Buying with Zoya
Buying a home in Central Florida
Buying a home here comes down to seven steps: a first conversation, financing, the search, the offer, inspection and appraisal, closing, and the keys. Zoya Solovyeva, REALTOR®, walks you through each one in English or Russian, whether you are moving across town or from another country.
English and Russian · Olympus Executive Realty · Client reviews
Olympus Executive Realty · (609) 408-7086
The seven steps
From the first call to the keys in your hand.
Whether you’re moving across town or from another country, this is how it works, in the language you’re most comfortable with.
Olympus Executive Realty · (609) 408-7086
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A first conversation
Tell Zoya what you need: the area, the budget, the timing and how you plan to pay. Call, text, WhatsApp or email, in English or Russian. Not sure where to look? Tell her where you will work and what you can spend, and she will suggest a few areas that fit.
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Financing
Get pre-approved before you shop, or have proof of funds ready if you pay cash. A pre-approval tells you, and sellers, what you can borrow. Zoya works with lenders who understand international transactions. Read pre-qualification vs pre-approval and try the mortgage calculator.
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The search
We narrow the areas down to the few that fit you, then tour homes in person or by video call. Before we tour, we sign a short written buyer agreement that says how Zoya is paid. Start with the Central Florida areas.
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The offer
Zoya prepares your written offer, explains every term in your language and negotiates for you: the price, the deposit, the inspection period, the financing terms and the closing date.
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Inspection and appraisal
A licensed inspector checks the home, and if you take a loan, your lender orders an appraisal. Then we decide together what to ask the seller for. Get your insurance quotes during this period too.
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Closing
A title company handles the documents and the funds. If you can’t fly in, closing can often be done remotely. Before you wire money, confirm the instructions by phone. See what closing costs to expect.
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Keys in hand
You get the keys, and Zoya stays in touch for the questions that come later. If the home becomes your permanent residence, apply for the homestead exemption with the county property appraiser.
Before you offer
What Zoya checks with every buyer.
The listing tells you the price. These checks tell you what the home will really cost and what you can do with it.
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Is the address inside the city?
A mailing address can name a city the parcel is not in, and that changes the rules and the taxes. Look the parcel up on the county property appraiser’s site, such as Orange County or Seminole County.
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Flood zone and insurance
Flood zones are set address by address: search the exact address on FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center. A seller of a home in Florida must give the buyer a flood disclosure at or before the time the contract is signed (Florida Statutes 689.302). Ask for flood and homeowners insurance quotes early in your inspection period.
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Roof, age and insurance
An older roof, plumbing or wiring can change the insurance quote as much as the condition. Ask the inspector to look closely and ask the insurer before your inspection period ends.
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HOA and CDD documents
Whether a home has a homeowners association or a community development district depends on the subdivision or condo building. Ask for the documents, the fees and the rental rules before your review period ends.
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Property taxes after you buy
Taxes are set each year from the assessed value, and the seller’s exemptions and limits can end with the sale, so the seller’s bill is not a guide to yours. If the home becomes your permanent residence, the homestead exemption can lower its taxable value by as much as $50,000 (Florida Department of Revenue); apply with the county property appraiser.
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Schools
Public school assignment depends on the exact address. Check it in the school district’s own locator: Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Lake or Polk.
Buying from abroad
Buying from another country.
Many steps can happen before you arrive. A few take extra time, so start them early. This is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Tours and signing. Homes can be toured by video call, offers are signed electronically, and closing can often be done remotely through the title company.
Paying for the home. Some lenders offer loans to buyers without a U.S. credit history; the terms, the down payment and the documents vary by lender. Compare a few, and check any loan officer’s license on NMLS Consumer Access.
Wiring money safely. Scammers send fake wiring instructions by email, posing as the agent or the title company. Before you send money, confirm the account details by phone, using a number you saved earlier, never one from the email. If a wire goes wrong, call your bank at once and report it at ic3.gov (CFPB advice).
Florida law on foreign buyers. Florida limits some purchases by people domiciled in seven countries named in the law, mainly agricultural land and property near military sites and critical infrastructure, and buyers sign an affidavit at closing (Florida Statutes chapter 692, rule 61J2-10.200). Whether it applies to you is a question for a Florida attorney.
Taxes when you sell later. When a foreign person sells U.S. real estate, the buyer generally must withhold 15% of the amount realized for the IRS under FIRPTA (IRS). Plan for it with a U.S. tax professional before you buy.
The whole process, step by step, is in How to buy a home in Florida.
Client reviews
In clients’ own words
Selected Google reviews, quoted word for word. “…” marks every cut.
“Very energetic professional Very Honest she will explain everything in detail. Strongly recommend her without any hesitation!”
“Zoya did an amazing job to get me the best deal for my condo! She is very diligent and responsive! She is a make-it-happen kind of person and she always had my best interest at heart! …”
“…She does her homework and knows the market well. Her recommendations for buying and selling are always right on the money. …”
Questions
Questions buyers ask
How much money do I need to buy a home?
Plan for the down payment, the closing costs and a cushion for insurance, property taxes and any HOA fees. Your lender’s pre-approval sets the loan side. See buyer closing costs and the mortgage calculator.
Do I pay Zoya to help me buy?
How Zoya is paid is written in the buyer agreement you sign before touring homes. The amount is negotiable, and a seller may agree to pay part or all of it as part of the deal.
Should I get pre-approved before I look at homes?
Yes, if you will use a loan. A pre-approval shows sellers you can close and tells you your real budget. Read pre-qualification vs pre-approval.
How long does buying take?
The search takes as long as finding the right home takes. Once an offer is accepted, the contract sets the closing date, and a loan usually needs more time than cash. Zoya plans the timeline with you before you make an offer.
Can I buy a home in Florida if I live in another country?
In most cases, yes, and many steps can be done remotely. Florida limits some purchases by people domiciled in certain countries, and taxes differ for foreign owners, so talk to a Florida attorney and a tax professional early. See buying from another country.
Which public schools serve a home?
It depends on the exact address, so check each address in the school district’s own locator. The links are under what Zoya checks.
Can I work with Zoya in Russian?
Yes. Calls, the offer, the inspection and the closing can all be explained in Russian. This page is also in Russian, with more on buying from abroad.
Talk to Zoya
Ready for step one?
Tell Zoya where you want to live, your budget and your timing, and she will get back to you within 24 hours, in English or Russian.
- Call(609) 408-7086Olympus Executive Realty
- TextSend a textOlympus Executive Realty · (609) 408-7086
- WhatsAppMessage ZoyaOlympus Executive Realty
- Emailrealtor@zoyasells.comOlympus Executive Realty, 16903 Lakeside Drive, Montverde, FL 34756
Keep exploring
Guides, areas and services
Buying
Selling
Updated November 8, 2026. Sources linked beside each fact: FEMA, Florida Statutes 689.302 and chapter 692, the Florida Department of Revenue, the IRS, the CFPB, NMLS and the county school districts, read November 8, 2026.