Why storm damage ends a financed sale
It is a chain. A lender requires hazard insurance. A Florida carrier declines a house with unrepaired damage, an open claim, or a roof past its life. No policy means no loan. The appraisal adds a second filter, because visible damage and incomplete repairs become conditions to cure before closing.
Meanwhile the damage progresses. A tarped roof leaks, moisture spreads behind new drywall, and in Florida humidity mould follows quickly. Waiting for a better market usually costs more than it earns.
The 50 percent rule turns repairs into rebuilds
For a building in a mapped flood zone, local floodplain rules generally require that once the cost of repair or improvement reaches roughly half the structure's market value, the whole building must be brought up to current standards — which on the coast or in a low-lying area can mean elevating it.
That single rule explains a great many half-repaired Florida houses. The repair that looked affordable became a rebuild once the threshold was crossed, and the work stopped. We buy at every stage of that, including where nothing was ever started.
Claims, servicers, and unfinished work
Where there is a mortgage, the servicer usually controls the claim proceeds and releases them in stages as work is completed and inspected. That leaves owners holding a partial payment and an unfinished house. Some spent the first payment elsewhere. Some had the claim denied, or settled for far less than the work cost.
We buy in all of those states. Tell us what was claimed, what was paid, what the servicer is holding, and what was actually done. Who keeps any remaining claim proceeds is a term of the contract and should be discussed openly rather than assumed either way.
Flood disclosure and permits
Since October 1, 2024, Florida sellers of residential property must provide a separate flood disclosure at or before the contract is signed, covering flood insurance claims and flood assistance received. An amendment effective October 1, 2025 broadened it to cover any flooding during the seller's ownership and state as well as federal assistance.
Permits are the other loose end. Post-storm repairs are frequently done fast, sometimes by unlicensed crews, and sometimes without permits — or with permits that were never closed out. An open permit can prevent a carrier from writing a policy, which is a financing problem as well as a paperwork one. None of it has to be resolved before we close.
Frequently asked questions
Can I sell a storm-damaged Florida house before repairs are done?
Yes. We buy with repairs finished, partly done, or never started.
What if my insurance claim is still open?
That is common. Tell us what has been claimed and paid and whether the servicer is holding funds. Who keeps remaining proceeds is a contract term.
Do you buy houses that flooded more than once?
Yes. Repetitive-loss properties are the hardest to insure and finance, which is exactly when a cash sale helps.
My storm repairs were done without permits. Can I still sell?
Yes. Unpermitted or unclosed repair work does not have to be resolved before closing with us, though it does affect insurability for a financed buyer.
Do I have to disclose flooding?
Yes. Florida has required a separate flood disclosure since October 1, 2024, broadened on October 1, 2025 to cover any flooding during your ownership.
What is the 50 percent rule?
In a mapped flood zone, once repair or improvement costs reach about half the structure's market value, the building generally has to meet current floodplain standards — which can mean elevating it.
This page is general information about selling property in Florida, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Laws change and every situation is different, so talk with a qualified Florida professional about yours.