Wholesaling Fixer-Upper Houses in Florida

The short answer

Can you wholesale a fixer-upper house in Florida?

Yes. Fixer-uppers are the most common wholesale deal, and Florida’s cash buyers compete for them. Your price must leave room for the repairs your buyer will actually face.

A fixer-upper needs work that a typical buyer will not take on or cannot finance. Your job is to estimate repairs well, price the deal so your buyer can still profit and disclose in writing that you may assign. Our guide to estimating repair costs walks through a room-by-room approach.

Florida adds a few repair items that buyers watch closely. Insurers often require a four-point inspection on older homes, covering the roof, electrical, plumbing and heating and cooling, and many will not write a policy on an old roof. Permits are required for most structural, roofing, electrical and plumbing work. Our guide on how to flip a house shows how buyers think about these costs.

The opportunity

Why fixer-uppers create Florida wholesale deals

Many retail buyers cannot get insurance or financing on a home with an old roof or outdated wiring, so these houses sit or sell to investors. In Palm Beach County, older concrete block homes from the 1950s through the 1970s are common, and flippers pay well for them because the bones are solid. Our ARV guide shows how to price the finished home.

Lead sources

Where to find fixer-upper leads in Florida

• Driving for dollars. Look for worn roofs, overgrown yards and boarded windows. See our driving for dollars guide.
• Long-time owners. Owners who bought decades ago often have dated homes.
• Expired listings. Homes that failed to sell because of condition are good targets.
• Code violations. Code cases often point to deferred maintenance.
• Inherited homes. Heirs often inherit dated homes they do not want to fix.

Your exit

Who buys fixer-upper houses in Florida

Flippers and landlords are the main buyers. Give them photos, your repair estimate, the roof age and any insurance inspection results. A buyer who trusts your numbers comes back for the next deal. In Florida, also mention whether the home has hurricane shutters or impact windows, since those affect insurance costs and resale value.

Ask buyers what work they will take on. Some avoid roofs or foundation issues, while others prefer heavy rehabs. Our buy box guide helps you match deals to buyers.

Step by step

How to start wholesaling fixer-upper houses in Florida

1. Walk the property. Note the roof, panel, plumbing, air conditioning and cosmetic work.
2. Check permits. Search the city or county permit history for open or expired permits.
3. Estimate repairs. Price the big items first, then the cosmetics.
4. Price it. Use the ARV calculator and the MAO calculator.
5. Sign and disclose. Sign the contract and disclose in writing that you may assign.
6. Market it. Send photos, repair notes and the roof age to your buyers.
7. Close through title. Close with an investor-friendly title company.

A West Palm Beach owner tried to sell a dated 1960s block home, but buyers could not insure it because of the 22-year-old roof and an older electrical panel.

You estimated about $85,000 of work, including a new roof, a new panel and updated kitchen and baths. You signed at $298,000 with a written assignment disclosure.

A local flipper paid $318,000 for the contract after reviewing your repair notes. The seller closed in three weeks without making a single repair. The flipper later said the roof age and panel details in your notes were what convinced them to move quickly.

Florida rules to know

Permits, owner-builders and flood zone rules

Florida requires building permits for most structural, roofing, electrical, plumbing and mechanical work. An owner can pull permits as an owner-builder, but the law generally presumes work was done for sale if the owner sells within a year of completion, which can be a violation. Flippers should use licensed contractors.

In flood zones, repairs that cost more than half of the building’s value can be treated as a substantial improvement, which may require bringing the home up to current flood rules. Check the flood zone before you set your price. Our certificate of occupancy guide explains related permit issues.

Learn it with a mentor

Estimate repairs with confidence

Repair estimates make or break fixer-upper deals. Mentorship students send us photos and notes, and we help them price the work and the offer.

FAQ

Fixer-Upper Houses in Florida: common questions

Keep going

More Florida wholesaling guides

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