Brevard County · Selling
Selling a second home while you’re away in Brevard County
Sign from your phone, and your agent handles showings while you’re out of town.
Free · Agents who know Brevard County · Every step in one app
Selling a home you are not living near can feel like trying to steer from a distance. You may worry about who is letting people in, whether the lawn is cut, what happens if a storm comes through, and whether you will have to fly back for every signature.
Those worries make sense. You care about the home, and you cannot see it every day. Many owners sell Brevard County homes from other states and other countries, and most of the work can be done without being there.
The path is: choose a local agent you trust, set up access and upkeep, sign papers remotely, and plan the closing so the money reaches you directly. With those pieces in place, distance matters much less.
What’s different for you
- Sell from afar. Sign from your phone and follow every step in the app.
- Plan access. Your agent handles showings and keys while you’re away.
- Close remotely. The title company explains remote signing options.
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
You can sign without being in Florida
Florida allows online notarization. The law says a Florida online notary may notarize a document no matter where you are at the time. The notary confirms who you are over live audio and video and records the session. Ask the title company early whether they offer remote or online signing for your closing, and what ID you will need.
Who handles showings and keys
Your agent handles showings, but you decide the rules: a lockbox or a key held by the agent, notice before showings, and who can enter for repairs. Put these in writing at the start, so nobody has to guess while you are away.
Keep the home cared for while it is listed
An empty home still needs the power and water on for showings and inspections, the lawn kept, and someone checking inside regularly. Check your insurance policy for any rules about a home that sits empty, and plan who will secure the home if a storm is coming.
Taxes on a second home
The IRS rule that lets many owners leave up to $250,000 of gain ($500,000 for joint filers) out of income is for a main home, generally one you owned and lived in for at least 2 of the last 5 years. A second home you did not live in that long usually does not qualify. A CPA can tell you what this means for your sale.
If you are not a U.S. person for tax purposes
Under a federal law called FIRPTA, when a foreign person sells U.S. real estate, the buyer, and in some cases the settlement agent, generally must hold back 15 percent of the amount realized and send it to the IRS. Some exceptions apply. If this may be you, tell your agent and title company right away and talk with a tax professional who works with foreign sellers.
Florida disclosures still apply
Selling from afar does not change what the buyer must get. That includes the flood disclosure at or before signing the contract, the radon gas notice, and the property tax disclosure, which tells buyers not to rely on your current tax bill. If you are not sure about the home’s history, look through your records before you answer.
Your options
What to gather
- A photo of your ID and the name exactly as it appears on the deed
- Your deed and latest property tax bill
- Your mortgage lender’s contact details and loan number, if any
- A written plan for keys, lockbox and showing notice
- Names of a local person or service for lawn care, cleaning and checks
- Utility account numbers, so service stays on until closing
- Your insurance policy pages
- How you want to receive your money (a wire to your bank or a check), confirmed by phone with the title company
- Your purchase papers and improvement records, for your CPA
Mistakes to avoid
- Trusting emailed wire instructions. Scammers target sellers who are far away. Before you send or receive money, call the title company at a phone number you found yourself, not one in an email.
- Shutting off the utilities. Inspectors and appraisers need power and water. Keep them on until closing.
- Planning to fly in for closing without asking first. Ask the title company about remote or online signing first. It may save you a trip.
- Leaving taxes to the end. A second home is taxed differently from a main home. Talk with a CPA before you accept an offer.
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
Can I close without being there?
Often yes; the title company explains the options for your sale.
Can I sell my Florida home without being there?
Yes, in most cases. Your agent handles showings, and Florida allows online notarization, so many documents can be signed remotely. Ask the title company early what your closing will need.
Can I close on a Florida sale online?
Florida law allows online notarization by a Florida online notary no matter where you are, with your identity checked over live audio and video. Ask your title company whether they offer it.
Do I pay capital gains tax on a second home?
Often yes, because the main-home exclusion generally requires that you lived in the home for at least 2 of the last 5 years. A CPA can work out your situation.
What is FIRPTA withholding?
It is a federal rule for foreign sellers of U.S. real estate. The buyer generally must hold back 15 percent of the amount realized and send it to the IRS, with some exceptions. Talk with a tax professional before you sign.
Who takes care of the house while it is for sale?
You decide. Many owners pay a local service to check the home, cut the grass and keep it clean, while their agent handles showings.
How do I get my money after closing?
The title company usually sends it by wire to your bank or by check. Confirm the instructions by phone with the title company at a number you found yourself.