Sell My House As Is in Port St. Lucie: Disclosures, Price and Buyers
If you want to sell my house as is in Port St. Lucie, start with what as-is really means in a Florida contract. It means you will not make repairs. It does not mean you can stay quiet about known problems, and it does not mean the buyer cannot walk away. This guide covers the contract, the disclosures that remain, the buyers who purchase as-is homes, and how to price one.
This guide explains how as-is home sales usually work in Florida. It is not legal or tax advice. Contract terms, disclosure duties and insurance rules depend on the facts of each sale and can change. Read your contract in full and talk to a Florida real estate attorney before you rely on any rule described here. A price discussed with Jeannie is a pricing opinion based on recent sales, not an appraisal.
The Short Answer
Selling as is in Port St. Lucie means you will not repair the home, and the buyer accepts its condition. You still must disclose known defects that affect value, including flood history. The buyer usually keeps an inspection period to cancel. Price the home against sales in similar condition.
- Florida courts have required sellers of homes to disclose known facts that materially affect value and are not readily observable to the buyer since Johnson v. Davis (Florida Supreme Court, 1985). An as-is clause does not remove that duty.
- A seller of residential property in Florida must give the buyer a flood disclosure at or before the time the contract is signed (Florida Statutes, section 689.302).
- An insurer may not refuse to write or renew a homeowner’s policy solely because the roof is less than 15 years old, and for an older roof it must accept an inspection showing at least 5 years of useful life left (section 627.7011).
- Homes built before 1978 require a federal lead-based paint disclosure, whatever the contract says about repairs.
- Jeannie Jacobson, REALTOR® with RE/MAX Gold, works with sellers in Port St. Lucie and across St. Lucie, Martin and Indian River counties, in English and Spanish.
In this guide
What does it mean to sell my house as is in Port St. Lucie?
In plain terms, an as-is sale is a sale where the seller agrees in advance not to make repairs. The buyer takes the home in its current condition. Any repairs become the buyer’s job after closing, and the price reflects that.
Sellers in Port St. Lucie choose this route for a handful of common reasons:
- An inherited home. The family lives out of state, nobody wants to manage a roof or a kitchen project from a distance, and the estate needs to close.
- A rental that tenants have worn down. Flooring, paint and appliances all need work, and the owner would rather sell than renovate.
- A big-ticket item. An older roof, an aging air conditioner, a pool that needs resurfacing or storm damage that the seller cannot or does not want to fund.
- Time. A relocation, a divorce or a new home already under contract, where waiting on contractors is not realistic.
What as-is does not mean is just as important. It does not mean the home is sold without inspections, without disclosure or without negotiation. Most buyers still inspect. Many still ask for a lower price after they see the report. The difference is that you are free to say no to repairs, and the buyer is free to walk away during the inspection period.
If you have not decided yet how to sell, our guide to selling a house in Port St. Lucie covers the full process. This page stays on the as-is route.
What does the Florida AS IS contract change for the seller?
Most residential sales in Florida are written on one of two forms prepared by Florida Realtors and The Florida Bar: the standard Residential Contract for Sale and Purchase, and the AS IS Residential Contract for Sale and Purchase. The difference between them is how repairs are handled.
| Question | Standard form | AS IS form |
|---|---|---|
| Does the seller agree to make repairs? | Yes, up to repair limits written into the contract | No repair obligation |
| Does the buyer get an inspection period? | Yes | Yes, with the number of days written into the contract |
| Can the buyer cancel after inspections? | Through the repair and limit process in the form | Yes, for any reason, if notice is given within the inspection period |
| Does the seller still owe disclosure? | Yes, under Florida case law and statutes, on both forms | |
Two points surprise sellers. First, the AS IS form gives the buyer a broad right to cancel during the inspection period. That is the trade: you make no repair promises, and the buyer gets a clean exit if the inspection reveals more than expected. Second, nothing stops a buyer from asking for a price reduction or a credit after inspections. You can decline. They can cancel. Most of the real negotiation in an as-is sale happens in those days.
Keep the inspection period short and the access easy. A buyer who can schedule the inspector, a roofer and an insurance agent quickly is a buyer who decides quickly. Read the exact days and deadlines in the contract you sign, because the blanks are filled in for each deal.
Do you still have to disclose problems when you sell as is?
