A 1950s plan built around water
Developer Jack Marqusee planned Margate in the 1950s on former farmland west of Pompano Beach, and it became a city in 1961. The city counts roughly 30 miles of canals within its limits, so a good number of single-family homes back onto water and many more are a short walk from it.
Margate neighborhoods and ZIP codes
We buy in all of Margate's neighborhoods and condo communities, including Paradise Gardens, Coral Bay, Coral Cay Plantation, Oakland Hills, Holiday Springs, Oriole Gardens, and Oriole Golf & Tennis. Several have their own clubhouses, and where an association runs the community, the title company requests its estoppel letter before closing.
Census Bureau ZIP code area data puts about four-fifths of the city in 33063 and nearly all of the rest in 33068, a ZIP code Margate shares with North Lauderdale.
Living on a Margate canal
- Canal banks can erode behind the house, and docks, sheds, or fences near the water may not have permits.
- Some canal-side lots sit in flood zones, so a buyer's lender may require flood insurance.
- Florida has required sellers, since October 1, 2024, to tell buyers about flood insurance claims or flood aid, such as FEMA help, tied to the property, and since October 1, 2025, about any flooding during their ownership.
- Low spots in the yard and drainage toward the house tend to show up in inspection reports.
When the house is still in a late parent's name
A common Margate story: a parent bought the home new, lived there for decades, and passed away, and the deed has stayed in their name ever since. Nobody can sell it until someone has legal authority to sign.
Florida has two main probate routes. Summary administration is a shorter process available when the estate is worth up to $150,000, not counting exempt property, or when the death was more than two years ago. Formal administration covers most other estates and involves a court-appointed personal representative. A Florida probate attorney can tell you which route applies, and we can sign a contract that waits for the court.
If the taxes stopped getting paid
When a house sits in an estate, the property tax bill is easy to miss. In Florida, unpaid taxes lead to a tax certificate being sold on the property, and after enough time passes, the certificate holder can apply for a tax deed. We can still buy. The unpaid taxes are paid from the sale proceeds at closing, and a tax professional or attorney can help if a tax deed application is already underway.
Original-owner houses
Homes that stayed with one owner often have terrazzo under the carpet, jalousie windows, galvanized supply lines, older electrical panels, and a roof that insurers will not accept. A four-point inspection on a house like this usually turns up several items. We price those repairs into our offer, so no one in the family has to make them.
Sell my house fast in Margate before a foreclosure sale
A Florida lender has to sue to foreclose, and for a Margate home that case runs through the Broward Clerk of Courts' Circuit Civil Division. The house cannot go to auction until the judge enters a final judgment, and that judgment sets the sale date. Selling before then lets the title company pay the lender from your proceeds and send you whatever equity is left, instead of leaving it to the clerk's foreclosure sale.
The earlier you call, the more room there is: a sale signed while the case is still in its early months can close on an ordinary schedule, while one signed after the judgment has to beat a fixed date. Our guide to how foreclosure works in Florida explains each stage, and a HUD-approved housing counselor can go over loan workout options with you before you decide.
How a cash offer for a house in Margate comes together
You tell us about the house, we see it in person, and we put a written offer in front of you. If you accept, a title company clears the title, pays off anything owed, and closes on the date you choose. If probate has to happen first, we time the contract to match.
With clear title, that date can be as close as 10 days after you sign.
Frequently asked questions
Do you buy houses for cash in Margate?
Yes. We buy houses, villas, condos, and land anywhere in Margate in their current condition, and you pay no commissions.
The house is still in my late father's name. Can I sell it?
Yes, after a court gives someone authority to sign, usually a personal representative in probate. The contract can be signed now, with closing set for after that happens.
Can I sell my Margate house before the foreclosure sale?
Yes, as long as the sale closes before the date in the final judgment. The lender is paid from the proceeds, so check that date and contact us as early as you can.
Do you buy Margate homes on canals?
Yes. We review the lot, the flood zone, and any docks or structures near the water as part of our offer.
The property taxes have not been paid for a couple of years. Will you still buy?
Yes. Unpaid taxes and any tax certificates are paid from the proceeds at closing. If a tax deed sale is scheduled, contact us quickly.
Do you buy villas and condos in Margate?
Yes. We review the association's fees, rules, and any assessments, and we plan around any approval it requires.
How fast can you close on a house in Margate?
As soon as 10 days after signing, provided the title is clear. If probate or a lender payoff needs more time, we set a later date.
Sources
- Ch. 2026-57, Laws of Florida — raises the summary administration limit in s. 735.201 to $150,000 (effective July 1, 2026)
- U.S. Census Bureau: 2020 ZIP Code Tabulation Area to place relationship file
- City of Margate: polling precincts map (Paradise Gardens, Coral Bay, Coral Cay Plantation, Oakland Hills, Oriole Gardens, Oriole Golf & Tennis)
- City of Margate: Margate C community shuttle route (Holiday Springs)
- Broward County Clerk of Courts: Circuit Civil (including foreclosures)
