Maybe you’re starting a new job in another state, you unexpectedly inherited a property, or you’re going through a divorce. The bottom line? You need to sell your house fast in Fort Lauderdale.
When it comes to selling your house fast in Fort Lauderdale, you have three solid options:
- When you sell with an agent, you'll get close to market value, but the sale will likely take a little longer.
- You can Sell to an iBuyer if you have a home in good shape.
- With a We Buy Houses company, you'll sell as fast as possible but will get a far lower price.
To get cash offers right now, sign up for Clever Offers. A local agent will gather and compare offers for you from leading iBuyers and We Buy Houses companies. Your agent will help you negotiate to get the best price and provide you with a free home valuation so you know what your home is worth on the open market.
What to expect when selling a home in Fort Lauderdale
In Florida, homes typically sell fastest during May and slowest during October.
To set expectations for your selling timeline in Florida, look at two factors:
- Median days on market: Number of days before a seller accepts an offer
- Average time to sell: Number of days on market until offer, plus the average number of days to close
Average time to sell a house in Florida
National | Florida | |
|---|---|---|
Median days on market | 67 days | 65 days |
Average time to sell | 83 days | 79 days |
Based on Realtor.com data (February 2023) | ||
In Pennsylvania, the current average time to sell is 4.8% faster than than the national average.
» LEARN MORE: Average Time to Sell a House in Florida
How to sell my house fast in Fort Lauderdale
Best option: Sell your house quickly with an agent
⚡ Quick facts: Selling with an agent
- Percentage of market value you’ll earn: 90–95%
- Average time to sell: 65 days
- Fees you’ll pay:
- Average listing commission: 2.70%
- Average buyer agent commission: 2.70%
- Average closing costs: 3.22%
Selling with an agent is your best option if you want to get the most money for your house. A good agent can maximize interest in your home, possibly starting a bidding war. They could also use their network to bring in cash offers that’ll close fast since they don’t require financing through a bank.
The drawback is that using a realtor can take a while. Even if they manage to sell faster than the average 65 days, it could still be a month you close.
You'll also need to pay your agent's commission, the buyer's agent commission, and closing costs. However, even with these fees, you'll still likely come out with more in your pocket than if you use a We Buy Houses company.
Selling with an agent is best for…
- People with homes in good condition
- People with at least 30 days to sell
- People who want to sell fast while making the most money
Tips to sell fast with an agent
According to experienced Fort Lauderdale real estate agent Hope Stoller of Charles Rutenberg Realty, sellers looking for a fast sale have a number of potentially effective strategies to sell a home quickly.
- Use an aggressive pricing strategy. Stoller says that will mean pricing your home at or slightly below market value to attract buyers looking for a deal. Sellers in a big hurry sometimes believe pricing a home far below market value is the best way to get a fast sale, but this can be counterproductive. A very low list price may make buyers think there are hidden problems with the house.
- Have the home in excellent condition. “Many buyers prefer a home that requires little to no work," says Stoller. "If the home appears well-maintained, buyers will be more excited about the home, and willing to pay a higher price.” Basically, no matter how much of a hurry you’re in, spending a few days on pre-listing preparation can pay big dividends.
- Offer concessions to help a sale get across the finish line. Considering today’s record-high mortgage rates, the most popular concession should come as no surprise. “The mortgage buy-down program,” says Stoller, “is a very helpful and strategic seller concession.”
💸 How cash offers work
Cash offers are the fastest path to closing because the buyer doesn't need to get a loan. The financial institution doesn't have to spend time checking the buyer's financials (known as the underwriting process). There's also less risk of the buyer's financial situation changing in a way that puts the sale at risk.
When listing with an agent, you can state your preference for cash offers. Keep in mind, though, that this might limit the number of offers.
Better option: Sell to an iBuyer
⚡ Quick facts: Selling to an iBuyer
- Percentage of market value you’ll earn: 90–95%
- Average time to sell: 8–60 days (customer preference)
- Fees you’ll pay:
- Service fee: 5%
- Average closing costs: 3.22%
iBuyers make full cash offers on your home, making them a quick way to sell. For the most part, iBuyers purchase homes in good condition, so if you have major problems with your home, you likely won't qualify.
