How to Sell a House From Out of State: Palm Beach County Remote Closings, Vacant-Home Care and Taxes

If you are wondering how to sell a house from out of state, you are in good company in Palm Beach County. Snowbirds head north each spring. Heirs live in other states. Many owners take a job somewhere else and keep the Florida house for a while. The good news is that you can sell without flying back for every step. Florida allows online notarization, so most closings can happen from your kitchen table. This guide covers the people you need, remote closings, vacant-home care, insurance clauses and the FIRPTA rules for foreign sellers.

Key takeaways

• Florida has allowed remote online notarization since January 1, 2020, so many sellers sign closing papers over a recorded video session.
• Most homeowners policies have a vacancy clause that can limit coverage for theft, vandalism or water damage once a home sits empty for about 30 to 60 days in a row.
• Foreign sellers face FIRPTA withholding, generally 15% of the amount realized, with lower rates for some sales to buyers who will live in the home.
• A local agent, a title company and a trusted person with a key can handle almost everything else.

How to sell a house from out of state, start to finish

The steps match a normal sale. The difference is that other people act as your eyes and hands. Here is the usual order.

1. Hire a local listing agent and agree on how you will stay in touch.
2. Arrange a walk-through, a cleaning and any repairs.
3. Review the pricing, photos and listing online, then approve them.
4. Sign offers and the contract electronically.
5. Let the agent manage inspections, appraisal access and repair quotes.
6. Close by online notary, a mail-away package or a power of attorney.

Most of this already happens online, even for local sellers. So distance matters less than it once did. Still, a few parts need more planning when you are far away.

Pick a local listing agent you can reach

Your agent will do more for you than for a seller who lives in town. For example, they may let in the cleaner, meet the roofer, check the house after a storm and attend the inspection. Ask each agent how they handle absentee sellers. Also ask how often they will send updates, and whether they use video tours to show you the house.

Get the plan in writing. A clear listing agreement spells out who pays for what and who has a key.

Price from local sales, not from memory

Sellers who have been away for a while often anchor on old prices. The market moves, though. In August 2026, the Palm Beach County single-family median was $650,000 with 40 median days to contract, according to Miami Realtors and the Beaches MLS. Condos and townhouses had a $300,000 median and took 69 days. Ask your agent for recent sold comps, not just active listings.

Remote closings and online notarization in Florida

Florida authorized remote online notarization, often called RON, under Chapter 117 of the Florida Statutes. It took effect on January 1, 2020. In a RON closing, you meet a Florida online notary over a two-way audio and video link. The notary checks your ID, and the session is recorded.

For a seller, that means you can sign the deed and closing papers from another state or even another country. You need a computer with a camera, a steady connection and a valid ID. Not every title company or lender handles every file this way, so ask early.

Mail-away closings and powers of attorney

Some sellers prefer paper. In a mail-away closing, the title company sends you the documents. You then sign them in front of a notary where you live and ship them back. Florida deeds need two witnesses in addition to the notary, so plan for that.

Another option is a power of attorney. A trusted person in Florida signs for you. However, lenders and title companies have their own rules on what they will accept. So clear the form with the title company before anyone signs.

How to sell a house from out of state while it sits vacant

An empty house needs care. Florida heat, humidity and storms are hard on a closed-up home. Set up a simple plan before you leave, or as soon as you know the home will be empty.

• Keep the power on and the air conditioning running to control humidity.
• Shut off the main water supply when no one is there, if your agent and plumber agree it is safe.
• Keep the lawn cut and the pool clean, since an unkept yard signals that no one is home.
• Ask a neighbor, agent or property manager to check the inside on a set schedule.
• Use smart locks, cameras or leak sensors if you can.

Also stop mail and package delivery. Then tell your HOA or condo manager who has access, since many associations want that on file.

Insurance vacancy clauses

This is the step out-of-state sellers miss most often. Many standard homeowners policies change once a home has been vacant for a set number of days in a row. The Insurance Information Institute says most vacancy clauses kick in after about 30 to 60 days in a row. After that, a policy may limit or exclude coverage for things like theft, vandalism and water damage.

Policies differ, so read yours or call your agent. Vacant and unoccupied can also mean different things. A furnished second home you plan to return to may count as unoccupied, while an empty house with no one moving back is often vacant. If the house will sit empty for a while, ask about a vacancy endorsement or a separate vacant-dwelling policy.

