Selling by Owner in The Acreage: FSBO Steps, Risks and When an Agent Pays Off

Plenty of owners decide to sell by owner in The Acreage, and the reasons make sense. Many have lived on their land for years, know every fence post and want to keep the listing fee. But a home on more than an acre, with a well, a septic tank and a canal out back, raises questions that a city buyer never asks. This guide explains the Florida steps, the land records you should gather and how to tell when a listing agent would put more money in your pocket.

Key takeaways

• As of October 1, 2026, Pure Equity's MLS data shows 161 active listings in The Acreage, with a median list price of $749,900 and an average of 86 days on market for active listings.
• The Acreage is unincorporated. The Indian Trail Improvement District handles roads, swales, canals and parks across much of the area.
• Most homes use private wells and septic systems, so buyers and lenders ask about water quality and septic condition.
• Nationally, NAR found that only 5% of 2025 sellers went FSBO, with a $360,000 median price versus $425,000 for agent-assisted sales.
• All Florida disclosure rules apply, including the flood form, the property tax notice and the duty to disclose known defects.

What makes The Acreage different

The Acreage is an unincorporated community in Palm Beach County, northwest of West Palm Beach. It had 41,654 residents in the 2020 Census. It lies north of Royal Palm Beach, Wellington and Loxahatchee Groves. Seminole Pratt Whitney Road, Northlake Boulevard and Coconut Boulevard are the main routes.

There is no city hall here. Instead, the Indian Trail Improvement District, created by the Legislature in 1957, maintains canals, swales, roads and parks. A 2021 Florida House analysis put its network at 164 miles of canals and 458 miles of roads. ITID is a taxing district, so check your tax bill for its charges.

Most homes rely on private wells and septic systems, not city water and sewer. Lots are large, and many owners keep horses, chickens or boats. That rural setting is the draw for most buyers. It is also what makes pricing and paperwork harder.

Market numbers before you sell by owner in The Acreage

According to Pure Equity's MLS data as of October 1, 2026, The Acreage had 161 active residential listings. The median list price was $749,900, and the median list price per square foot was $356. Active listings had averaged 86 days on market. These figures are asking prices and change nightly. See our The Acreage market page for the latest.

A note on the data: The Acreage and Loxahatchee overlap on the map, but we track them separately. So check which area your comparable sales fall in.

At the county level, Miami Realtors reported that single-family homes in Palm Beach County sold for a median of $650,000 in August 2026. They went under contract in a median of 40 days, with 3.5 months of supply. Condos and townhouses had a $300,000 median, 69 days to contract and 6.7 months of supply.

FSBO outcomes across the country

NAR's 2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers covered sales from July 2024 through June 2025. Just 5% of sellers sold by owner, the lowest share NAR has recorded. In contrast, 91% used an agent.

FSBO homes had a median price of $360,000, while agent-assisted homes had a median of $425,000. Treat that gap with care. Many FSBO sales go to someone the seller already knows, so the homes are not the same mix. Still, FSBO sellers told NAR that pricing, prep and timing were their hardest tasks. On acreage, pricing is tough because no two lots are alike.

Steps to sell by owner in The Acreage

Price the land and the house together

A buyer here pays for the house and for the land. Clearing, fill, fencing, a barn or a workshop can add real value. On the other hand, a low lot that holds water can take value away. So compare closed sales of homes with similar lot size, upgrades and road type. Paved or dirt makes a difference. Our home value tool is a quick first check.

Assemble the land file

Rural buyers ask for records that suburban buyers never think about. Gather these before you list:

• A recent survey showing lot lines, easements and any structures.
• Permits for the house, additions, barns, sheds and pools.
• Well details, such as pump age and any water test results.
• Septic records, including the permit, the last pump-out and any repairs.
• Your flood zone, insurance details and any storm damage repairs.

Market to land-minded buyers

Buyers who want acreage often search far and wide. Most sites they use pull from the MLS, which you cannot post to directly. A flat fee MLS listing gets you there for a set fee. Then show what makes the land useful. Good photos include the full lot, any aerial view you have, the barn, the fencing and the road.

Plan for buyer questions

Expect questions about drainage, the canal, ITID roads and internet service. Answer what you know and point buyers to ITID or the county for the rest. Avoid guessing about future road paving or zoning.

Contracts and disclosures to sell by owner in The Acreage

Most sales here use the Florida Realtors and Florida Bar contract forms, often the AS IS version. A real estate attorney can prepare it and add terms for things like well and septic inspections.

