Licensed Florida real estate brokerage
Can I sell a house with unpaid property taxes 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, you can generally sell a Florida house that has unpaid property taxes. The overdue taxes are a lien on the property, so the title company or closing attorney normally pays them off from your sale proceeds at closing, and the buyer receives clear title.
The nuance is the amount owed compared with what the house can bring. If the taxes, a mortgage and other liens add up to more than the sale price, the proceeds will not cover everything. Depending on the lender, that may become a short sale, which the lender must approve.
What's involved when taxes are behind
A title search is part of every closing. It shows liens against the property, including delinquent property taxes. The title company then requests payoff figures and deducts them from what you would otherwise receive. Because the balance can change as interest and charges are added, the final figure is confirmed close to the closing date.
If taxes stay unpaid long enough, the county can take collection steps, which generally include selling a tax certificate on the property. That can add cost and complexity. Verify the current status and the exact payoff with your county tax collector.
The same approach applies to other liens. An open code-enforcement case or a recorded code lien is resolved or paid at closing as the city or county requires, so confirm with the local code-enforcement office. A house with back taxes can be listed on the MLS or sold directly for cash. Which route makes sense depends on the home's condition, the total owed and how soon you need to close.
What you can check yourself
Your county tax collector's records
Search your parcel online or call the tax collector to see which years are unpaid and whether a tax certificate has been sold. Ask for a written payoff figure.
The county property appraiser's parcel page
It shows ownership, assessed value and exemptions. Confirm your homestead exemption is in place, since a missing or lapsed one can affect the taxable value.
Your mortgage statements
If a lender escrows your taxes, ask whether they have been paid. If you have no escrow, the taxes are your responsibility.
Other recorded liens
Check the county clerk's official records for code liens, judgments or association liens. Taxes are often not the only item on title.
When to bring in a licensed professional
Call us when you are not sure the sale proceeds will cover the taxes and other payoffs, when a tax certificate has been sold, or when there are several liens or an open code case. A Florida real-estate attorney can answer legal questions about liens, an estate or a divorce, because we are a brokerage, not a law firm. If you are behind on mortgage payments or a foreclosure has been filed, a HUD-approved housing counselor (free, through HUD or 800-569-4287) can explain your options. Foreclosure deadlines are set by the court.
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. We make cash offers in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties for now. Call (888) 440-3766 for a free consultation, and a licensed real-estate professional will contact you.
Premier Real Estate Group Inc is a licensed Florida real estate brokerage (broker license BK3314523). Verify at Florida DBPR.
What we do if you ask for a cash offer
- Written cash offer, no obligationWe buy as-is in any condition, so there are no repairs, cleaning or showings. You are under no obligation to accept the offer.
- Closing through a title companyThe title company runs the search, gets the payoff letters for the property taxes and any mortgage or lien, and prepares the deed. Who pays which closing costs is written into the offer before you sign.
- Your closing dateWe can close in as little as 14 days when title is clear, or on a later date you pick. Unpaid taxes, other liens or an association approval can affect the timeline.
- No commission on a direct purchaseThere is no real-estate commission and no listing fee when we buy your house directly. A cash offer is usually below what a repaired home could bring on the open market, since it trades price for speed and certainty.
- Listing instead, if it nets moreIf your home is in good condition, listing on the MLS may net more. In that case we can list it instead, and a commission is typically paid under a written listing agreement.
Related questions
- Who pays the back taxes when the house sells?
- Usually they are paid from the seller's proceeds at closing, through the title company. The purchase contract sets the details, so check the terms with a Florida real-estate attorney or your closing agent.
- What if I owe more than the house is worth?
- The sale proceeds may not cover every payoff. The lender must approve a short sale, and a HUD-approved housing counselor or a Florida real-estate attorney can explain your options before you decide.
- Can I sell an inherited house that has unpaid taxes?
- Yes, but the personal representative needs authority to sell, from the will or the probate court. The estate's attorney confirms which applies, and the taxes are generally paid at closing like any other lien.
- Do you buy houses with tax liens outside South Florida?
- For now, our cash offers cover Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties only. If your house is elsewhere in Florida, call us and we can talk about listing it with a licensed agent.
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