What should you do first after inheriting a house in Port St. Lucie?
Find out who can sign
In Florida, the personal representative of the estate can sell a home when the will gives that power or a court authorizes the sale. Without a will, or without a power of sale in it, title passes only after the court authorizes or confirms the sale (s. 733.613, Florida Statutes). A probate attorney tells you which applies to your house; Brent will never guess.
Keep the house covered
Keep the insurance in force, the doors locked, the lawn cut and the utilities on while the estate is open. A house that sits empty can lose value, and a buyer's insurer looks at its condition when the time comes.
Pull the records
The St. Lucie County Clerk's probate FAQs explain the court side, and the clerk's official records search shows the deed. In Martin County, use the Martin County Clerk's online services. The property appraiser's record shows the current tax bill.
Get two numbers in writing
What the house would sell for as-is, and what it could bring after the repairs that pay for themselves on that street. With both on paper, any offer is easy to judge.
What is an inherited house in Port St. Lucie worth?
What the closest recent sales of similar homes say, adjusted for the things that matter most in older and long-held houses here. For context, the St. Lucie County single-family median sale price was $395,000 in September 2026 (Florida Realtors), but a house that has not been updated in years can sit well below or above that. Brent writes up the as-is number and the after-repairs number from 3 closed sales and 3 active listings each, so you can see which repairs pay for themselves.
| Item | Why it matters | What to find |
|---|---|---|
| Roof age | Citizens Property Insurance requires a four-point inspection on homes more than 20 years old, and an older roof can shrink the pool of buyers who can insure the house | The roof permit date and any wind mitigation report |
| Septic or city sewer | From October 1, 2026, connecting a Port St. Lucie home in a city assessment area to water and sewer costs $16,780 paid in full, or $138.83 a month for 10 years at 0% | Whether the house is on septic, and the city's conversion status for the street |
| Flood history | Florida requires the seller to disclose known flood damage, flood insurance claims and flood assistance received, at or before contract (s. 689.302) | Any claim or assistance records the estate can locate |
| HOA or CDD | Fees and any unpaid balances come out of the sale, and a CDD is billed on the county tax bill | The association's contact and an estoppel letter; the tax bill |
| Condition inside | Updated kitchens, baths and systems decide which comparable sales fit | Photos of every room, the age of the AC and water heater |
The Sharp Number is a broker's opinion of value, not an appraisal. If the estate needs a date-of-death appraisal for tax purposes, that is a licensed appraiser's job, and your CPA or attorney will say whether you need one. More on how value is set is in our Port St. Lucie home value guide.
What happens to the property taxes on an inherited house?
The Save Our Homes cap belonged to the owner who homesteaded the house. After a change of ownership the home is reassessed at its just value, so the next tax bill can be much higher than the one your parent paid (s. 193.155, Florida Statutes). A home that is not anyone's homestead is limited to 10% a year in assessment increases on non-school taxes until it changes hands again.
That matters for timing: every month the house sits, the estate pays taxes, insurance, utilities and any HOA dues. Put those carrying costs next to the two numbers so the family can see what waiting costs. Income and estate tax questions belong with a CPA before you set a price.
Should you sell an inherited house as-is, fix it up, or take a cash offer?
It depends on what the two numbers show after costs and time. Some repairs return more than they cost on a given street and some never do. A cash offer can be the right answer when the family needs a date more than a price, as long as you can see what listing would likely net beside it. Our as-is, repairs or cash offer comparison walks through the math, and says what to check before signing with any cash buyer.
Selling as-is does not erase the duty to disclose. Florida sellers must disclose known facts that materially affect a home's value and are not readily observable, even in an as-is sale (Johnson v. Davis, Florida Supreme Court, 1985). An estate may not know the house's full history, so disclose what you do know and let a buyer inspect.
Can you sell an inherited Port St. Lucie home if you live out of state?
Yes. Many heirs never come back until closing day, or at all. What that takes:
- One person with authority to sign, confirmed by the estate's attorney, and every family member who wants updates named in writing.
