Selling by Owner in Palm Springs: FSBO Steps, Risks and When an Agent Pays Off

If you want to sell by owner in Palm Springs, the good news is that your likely buyers are easy to picture: first-time buyers using FHA or VA loans, and investors who pay cash and plan to rent. Both groups are active in this part of Palm Beach County. The harder news is that each group brings its own paperwork, and many homes here are old enough to need extra disclosures. This guide covers the Florida forms and steps, plus a fair look at when a listing agent is likely to net you more.

A quick scope note: this is the Village of Palm Springs in Palm Beach County, Florida, near Lake Worth Beach and West Palm Beach. It is not Palm Springs, California.

Key takeaways

• Florida lets owners sell without an agent, but you still owe the flood, property tax and radon notices, plus any known hidden defects.
• The village dates to 1957, so many homes were built before 1978 and need a federal lead paint disclosure.
• First-time buyers often have little cash left after closing costs, so how you handle their agent's pay can decide whether they make an offer.
• If a tenant lives in the home, Florida law lets you enter to show it to buyers, and the tenant may not unreasonably refuse.
• NAR's 2025 data put FSBO sales at a record low of 5%, with a lower median price than agent-assisted sales.

What it takes to sell by owner in Palm Springs

As a FSBO seller, you are your own listing side. You set the price, take photos, market the home, book showings and negotiate. A title company or real estate attorney then runs the closing. You can still hire help for one task, such as a contract review, without a full listing agreement.

The village has a clear history. It was chartered in 1957 on what had been farmland, and about 800 homes had been built by August 1958. Annexations since 1998 have more than doubled its size, from about 1.6 square miles in 1997. Today, Congress Avenue, Forest Hill Boulevard, Lake Worth Road and Military Trail frame most of the village, with I-95 close by.

Palm Springs market numbers

According to Pure Equity's MLS data as of October 1, 2026, Palm Springs had 179 active residential listings. The median list price was $157,900, and the median asking price per square foot was $189. Active listings had been on the market for an average of 119 days. See current homes on our Palm Springs page.

That median mixes condos and houses, so it likely sits below what a typical single-family home asks. So compare your home only with the same type.

For sold data, Miami Realtors reported that in August 2026, Palm Beach County single-family homes sold at a median of $650,000, with 40 median days to contract. Condos and townhouses sold at a median of $300,000, with 69 days to contract and 6.7 months of supply. In other words, condo sellers across the county face more supply and slower sales right now.

How FSBO sales compare nationally

NAR's 2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers found that FSBO sales dropped to 5% of sales, a record low. In the same survey, 91% of sellers used an agent. Florida Realtors reported a median FSBO sale price of $360,000, versus $425,000 for agent-assisted sales.

Read that gap with care. FSBO homes often differ from agent-listed homes, and 60% of FSBO sellers knew their buyer. For example, many FSBO deals are sales to a tenant, a relative or a neighbor. That kind of sale is common in a village with lots of rentals, and it can work well.

Steps to sell by owner in Palm Springs

Price by home type and condition

Start with sales of the same type nearby: house with house, condo with condo. Then adjust for the roof, windows, air conditioning, plumbing and electrical. In older homes, those items drive the price as much as size does. A licensed appraiser and the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser's sale records give you solid checks.

Know what FHA and VA buyers need

Government-backed loans come with appraisal and property standards. As a result, a home with a failing roof or unsafe wiring can stall a financed sale. So fix serious safety items first, or price for a cash buyer. Next, ask any buyer for a lender pre-approval before you take the home off the market.

Plan showings around tenants

Plenty of homes here are rented out. Under section 83.53, a landlord may enter to show the unit to buyers, and the tenant may not unreasonably withhold consent. Give clear notice anyway, and keep the tenant on your side. Then gather the lease, the deposit records and the rent history, because investors will ask for them.

Use a standard Florida contract

Most sales use a Florida Realtors and Florida Bar form. The "As Is" version is common for older homes. It gives the buyer an inspection period, 15 days if the blank is left empty, and the right to cancel in that window. It also lists seller costs such as deed stamps and HOA or condo estoppel fees.

