Selling a House ‘As Is’ in Miami

Looking to sell a house “as is” in Miami? Whether you’ve got a property in serious need of repair or a recently inherited home from a loved one, sometimes you just need to skip repairs, get a cash offer, and move on.

Mario Avalos, a Miami-based HomeLight Elite real estate agent who sells homes 3% faster than the average Miami agent, says that one of the most common reasons people sell their homes “as is” comes down to affordability, as the cost of living expenses in Miami has exploded.

“Most people I list properties for, even in Miami, have been there for a very long period of time, for decades. When they were living here, the standard of living was a lot less expensive. Decades later, Miami has become a very expensive place to live, and people with those incomes simply can’t afford the cost of insurance, property taxes, and on top of that, what it takes to live—food, utilities,” Avalos says.

“They’re opting to sell their homes, cash out on the hundreds of thousands of dollars in equity they have, and go to cheaper places, typically northern Florida or the states right above Florida,” he adds.

However, selling a house “as is” usually means accepting a lower offer, and it doesn’t always prevent buyers from trying to negotiate savings. Let’s take a closer look at how to sell a house in Miami, your options for getting an offer, and what to expect from the process.

Fast facts about selling a house ‘as is’ in Miami

What is ‘as is’ condition in real estate?

“As is” is a type of home sale in which it’s understood that no improvements will be made to the property. When selling a house “as is,” the seller chooses not to entertain buyers’ requests to complete repairs or provide a credit for fixes.

An as-is sale may also indicate that the functionality and longevity of key components of the home, such as major appliances, like a stove, are nearing the end of their functionality, or a roof is in a serious state of disrepair.

When selling a house “as is,” the general condition of the property should already be accounted for in the purchase price of the home to the best of the seller’s knowledge.

“99.9% of people want to sell the property as-is. My advice is that it’s okay not to focus on big-ticket items or construction-based projects. You can sell the property just as it is, but focus on aesthetics — things that don’t cost much but make the property look ten times better. Paint, landscaping, keeping the property clean and organized, and decluttering,” says Avalos.

“You don’t need to redo bathrooms or kitchens, replace the roof if it’s watertight, or replace regular windows for impact windows. Those big-ticket items usually are not really gonna make you a profit when you sell the property, so it’s not worth spending the time or money. You can sell the property as-is, just the way it is,” he adds.

Which types of homes are sold ‘as is’?

Homes sold “as is” often need some work or may be cosmetically outdated. It’s not a label you’re likely to put on a listing in pristine, move-in-ready condition.

“As is” sales often attract investors searching for their next flip or buyers seeking a bargain, perhaps on a home in a great location with lots of potential.

What problems do you have to disclose in Miami?

Selling a house “as is” in Miami doesn’t mean sweeping known problems about the house under the rug.

A good time to fill out the Seller’s Property Disclosure is before listing your home or requesting an offer, so that you know it’s taken care of.

According to the document, “a seller of residential property is obligated to disclose to a buyer all facts known to a seller that materially and adversely affect the value of the Property being sold, which are not readily observable by a buyer”.

The form will walk you through documenting what you know about installed items.

You’ll also be prompted to fill out information about:

• Claims and assessments
• Deeds/HOA restrictions
• Environment
• Roads/land use
• Additions/remodeling/insurance claims
• Roof-related items
• Pool/spa/hot tubs
• HVAC
• Water intrusion
• Sinkholes/settling and soil movement
• Windows/doors/locks
• Plumbing
• Electrical system
• Exclusions/leased systems
• Wood-destroying organisms
• Flood zones/drainage/boundaries

No matter what method you choose to sell your home, you are required to make these disclosures to the best of your ability. However, Miami does allow certain exceptions for real estate owned sellers.

Avalos says that disclosures in Miami are very open-ended, but in most cases, everything is disclosed.

“I would say that I’ve been in the business for 15–20 years, and I have yet to experience a buyer who bought a property and then went after the seller for a problem in the property that wasn’t disclosed during the sale,” he says.

