My in-laws gave us a nice bottle of wine, a little collection of flavored salts, a nice candle, and a gift certificate to a local restaurant. There was also a very nice frame with a little poem in it about what each thing symbolized like:

Salt so life may always have flavor

Bread so your cubbards will always be full

Candle so that this house will always have light

Wine so that joy and prosperity may reign forever

The frame was a very nice one which we could then use to put a photo in. I ended up keeping the poem in the frame and put it in a shelf in the kitchen because I liked the sentiment.

If they are in the military, will they be staying put for a while or moving in two years? If staying, how about a tree? If moving, how about a nice set of table or bed linens?

Not for the house, but for a nice start for living in Tampa (my hometown).

Season passes to Busch Gardens or

look into tickets for the Water taxi and a gift certificate for dinner at Ulele

Or

The most famous restaurant in the area is Berns Steakhouse

Most major stores have places here so you can consider Restoration Hardware, Pottery Barn, Ethan Allen, etc. if you want something for the home.

The first thing they will need will be a lawn mower, if they don't already have one.

Shout out if you need any more info.

ML

As awful as this sounds, I'd give them cash, but the reason is because there are sooo many things they will need for their first home and if it were me, I'd want the fun of picking it out. If that's completely out of the question, then maybe a new set of pots and pans or maybe a small bbq and some outdoor seating for their new yard.

Gift card to Home Depot, Bed Bath and Beyond, or Amazon!

Unless you know of a specific item they want, I'd avoid things. I like the idea of the tree though. We have reason to periodically return to the city where we bought our first home and planted a tree in the front yard. It's always such fun to see how it has grown from a sapling to a huge tree. When we were at that stage of our lives, cold hard cash would have been appreciated. So many little expenses creep up as first time homeowners and young marrieds. It would be nice to have a little fund to draw from for those expenses. So, either cash, an item you absolutely know for certain they want, or an experience would be my vote.

My own son and brand new DIL (woohoo) are under contract on their first, and I'm going to give them one of these personalized signs. Since yours are in Tampa, perhaps the nautical/beach style will appeal? I like it because it can be printed with the exact coordinates of their first home. Perhaps this would be something to consider.

Maybe along with a gift certificate to a home improvement type store, a gift certificate for someplace they could get food to go, or a meal or two out. Include something sentimental that they could keep.

I gave my son and dil one of these for their first home - they hung it beside the front door - It's brass:

Well, first of all, you have to get them a broom. A broom house-warming gift is a must as it brings good luck to the new home.

I think Fun2BHere's suggestion of bed linens is a very good idea. $500 can get them some really nice bedding. For Florida, I'd get some crisp cotton percale sheets and pillow cases and a good all-cotton blanket. Good bedding makes a huge difference in a life!

If you go that route, do a lot of research. You want long-staple cotton. thread count doesn't matter. Don't get wrinkle-free. That means there are chemicals in the fabric to keep it from wrinkling.

If their mattress isn't great, get a two-inch latex mattress topper sent to them. I bought one recently, at a great price, and I love it. Also love my latest pillows, but pillows are so personal, I don't think I'd get them as gifts.

Lot's of great ideas here! I am currently on a monogrammed linen obsession so my suggestion is monogrammed dinner/cocktail napkins with some version of their address. Here is a simple example: http://www.numberfoureleven.com/linens/table/custom-26.html 

Lot's of great Etsy options as well. I recently got some monogrammed fouta tea towels that are just beautiful.

Especially since they're a military family I would give them something small and weloping they could take with them like nice sheets or towels. Also as first time home buyers they will need cash/gift cards.

Tibbrix, a broom would be traditional in our family! I am never allowed to move a broom from a previous home. "A new broom sweeps clean" is the saying here!

Thank you all so much!
I riffed off Beagles’ suggestion and included many others:

I found a basket at HomeGoods
that can eventually hold towels, toilet paper, magazines, etc.

Lined it with four nice
kitchen towels (including one that says “Meals and Memories are made here”).

Purchased a nice frame and
included the following poem printed on parchment:

Bread that your cupboards will always be full, (Gift Certificate to Ulele – ML that was an amazing
suggestion – and likely one they wouldn’t find on their own any time soon)

Candle that your home will always have light, (Voluspa ‘Maison Blanc – Saijo Persimmon’ Candle)

Coin that you may dwell in good fortune, ($200 Home Depot Gift Card – they already have a lawn mower,
but will need a weed eater once we help them install a fence for their dogs)

Honey and Salt that life shall always have sweetness and flavor, (Orange Blossom Honey from Florida – if they like it that
will make a terrific and inexpensive gift for them to send to family members at
Christmas; also found some smoked sea salt and pepper & garlic seasoned sea
salt that sounded useful and interesting)

Wine that joy and prosperity may reign forever. (bottle of pinot
grigio – I had to google wine that beer drinkers would like since they have yet
to acquire a wine drinker’s palate!)

Although married over 30 years, DH and I do well remember
those first days of needing SO much.
However, DS/DDIL have been married for three years (first lived in an
apartment and then military quarters at previous assignments) so have most of the staples and furniture
already. This is their first home
purchase – driven mostly by the fact that it’s cheaper to buy in Tampa than
rent and the waiting list for military quarters is 10 months’ long. I don’t think this will be their forever home
but – you never know! We definitely plan
to purchase and plant a tree during our first visit – and now I know to bring a
new broom as well!

OT @runningplace: my stepfather recently
passed away after a very unexpected, painful, violent, and unnecessary illness
(he and mom were married for 47 years)… you have given me clarification on how
my DH can craft boxes for all of DSF’s (12!) grandchildren with the rough milled
wood we brought home from his shop milled from a cherry tree in their front yard. Coordinates – perfect!

Thanks again, everyone – you are truly awesome!

My best,

Michele

This wasn't my post but I want to add my thanks too. My DD and her BF just purchased their first home. They've been renting for 4 years, house hunting for 2 of them and finally found one in great condition that they can afford - although not in the greatest of neighborhoods - but it's slowly improving.

Like the OP I like the idea of the basket full of goodies and the poem - and a GC for sheets! They plan on purchasing a new queen bed which will require new bedding since they've been in a double bed.

Maire

I must ask Iowacommute: what is "something small and welopin"?

I assumed it was just a typo and that 'small and welcoming' meant 'nice sheets and towels' as she mentioned.

I started assembling my basket - nice towels were the first items I found.

thanks again for such great ideas.

I'm bookmarking this so I can return when I need a housewarming gift. I love the poem idea with accompanying gifts. I can then add linens if it's for family or close friends! This is a great thread!