Florida disclosures when you sell by owner in Palm Springs

Florida has no single seller form. Still, in Johnson v. Davis (1985), the Florida Supreme Court held that sellers must disclose known facts that materially affect value and that buyers cannot readily see. Also plan on these:

• Lead paint. For homes built before 1978, federal rules require a lead disclosure, an EPA pamphlet and a 10-day chance for the buyer to test. You do not have to test or remove paint.
• Flood disclosure. Section 689.302 requires it at or before contract signing. It covers known flood damage while you owned the home, flood claims and flood aid.
• Property tax summary. Section 689.261 warns buyers not to rely on your current tax bill. That matters for investors, who will not get your homestead benefits.
• Radon notice. Section 404.056 requires a short radon statement on at least one sale document.
• Condo documents. For a condo, section 718.503 lists the papers you owe and gives the buyer 7 business days to cancel after getting them.

Buyer's agent pay with first-time and VA buyers

Under the NAR settlement rules in effect since August 17, 2024, offers of pay to a buyer's broker cannot appear on the MLS. Buyers must also sign a written agreement with their agent before touring, and that agreement sets the agent's pay.

For a first-time buyer, this can be a real hurdle. VA Circular 26-24-14, effective August 10, 2024, allows veterans to pay reasonable and customary buyer-broker charges, but those charges cannot go into the loan amount. It also states that VA does not treat a seller's payment of buyer-broker charges as a seller concession.

So a seller who agrees to cover that cost, using Rider GG, may get more offers from these buyers. A credit under Rider FF is another route, but the buyer's lender should approve it first. Commissions are not set by law and are fully negotiable. Read our guide to the buyers agent fee for details on each option.

Costs that stay when you sell by owner in Palm Springs

You save the listing fee. However, you still pay for these:

• Deed stamps. Florida charges 70 cents per $100 of the price. On a $250,000 sale, that is $1,750.
• Title and closing. The owner's title policy, lien searches and estoppel letters, as your contract assigns them.
• Repairs or credits. Older homes often draw repair requests after inspection.
• Marketing. Photos, signs and possibly a flat-fee MLS entry.
• Legal help. An attorney for the contract or a tenant issue.

To see your net, use our seller closing costs calculator. For any commission you are weighing, use a placeholder such as "X%" and try a few values.

When a listing agent beats selling by owner in Palm Springs

Selling yourself fits best when you already know the buyer. A tenant who wants to buy, or an investor you have worked with before, is the classic case. In those deals, a title company and perhaps an attorney may be all you need.

An agent tends to pay off when the buyer is a stranger with a mortgage. Financed deals bring appraisals, repair requests and loan deadlines, and each one can stall a sale. An agent also helps when the home has older systems that need careful pricing, or when several offers arrive with different loan types and credits. Finally, with 179 active listings in the village, getting in front of buyers takes reach.

Frequently asked questions

Can I sell by owner in Palm Springs with a tenant in the home?

Yes. Florida law lets a landlord enter to show a rental to buyers, and the tenant may not unreasonably refuse. Read the lease, give notice and share the lease and deposit records with the buyer.

Do I need a lead paint disclosure?

If the home was built before 1978, yes. Many homes in the village date from its early years, so check your year built on the property appraiser's site.

Will FHA and VA buyers look at my home?

They may, if the home meets their lender's property standards and the terms work for them. Offering to cover their agent's pay can help, since VA buyers cannot roll that cost into the loan.

Who pays the deed stamps in Florida?

The Florida Realtors and Florida Bar "As Is" contract lists deed stamps as a seller cost, at 70 cents per $100. You can negotiate a different split.

Sources

• National Association of Realtors, Top 10 takeaways from the 2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers
• Florida Realtors, FSBOs reach all-time low (November 2025)
• Miami Realtors, Palm Beach County August 2026 market report
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Circular 26-24-14
• Florida Statutes, section 83.53 (landlord's access)
• Florida Statutes, section 718.503 (condo resale disclosure)
• Florida Statutes, section 689.302 (flood disclosure)
• Florida Statutes, section 689.261 (property tax disclosure)
• Florida Statutes, section 404.056 (radon notice)
• Florida Statutes, section 201.02 (documentary stamp tax)
• Florida Realtors and Florida Bar, "As Is" Residential Contract for Sale and Purchase
• U.S. EPA, Real estate disclosures about potential lead hazards
• Florida Realtors, NAR settlement FAQs
• Village of Palm Springs, About Palm Springs (history and boundaries)
• Village of Palm Springs

This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Laws and forms change, so talk with a Florida real estate attorney, tax advisor or lender about your own sale.

Selling a home or condo in Palm Springs? Book a no-obligation listing consultation with a Palm Springs specialist, and we will compare your FSBO net with a listed sale. Schedule your consultation or check your home's value. Buying your first home? Talk with a buyer's agent about FHA and VA options.