How Much Do You Lose Selling a House As-Is in Florida?
See the Math, Understand Your Options, and Make the Right Move
Why This Question Matters
If you’ve ever thought about selling your house as-is, this is probably the first thing that crossed your mind:
👉 “How much money will I lose?”
It’s a smart question. Florida homeowners ask us this every week.
The truth is: you’re not really “losing” money—you’re trading some equity for speed, certainty, and convenience. But how much? And when is it worth it?
That’s what this guide is here to show you:
✅ Real math (not vague “investor talk”)
✅ What impacts how much you walk away with
✅ When selling as-is makes sense—and when it doesn’t
✅ How to compare your options so you can decide with confidence
Every situation is different. But once you understand how the numbers really work, you’ll know exactly what’s right for you.
What Impacts How Much You Lose?
Not every “as-is” sale is the same.
How much you walk away with depends on these key factors:
🏚️ Condition of the Property
- More repairs = bigger discount
- If your home needs serious rehab, cash buyers will factor that in
📉 Local Market (Seller’s vs Buyer’s Market)
- In a hot seller’s market → you may lose less
- In a slower market → discounts are steeper because fewer buyers are competing
🏘️ Competition in Your Area
- Updated homes around you make yours less desirable
- Buyers compare nearby move-in ready homes vs. fixer-uppers
🏦 Type of Buyer
- MLS buyers typically want homes in decent shape
- iBuyers have strict guidelines (many homes won’t qualify)
- Cash investors buy homes in any condition—but at a discount that reflects repairs + risk
⏳ Your Timeline
- The more time you have, the more you can position your house for the best price
- The less time (foreclosure, inheritance, financial stress), the more it makes sense to trade some equity for certainty
What Are Your Options to Sell As-Is?
You’ve got more than one path when it comes to selling as-is in Florida.
Here’s what’s possible — and how each option affects how much you walk away with:
🏡 1. Listing As-Is on the MLS
- What you net: ~90% of sale price (after agent fees, closing costs, buyer concessions)
- Timeline: 3–6 months (or longer if repairs cause issues)
- Pros: Maximum exposure to buyers
- Cons: Inspections may uncover issues → buyers request repairs or credits → delays
👉 Best if: The home is livable, in decent condition, and you’re not in a rush.
💻 2. Selling to an iBuyer
- Big corporate buyers like OpenDoor or Offerpad
- Initial offer minus ~5% service fee
- After inspection, they deduct repair costs
- Strict guidelines: won’t buy homes with cast iron pipes, foundation issues, mold, unpermitted additions, septic systems, etc.
👉 Best if: The home is in very good condition and you’re okay working with a big company, not a local buyer.
💵 3. Selling to a Local Cash Investor (Like Us)
- Pay ~55–60% of ARV (after-repair value) — this accounts for:
→ Repair costs
→ Holding costs
→ Investor profit (for taking on the risk) - Close in 2–4 weeks
- No repairs, no showings, no fees, no cleaning
- Transparent — at Sell My House For Cash Florida we’ll show you the math behind your offer
👉 Best if: You need to sell quickly, the house needs major work, or you want a hassle-free cash sale.
Bottom line:
Each option comes with trade-offs — time vs money vs convenience.
Next, let’s look at a real example so you can see how the numbers shake out.
Real Example: How Much Do You Actually Lose?
Let’s break it down with a real-world example — based on today’s Florida market:
Property: 1,800 sq ft single-family home
After-repair value (ARV): $500,000
Condition: Needs full cosmetic update — new kitchen, baths, floors, paint. Roof is okay and no major system problems.
🛠️ Renovation Costs:
$35/sq ft x 1,800 sq ft = $63,000 in repairs
Note: For a standard cosmetic rehab (new kitchen, bathrooms, floors, paint, and appliances), the average cost is about $35 per square foot in Florida. For higher-end homes or markets, the cost can run closer to $45 per square foot. If the property needs a full gut job — including structural, mechanical, or extensive system replacements — the price can easily climb to $60 per square foot or more.
