Licensed Florida real estate brokerage
Can I sell a house with code violations in Florida?
A straight answer from a licensed Florida real estate brokerage — then what you can check yourself and when to bring in a licensed professional. Free consultation: (888) 440-3766.
Yes. Code violations don't stop you from selling a house in Florida, but an open code-enforcement case or a recorded code lien has to be resolved or paid at closing, as the city or county requires. The title company or closing attorney will find it in the title search, so it is better to deal with it openly than to hope it goes unnoticed.
What changes the answer is the route you sell by. A buyer using a mortgage will usually need the property to pass an appraisal and inspection, and violations can complicate that. A buyer paying cash can purchase as-is, but the violation and any lien still have to be handled at the closing table.
Why violations matter at closing
A code case is a public record tied to the property. Common triggers include overgrown yards, unpermitted work, structural or roof problems, and storm or water damage. Fines or liens recorded against the property become part of the title picture, and a title company generally will not close until they are addressed in the way the local code-enforcement office requires. Because each city and county runs its own process, check with yours.
Unpermitted work is a related issue. If an addition, a conversion or electrical or plumbing work was done without a permit, a buyer's lender, insurer or inspector may raise it. Whether it must be permitted after the fact, corrected or simply disclosed depends on the local building department, so verify with them.
Selling as-is does not remove your disclosure duties. Florida sellers must give buyers the flood disclosure (s. 689.302, F.S.), and a Florida real-estate attorney can tell you what else you must disclose about known problems.
What you can check yourself
Ask code enforcement about open cases
Contact your city or county code-enforcement office and ask whether any case is open on the property, what is required to close it, and whether a lien has been recorded.
Search the official records
Most county clerks let you search recorded documents by owner or address. Look for code liens, mortgages and other liens that a payoff letter would need to cover.
Review permit history
The local building department can show which permits were pulled and closed. Gaps may point to unpermitted work you will need to disclose or address.
Check property tax status
Your county tax collector and property appraiser records show whether taxes are unpaid, which also has to be resolved at closing.
When to bring in a licensed professional
Call a professional when a case is open, a lien is recorded, or you are unsure what the violation will require. A Florida real-estate attorney can advise on legal exposure, disclosure and how a lien is satisfied. If you are behind on payments or facing foreclosure, a HUD-approved housing counselor can explain your options. For an inherited house, the personal representative needs authority to sell (from the will or the court), and the estate's attorney confirms it.
We can talk through your situation in a free, no-obligation consultation at (888) 440-3766. Our cash offers cover Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties only. If your house is elsewhere in Florida, a licensed real-estate professional we refer you to can help you list it. Premier Real Estate Group Inc is a licensed Florida real estate brokerage (BK3314523). When we buy a property directly, we are acting as the buyer for our own account, not as your agent. You are free to have your own agent or attorney review any offer. Not legal or tax advice.
Premier Real Estate Group Inc is a licensed Florida real estate brokerage (broker license BK3314523). Verify at Florida DBPR.
What a direct cash purchase involves
- A written cash offer, as-isFor houses in our service area we make a written cash offer to buy the house as-is, in any condition, with no repairs, cleaning or showings and no obligation to accept.
- Closing through a title companyThe sale closes through a title company or closing attorney, which runs the title search and arranges payoff letters. We can close in as little as 14 days when title is clear, or on a later date you choose.
- Code cases and liens handled at closingAn open case or recorded code lien is resolved or paid at closing as the city or county requires. We can't fix title problems, and they can affect the timeline.
- No commission, with costs in writingThere is no real-estate commission and no listing fee when we buy your house directly. Who pays which closing costs is written into the offer before you sign.
- An honest comparison with listingA cash offer is usually below what a repaired home could bring on the open market, because it trades price for speed and certainty. If listing on the MLS would net you more, we can list it instead.
Related questions
- Do I have to fix the violations before I sell?
- Not always. It depends on the buyer, the type of violation and what the local code-enforcement office requires. Cash buyers often purchase as-is, while a buyer with a mortgage may need repairs first. Ask the code office what closes the case.
- What happens to a code lien when the house sells?
- A recorded lien is generally paid from the sale proceeds at closing, using a payoff figure from the city or county. The title company or closing attorney coordinates it, so confirm the process with the code-enforcement office.
- Will listing with an agent or selling for cash leave me with more?
- For a home in good condition, listing on the MLS may net more, though you would typically pay a commission set in a written listing agreement. A direct cash purchase carries no commission and sells as-is. We can walk through both options with you in a free consultation.
- Can you buy my house if it has code violations and is outside South Florida?
- Our cash offers are limited to Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. For a house elsewhere in Florida, we can refer you to a licensed real-estate professional who can help you list it.
Get your written cash offer
Tell us the address, its condition and your timing. We'll contact you to look at the house. No obligation.
Licensed brokerage
Premier Real Estate Group Inc
Broker of record Maxim Bohadana, Florida broker license BK3314523
(888) 440-3766