Buying a home, explained step by step.
No jargon. No pressure. Just a clear walk through how buying a home in Central Florida actually works — so you can make every decision with confidence, from your first pre-approval to the day the keys are in your hand.
The Orlando Home Buyer’s Guide
The Florida-specific playbook for buying with confidence in Central Florida: the real cost of buying, Florida rules, financing, neighborhoods, and every step from pre-approval to keys.
House Hunting, Made Effortless
As your Buyer's Representative, Erica makes house hunting easier and more efficient than doing it alone. She helps you secure financing, explore local neighborhoods, set your budget, and prioritize the features that matter most in your next home.
You'll save valuable time: Erica finds the properties that best suit your requirements and shows you only the most promising ones.
I’m Erica Andre. For more than a decade I’ve helped people buy, sell, and invest in Central Florida — and I came to this work from the other sides of the table: mortgage, investing, and renovation. That means when we sit down together, you don’t just get an agent who opens doors. You get someone who can explain the financing, run the numbers, see what a home can become — and then negotiate like it’s her own money on the line.
- 10+ years in real estate
- Mortgage background
- Investor’s eye
- Relocation Specialist to Florida
Four careers. One point of view.
Most agents learn real estate from one side of the transaction. Erica learned it from all of them — and that changes the advice you get at every step.
“You’re not just buying a house. You’re making a financial decision you’ll live inside of. My job is to make sure it’s a smart one.”
It started on the lending side
Before Erica was negotiating contracts, she was working in mortgage — learning how loans are really underwritten, why pre-approvals fall apart, and how the structure of financing can make an offer stronger or a closing fall through.
That background never left her practice. When a buyer asks, “Can we afford this?” she doesn’t guess — she knows how a lender will look at it. When a seller weighs two offers, she can tell the difference between the highest number and the offer most likely to actually close.
Then she learned to think like an investor
Investment experience taught Erica to look past staging and curb appeal to the questions that decide whether a property is a good decision: What will it cost to own? What could it return? What is it likely to be worth — and why?
She brings that same discipline to families buying a home to live in. A home is a lifestyle choice, yes — but it’s also likely the largest asset you’ll ever own. Erica treats it as both.
Renovation taught her to see what a home can become
With experience in renovation management and design, Erica walks into a property and sees two things at once: the home as it stands today, and the home it could be — along with a realistic sense of what that work involves and what it should cost.
For buyers, that means honest guidance on which “projects” are simple wins and which are money pits. For sellers, it means knowing exactly which preparations buyers will pay for — and which ones to skip.
More than a decade of putting it together for clients
Erica has been helping clients in Central Florida for more than ten years — client reviews on Zillow date back to 2016 — across first homes, family moves, sales, rentals, and relocations from out of state. She is now a Broker Associate with LIVE MVRK LLC in Orlando.
How Buying With Erica Works
Consultation
Share your goals, must-haves, timeline, and budget in a free strategy session.
Financing
Get pre-approved. With a mortgage background, Erica helps you compare options and understand the numbers.
Home Search
Receive curated listings that fit your criteria and tour only the most promising homes, in person or virtually.
Offer & Negotiation
Write a strong, well-priced offer and negotiate terms, repairs, and credits on your behalf.
Inspections & Closing
Coordinate inspections, appraisal, insurance, and paperwork through closing day and the keys.
What Sets Her Apart
Buying a Home in Orlando
Why should I use a buyer's agent in Orlando?
A buyer's agent represents your interests, not the seller's. Erica helps you set a realistic budget, find homes that fit your priorities, write competitive offers, negotiate repairs and terms, and manage deadlines through closing.
How much does it cost to work with a buyer's agent?
Buyer agent compensation is agreed in writing before you tour homes, and in some cases it can be paid by the seller as part of the negotiation. Erica explains the options clearly in your first consultation so there are no surprises.
Do I need to be pre-approved before looking at homes?
Pre-approval is strongly recommended. It confirms your budget, shows sellers you're a serious buyer, and helps you act quickly when the right home comes along.
Can Erica help with financing questions?
Yes. Erica has more than 10 years of combined experience in real estate and mortgages, so she can help you understand loan options, closing costs, and monthly payments, and connect you with trusted local lenders.
How long does it take to buy a home in Orlando?
It depends on the market and your financing, but once an offer is accepted, many financed purchases close in roughly 30 to 45 days. Cash purchases can close faster.
Let's Talk About Your Move
A private, no-pressure consultation to map out your next step in Orlando and Central Florida.