🏦 Holding & Selling Costs:
- Selling as-is on MLS: You’ll deduct about 10% of the as-is value (6% agent fees + 4% closing costs and buyer concessions).
- Selling to an investor: Investors factor in selling costs, repairs, holding costs, and the need to make a profit. For the risk involved, most investors aim for around 18% profit on their total investment.
Option 1 — Sell to an Investor
- ARV: $500,000
- Less agent & closing: $35,000
- Less repairs: $63,000
- Less holding cost: $25,000
- Less profit: $90,000
→ Net offer to seller: $287,000 (~57.4% of ARV)
Option 2 — Sell As-Is on MLS
- As-is value: ~$350,000 (dated but livable condition)
- Less agent/closing: ~10% ($35,000)
→ Net to seller: ~$315,000 (~63% of ARV)
Key Takeaway:
In this case, selling to an investor would net $287K.
Listing as-is on the MLS with an agent could net $315K.
Difference: ~$28K
For some homeowners, that extra $28K is worth waiting 4–6 months, making the repairs, handling showings, and managing inspections.
For others—especially those facing financial stress, inherited property, relocation, or homes needing major work—trading some equity for a faster, simpler cash sale is worth it.
Want to see how much you can get? Request a Cash Offer →
Should You Sell As-Is...
or Make Repairs First?
Every Florida seller asks the same question:
“Is it worth it to take less, just to be done faster?”
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. It depends on what you value more:
time and certainty—or squeezing out every dollar.
🚀 Selling to an Investor — Pros & Cons:
Pros:
✅ No repairs, no cleaning, no showings
✅ Close in as little as 3–4 weeks
✅ No commissions, no hidden fees
✅ Certainty—you know exactly what you’ll net
✅ Ideal if the home needs work or you need to sell fast
Cons:
➖ Lower net than a full retail MLS sale
➖ You’re trading some equity for speed and convenience
🏘️ Listing As-Is on the MLS — Pros & Cons:
Pros:
✅ Higher potential net (if the home is livable)
✅ More exposure — thousands of buyers on Zillow, Realtor.com, Redfin, etc.
✅ Good if you have time and the house doesn’t need major work
Cons:
➖ Can take 3–6+ months to sell
➖ You’ll pay 6–10% in commissions and closing costs
➖ Repairs or credits may still be requested after inspection
➖ Uncertainty—you won’t know what you’ll walk away with until the very end
📊 The Bottom Line:
If your house needs major work — or if speed, convenience, and certainty matter most — selling to a local cash buyer may be the smarter move.
If your house is in good shape, and you have time to wait — listing with an agent could help you net a little more (as long as you’re prepared for the process).
👉 According to a recent analysis from Clever, many Florida home sellers accept a trade-off of 10–25% below market value when selling as-is—especially when repairs are significant or timelines are short. Read the full breakdown here.
👉 To help you decide, you can also check out this honest comparison of cash offers vs listing from NerdWallet.
If you’re not sure what to do next—or just want an honest opinion—we’re happy to help.
Contact us here and we’ll walk you through your options, no pressure.
When Selling As-Is Makes the Most Sense
Not sure if selling as-is is the right move?
Here’s when Florida homeowners usually choose this option:
🔹 The House Needs Major Repairs
- Foundation, roof, plumbing, electrical — if big systems are failing
- Outdated interiors that won’t appeal to retail buyers
- The repair costs outweigh what you’d gain by listing
🔹 You Need to Sell Quickly
- Facing foreclosure
- Going through divorce
- Job relocation
- Probate or inherited property
- Liens or code violations
🔹 You Have Plenty of Equity
If you bought long ago, or inherited the property — you may have enough equity to still profit nicely, even with a discount
🔹 You Can’t or Don’t Want to Do Repairs
- No time or funds to renovate
- Out of state
- Dealing with bad tenants or a hoarder situation
- Just want a clean break
If any of these sound like your situation, selling as-is — either through MLS or directly to a cash buyer like us— could save you months of stress, holding costs, and uncertainty.
