We Buy Houses in Holmes Beach for Cash

Helene, then Milton

Helene's surge in late September 2024 flooded much of Holmes Beach, pushing water into ground-level homes and leaving streets lined with ruined furniture, drywall, and appliances. Many of those piles were still at the curb when Milton arrived less than two weeks later with strong wind and more rain. Some owners are still working through claims, contractors, and permits. Florida's seller disclosure rules now cover flood insurance claims and FEMA aid, so that storm history travels with the house into any sale.

Ground-level houses and the 50 percent question

Much of Holmes Beach's older housing is one-story block homes and duplexes built at ground level decades ago, long before current flood elevations. Newer homes raised on pilings or elevated foundations generally kept their living areas above the water.

If a ground-level home in a flood zone needs repairs costing 50 percent or more of the structure's market value, the city will generally require it to be brought into compliance, which usually means elevating or rebuilding. Owners who carried a National Flood Insurance Program policy may have Increased Cost of Compliance coverage that helps pay toward elevation or demolition. Your insurance agent can tell you whether it applies.

Many owners decide the better move is to sell the house as it stands. We buy damaged island homes whether they're gutted, half-repaired, or untouched.

Flood zones cover all of Holmes Beach

The city's own flood information says every property in Holmes Beach lies within a Special Flood Hazard Area, with base flood elevations of 9 to 11 feet in A zones and 9 to 14 feet in the V zones. For an older house built at grade, the distance between today's floor and that required elevation is what makes a major repair so costly.

Helene showed how much water the island can see. The National Weather Service estimated peak water levels of roughly 4 to 7 feet above the normal high-tide line along coastal Manatee County, and the gauge at Port Manatee set a record of just over 6 feet. If your Holmes Beach or Anna Maria Island house took water or wind damage, you can sell it storm-damaged and skip the rebuild. Here is more on selling a storm-damaged house in Florida.

We buy houses across Anna Maria Island

Anna Maria Island holds three cities: Anna Maria at the north end, Holmes Beach in the middle, and Bradenton Beach to the south. Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach share the 34217 ZIP code, while Anna Maria uses 34216. We buy single-family homes, duplexes, condos, and vacant lots in all three, and we check each city's rental and building rules as part of the offer.

Rules that come with island property

• Vacation rentals. Holmes Beach regulates short-term rentals, with registration and occupancy rules a new owner has to follow.
• Coastal construction. Near the Gulf beaches, work seaward of Florida's Coastal Construction Control Line needs a state permit in addition to city approval.
• Flood insurance. Much of the island is in high-risk flood zones, where a mortgage lender will require a flood policy.
• Condos. Older island condo buildings three stories or taller face milestone inspections and reserve studies on top of any storm repairs.

Owners who live somewhere else

Many Holmes Beach homes belong to people who live in other states, or to families who have shared a beach house for years. Managing storm repairs from far away has been hard. If you want to sell your house fast in Holmes Beach without flying down, we can work with you by phone and email, and closing can usually be handled with a mobile notary or remote signing. If the house was a rental, tell us about any future bookings so the contract can address them.

Frequently asked questions