Liens

Can you sell a house with liens on it in Florida?

Yes. A lien does not stop a Florida sale. It shows up in the title search and is normally paid from the proceeds at closing. The question is whether the sale price covers everything that is owed.

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The short answer

Yes. A lien is a claim against the property for a debt, and Florida lets you sell a property that has liens as long as they are dealt with at closing. The title company searches the public record, asks each lienholder for a payoff letter, and pays them from your proceeds before you receive anything.

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

What kinds of liens show up on a Florida house?

  • Mortgage. The loan that was used to buy or borrow against the house.
  • Property taxes. Unpaid taxes become a lien under Chapter 197, and the full sequence is in how a Florida tax deed auction works.
  • Code enforcement. Fines that go unpaid can be recorded as a lien, covered in code violation liens in Florida.
  • HOA or condominium association. Unpaid assessments can be recorded as a lien under Chapter 720 or Chapter 718, and an association can foreclose on one.
  • Judgment. A court judgment becomes a lien on real property when a certified copy is recorded in the county under Chapter 55. It generally lasts ten years from recording and can be extended.
  • Contractor or supplier. A claim of lien under Chapter 713 for unpaid work on the house.
  • Federal tax lien. A notice filed by the IRS for unpaid federal taxes.

Does a Florida homestead protect the house from every lien?

No. Article X, section 4 of the Florida Constitution protects a homestead from most judgment creditors, but it does not protect it from a mortgage, unpaid property taxes, a contractor who was owed for work on the house, or most association liens. Whether your house qualifies and which of your liens attach to it are questions for a Florida attorney.

How are liens paid at a Florida closing?

  1. The title company runs a title search on the house.
  2. Each lienholder is asked for a written payoff amount good through the closing date.
  3. The title company pays those amounts out of the sale proceeds, in order of priority.
  4. Whatever remains goes to the seller. The closing statement shows every line.

Mortgage payoffs, tax certificates and recorded liens all come out of the same proceeds. You do not have to pay them before you sign a contract.

What if the liens add up to more than the house will sell for?

Then the sale does not cover everything, and something has to give. A lienholder may agree to accept less than the full balance, which is called a short payoff, and a lawyer or the title company can help request one. Some owners also put in the difference themselves. A cash buyer will not make a lien disappear, but a buyer who has seen the payoff letters can tell you quickly whether a sale works on paper.

It is worth acting before a lien turns into a foreclosure. See selling a house before a Florida foreclosure auction.

How do you find out what liens are on your house?

  • Search the county clerk's official records under your name and the property address. Most Florida counties have a free online search.
  • Check the county tax collector's site for unpaid taxes.
  • Ask your HOA or condominium association for a written statement of what is owed.
  • Ask a title company for a title search, since it also finds liens filed under a previous owner.

Where does Howler Property Group fit in?

Howler Property Group buys Florida houses as-is for cash, including houses with liens. We run the title search, ask for the payoffs and tell you what the numbers look like before you commit. If a different route would leave you better off, we say so.

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

Can you sell a house with a lien on it in Florida?
Yes. Liens are paid from the sale proceeds at closing, using payoff letters the title company collects from each lienholder.
Do I have to pay off a lien before I sell my house in Florida?
No. In most sales the lien is paid at closing from the proceeds, so you do not need the money in advance.
How long does a judgment lien last on Florida real estate?
Generally ten years from the date a certified copy of the judgment is recorded in the county, and it can be extended. A Florida attorney can confirm the dates for a particular judgment.
Can an HOA lien be foreclosed in Florida?
Yes. An association that records a lien for unpaid assessments can foreclose it under Chapter 720 or Chapter 718, so an unpaid balance is worth dealing with before it reaches that point.
What if my liens are more than my house is worth?
A lienholder may accept a smaller payoff, called a short payoff, and an attorney or the title company can help request it. Otherwise the difference has to be covered at closing.
How do I find liens on my Florida house?
Search the county clerk's official records and the tax collector's site, ask your association for a written balance, or order a title search from a title company.