Florida disclosure duties include:

• Known hidden defects. Johnson v. Davis (1985) requires sellers to disclose known facts that materially affect value and are not easy to see. A failing septic drain field you know about is a clear example.
• Flood history. Section 689.302 requires a flood disclosure at or before signing. It asks about flood damage, flood insurance claims and federal aid like FEMA help.
• Property taxes. Section 689.261 requires a notice that the buyer's taxes may change.
• Radon. Section 404.056(5) requires radon language in the contract.
• Lead paint. Homes built before 1978 need the federal lead disclosure.

Storm history and the 2024 tornado

On October 9, 2024, an EF3 tornado from Hurricane Milton damaged parts of Wellington, Loxahatchee Groves, The Acreage and Palm Beach Gardens, according to the National Weather Service. If your home had storm damage, keep the repair permits, invoices and insurance claim records. Buyers and insurers will likely ask about them.

Buyer's agents if you sell by owner in The Acreage

Since August 17, 2024, buyer's agent pay can no longer be offered on the MLS. Agents also need a written agreement with a buyer before touring. NAR's settlement FAQ states that compensation "is fully negotiable."

Many rural buyers come from other parts of the county and work with an agent. You can offer that agent a fee, decline, or treat it as part of each offer. Pick one policy and stick to it. Our Palm Beach County guide to selling without a Realtor explains each path.

Closing costs when you sell by owner in The Acreage

Skipping the listing fee does not remove every cost. Florida's documentary stamp tax on the deed is 70 cents per $100 of the price, which comes to $5,250 on a $750,000 sale. You may also pay owner's title insurance, an attorney, prorated property taxes and ITID assessments through closing.

In addition, rural sales often add a new survey, a septic inspection or a well test. Some buyers ask the seller to fix what those turn up. Keep some cash ready for that.

FSBO vs. agent: run the net yourself

Here is a sample home on a cleared lot with a barn. The figures only show the math.

• FSBO: the home sells for $720,000, with no listing fee.
• Agent: the home sells for $760,000, minus your negotiated listing commission of X%.

Subtract the two prices to find the gap, here $40,000. If your total commission is less than that, listing with an agent nets more. If the agent cannot beat the FSBO price, selling by owner wins. Ask any agent for recent acreage sales they handled and how they reached buyers.

When an agent pays off out west

An agent often earns the fee when:

• Your lot has features that are hard to price, such as a barn, a guest house or extra clearing.
• Inspections may turn up well or septic issues that need negotiating.
• Buyers need loans, and lenders want more paperwork on wells, septic or outbuildings.
• You have already moved and cannot meet buyers on site.

FSBO can work if a neighbor wants your land or a relative is buying. You can also hire a listing agent for a narrower role, such as pricing.

Frequently asked questions

Is The Acreage part of Loxahatchee?

The two areas overlap, and addresses in the area often read Loxahatchee. The Acreage is an unincorporated area, while Loxahatchee Groves is a separate town.

Do I need a septic inspection to sell by owner in The Acreage?

No state rule requires one for every sale. However, many buyers and lenders ask for one, so having recent records helps.

Who maintains the roads near my home?

In much of the area, the Indian Trail Improvement District does. Check ITID or the county for your exact road.

How long does it take to sell by owner in The Acreage?

It varies. Active listings averaged 86 days on market as of October 1, 2026. After you accept an offer, a loan closing often takes 30 to 45 days.

Sources

• Pure Equity, The Acreage market data (as of October 1, 2026)
• Miami Realtors, Palm Beach County August 2026 market report
• NAR, FSBOs reach all-time low (November 2025)
• NAR, settlement FAQs
• U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census redistricting data for Florida (The Acreage CDP)
• National Weather Service Miami, Hurricane Milton tornado damage survey (October 2024)
• Florida House of Representatives, CS/HB 1185 (2021) analysis, Indian Trail Improvement District
• Johnson v. Davis, 480 So. 2d 625 (Fla. 1985)
• Florida Statutes, s. 689.302 flood disclosure
• Florida Statutes, s. 689.261 property tax disclosure
• EPA, real estate disclosures about lead hazards
• Florida Department of Revenue, documentary stamp tax

This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Talk with a Florida real estate attorney or tax professional about your own sale.

Selling land and a home out west? Book a no-obligation listing consultation with a The Acreage specialist, and we will compare a FSBO net with a listing net for your property. Book your consultation or see what your home is worth. Want room to roam as a buyer? Talk with a buyer's agent about acreage homes for sale.