Vero Beach Real Estate Guide: Buying & Selling a Home

For Buyers

Buying a home in Vero Beach: what to know

City of Vero Beach or unincorporated Indian River County?

The City of Vero Beach covers parts of the barrier island and the mainland, but many homes with a Vero Beach mailing address are in unincorporated Indian River County, and Indian River Shores and Orchid are separate towns on the barrier island. The jurisdiction affects property taxes, permits, zoning and flood-insurance ratings, so check the property appraiser's record for any home you consider.

Property taxes and the homestead exemption

To qualify, you must own the home and make it your permanent residence by January 1, then apply by March 1 with the Indian River County Property Appraiser. The exemption deducts $25,000 from assessed value, plus a second exemption of about $25,000, now adjusted each year for inflation, on assessed value above $50,000. After you qualify, assessed value can rise no more than 3% or the change in the Consumer Price Index each year, whichever is lower. Taxes reset for a new owner, so don't budget from the seller's current bill.

Flood zones and flood insurance

Barrier-island, oceanfront and lagoon-front homes may sit in higher-risk flood zones. Most homeowners policies do not cover flood damage, and homes with federally backed mortgages in high-risk A or V zones must carry flood insurance. Look up any address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, and ask your insurance agent about Community Rating System discounts for the city or county.

Condos, HOAs and inspections

Florida requires milestone structural inspections for condo and co-op buildings three or more habitable stories tall, generally at 30 years and every 10 years after, and condo associations in those buildings must complete a structural integrity reserve study at least every 10 years. Before buying a condo, ask for those reports, the budget, reserves and any planned special assessments. In HOA and club communities, review the association documents, any required club membership, and rules on rentals, pets and boats. Florida insurers commonly ask for a wind mitigation inspection and, on older homes, a four-point inspection, so get insurance quotes during your inspection period.

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Lifestyle

Living in Vero Beach

• Ocean Drive's shops, restaurants and resorts sit steps from the beach at Humiston Park.
• Riverside Park is home to the Vero Beach Museum of Art and Riverside Theatre.
• McKee Botanical Garden preserves part of McKee Jungle Gardens, a 1930s roadside attraction.
• The Jackie Robinson Training Complex, known as Historic Dodgertown, was the Dodgers' spring training home from 1948 to 2008.
• Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge, near Sebastian, was established in 1903 as the nation's first national wildlife refuge.
• The Treasure Coast takes its name from the 1715 Spanish treasure fleet, which wrecked in a hurricane off this stretch of coast.

Also see William's Port St. Lucie, Hutchinson Island, Jensen Beach and Melbourne real estate guides.