Hurricane season and a vacant home

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. If your home is listed during those months, agree on a storm plan with your agent. Decide who will close shutters, bring in patio furniture and check the house after a storm. Also, keep photos of the home's condition for any future claim.

How to sell a house from out of state when repairs are needed

Repairs are harder from far away, but they are manageable. First, ask your agent which fixes matter to buyers in your area. Next, get two or three written quotes, with photos, before you approve any work. Many contractors take payment online and send before and after photos.

You may also choose to sell as is. That often means a lower price but less work for you. Even then, Florida law expects sellers to disclose known material defects. Our guide to the Florida seller disclosure form explains what to share. If you have not lived in the house for years, say so on the form and disclose what you do know.

FIRPTA rules for foreign sellers

Owners who are not U.S. persons for tax purposes face an extra step. Under FIRPTA, the buyer generally must withhold part of the amount realized and send it to the IRS. According to the IRS FIRPTA withholding page, the general rate is 15%.

Lower rates can apply when an individual buyer will use the home as a residence. If the price is $300,000 or less and the buyer qualifies, no withholding may be needed. If the price is over $300,000 but not over $1,000,000, the rate drops to 10% for a qualifying buyer. The buyer must plan to live there at least 50% of the days in each of the first two years.

How foreign owners sell a house from out of state with less withholding

Withholding is not always the same as the tax you owe. A foreign seller can apply to the IRS for a withholding certificate to reduce the amount, often with help from a CPA. The title company usually collects the forms and holds or sends the funds. Start this early, because the paperwork takes time.

Snowbirds, heirs and relocated owners

Each group tends to face its own issues. Snowbirds often sell a furnished home, so decide early what stays and what ships north. In addition, many leave in spring, when buyer traffic is still active.

Heirs may need a court order or probate before they can sell. Our page on probate and inherited property explains how that works in Florida. Relocated owners, on the other hand, may be carrying two housing payments. For them, speed and a firm closing date often matter most.

Taxes differ by group as well. A home you lived in for 2 of the last 5 years may qualify for the home sale exclusion in IRS Publication 523. A rental or inherited home follows other rules, so talk with a tax pro.

How to sell a house from out of state in Palm Beach, Jupiter or Boca Raton

Absentee owners are common in our coastal towns. In Palm Beach, many homes are second homes or seasonal residences, so sellers often list while they are away. Jupiter has a mix of year-round and seasonal owners. In Boca Raton, many sellers own condos in buildings with their own access and move-out rules.

In each town, check with the HOA or condo association before the house goes on the market. Some require notice for lockboxes, open houses or moving trucks. Your agent should know the rules for your building.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to sell a house from out of state?

About as long as a local sale, once the home is ready. The August 2026 county median was 40 days to contract for single-family homes and 69 days for condos. Closing usually follows 30 to 45 days later with a financed buyer, depending on the contract.

Do I need to be in Florida for the closing?

Usually not. Many sellers close by online notarization or a mail-away package. A power of attorney is another option, if the title company and any lender accept it.

Should I leave the house furnished while it is listed?

A clean, lightly furnished home often shows better than an empty one. On the other hand, a furnished home still needs regular checks. Ask your agent what will help your home show best.

Who handles FIRPTA withholding?

The buyer is the withholding agent under the law. In practice, the title company usually collects the forms and sends the funds to the IRS. Foreign sellers should get tax advice before listing.

How do I sell a house from out of state if I inherited it?

First, confirm you have the legal authority to sell, which may require probate. Then follow the same steps as any remote seller. A local agent and title company can coordinate most of the work.

Sources

• Florida Statutes, Chapter 117 (notaries, including online notarization)
• IRS, FIRPTA withholding
• IRS, exceptions from FIRPTA withholding
• IRS, Publication 523: Selling Your Home
• Insurance Information Institute, understanding vacancy insurance
• NOAA National Hurricane Center
• Miami Realtors, Palm Beach County August 2026 market report

This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Insurance, notary and tax rules vary by policy and situation, so consult a licensed professional.

Selling your Palm Beach County home from far away? Book a no-obligation listing consultation by phone or video, and we will map out pricing, vacant-home care and a remote closing plan. If you are buying your next home here too, our agents can help with that search. Contact Pure Equity.