Got an Unsolicited Offer on Your House? How Palm Beach County Owners Should Evaluate It

An unsolicited offer on your house can show up as a letter, a text, a postcard or a knock on the door, even when you never planned to sell. Some of these offers are real. Many are low. A few are scams. This guide shows Palm Beach County owners how to judge an offer like this, spot pressure tactics, and test the number against what the open market would pay.

Key takeaways

• Your name, address and sale history are public record, so investors and wholesalers can send offers to thousands of owners at once.
• Many unsolicited offers are written to leave room for the buyer's profit, so they often come in below market value.
• Get an independent value first, from recent nearby sales, before you reply to any offer.
• Watch for pressure, assignment clauses, vague proof of funds and requests for personal data.
• Palm Beach County owners can sign up for the Clerk's free Property Fraud Alert to get an email when a document is recorded in their name.

Why you got an unsolicited offer on your house

Property records in Florida are public. So anyone can look up who owns a home, when they bought it and what they paid. Investors use that data, plus marketing tools, to send offers in bulk.

Some senders target owners who have lived in a home a long time, since they may have a lot of equity. Others target inherited homes, vacant homes or homes with code issues. In most cases, the letter does not mean someone has studied your home. It means your home matched a list.

That said, a real buyer sometimes wants a certain street or building. In places like Palm Beach, Jupiter and Wellington, a buyer may have missed out on homes for sale and now hopes to find one off market. So treat each offer as a lead to check, not a fact.

Who sends an unsolicited offer on your house

Most off-market offers come from one of four groups. Knowing which one you are dealing with helps you judge the number.

• Cash investors. They plan to fix and resell or rent the home. They need a discount to cover repairs, holding costs and profit.
• Wholesalers. They sign a contract with you and then sell that contract to another investor for a fee. Their profit is the gap between your price and the investor's price.
• Agents with a buyer. A licensed agent may reach out on behalf of a real client who wants your area.
• Scammers. They want personal data, an upfront fee, or a way to tamper with your title.

A closer look at wholesalers

Wholesaling is common in Florida. In a 2025 WUSF report, a local broker described it as widespread in the state. The same report gave an example of a $100,000 contract that was resold for $145,000, with the middleman keeping $45,000. It also noted that Florida law, Chapter 475, bars the unlicensed practice of real estate, so a wholesaler can market the contract but not your home itself.

Look for an assignment clause in any contract. It lets the buyer hand your deal to someone else. Our post on how much wholesalers make explains how they earn that spread.

How to evaluate an unsolicited offer on your house

Do not reply with a counter right away. Instead, follow these steps in order.

Step 1: Get an independent value

First, find out what your home is worth today. Look at closed sales of similar homes nearby in the last few months, not list prices. The Palm Beach County Property Appraiser site lets you search recorded sales. An agent can also pull a full comparative market analysis.

For context, Miami Realtors reported that the Palm Beach County single-family median price was $650,000 in August 2026. Condos and townhouses had a $300,000 median. Of course, your home's value depends on its size, condition and street, so use real comps.

Step 2: Do the net math

Next, compare what you would net, not just the price. A cash buyer may cover closing costs and skip repairs. Meanwhile, a listing brings in more buyers but has commission and closing costs. So put both on one page. Our guide to how cash offers work lists the costs on each side.

Step 3: Check the buyer

Then ask who the buyer is. Request a company name, a license number if they claim to be an agent, and proof of funds from a bank. Look up the company with the Florida Division of Corporations. If the buyer cannot or will not answer, that tells you a lot.

Step 4: Read the contract terms

Finally, read the fine print. Look for long inspection periods, small deposits, assignment clauses and easy ways for the buyer to back out. A buyer who ties up your home for 30 days with a tiny deposit is taking little risk while you take a lot.

Red flags in an unsolicited offer on your house

Some offers try to rush you. Be careful if you see any of these signs:

• The offer "expires" in a day or two.
• The buyer says the market is about to crash, so you must sell now.
• They ask for your Social Security number, bank details or a copy of your deed.
• They want you to sign at your kitchen table without a lawyer or agent.
• The contract lets them assign the deal or cancel for almost any reason.
• They talk you out of getting an appraisal or a second opinion.

The FTC gives similar advice for home equity offers: walk away from pressure, read every page, and have a lawyer review the papers. A real buyer will still be there after you do your homework.

How to reply if you are curious

You may want to hear more without committing to anything. That is fine, as long as you keep control of the process. Reply in writing, and keep it short.

For example, you can say that you are not actively selling but will review a written offer. Then ask for the buyer's full legal name, a phone number, proof of funds and a sample contract. Also ask how they arrived at their price. A serious buyer can answer these questions within a day or two.

Do not share your mortgage balance, your reasons for moving or your bottom line. That information only helps the other side. Instead, let your own research set the pace, and bring in an agent or attorney before you sign.

Protect your title from fraud

Unsolicited contact can also be a first step in a scam. Deed fraud happens when someone forges a deed to "sell" or borrow against a home they do not own. Vacant homes, rentals and land are common targets.

The Palm Beach County Clerk offers a free Property Fraud Alert. You register your name, and you can add your address or parcel number. Then you get an email when a matching document is recorded in the county's Official Records. If you see something you did not sign, act fast and call the Clerk and a lawyer.

How to test an unsolicited offer on your house against the market

The best way to know if an offer is fair is to see what the market will pay. You do not have to list for months to find out. Here are a few options.

• Ask an agent for a pricing opinion. It costs nothing and shows a likely sale range.
• Run a short, full-exposure listing. Put the home on the MLS, gather offers for a set time, then compare them with the off-market offer.
• Invite the off-market buyer to compete. If they are serious, they can submit a formal offer along with everyone else.

Market data supports giving your home exposure. In August 2026, Palm Beach County single-family homes took a median 40 days to go under contract and sold for a median 95% of their original list price, per Miami Realtors. Condos took 69 days. So many homes still draw solid offers within weeks.

When an unsolicited offer on your house makes sense

Sometimes saying yes is the right call. For example, a quick sale can help if your home needs major repairs you cannot fund, or if you must move fast for a job or family reason. An off-market deal can also make sense when privacy matters a lot to you.

Still, the price should be fair for the trade-off you are making. If the offer is far below your home's value, ask what you gain in exchange. If the answer is only speed, check whether a well-priced listing could close almost as fast. Our reviewing offers page shows how we compare terms side by side.

Frequently asked questions

Is it rude to ignore an unsolicited offer on your house?

No. Most of these offers are sent in bulk. You owe no reply. If you want them to stop, you can ask the sender to remove you from their list.

How do investors find my home?

They use public property records, tax data and marketing lists. Your home may fit a filter such as long ownership, high equity or an out-of-state owner.

Should I counter an off-market offer?

Only after you know your home's value. Once you have real comps, you can counter with facts instead of guessing.

Can a wholesaler legally buy my home?

Wholesalers can sign a purchase contract and assign it, but Florida law limits how they market a property they do not own. Read any assignment clause with care.

What if the offer is higher than I expected?

That can happen. Even so, verify the buyer's funds and terms. Then check whether the market would pay even more.

Sources

• WUSF, We Buy Houses offers can be risky (April 2025)
• Palm Beach County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, Property Fraud Alert
• Federal Trade Commission, consumer alert on home equity offers (October 2024)
• Palm Beach County Property Appraiser, property and sales search
• Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz)
• Miami Realtors, Palm Beach County August 2026 home sales

Got an offer you were not expecting? Before you answer, get a free Pure Equity home value report built from real local sales. Get your home value or talk with an agent. Hoping to buy a home that is not listed? Ask a buyer's agent how off-market searches work.