Typical iBuyer purchase criteria:
- 🏠 Built after 1930
- 💰 Valued at $100,000–600,000
- 🌲 Located on 1.5 acres or less
- 👤 Owner-occupied
iBuyers are still a relatively new way to sell a house — only 27% of homeowners fully understand what they are. Before you consider using one, research how iBuyers work and familiarize yourself with the top iBuyers across the U.S.
Selling to an iBuyer is best for…
- People with homes in good condition that meet iBuyer criteria
- People who are willing to sacrifice about 10% of the sale price for a guaranteed fast sale
- People who don't want to show their homes or conduct open houses
Sell to Opendoor in Fort Lauderdale
Avg. rating | 4.3/5 across 3,322 reviews |
Service fees | 5% |
Closing date window | As little as 14 days |
You'll pay additional fees of about 1–3% in closing costs and another 1–2% in deductions for repairs requested by Opendoor. In our review of Opendoor, we saw that some customers complained about what they saw as expensive repair costs, but others liked the service for its fast, seamless transactions.
Sell to Offerpad in Fort Lauderdale
Avg. rating | 3.9/5 across 524 reviews |
Service fees | 5% |
Closing date window | As little as 8 days |
Count on paying 1–3% in closing costs along with Offerpad's 5% service fee. When researching customer sentiment for our Offerpad review, we saw many customers who appreciated the company for its excellent communication and customer service. However, some customers were disappointed with reductions in their offer price after the home inspection.
Offerpad charges a 1% cancellation fee if you back out of the deal beyond four days after the inspection.
Good option: Sell to a We Buy Houses company in Fort Lauderdale
⚡ Quick facts: Selling to a We Buy Houses company
- Percentage of market value you’ll earn: 50–70%
- Average time to sell: 3–21 days
- Fees you’ll pay: None
We Buy Houses companies are local cash buyers who will buy nearly any house, in any condition.
If you’re looking for a fast sale, a We Buy Houses company is probably your best option. But the price for speed is a low sale price — these companies typically pay a maximum of 70% of your home’s market value. That’s a lot of money to leave on the table.
That said, they’ll buy almost any house, regardless of its condition. If you have a home that’s abandoned, seriously damaged, or dilapidated, a We Buy Houses company will probably buy it as-is.
We Buy Houses companies are best for…
- People who want to sell their homes in as-is condition
- Sellers with no iBuyer option in the region
- People with inherited homes (for more info, see our Stress-Free Guide to Selling an Inherited House)
How to choose a We Buy Houses for Cash company in Fort Lauderdale
Most areas have several cash buyer companies available to buy homes. Start your search by looking at our top 6 We Buy Houses for Cash companies in Florida.
The biggest difference between companies — beyond their reputation — is how quickly they can close. Some cash for homes companies in Fort Lauderdale will need several weeks, while others promise to close in a matter of days.
Many people wonder if We Buy Houses companies are a ripoff. The majority of cash buyer companies are legit, but some companies may try to take advantage of sellers. Don't sign anything before seeing the offer price in writing, and walk away if you feel uncomfortable with the process.
Why trust us
Jon Stubbs has spent hundreds of hours researching ways to sell homes quickly. This research includes interviewing real estate agents and representatives from iBuyers and cash buyer companies. The author has written dozens of articles on selling homes with a listing agent as well as non-traditional selling methods.
FAQs
You have two main options to sell your home fast in Fort Lauderdale. You can sell with a real estate agent who can use various strategies (aggressive pricing, soliciting cash offers, etc.) to speed up your sale. You can also sell directly to a We Buy Houses company. Learn more about your options for selling a house fast in Fort Lauderdale.
In Florida, the average time to sell in Florida is 79 days, compared to the national average of 83 days. That said, homes are selling faster in certain local markets, and there are a lot of strategies sellers can use to speed up their home sales. Learn more about how to sell a house fast in Fort Lauderdale.