which repairs return more than they cost. A pre-listing inspection reveals the issues buyers will discover anyway, and fixing the expensive ones quietly beats renegotiating them loudly at the inspection stage. Kelby helps you prioritize with a cost-versus-value lens.

What exactly is a free home valuation?

A valuation is a list of your three best comparable sales, a suggested price range, and a projected net sheet, prepared from real closed data for your neighborhood. Request one on the Selling Guide page and it arrives within one business day, with no obligation attached.

Buying

What do I need before I start looking at Florida homes?

A pre-approval letter from a lender who does Florida deals, an honest budget that includes property taxes, homeowners insurance, and flood coverage, and a shortlist of areas. The Buying Guide walks the whole order, and the first strategy call covers your specific numbers.

What is the homestead exemption and how do I file it?

Homeowners who occupy their Florida home as a permanent residence can remove up to $50,000 from assessed value for property tax purposes. File with your county Property Appraiser, typically Form DR-501, by March 1 of the year you claim it, with occupancy as of January 1. It is not automatic, and the cap on future assessment growth makes it more valuable every year.

How much are Florida property taxes and insurance?

They vary widely by property, but both are predictable months in advance. South Florida buyers commonly budget roughly $500 to $700 a month for homeowners insurance, and Florida policies include wind coverage with a hurricane deductible of 2 to 5 percent. Flood insurance is required in FEMA Special Flood Hazard Areas with a federally backed mortgage.

Can I buy a home in Florida from another state?

Yes, regularly. Florida allows remote online notarization, so many relocators close entirely by video. A virtual tour narrows your list, one in-person visit confirms it, and the Relocation Guide covers the full checklist, from insurance to homestead filing.

Am I eligible for a VA loan?

Veterans, active-duty service members, and eligible surviving spouses generally can use the VA loan for a primary residence with zero down, no PMI, competitive rates, and limited closing costs. Florida also offers property tax exemptions for veterans with service-connected disabilities. Full detail is on the Military and Veterans page.

What is a fair offer in this market?

A fair offer is one built on comparables: what similar homes in the same neighborhood closed for in the last ninety days, adjusted for condition and size. In today's market it usually also includes a conversation about seller concessions or a rate buydown. Kelby builds every offer from evidence, then negotiates to protect it.

Working with Kelby

What areas does Kelby cover?

The home base is Palm Beach County: West Palm Beach, Palm Beach, Jupiter, Wellington, Delray Beach, Boca Raton, and everywhere in between. Relocating buyers from out of state are guided statewide, and referrals are shared for counties outside the primary coverage area.

What kinds of clients does Kelby work with?

Sellers, luxury buyers, investors, relocating and out-of-state families, first-time buyers, move-up families, divorce and estate sales, new construction, and downsizing empty nesters. Home sellers are the core of the practice, which is why the selling process is so refined.

How fast will I hear back?

Messages go straight to Kelby's phone and are answered personally, typically the same day during the business week. If a reply is going to take longer, you hear that too, with a concrete time. No auto-responders, no dead ends.

Can you share references or reviews?

Yes. On any call, Kelby is glad to share recent clients who agreed to serve as references, sellers and buyers alike. The public record of day-to-day work lives on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube, all linked throughout this site.

How do we start?

Book a 15-minute strategy call or send a message through the contact page. You will describe where you are and where you want to be, and you will leave with a clear read on your options and a written next step. It costs nothing and commits you to nothing.

Questions answered · Knowledge center

Twelve topic libraries, five hundred answers, every one with the Florida specifics attached.

Deep-dive Q&A pages organized by service area. Each question is answered in plain English for Palm Beach County buyers and sellers, with dated sources cited where the rules and numbers matter and a clear flag wherever current information is required.

01

Buying & Financing

02

Selling & Ownership

03

Legal & Tax Strategies

04

Market & Lifestyle

Still curious

Ask the specialist directly.

The fastest way to a better answer is a real conversation. Book a call or send a message and the reply comes from Kelby, not a script.

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