- A written owner report at least every 7 days once the home is listed, sent to everyone on that list.
- Showings coordinated locally, so nobody has to fly in to open the door.
- A remote closing through a Florida title company or attorney, with identities verified for every signer. Deed fraud often starts with an owner nobody can reach; the free St. Lucie County Clerk Property Fraud Alert emails you when a document is recorded in a name you choose.
- If an heir is not a U.S. person, the buyer generally withholds 15% of the amount realized under FIRPTA, with exceptions at $300,000 or less when the buyer will live in the home (IRS). A CPA handles it; Brent flags it early so the closing date holds.
Moving here yourself? See moving to Port St. Lucie from another state.
For the family, in writing
Get both numbers before any offer
- As-is and after-repairs values from 3 closed sales and 3 active listings each
- Carrying costs next to the numbers
- Free. No obligation to list, now or later.
Brent Sharp, Broker / Owner
Call or text (772) 272-9571 Get Both Numbers Text Brent
Licensed Florida real estate brokerage, DBPR license CQ1051669. Port St. Lucie, FL.
Questions families ask about inherited homes
Can I sell a house that is still in probate in Florida?
Often, yes. The personal representative can sell when the will gives that power or a court authorizes the sale; otherwise title passes only after the court authorizes or confirms it (section 733.613, Florida Statutes). A Florida probate attorney tells you which applies.
Who signs the listing agreement for an inherited house?
The person with legal authority to sell, usually the personal representative of the estate. Have the estate's attorney confirm it in writing before anyone signs a listing agreement or a sale contract.
Do I have to fix up an inherited house before selling it?
No. Get the as-is value and the after-repairs value in writing first, then fix only what returns more than it costs. Selling as-is does not remove the duty to disclose known defects under Florida law.
Can I sell an inherited house in Port St. Lucie if I live in another state?
Yes. Brent Sharp coordinates showings locally, sends a written owner report at least every 7 days to every family member you name, and the sale can close remotely through a Florida title company or attorney.
Will the property taxes go up after my parent passed away?
They can. The Save Our Homes cap ends with the owner who homesteaded the house, and after a change of ownership the home is reassessed at just value (section 193.155, Florida Statutes). Ask the property appraiser's office how it applies to your parcel.
Is the Sharp Number an appraisal for the estate?
No. The Sharp Number is a broker's opinion of value, not an appraisal. If the estate needs an appraisal for tax purposes, a licensed appraiser prepares it; your CPA or attorney will tell you whether you need one.
Sources
- The Florida Statutes: section 733.613 (personal representative's right to sell real property), section 193.155 (Save Our Homes; reassessment after a change of ownership), sections 193.1554 and 193.1555 (10% cap on non-homestead property), section 689.302 (seller flood disclosure). Accessed October 20, 2026.
- Johnson v. Davis, 480 So. 2d 625 (Fla. 1985): a seller's duty to disclose known facts that materially affect value and are not readily observable.
- Florida Realtors, Monthly Market Detail, September 2026, Single-Family Homes, St. Lucie County, published by Miami Realtors, released October 16, 2026. Read October 21, 2026.
- City of Port St. Lucie Utility Systems, Water and sewer conversion rates, effective October 1, 2026. Accessed October 20, 2026.
- Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, Inspections (four-point inspection on homes more than 20 years old). Accessed October 20, 2026.
- St. Lucie County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, Probate FAQs, official records search and Property Fraud Alert; Martin County Clerk of Court and Comptroller, Online Services and Alerts. Accessed October 25, 2026.
- Internal Revenue Service: FIRPTA withholding (15% generally; Form 8288-B), reviewed July 21, 2026; Exceptions from FIRPTA withholding ($300,000 or less when the buyer will live in the home), reviewed July 15, 2026; Instructions for Form 8288 (10% for a home the buyer will live in, up to $1,000,000), reviewed April 30, 2026. Accessed October 25, 2026.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Talk to a Florida probate attorney about authority to sell and to a CPA about taxes before you set a price.
Last updated · Reviewed by Brent Sharp, Broker