Selling an Inherited South Florida House From Out of State

A lot of the inherited houses we buy belong to heirs who don't live in Florida anymore. A parent stayed in the family home in Hialeah, Plantation or Boynton Beach for decades, and the kids moved to New York, Georgia or Texas. Now someone has to handle a house they can't easily visit.

Unless the house was in a trust, held jointly with someone who survived, or passed by another legal tool, someone usually needs court authority to sell it. In Florida that's typically a personal representative appointed in probate. A few general points:

• Out-of-state heirs can serve. A personal representative who doesn't live in Florida generally must be a close relative. A Florida probate attorney will confirm whether you qualify.
• Probate is filed in the county where the house is. That's Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach or Monroe. Our county pages cover the local basics: Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and the Keys.
• Homestead has its own rules. Florida homestead property passes under special rules, and that affects who has to sign. The Florida Bar's consumer pamphlet on probate is a good plain-English starting point.

If probate isn't open yet, see selling before probate.

• Insurance. Tell the insurer the house is vacant. Many standard policies limit coverage on vacant homes.
• Utilities. Keep power on for the A/C and dehumidifying. Mold moves fast in South Florida.
• Taxes and code. Property taxes are due every November. Code cases for an overgrown yard or a damaged roof can start while the house sits empty. See delinquent taxes in Miami-Dade.
• Mail. Have mail forwarded so you don't miss a tax bill, code notice or lender letter.

An as-is sale means no repairs, no clean-out and no showings. You can take what the family wants and leave the rest. The title company can usually arrange remote signing or a mobile notary where you live.

That's what happened with a 4/3 in Plantation Gardens that one family owned for 60 years. The heirs lived out of state, and the house was fully original, with code violations and open permits. Read how that inherited Plantation house sold as-is.

Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach County and the Keys, including Miami, Hialeah, Plantation, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton and Key West. Single-family homes, townhouses, duplexes and small multifamily. We don't buy condos. Call or text 305-812-9445, or tell us about the property.