Selling a House with Liens in Florida (Full Guide for 2025)
What Is a Property Lien (and Why It Stops Sales)
A lien is a legal claim against your property — placed by someone you owe money to. In Florida, liens don’t just follow the person. They follow the house.
If you try to sell a house with a lien on it, the title company will block the sale unless the lien is paid or resolved first. This means even if you find a buyer, you can’t close — unless you handle the lien properly.
For many homeowners, that’s where deals fall apart — and where foreclosure can sneak in next.
But don’t worry. We’ll walk you through everything step by step — including how to sell a house with liens, protect your equity, and get a real cash offer that handles the debt.
Common Types of Property Liens in Florida
Not all liens are created equal — but every lien creates a roadblock during a sale. Here are the most common ones that affect Florida homeowners:
| Lien Type | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Unpaid Property Taxes | Tax lien placed by the county. Can lead to foreclosure or auction. |
| HOA Liens | Filed by your homeowners association if dues are past due. They can foreclose too. |
| Code Enforcement Liens | From the city or county for code violations (trash, overgrown lawn, abandoned vehicles, etc.). |
| Judgment Liens | Placed by a creditor after winning a court case (credit cards, lawsuits, etc.). |
| Mechanic’s / Contractor Liens | Filed by contractors who haven’t been paid for work done on the home. |
Even a single unpaid fine can block a title company from letting your home sell — until it's paid or resolved. But there are ways to work around it (we’ll show you next).
Can You Sell a House With a Lien in Florida?
Yes — you can sell a house with a lien on it in Florida. But there’s a catch: you can’t close the sale until the lien is resolved, paid off, or negotiated as part of the deal.
When a title company runs their search before closing, any unpaid lien will show up. If it’s still active, they’ll flag the file — and the sale freezes until it’s cleared.
That’s why many traditional buyers back out. Most don’t want the delay, don’t know how to deal with liens, or are working with realtors who tell them to walk away.
But the good news? With the right buyer — like The Alpha Order — the lien doesn’t have to kill your deal. We can buy your house as-is, pay off the lien at closing, and help you walk away with cash in hand.
How to Remove or Work Around a Lien (Without Losing the Sale)
Once a lien shows up on your title report, you have 3 main options — depending on your timeline, finances, and buyer.
1. Pay It Off Before Closing
If you have the cash, you can clear the lien by paying it in full before or during the sale. The title company will confirm it's released — and you’re good to close.
✔ Best for: Small liens under $5,000 you can cover fast
2. Negotiate or Settle the Debt
Some creditors will agree to take less — especially if foreclosure is looming. You or your buyer can work with them to reduce the amount owed and release the lien.
⚠ Risk: This takes time, paperwork, and often legal help
3. Sell to a Cash Buyer Who Pays It Off
This is the fastest and cleanest option. Companies like The Alpha Order can buy the property with the lien still in place — and use part of your proceeds to pay it off at closing.
✔ Best for: Large liens, time-sensitive sales, or homes headed to foreclosure
Trying to hide or ignore a lien will only backfire. But with the right strategy — and the right buyer — you don’t have to lose your home or your peace of mind.
Selling a Liened House the Fast Way (With Zero Headache)
At The Alpha Order, we help Florida homeowners sell houses with liens every week — and we don’t just “buy your house.”
We handle the hard stuff most buyers avoid:
- ✔ We contact the lien holder (city, HOA, court, or contractor)
- ✔ We negotiate the payoff or pay it in full at closing
- ✔ We work with your title company directly
- ✔ We never charge fees or commissions — you keep what’s left
The best part? You don’t have to fix anything, clean anything, or explain anything. If the numbers make sense, we’ll get it done.
Need to sell in 7 days? We can. Lien over $50,000? We’ve handled worse. Feel overwhelmed? We’ve got you.
Real Story: How Ronald K. Sold a House with $62K in Liens
Ronald inherited a home in Lakeland, Florida after his uncle passed — but it came with over $62,000 in unpaid code violation fines from years of neglect.
He tried listing it with an agent, but no buyers would touch it. The title company blocked closing. The house was heading to auction.
That’s when Ronald called The Alpha Order. Within 48 hours, we got a full title report, negotiated with the city, and agreed to pay off the lien as part of closing.
Ronald walked away with $14,000 cash — and no court date, no auction, no drama.
When other buyers ran, we leaned in. That’s what we do. And that’s what we’ll do for you.
Ready to Sell a House with a Lien? You’ve Got Options.
Liens can feel like a trap — but they don’t have to stop your sale, your equity, or your peace of mind. Whether your lien is $5,000 or $75,000, we’ve helped Florida homeowners walk away clean.
We don’t just buy houses. We remove stress, fight for your equity, and simplify what others overcomplicate.
Call The Alpha Order at (352) 668-9177
or Get a No-Obligation Cash Offer Now
We respond within 1 hour. It’s free, confidential, and pressure-free.
Helpful Government Resources
- Florida Department of Revenue – Property Liens
- HUD – Foreclosure & Debt Relief Help in Florida
- Florida Clerks of Court – Public Lien Records
No gimmicks. No games. Just real help, fast.