Buying a home in Celebration and Greater Orlando

Find your fit

Start with how you want to live.

Step by step

How buying works.

Start with a conversation

We begin by talking about how you want to live: the lifestyle, the commute, the must-haves and the nice-to-haves.

Get your financing in order

Speak with a lender early. A pre-approval tells you your budget and shows sellers you are ready.

Build a shortlist

We search every listing for you and share new homes as they come on the market, so you only tour the ones that fit.

Tour with a local

See homes and neighborhoods with someone who knows the streets, the villages and the questions to ask.

Make a strong offer

We help you decide on price and terms, and negotiate on your behalf with the seller’s agent.

Inspections and appraisal

Your inspections and the lender’s appraisal confirm the home is what you expect before you commit.

Closing day

Final walk-through, signatures and keys. We stay with you through closing, and after it.

Buying costs

Know the numbers before you fall in love.

Estimated monthly payment$4,184

Principal & interest $3,034
Property tax $900
Insurance $250

Home price$600,000

Down payment ($120,000)20%

Interest rate6.500%

Loan term30 years

Property tax rate1.80%

Home insurance$250/mo

HOA / CDD fees$0/mo

Example values to start from: adjust them to your situation. An estimate only, not a loan offer; ask a licensed lender for a quote.

Down payment: Set by your loan type and lender. Your pre-approval shows what you will need.
Closing costs: Lender, title and government fees paid at closing. Your lender provides an estimate early on.
HOA and CDD fees: Many Florida communities, Celebration among them, have homeowners’ association fees, and some also have Community Development District (CDD) assessments. We confirm both for every home you consider.
Property taxes: Set by the county each year. A Florida homestead exemption can lower the taxes on your primary home; the county property appraiser explains how to apply.
Home insurance: Required by your lender. Get quotes early, as costs vary with the home’s age, roof and location.

Celebration is in Osceola County. Official sources for taxes and exemptions:

Osceola County

Property Appraiser (opens in a new tab)Property values and homestead exemption
Tax Collector (opens in a new tab)Property tax bills

Orange County

Property Appraiser (opens in a new tab)Property values and homestead exemption
Tax Collector (opens in a new tab)Property tax bills

Relocating

Moving from out of state, or abroad?

Many of our clients start their search from far away. Tell us where you’re coming from and what you’re looking for, and we’ll plan your visit around the neighborhoods that fit.

Start from home. Get new listings by email and save favorites to your account, and ask us anything before you travel.
Plan one focused visit. We line up the homes and neighborhoods worth seeing in person.
Close from anywhere. We coordinate the paperwork so closing works around where you are.
International buyers. Our founder, Kathleen Carlson, is a Certified International Property Specialist and speaks French.

Explore Celebration Greater Orlando areas

Listing alerts

New Celebration homes, first.

Get new listings by email the day they come on the market.

Where to look

Start with the villages.

Schools

School information, from the source.

School assignments depend on a home’s exact address and can change from year to year. For zoning, programs and enrollment, go straight to the school district.

School districts

School District of Osceola County (opens in a new tab)Celebration and Osceola County addresses
Orange County Public Schools (opens in a new tab)Orlando, Windermere, Winter Garden and more

Buyer reviews

From search to keys.

Working with Jennifer Schreiber was an outstanding experience from start to finish. Her knowledge of Celebration, Orlando and the Central Florida market made the entire process feel smooth and well-guided.

Eric R.Buyer · worked with Jennifer Schreiber

1 / 9

Buyer questions

Good questions, straight answers.

Do I need a pre-approval before touring homes?

It isn’t required to tour, but we recommend it. A pre-approval letter from a lender shows what you can comfortably borrow, and most sellers expect to see one (or proof of funds for a cash purchase) with any offer. Since August 2024, buyers also sign a short written agreement with their agent before touring homes together; we walk you through it at our first meeting.

How do offers work in today’s market?

In Florida, most offers are written on a standard contract that sets the price, deposit, financing, closing date and an inspection period. The seller can accept, decline or counter. Conditions change from one village and price point to the next, so before you offer we look at recent sales and how long similar homes have been on the market, and shape the terms around what matters most to that seller.

What inspections should I get?

A general home inspection is the starting point. In Florida, buyers often add a wood-destroying organism (termite) inspection, a wind-mitigation report, which can lower insurance costs, and a four-point inspection of the roof, plumbing, electrical and HVAC, which many insurers ask for on older homes. Pools, docks and septic systems can be inspected separately. These all happen within the inspection period in your contract.

Is there help for first-time buyers?

Yes. The Florida Housing Finance Corporation and some counties offer down-payment and closing-cost assistance, and FHA, VA and USDA loans can require less money down. Programs, income limits and funding change often, so a lender is the best source for what you qualify for today. We’re glad to introduce you to lenders who work with these programs.

Can I buy a home before I move to Florida?

Yes, and it’s common. We can tour homes with you by live video, send detailed notes and photos, and attend inspections on your behalf. Documents are signed electronically, and Florida allows remote online notarization, so closing can often be completed without traveling.

What are CDD fees in Celebration?

A Community Development District (CDD) is a special district under Florida law that funds and maintains community infrastructure. Celebration has two: Celebration CDD, which is mainly residential, and Enterprise CDD, which is mainly commercial. A CDD assessment appears as a non-ad valorem line on the property tax bill, and it varies from one home to the next, so we check the tax bill for any home you consider. Celebration homes also pay association assessments, which are separate.

Finding home, thoughtfully.