Yes. This is the most common misunderstanding about as-is sales. In Johnson v. Davis (1985), the Florida Supreme Court held that a seller of a home must disclose facts the seller knows about that materially affect the value of the property and are not readily observable or known to the buyer. An as-is clause tells the buyer you will not fix things. It does not let you hide what you know.
Several disclosures in Florida come from statute or federal law and apply to as-is sales too:
- Flood disclosure. Under section 689.302, the seller must complete a flood disclosure at or before signing. It asks whether you know of flooding that damaged the home while you owned it, whether you filed a flood insurance claim, including with the National Flood Insurance Program, and whether you received flood assistance, including from FEMA.
- Radon notice. Florida requires a radon gas notice in contracts for the sale of a building (section 404.056). The standard forms already include it.
- Lead-based paint. For homes built before 1978, federal rules require a disclosure of known lead-based paint and hazards and a pamphlet for the buyer (EPA real estate disclosure rule). Many Port St. Lucie homes were built later, but check the year on the property record.
- Association documents. If the home is in an HOA, the buyer must receive the HOA disclosure summary before signing.
Florida law also lists some facts that are not material and need not be disclosed, such as a death on the property (section 689.25). Everything else that you know and that affects value belongs on the disclosure form. For a full walk-through of the form, read our Florida seller disclosure requirements guide.
A practical rule we use with as-is sellers: if a repair was ever quoted, a claim was ever filed, or a contractor ever told you something was failing, write it down. Disclosure protects the sale as much as it protects the buyer, because problems found after a contract are what make buyers cancel.
Who buys as-is homes in Port St. Lucie?
An as-is listing does not attract one type of buyer. It attracts four, and each one brings different terms. Knowing which group you are likely to draw helps you set the price and the contract terms.
| Buyer | How they pay | What they usually want |
|---|---|---|
| Cash buyers and home buying companies | Cash, often with a short closing | A discount for speed and for taking on repairs; some assign the contract to another buyer |
| Local investors and flippers | Cash or a short-term loan | A price that leaves room for repairs, holding costs and resale profit |
| Owner-occupants with a renovation loan | A mortgage that also funds repairs, such as FHA 203(k) | A home they can fix up to live in; the loan adds paperwork and time |
| Owner-occupants with a regular mortgage | Conventional, FHA or VA | A home whose condition passes the lender’s appraisal and the insurer’s inspection |
The last group is the largest pool of buyers in most price ranges, and it is the one an as-is home can lose. If the condition stops a loan or a policy, those buyers drop out, and you are left with cash and renovation buyers who price in the risk.
Cash offers deserve a careful side-by-side comparison. Look at the price after fees, the earnest money, the inspection period, whether the buyer can assign the contract, and the proof of funds. Our guide to cash home buyers in Port St. Lucie covers how those offers compare with a listing.
For a buyer with a renovation loan, the FHA 203(k) program lets the buyer finance the purchase and the cost of repairs in one mortgage. Those buyers can pay a market price for a home that needs work, but they need time for contractor bids and approvals. Build that into the closing date.
Can a buyer with an FHA or VA loan buy an as-is home?
Sometimes. The loan type does not forbid an as-is contract. The property condition is what matters.
FHA and VA appraisers check the home against minimum property requirements. In general terms, the home must be safe, sound and secure: working utilities, a roof that keeps water out, no hazards like exposed wiring or peeling paint on older homes. HUD’s single family handbook (Handbook 4000.1) sets the FHA standards, and the VA has its own minimum property requirements. If the appraiser finds a problem, the appraisal can be made subject to repairs. The loan does not close until the repair is done and checked.
In an as-is sale, that leaves three paths:
- The seller chooses to make that one repair, even though the contract does not require it, to keep the buyer.
- The buyer switches loan type, for example to a conventional loan or a 203(k).
- The deal ends, and the home goes back on the market with the appraisal issue now known.
The way to avoid surprises is to know before you list whether your home has an obvious financing problem. A missing handrail, a broken window or a non-working water heater is cheap compared with losing a buyer three weeks into a contract. A failing roof is a different decision, covered in section 8.
How do insurance inspections affect selling a house as is in Port St. Lucie?
In Florida, the buyer’s insurance quote often decides an as-is sale before the lender does. Most financed buyers must show a homeowner’s policy to close, and insurers on older homes usually ask for a 4-point inspection of the roof, electrical, plumbing and heating and air conditioning, and often a wind mitigation report.
