Can you sell a vacant house in Florida, and what does it cost you to wait?

The short answer

Yes. Nothing in Florida law stops you from selling a house because nobody lives in it, and many buyers prefer an empty house because there is no one to move out. The harder part is that a vacant house keeps generating bills and risks while it waits.

Howler Property Group LLC, a Tampa-based company that buys Florida houses directly, publishes this guide. It is general information and not legal advice.

What changes once a Florida house sits empty?

• Insurance. Many homeowners policies limit or exclude certain losses once a house sits empty for a set period, commonly somewhere between 30 and 60 days. Read the vacancy clause in your policy, or ask the insurer in writing, because a claim after a burst pipe or a break-in can be denied.
• Homestead exemption. The exemption depends on the house being your permanent residence. If you moved out, or the owner has died, tell the county property appraiser. Keeping an exemption you no longer qualify for can lead to back taxes and penalties.
• Property taxes. They keep accruing whether or not anyone lives there. Unpaid taxes become a lien, and the sequence is laid out in selling a house with back taxes in Florida.
• Code enforcement. Overgrown grass, a green pool, boarded windows and trash are the usual complaints. Fines that go unpaid can be recorded as a lien, covered in code violation liens in Florida.
• Storms and damage. An empty house has no one to catch a roof leak or move shutters. See selling a hurricane-damaged house.

Who can sign if the owner cannot?

• The owner has died. The sale is signed by the estate's personal representative, appointed by the probate court. See selling a house in probate in Florida.
• The owner is in a care facility or cannot manage affairs. A durable power of attorney that covers real estate, or a court-appointed guardian, may be able to sign. A power of attorney used on a deed generally has to be signed with two witnesses and notarized, so the title company checks the document before it accepts it.
• You cannot locate the owner. That is a legal question for an attorney, since title cannot move without the owner or a court.

What about squatters or someone living there without permission?

Do not change the locks or remove belongings on your own. Florida has specific procedures for removing people from a property, and a wrong step can create liability for you. Start with the county sheriff or local police, and talk to a Florida attorney if the occupant claims any right to be there. A buyer and a title company will want to know who is in the house, so tell them plainly.

What does a buyer ask about an empty house?

• How long it has been empty, and whether the utilities are on
• Whether there has been water intrusion, mold, pests or a break-in
• Whether any code notices, open permits or insurance claims exist
• Clear title: mortgage payoff, taxes and recorded liens

You do not need to clean or repair anything first. Photos and the paperwork above are more useful than a tidy yard. See also what you must disclose in an as-is sale.

Where does Howler Property Group fit in?

Howler Property Group buys vacant Florida houses as-is for cash, with no repairs, no showings and no agent. We still run a title search and put the deal in a written contract, and the closing date can be set around your situation. If a different route would leave you better off, we say so.

Written 2026-10-27. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice, and we are not a law firm. For your own deadlines and rights, talk to a Florida attorney.

Related questions

• Sell a house with back taxes in Florida
• What happens when a Florida property has a code violation lien, and can you still sell it?
• Can you sell a house full of belongings, or a hoarded house, in Florida?
• All Florida home-selling guides