Check Before You Sign

How do you tell a real Florida cash home buyer from a scam before you sign?

Check five things before you sign with any cash buyer: who the company is, what is in writing, who closes it, what you pay, and whether they plan to sell the contract to someone else.

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The short answer

Most Florida cash buyers are real businesses, and some are not. The difference shows up in checks you can do yourself in a few minutes, before you sign anything. This list applies to every buyer, including Howler Property Group.

Howler Property Group LLC, a Tampa-based Florida company that buys houses directly, publishes this guide. It is general information and not legal advice, and we are not a law firm.

1. Is the company a real Florida entity?

  • Search the exact company name at sunbiz.org, the Florida Division of Corporations. A real LLC has a document number, a registered agent and a filing date.
  • Check that the name on the contract matches the name on the filing. A different name on each is a warning.
  • Look for a phone number, an address and a website that match each other. Howler Property Group LLC, 5005 W Laurel St, Suite 100 PMB 1494, Tampa, FL 33607, is listed under its own Sunbiz record.

2. Is everything in writing?

  • You should get a written purchase contract that you can read at your own pace and show to an attorney.
  • Be careful of anyone who wants a signature the same day, or who will not leave a copy.
  • A contract signed under pressure is the pattern behind most complaints.

3. Who closes it?

  • A real sale closes through a title company or a Florida attorney, and the deed is recorded in the county where the house sits.
  • You can ask for the title company to be one you choose, or at least to know its name and call it.
  • Never send money or sign over a deed outside a closing.

4. What are you paying?

The seller should not pay an upfront fee to a buyer. Be careful of a charge for an application, an appraisal or processing, or a request to prepay a lien or tax. Closing costs are listed on the settlement statement from the title company, where you can read each line before you sign. See what a cash home buyer pays for in Florida.

5. Will they sell the contract to someone else?

Some investors sign a contract and then assign it to another buyer, which is legal when it is done openly. Ask directly: Are you buying this house yourself, or do you plan to assign the contract? A straight answer is what you want. You are also free to ask for a longer inspection period or more time to read it, and to talk to a Florida attorney first.

What are the red flags?

  • Pressure to decide today
  • Any fee charged to you before closing
  • A company that cannot be found on Sunbiz
  • A request to wire money, or to sign a deed or a power of attorney before a closing
  • Unwillingness to let you read the contract with an attorney

Where does Howler Property Group fit in?

You can ask us every question on this page. Getting an offer is free, and you owe nothing for asking. If listing the house would serve you better, we say so. Read about Howler Property Group and how it works.

Written 2026-10-27. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice, and we are not a law firm. For your own deadlines and rights, talk to a Florida attorney.

Related questions

Good Questions

Frequently asked

How do I check whether a cash home buyer is a real company in Florida?
Search the exact company name at sunbiz.org. A real LLC has a document number, a registered agent and a filing date, and the name should match the name on the contract.
Should a cash home buyer charge me a fee before closing?
No. Be careful of any upfront charge for an application, appraisal or processing. Closing costs appear on the title company's settlement statement.
Who should close a house sale in Florida?
A title company or a Florida attorney, with the deed recorded in the county where the house is. Never send money or sign over a deed outside a closing.
What does it mean when a buyer assigns the contract?
The buyer signs the purchase contract and then passes it to another buyer. It is legal when done openly, so ask whether they are buying the house themselves.
Is it a red flag if a buyer wants me to sign the same day?
Yes. You should be able to read the contract at your own pace and show it to an attorney.
Is Howler Property Group a registered Florida company?
Yes, Howler Property Group LLC is a Florida limited liability company based in Tampa. You can look it up at sunbiz.org and check the details yourself.