The roof is the most frequent issue. Under section 627.7011, an insurer may not refuse to issue or renew a homeowner’s policy solely because the roof is less than 15 years old. For a roof that is 15 years or older, the insurer must allow an inspection by an authorized inspector at the homeowner’s expense, and it may not refuse the policy if the inspection shows at least 5 years of useful life left. That rule gives an older roof a path to coverage, but only if the inspection supports it.
Other items that commonly come up on 4-point reports in older Port St. Lucie homes include older electrical panels, outdated plumbing materials and air conditioners near the end of their life. A buyer who cannot get a reasonable policy cannot close with a lender, whatever the contract says about repairs.
Many as-is sellers order a 4-point and a wind mitigation report before listing. It costs little compared with a failed contract, and it lets you price and disclose with real information. Our guide to the 4-point inspection before selling a house explains what each report covers and when to order it.
How should you price a house you sell as is?
Price an as-is home against recent sales of homes in similar condition, not against the renovated home down the street. Buyers and appraisers will make that comparison either way, so it is better to start there.
A practical way to set the number:
- Find the updated comparables. Recent sales of similar homes nearby that are in good condition. This is the after-repair value a buyer has in mind.
- Find the as-is comparables. Recent sales that needed work, which often show up as cash sales or short listings. Public sales records are on the St. Lucie County Property Appraiser’s site.
- Price the big items. Get real estimates for the roof, air conditioner or other major items. Buyers will get their own, and a seller with numbers in hand negotiates better.
- Expect a buyer margin. Investors deduct repairs plus their holding costs and profit. Owner-occupants deduct repairs plus the hassle. The gap between those two buyers is why the buyer pool matters.
Two mistakes cost as-is sellers the most. The first is pricing as if the home were updated and then cutting the price after the first inspection report. The second is accepting the first cash offer without knowing what the market would pay. A listing exposed to all four buyer groups often produces a better net than a single cash offer, even after a longer timeline. Sometimes it does not, and that is fine; the point is to compare.
Should you repair, give a credit or sell as is?
You do not have to choose one approach for the whole house. Many sellers fix the items that block financing or insurance, and sell the rest as is. Here is how the options compare.
| Option | Works well when | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Repair before listing | The fix is small and it opens the home to financed buyers, like a safety item or a broken system | Permits, contractor timing and receipts to show buyers |
| Credit at closing | The buyer wants to choose their own contractor and the lender allows the credit | Lenders limit seller credits and may not allow credits for repairs the appraisal requires |
| Price reduction | The issue is known up front and priced into the listing | Reducing after inspection usually costs more than pricing it in from the start |
| Sell fully as is | The home needs major work, time matters, or the seller cannot fund repairs | A smaller buyer pool and a lower price |
If a buyer asks for repairs or a credit after inspection, our repair requests after home inspection guide covers how to respond. If the reason for selling as is is storm or water damage, read our guide to selling a house with hurricane damage in Florida, because open insurance claims and the flood disclosure add steps.
From experience with sellers who come to Jeannie after a listing stalled, the house that sat was rarely too damaged to sell. More often it was priced like a finished home while it showed like a project. Pricing and presenting the condition honestly is often what moves it.
What happens with open permits or unpermitted work in an as-is sale?
Open permits and unpermitted work do not go away because the contract says as is. Title companies and buyers’ attorneys often search permit records, and an open permit can delay closing until it is closed out or the buyer agrees in writing to take it on.
In Port St. Lucie, permits are issued by the city’s Building Department, and records can be searched through the City of Port St. Lucie. Check the address before you list. If you find an open permit for a past water heater, roof or screen enclosure job, it is often faster to close it before a buyer finds it.
Unpermitted work, such as an enclosed garage or a converted porch, is a disclosure item. Some buyers accept it with a price adjustment. Lenders and insurers may not. Our guide to open permits when selling a house in Florida explains how to find and clear them.
What does an as-is sale look like from listing to closing?
The steps are the same as any sale, with more weight on the first two.
- Gather the facts. Property record, permit history, insurance claims, repair quotes, and a 4-point and wind mitigation report if the home is older.
- Complete the disclosures. Seller disclosure, flood disclosure, lead paint for pre-1978 homes and HOA documents if they apply.
- Set the price from as-is and updated comparables, with the big repair estimates in hand.
- List on the AS IS form and say so plainly in the listing, so buyers who want a finished home do not waste a showing.
- Review every offer side by side: net after fees, financing type, inspection period, deposit and closing date.
- Handle the inspection period. Give prompt access, answer questions in writing and decide in advance where you will hold firm.