👉 Want to go deeper? Here’s a full guide to selling your Florida house as-is — including what you can leave behind, how offers are calculated, and how to avoid common mistakes.
How We Buy As-Is Homes in Florida
And How We Calculate the Offer
When you sell to Sell My House For Cash Florida, you won’t get a mystery number. We walk you through the offer, so you know exactly how we came up with it.
Here’s how it works:
1️⃣ We Look at the ARV (After-Repair Value)
What would your house sell for fully updated and in great condition — based on recent sales nearby?
2️⃣ We Estimate Repair Costs
We calculate what it would take to bring the house to that ARV:
kitchen, baths, floors, systems, exterior, etc.
(We use real contractor estimates — not guesswork.)
3️⃣ We Factor in Selling Costs & Holding Costs
When we buy and flip a home, we still have to pay:
- 7% agent fees and closing costs when we resell
- 4–6 months of holding costs (utilities, insurance, taxes, loan interest)
- Repairs upfront — usually $35 per square foot
Note: Most investors use hard money loans to finance the purchase and renovations. These loans typically come with 12% interest rates and 1–2 points upfront.
Example:
If we buy a house for $287,000 and spend $63,000 in repairs, the total loan is $350,000.
At 12% interest, that’s roughly $3,500 per month in interest payments.
If it takes 6 months to renovate and sell, that’s $21,000 in interest — plus points and fees — adding up to about $25,000 in total financing costs on top of repairs, closing costs, and commissions.
4️⃣ We Include a Fair Profit Margin
For the risk and capital involved, we aim for an ~18% profit margin.
That’s how we stay in business — and why sellers get certainty.
When you see our offer, you’ll see the math:
“Here’s what we’d sell it for, here’s the cost of repairs and holding, here’s our margin — here’s what we can pay you today.”
If that works for you → great.
If not → no pressure. You’re always in control.
👉 Curious about the full process? See exactly how we buy houses — step by step.
Crunching the Numbers? Here’s More to Consider.
If you’re running the numbers on an as-is sale, don’t stop at repairs. From taxes to code issues to rental options, these guides can help you think through the full picture — and choose what’s best for your bottom line.
Skipping an agent saves on commission — here’s how that affects your bottom line.
Tired of tenant headaches? See how to sell a house with tenants in Florida and what you could net.
Does selling fast mean losing too much? Learn how to sell your house fast in Florida.
Selling as-is often means going cash — here are the pros and cons to consider.
Severe fire damage? Here's how that affects your numbers and options.
Dealing with water damage? Here's what to expect when selling a water-damaged house as-is in Florida.
The less you fix, the more your numbers change — here’s what not to fix before selling as-is.
Poor condition changes the math — here’s how to sell fast without sinking in repair costs.
Selling as-is still triggers taxes — here’s what to know about capital gains on an as-is sale.
Comparing options? Here’s how to decide whether to sell your house or rent it out.
Splitting proceeds? Here's what to consider when selling a house with multiple owners involved.
Alain Perez-Majul
Juan and Castilia are awesome! We were dealing with my parent's property here in Florida, and they went above and beyond when buying it from us. The process was quick and easy, we didn't have to do a thing to the house, and we closed within a couple of weeks. Thanks, guys!
No Matter Where You Are in Florida, We Can Help
Selling a house as-is doesn’t have to mean settling for less—or stressing through the process. No matter the condition of your property, Sell My House For Cash Florida make it simple to sell fast, with no surprises.
✅ No upfront costs
✅ No cleanup or repairs
✅ No pressure or obligations
We buy homes as-is throughout Florida—whether your house needs major updates, has deferred maintenance, or just isn’t market-ready. If your priority is to move on quickly and easily, we’re here to help.
We purchase properties across the state, including:
…and many more Florida communities.
See the full list of Florida cities we serve here.
Want to know more about who we are and how we help Florida homeowners?
Learn about us here.
👉 Ready to see what your as-is sale could look like? Fill out the form below to get your free, no-obligation cash offer.