“The contract does protect the seller, and reasonable means that if something does surface after closing, the buyers, at least in my experience, have yet to go after the sellers. What I tell the buyer and the seller is, just be upfront and disclose what you know, and just being honest about the situation is more than sufficient, regardless of how complicated a problem may be in the property that may come back after the closing,” he adds.

Review your options to sell ‘as is’ in Miami

The main options to sell a house ‘as is’ include:

List ‘as is’ with the help of a real estate agent

A great real estate agent will provide assistance throughout the process of listing and selling a home “as is.” An agent gives simple presentation tips to improve marketing, helps to set an appropriate price that reflects the home’s condition, and works to find a buyer who is willing and eager to buy your home in its current state.

Sell directly to a cash buyer

Someone needing to sell their home “as is” can also work directly with a property investor or house-buying company rather than list, where it may be difficult to get an offer from a limited buyer pool.

We Buy Houses operates buy “as is” at a discounted rate and generally seeks out homes in need of significant repairs. These companies can help sellers cash out quickly, and many will cover a seller’s closing costs.

Steps to list ‘as is’ with the help of a real estate agent

Find an agent willing to list the home ‘as is’

Your choice of real estate agent always matters, but even more so when selling a property “as is.” It’s important to find the right match. You’re looking for an agent who doesn’t shy away from listings that need a little TLC and maybe has a strong network of investor connections.

Consider a pre-listing inspection

A pre-listing home inspection is the same as a standard home inspection except that the seller pays for it before listing their home on the market. It may sound like a counterintuitive step for an as-is sale, but obtaining the inspection results upfront can reveal any issues that could impact the home’s value and inform an accurate pricing strategy. If a buyer requests further deductions to the price based on their own inspection, you can point out that the estimated cost of certain repairs was already factored into the list price.

Avalos, however, warns against doing a pre-listing inspection for an as-is sale.

“I do not see the value of a pre-listing inspection. When my clients ask me about it, I discourage them. An inspector is there to find problems so the homeowner can fix them to prevent any problems down the road. The problem it creates is that you’re hand-feeding the potential buyer problems that may not be an issue. If the garage door is not working, why hire a professional to tell the buyer when the buyer may not care?” he says.

“Let the buyers do their own inspections and whatever the buyer brings up, then deal with those problems,” he adds.

Price to reflect ‘as is’ condition

The median sale price for homes in Miami hit $682,000 in October 2025, a 1.7% increase over the year prior.

You can start with a free estimate from HomeLight’s Home Value Estimator (HVE).

Our HVE combs public data, including tax records and assessments, and pulls recent sales records for other properties in your neighborhood. Using a short questionnaire, we also factor in specifics about your home, such as the property type and its condition. Input your address, and we’ll provide you with a preliminary home value estimate in under two minutes.

How Much Is Your Miami Home Worth Now?

Get a near-instant real estate house price estimate from HomeLight for free. Our tool analyzes the records of recently sold homes near you, your home’s last sale price, and other market trends to provide a preliminary range of value in under two minutes.

Get Estimate

Do ever-so-light preparations

Even for as-is home listings in Miami, Avalos typically recommends that sellers do light but expected touches to the property, without going overboard.

“The usual preparations are paint jobs, typically off-white. When I say everything, the walls, baseboards, doors, door frames—bring everything to one color, white or off-white. Declutter the house, trash out as much as you can, or put it in storage. If you don’t want to spend money on storage or don’t have the time, put it in the garage,” he says.

When it comes to landscaping, he recommends sellers “keep it short, clean, and trimmed; no need to add trees or redesign. If you have pets, spend money on odor control and cleanliness. Those types of things,” he adds.

Photograph your home to show its potential

Your home listing warrants professional photography regardless of its condition. A professional photographer will take steps to shoot each room from the best angle, ensure optimal interior and natural lighting, and edit for the ideal brightness and exposure.

