Selling an Older House in Hollywood, FL: What Owners Should Know

Hollywood sits right in the middle of South Florida, between Fort Lauderdale and Miami, and it has some of the most character-filled neighborhoods in Broward County. Hollywood Lakes, Emerald Hills, Hollywood Hills, Driftwood, Liberia, Parkside, and Royal Poinciana all have their own feel. Many of the houses were built in the 1950s through the 1970s and have been in the same family for a long time. That history is part of the charm, and it's also what can make a Hollywood house harder to sell the traditional way.

Roofs, plumbing, and electrical that insurers don't like

Many mid-century Hollywood homes still have original or aging systems: older roofs, galvanized or cast-iron plumbing, and outdated electrical panels. In Florida, those are exactly the items insurance companies look at closely. If a buyer can't get affordable insurance, they usually can't get a mortgage either.

If your roof or foundation is a known problem, our page on selling a house with foundation or roof damage goes into more detail.

Flood zones east of US-1

East of US-1 and near the Intracoastal, many Hollywood properties sit in FEMA flood zones. Buyers with a mortgage in a high-risk flood zone are generally required to carry flood insurance, which adds to their monthly cost and can shrink the pool of buyers. And if the house needs a major renovation, FEMA's "substantial improvement" rules can limit how much work can be done before the whole structure has to be brought up to current flood standards.

If the house has already flooded or had a leak, see selling a fire- or water-damaged house.

Duplexes and small rentals with tenants

Hollywood has plenty of duplexes and small rentals, especially in the older neighborhoods closer to downtown and the beach. Selling with tenants in place is possible, but leases have to be respected, showings need proper notice, and many retail buyers want the property delivered vacant. Our page on selling a house with tenants covers what to expect.

Inherited homes and open permits

When a house has been in the family for decades, it's common to find old permits that were never closed out, additions that were never permitted, or a title still in the name of a parent who has passed. Open permits usually surface when the title company runs a municipal lien search before closing. And if the owner has died, the heirs generally need to sort out who has the right to sell before anyone can close. If that's you, read about selling before probate or selling an inherited house.

List it with an agent. If the house is in good shape, insurable, and the permits are clean, listing on the open market can bring the highest price. Expect showings, inspections, an appraisal, possible repair requests, and agent commissions.

Fix it up first, then list. Replacing a roof, updating plumbing, or closing out permits can make the house easier to finance and may raise the price. The trade-off is time, money up front, and the risk that the project grows once walls come open. In a flood zone, check how the substantial improvement rules apply before you plan a big renovation.

Sell as-is to a cash buyer. A cash buyer doesn't need a lender or a homeowners policy to close, so an old roof, an open permit, or tenants in place don't stop the deal. The trade-off is price: a cash offer accounts for the repairs and risk, so it will usually be less than what a fully renovated house would sell for. In exchange, you skip repairs, showings, and the chance of a financed buyer backing out.

The right choice depends on the house's condition and your timeline.

• The folio number from the Broward County Property Appraiser website.
• Your roof age and any recent system updates.
• Any permit history you have, and a note of additions built without permits.
• Your flood zone and any flood insurance or claims history.
• Leases and rent amounts if the property is occupied.
• Your mortgage payoff and any liens you know about.
• If an owner has passed away, a copy of the death certificate and a list of heirs.

We're a South Florida cash buyer based in Miami Lakes, and we buy throughout Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach. In Hollywood we buy single-family homes and duplexes as-is, including houses with original roofs and systems, flood-zone homes, tenant-occupied properties, inherited homes, and houses with open permits or code cases. We price off recorded sales in your part of Hollywood and the real work the house needs. We don't buy condos.

Se habla español. You can talk with us in English or Spanish, whichever is more comfortable for you and your family.

If you're thinking about selling a house in Hollywood, there's no obligation to talk. Visit our Hollywood page, or call or text us at (305) 812-9445 and tell us about the property.