Maybe it’s a lot your parents bought decades ago in a subdivision you’ve never visited. Maybe it’s acreage you meant to build on someday, or land that came to you after a family member passed. However it came to you, a lot of Florida landowners reach the same point: the land isn’t part of the plan anymore, and the tax bill keeps coming every November.
Selling vacant land is different from selling a house. There’s no kitchen to show, few buyers drive by, and many agents don’t want small land listings. That’s why many owners choose to sell their Florida land for cash, directly to a buyer. Here’s how that works, step by step.
1. Find your parcel number
Everything starts with the parcel ID (sometimes called the APN or folio number). It’s on your property tax bill, and you can look it up by owner name on the county property appraiser’s website. With the parcel number, a buyer can see the lot size, zoning, flood zone, road access and assessed value without anyone visiting the land.
2. Understand what drives the price
Land is priced on what similar land nearby has actually sold for, adjusted for things like:
- Road access, and whether the road is paved
- Whether water and sewer reach the lot, or it would need a well and septic
- Zoning, including whether manufactured homes are allowed
- Wetlands, flood zones and how much of the land is buildable
- Size, shape and whether neighboring lots can be combined
The county’s assessed value is a starting point, but it often differs from what land actually sells for, in either direction.
3. Get an offer and review it
A direct buyer reviews the parcel, checks recent sales, and sends a written offer. There’s no obligation, and a good buyer will explain how they arrived at the number. Take your time and ask questions.
4. Close with a title company
Once you accept, a licensed Florida title company handles the closing. They search the title, prepare the deed, pay off any back taxes or liens from the sale proceeds, and send you your money. You can usually sign by mail or with a mobile notary, so you never need to travel to Florida.
What does it cost to sell?
When you sell directly, there’s no agent commission. The main closing cost in Florida is documentary stamp tax on the deed, which is $0.70 per $100 of the sale price and is customarily paid by the seller, plus recording fees and title charges. Many direct buyers cover some or all standard closing costs, so ask up front.
What if I owe back taxes?
This is very common with vacant land. In Florida, unpaid property taxes lead to a tax certificate being sold on the property, and if the taxes stay unpaid for two years, the certificate holder can apply for a tax deed, which can end in the land being sold at auction. If you’re behind, selling before that happens lets you pay the taxes from the sale proceeds at closing and keep the rest.
What if the land was inherited?
If the land is still in a deceased owner’s name, the title company will tell you what’s needed. Sometimes it’s just a death certificate and an affidavit. Other times it takes probate. Florida has a simpler process called summary administration for smaller estates, or when the owner passed away more than two years ago. If several heirs share the land, each usually signs at closing, and that can be done from different states.
Is selling directly right for you?
Listing with an agent can bring a higher price for land that’s in demand and ready to build on. Selling directly makes the most sense when you want certainty and speed, the land has complications, or you simply don’t want to manage a listing from out of state. Either way, knowing what your land is worth is the first step.
We buy land across 15 Florida counties, including Marion, Polk, Flagler, Alachua and Lake. If you’d like to know what yours could be worth, tell us about your land.