Brevard County · Selling
Selling land or a vacant lot in Brevard County
A local agent, and the survey and title steps that matter most for lots.
Free · Agents who know Brevard County · Every step in one app
Selling land can feel harder to picture than selling a house. There are no rooms to show, and it is not always clear what a lot is worth or who will want it. You may have owned it for years, inherited it, or bought it for a plan that changed.
It is normal to feel unsure. Land buyers think differently from home buyers. They ask what can be built, how to reach the lot, and whether water and power are close. Once you have those answers ready, land becomes much easier to sell.
The path is simple: gather the basic facts about the lot, price it from other land sales nearby, and clear up any title problems early. Each step makes the next one faster.
What’s different for you
- Gather the basics. Survey, legal description, zoning and road access.
- Price from land sales. Lots are priced from nearby land sales, not homes.
- Clear title early. Liens and access problems are the usual delays.
When you start in CloseHive from this page, your plan already includes these steps, along with the usual ones for selling in Brevard County. You always see what to do next, and your agent handles the how.
What to know
Land is priced from land sales
A lot is not priced like a house. Your agent compares recent sales of similar land nearby: size, shape, road access, utilities and what the zoning allows. Two lots of the same size can sell for very different prices if one has water and sewer at the road and the other does not.
What buyers want to know first
Most land buyers ask the same questions. What does the zoning allow? Is there legal access from a public road? Are water, sewer or septic, and power available? Is any part of the lot in a flood zone? Having these answers ready saves weeks. Brevard County or your city’s planning office can tell you the zoning and land use rules for your parcel.
The survey and legal description
The legal description is the exact wording on your deed that says which land you own. A survey is a drawing by a licensed surveyor that shows the lot lines, corners and anything crossing them. Many buyers and title companies ask for a survey for land. Find any survey you already have; your agent and title company can tell you if a new one is needed.
Clear title early
Title means legal ownership. Before closing, a title company searches public records for liens (claims for money against the land), unpaid property taxes, or gaps in the chain of owners. With land, these problems can sit unnoticed for years. Ordering a title search early gives you time to fix them before they delay a closing.
Florida’s tax on deeds
Florida charges a documentary stamp tax when a deed is recorded. The law sets it at 70 cents for each $100 of the price. Who pays it is decided in the contract, so read that part closely and ask your agent how it is usually handled in Brevard County.
Taxes on your gain
The IRS says land you owned for more than one year before selling is usually a long-term capital gain, and one year or less is usually short-term. Land you got as a gift or inheritance has its own rules. There is also an IRS rule for vacant land next to your home: in some cases it can be counted with the sale of your main home if you used it as part of your home and both sales happen within 2 years. Ask a CPA how this applies to you.
Your options
What to gather
- Your deed, with the full legal description
- Your parcel number and current property tax bill
- Any survey you already have
- The zoning and future land use for the parcel, from the county or city
- Notes on road access, utilities and any easements (rights others have to use part of the land)
- Flood zone information for the parcel
- Any liens, unpaid taxes or loans on the land
- Your purchase price and records of costs, for your CPA
- Any past offers or interest from neighbors or builders
Mistakes to avoid
- Pricing from home values. Land is priced from land sales. Ask your agent for recent sales of similar lots, not houses.
- Not knowing the zoning. Buyers will ask what they can build. Get the zoning and land use answer from the county or city before you list.
- Waiting to look at title. Old liens and unpaid taxes are the most common delays for land. Order a title search early.
- Skipping the access question. A lot with no clear legal access is much harder to sell. Know how a buyer reaches the land before you list it.
Brevard County in numbers
- The typical home in Brevard County is worth about $339,600, and 77% of homes are lived in by their owners.
- Typical rent here is about $1,556 a month, including utilities.
Free help
Questions people ask
Do I need a survey to sell land?
Many buyers and title companies ask for one; your agent tells you if yours needs a new one.
Do I need a survey to sell land in Florida?
The law does not require every seller to provide one, but many buyers and title companies ask for a survey for land. Your agent and title company can tell you whether your existing survey is enough or a new one is needed.
How do I find the value of my land?
Look at recent sales of similar lots nearby, not house prices. Your agent can pull those sales and explain how size, access, utilities and zoning change the price.
Who pays the documentary stamp tax on a land sale?
Florida sets the tax at 70 cents per $100 of the price. Who pays it is decided in the contract. Ask your agent how it is usually handled in Brevard County before you sign.
How do I find my lot’s zoning in Brevard County?
Contact Brevard County’s planning office, or your city’s if the lot is inside city limits. They can tell you the zoning and what the land use plan allows.
Do I pay capital gains tax on land?
Often yes if you sell for more than you paid. The IRS says land held more than one year is usually long-term, and one year or less is usually short-term. A CPA can tell you what you may owe.
Can I sell land that has a lien on it?
Yes, but the lien usually has to be paid or released at or before closing so the buyer gets clear title. The title company finds liens and arranges payoffs from the sale money.
Why is land slower to sell than a house?
Fewer people shop for land, and buyers need time to check zoning, access and utilities. Having those answers ready when you list can shorten the wait.