- Close. The title company handles payoffs, any HOA estoppel certificate and the settlement statement.
If the home is part of an estate, a personal representative may need court authority before signing, and the timing changes. Our guide on how to sell an inherited home in Port St. Lucie covers that path.
What Port St. Lucie Sellers Say About Jeannie Jacobson
“I could not possibly say enough good things about Jeannie. We hired Jeannie to sell our mom’s house after our contract with another realtor expired I will not mention their name. Jeannie said she would get my mom’s house sold quickly and she did that! Jeannie did an amazing job within 30 days. House was sold where the other realtor had six months and failed. From showing to closing, Jeannie was amazing!”
Margaret Padilla, Google review, April 24, 2025
“Jeannie DOES make your wishes come true!! But that’s not all, she works WITh you. I have had the privilege of working with her for both a home sale and purchase. As stressful as real estate can be, she made it all a breeze. She showed the utmost integrity and compassion throughout an emotional sale. Jeannie has exceptional experience, knowledge, and patience. She is very communicative, honest, and realistic, but she also listens and is willing to put in the effort and work for what YOU want!”
Tonia Rossano, Google review, May 31, 2025
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Under Johnson v. Davis, a Florida seller must disclose known facts that materially affect the value of the home and are not readily observable to the buyer. Selling as is means you will not make repairs, but the duty to disclose what you know stays. Florida also requires a flood disclosure at or before signing.
Yes, in most cases. The Florida AS IS residential contract gives the buyer an inspection period, and the buyer can cancel for any reason by giving notice within that period. After it ends, the buyer’s other contingencies, such as financing, still apply as written in the contract.
Often, yes. A buyer can ask for a lower price or a credit after inspections. The seller does not have to agree, and the buyer can cancel during the inspection period if they cannot reach terms. Pricing known issues into the listing reduces this back and forth.
There is no fixed percentage. The discount depends on the cost of repairs, how many buyers can still finance and insure the home, and recent sales of homes in similar condition nearby. Compare as-is sales with updated sales in your area to see the gap.
Yes, if the home meets FHA minimum property requirements. If the appraiser finds a safety or soundness problem, the loan can require that repair before closing. The seller can choose to make it, the buyer can change loan type, or the contract can end.
They are not opposites. An as-is listing on the open market can attract cash buyers, investors and financed buyers at the same time. A direct sale to one cash buyer can be faster but gives you one price. Compare the net amount, terms and timeline before deciding.
Sell Your Port St. Lucie Home As Is, With the Facts in Hand
An as-is sale works best when the price, the disclosures and the reports all tell the same story. Jeannie works with sellers in Port St. Lucie and across the Treasure Coast, in English and Spanish, and can help you compare an as-is listing with a cash offer before you choose.
Jeannie Jacobson, REALTOR®, RE/MAX Gold, (772) 877-0268, English and Spanish
Sources
- Johnson v. Davis, 480 So. 2d 625 (Fla. 1985), Florida Supreme Court, seller’s duty to disclose known material defects
- Florida Statutes 2026, section 689.302, Flood disclosure in residential real property sales, http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/ (accessed October 2026)
- Florida Statutes 2026, section 627.7011, Homeowners’ policies; offer of replacement cost coverage and law and ordinance coverage, subsection (5) on roof age, http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/ (accessed October 2026)
- Florida Statutes 2026, section 404.056, Environmental radiation standards and programs; radon protection, subsection (5) notification, http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/ (accessed October 2026)
- Florida Statutes 2026, section 689.25, Failure to disclose homicide, suicide, deaths, or diagnosis of HIV or AIDS infection in an occupant of real property, http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/ (accessed October 2026)
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Real Estate Disclosures About Potential Lead Hazards, https://www.epa.gov/lead/real-estate-disclosures-about-potential-lead-hazards (accessed October 2026)
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 203(k) Rehabilitation Mortgage Insurance and Single Family Housing Policy Handbook 4000.1, https://www.hud.gov/ (accessed October 2026; HUD pages may block automated access, so confirm the current text on hud.gov)
- Florida Realtors and The Florida Bar, AS IS Residential Contract for Sale and Purchase and Residential Contract for Sale and Purchase (current editions; confirm the form version used in your contract)
- City of Port St. Lucie Building Department permit records, https://www.cityofpsl.com/ (accessed October 2026), and St. Lucie County Property Appraiser sales records, https://www.paslc.gov/ (accessed October 2026)