Wood-frame cottages and what inspections turn up

Much of the older city, near downtown and the Lake Worth Lagoon, was built from the 1920s through the 1950s, and a large share of those homes are wood-frame bungalows and cottages rather than the concrete block houses common elsewhere in South Florida. Many sit raised on piers above a crawl space.

Inspectors and insurers look hard at these homes. Common findings include termite damage and wood rot in sills, floor framing, and siding; older wiring; cast iron or galvanized pipes; and roofs that no longer pass a four-point inspection. None of that has to be fixed before you sell to us. We have been buying as-is properties for more than ten years, and older frame houses like these are routine for us.

Parts of the city we see often

  • College Park and the neighborhoods north of downtown
  • The blocks around Lake and Lucerne Avenues downtown
  • South Palm Park and other streets near the lagoon
  • Neighborhoods west of Dixie Highway toward I-95

Duplexes, back cottages, and extra units

Lake Worth Beach has many duplexes, small apartment buildings, and lots with a second cottage or garage apartment behind the main house. Some of those extra units were built with permits and are legal. Others were added or converted later without approval, and they can complicate an appraisal or a lender's review.

We look at what is on the lot, what the city's records show, and what it would take to legalize or remove any unpermitted unit. We can buy with tenants in place in any of them.

A city that runs its own power company

Unlike most of Palm Beach County, Lake Worth Beach operates its own electric utility, along with water and sewer service. When you sell, the utility accounts are closed out with the city rather than with an outside power company.

If there is an unpaid balance on a property's utility account, the title company will usually find it during the municipal lien search, and it can typically be paid from your proceeds at closing.

Lake Worth, Lake Worth Beach, or neither

The city changed its name from Lake Worth to Lake Worth Beach in 2019. Your deed, an old survey, or your insurance papers may still use the old name. That is not a problem, because the legal description on the deed is what identifies the property.

Many homes with a Lake Worth mailing address, especially west of the city, are actually in unincorporated Palm Beach County or a neighboring municipality. Which government handles your permits and code cases depends on where the property really sits, and we confirm that early.

Frequently asked questions

My deed says Lake Worth, not Lake Worth Beach. Does that matter?

No. The city's name changed in 2019, but the property's legal description did not, and that is what the title company relies on.

Do you buy wood-frame houses with termite damage?

Yes. Termite damage, rot, and old patch repairs are common in the city's older homes, and our offer reflects them rather than asking you to treat or repair anything first.

Will you buy a lot with a cottage or apartment behind the main house?

Yes, whether or not the second unit was permitted. We review its status and include it in our evaluation.

Can you buy my rental if the tenants are behind on rent?

Yes. Tenants who are behind don't stop a sale. We review the lease and rent history, and the tenants can stay in place through closing.