The Port Malabar story

In the 1960s, the General Development Corporation laid out Port Malabar, a sprawling subdivision of streets and small lots, and sold many of those lots on installment plans to buyers across the country, many of them in the North. Some buyers built. Many simply held on, and their lots passed to children and grandchildren. Palm Bay has since grown into Brevard's largest city, but it still fills in one lot at a time, so a 1980s block home can sit beside a brand-new build and an empty, wooded lot.

Selling a lot you inherited or bought long ago

If you own a Palm Bay lot that was never built on, the sale raises questions a house sale usually doesn't:

  • Whether the street is paved and whether city water and sewer reach the lot
  • Whether wetlands or Florida scrub-jay habitat could add review before anyone builds
  • Unpaid property taxes, and whether someone now holds a tax certificate on the lot
  • Old deeds, missing heirs, or a relative's name that never came off the title
  • City notices about overgrowth or dumping on a lot you can't easily visit

Septic tanks and private wells

Large parts of Palm Bay developed without central sewer, and many homes rely on septic tanks. Some also draw water from private wells. Septic and well systems are a frequent sticking point with financed buyers, whose lenders may require inspections, water tests, or repairs before closing. We buy homes on septic and well water and account for the condition of both systems in our offer.

What wears out in a Palm Bay house

We've bought as-is properties for more than 10 years, and in Palm Bay we look at the house, the lot, and the utilities together. Items that often need attention:

  • Shingle roofs past the age insurers accept
  • Roadside drainage swales and driveway culverts that hold water after storms
  • Original air conditioning, water heaters, and well pumps
  • Screen rooms and additions built without permits
  • Cracked driveways and aging pool equipment

Selling from out of state

Many Palm Bay owners live somewhere else. You can review the offer by phone or email, sign with a mobile notary or remotely, and have the title company wire your proceeds. Delinquent taxes or liens are paid off from the sale at closing, so you don't need to settle them in advance.

Frequently asked questions

Do you buy vacant lots in Palm Bay?

Yes, including lots on unpaved streets and lots with wetlands or other building limits. We review each lot's location, access, and utilities.

I inherited a Palm Bay lot I've never seen. Can I still sell it?

Yes. We handle the site review, and the closing can usually be signed remotely or with a mobile notary near you.

What if property taxes on the lot are behind?

Tell us. Delinquent taxes and outstanding tax certificates are typically paid from the sale proceeds at closing. If the lot is close to a tax deed sale, talk with a tax professional or attorney and let us know the timeline.

Will a failing septic system or well stop the sale?

No. We buy with septic and well problems in place and factor them into our offer.