Selling a Vacant House in Florida
Yes, an empty Florida house sells like any other, but it doesn't sit still. Insurance is the biggest headache: many policies limit coverage on vacant homes, and finding wind coverage for an empty house with an older roof can be hard. Then there's hurricane season, humidity, mold, pests, HOA rules, and squatters, which Florida now lets owners address through the sheriff in some cases. Lock it down, sort out insurance, put a monthly number on waiting, and then decide whether to keep it, fix and list it, or sell it as-is.
Reviewed by Dennis Fassett, founder of Dennis Buys Houses · Updated November 2026
For owners of an empty Florida house, whether it's inherited, a second home, between renters or left behind after a move. General information, not legal or insurance advice.
Why Is It Empty?
- An estateSort out who can sign before anything else. (See How to Sell a House in Probate in Florida.)
- A seasonal homeInsurers may treat months-long absences differently than you expect.
- A former rentalBe sure the tenancy has legally ended before removing anything.
- A stalled renovationOpen permits show up on title searches and slow sales.
- Payments are behindAn empty house doesn't pause the lender or the tax collector.
Secure It Like a Storm Is Coming
- 1Locks and openings
Rekey, lock the sliders, and know where the shutters or panels are.
- 2Call the insurer
Today, not after a claim.
- 3Moisture control
Keep the AC running at a moderate setting or a dehumidifier going. A shut-up Florida house grows mold in weeks.
- 4Water off at the main
A slow leak in an empty house can run for weeks.
- 5A regular check-in
Someone who'll walk through every week or two, and after every storm.
- 6Photos
Date-stamped pictures of the roof, every room and every system.
Insurance Is the Real Problem
Many homeowners policies restrict coverage once a house has been vacant for a set period, commonly 60 days in a row, and Florida insurers look hard at roof age. Tell your carrier the house is empty and ask exactly what's covered, including wind and water damage. If they won't cover it, you'll need a vacant-dwelling policy. Losing insurance also matters to buyers: if a buyer can't insure the roof, they usually can't get a mortgage.
Want a Number to Compare Against?
Tell me where the house is and how long it's been empty. I'll give you an as-is number to compare with what it's costing, and tell you if listing is better.
Squatters and Florida's 2024 Law
Florida added a faster remedy in 2024. If someone who isn't a tenant, owner or family member moves into your house without permission, you can ask the sheriff to remove them by filing a sworn complaint, as long as you meet the statute's conditions, including that the house wasn't open to the public and there's no pending case over it. (Fla. Stat. § 82.036) A former tenant or someone with any claim to be there is a different situation that goes through the county court.
HOAs and Local Rules
Many Florida cities and counties require foreclosed or abandoned homes to be registered, and code enforcement keeps a close eye on overgrown yards and pools gone green. If the house is in an HOA, dues and violation fines keep coming whether anyone lives there or not. Call your city or county code office and check the HOA's rules before a notice shows up.
Taxes and Payments Keep Running
Florida taxes are due November 1 and delinquent April 1. If you moved out, the homestead exemption may end, which can raise next year's bill. (See Selling a House With Delinquent Property Taxes in Florida.) A mortgage that goes unpaid ends up in a court foreclosure. (See Selling a House in Foreclosure in Florida.)
In Florida, the monthly cost of an empty house is mostly insurance and risk. Get a real quote before you decide to hold it through another hurricane season.
What Waiting Really Costs
Add the mortgage, taxes divided by 12, insurance (often much higher once it's vacant), HOA dues, electric for the AC, lawn and pool care, someone to check on it, and a reserve for storm damage. Then multiply by the months a fix-up and sale would realistically take.
Your Options for an Empty House
Rent It or Move In
Works if it's in rentable shape, the HOA allows it, and you're ready to be a landlord.
Fix It and List It
Usually the highest price if the roof and systems are in good shape and the work is mostly cosmetic.
List It As-Is
An agent sells it in its current condition, but you keep paying for it through showings, inspections and the buyer's financing and insurance.
Sell It As-Is
If you're done paying for an empty house, an as-is sale can close when it suits you. If you want the least hassle, sell it as-is to a real estate investor: no open houses, no repair punch list, nothing to clear out, and you decide when to close. With Dennis Buys Houses, leaving things behind is part of the deal. Grab what you care about and leave the rest. If anything we find looks personal or valuable, we'll reach out and get it back to you.
Common Add-On Problems
Vacant Florida houses often come with storm damage, an aging roof, mold, a lapsed insurance policy, HOA liens, back taxes or an estate that isn't settled. Each one changes the price and who can buy it. (See Selling an Inherited House in Florida and Selling a House With Bad Tenants in Florida.)
Mistakes With Empty Florida Houses
- Not telling the insurer the house is vacant.
- Turning off the AC and letting humidity take over.
- Skipping the post-storm walk-through.
- Ignoring HOA dues and violation letters.
- Treating a former tenant like a squatter.
- Holding through hurricane season without a real insurance quote.
Where I Fit, and Where I Don't
I'm a good match when the empty house needs a roof or repairs, can't get affordable insurance, still has belongings, or you live far away.
And with Dennis Buys Houses, there's no clean-out. Whatever you leave, we'll deal with.
If it's updated, insurable and you can wait for a retail buyer, listing will probably net more. I'll be honest about that.
Either way, I'll tell you upfront if I'm the right fit or not.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Insurance and the roof's condition are usually the biggest factors in price and who can buy.
Often not for long. Many policies restrict coverage after a set vacancy period, so call your carrier.
No. With an as-is sale, you can take what matters to you and leave the rest. Dennis Buys Houses handles what's left.
If the statute's conditions are met, you can file a sworn complaint asking the sheriff to remove them. Former tenants go through the county court.
Usually not. Keep it running or use a dehumidifier to prevent mold.
They can, if the homestead exemption ends.
For squatters, see Fla. Stat. § 82.036. For local registration rules, call your city or county code enforcement office.
Florida Selling Guides
- How to Sell a House in Probate in Florida
- Selling an Inherited House in Florida
- Selling a House With Bad Tenants in Florida
- Selling a House in Foreclosure in Florida
- Selling a House With Delinquent Property Taxes in Florida
Ready to Stop Insuring an Empty House?
Send me the address. You'll get an as-is number to weigh against another season of carrying it, and an honest answer on whether listing would net more.