A high-quality camera with a wide-angle lens is also essential to showcasing entire rooms rather than half or three-quarters of what’s there. For these reasons and more, professionally photographed homes can help earn homeowners up to a 47% higher asking price per square foot compared to houses marketed without professional photos.

Your real estate agent will almost always arrange for professional photos as part of the listing process.

Highlight the surrounding area

A home’s location will be important to buyers seeking out a home with potential. Mention in your as-is listing if your home is close to any of the following:

• Downtown areas
• Major employers
• Parks and green spaces
• Sports venues and entertainment districts
• Waterfront views or access (ocean or a lake)
• Highly rated schools
• Access to outdoor activities
• Public transportation

Include ‘as is’ in the listing

Unless you explicitly mention that your house is being sold “as is,” buyers will have no idea of your intentions with the listing. Other common descriptors mentioned in as-is listings in Miami include priced to sell, fixer-upper, handyman special, or a “call for investors.”

To balance the focus on as-is condition, work with your agent to craft a property description that highlights the best features of the home.

Understand buyers may still negotiate

Listing “as is” provides no guarantee that buyers won’t try to negotiate savings on their purchase, even on an asking price you felt was already reduced to reflect the home’s condition. One of the best defenses you can have is an agent who takes a hard stance to prevent a deal from going south for the seller.

Be aware of the minimum property standards for certain loans

When you place your home on the market, it’s hard to predict if your top offer will come from a cash buyer or a buyer pre-qualified for a home loan.

But if you do end up working with a financed buyer, be aware that different mortgage types (such as conventional loans or government-backed FHA, USDA, or VA loans) have different minimum property standards. These are standards related to the overall condition of a property which will play a role in the willingness and/or ability of a lender to finance a buyer’s loan.

Before properties can be financed, their value and condition is typically examined by a state-licensed, independent appraiser contracted by the buyer’s mortgage company.

If you’re unsure whether your home will meet appraisal requirements, you can start by taking a look at the FHA minimum property standards. If your house complies with FHA, then it complies with most other lenders’ requirements.

Prioritize a cash offer if you receive one

On occasion, conventional lenders may even finance a fixer-upper property sold “as is,” and it’s not impossible to finance a fixer-upper with an FHA loan. However, if you’re selling a house “as is” — especially one that needs heftier repairs — you may want to consider accepting a cash offer if you receive one. Cash eliminates the lender-ordered appraisal as well as the time it takes to close on the buyer’s loan, creating a faster and more efficient path to settlement.

Pros of listing a home ‘as is’: 

• Save time and money on prepwork
• The possibility of reducing negotiations from the inspection
• Solution for out-of-state owners and inherited homes

Cons of listing a home ‘as is’:

• Limited buyer pool
• Expect lower offers
• Negotiations and repairs aren’t always off the table

If you aren’t sure where to get a cash offer, consider Simple Sale, a solution from HomeLight. With Simple Sale, you tell us a bit about your home, such as whether it’s a single-family or condo and how much work it needs. From there, we’ll provide you with a full cash offer to buy your home in as little as a week.

Skip repairs

No need to call the roof inspector or drain your savings to replace the HVAC. HomeLight will provide an offer for homes in almost any condition.

Sell when it’s convenient

Want to get out right away? Or need a little more time to pack? Either way, we’re flexible. Pick a move date that works for your schedule within 30 days of closing.

Close with certainty

Cash buyers don’t need a lender’s involvement to purchase a home, meaning they can move nimbly and quickly compared to someone who needs financing. With Simple Sale, you can close in as little as 10 days, compared to the 30-60 days or longer it typically takes to close with a financed buyer.

Curious to know more about the Simple Sale experience? Hear it firsthand from one of our valued clients in the video below.

Additional We Buy Houses companies in Miami

Below we’ve compiled a list of some of the leading companies that purchase homes “as is” for cash in Miami and information about each.