Wholesale real estate in Florida is a low-risk, high-reward strategy that requires minimal upfront investment. With rising home prices and a strong market outlook, 2025 presents a golden opportunity for new and seasoned real estate wholesalers alike.
Wholesalers earn quick profits without owning property. They need to connect motivated sellers with eager buyers. The right knowledge, a solid buyer’s list, and top home buying and selling platforms like Houzeo can fast-track your wholesale real estate success.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Wholesaling is legal and profitable in Florida, with top wholesalers earning over $63,000 annually.
- You don’t need a license to wholesale, but understanding Florida real estate laws and having a buyer’s list is crucial.
- The process involves finding distressed properties, securing a contract, and assigning it to a buyer for a profit—usually via an assignment fee or double closing.
- Pros include low startup costs, quick profits, and minimal financial risk, while challenges include legal complexities, finding buyers, and income instability.
- You can find wholesale properties through extensive MLS-powered listings of Houzeo, America’s best home buying and selling website.
What Is Wholesale Real Estate?
Wholesale real estate is an investment strategy. Wholesalers typically look for home sellers with distressed properties. Such sellers are usually interested in selling as is for cash. Also, they are ready to settle below the fair market value (FMV) of the property.
Here, the wholesaler acquires the contract from a seller at a lower price and sells it to an interested buyer for a higher price. In turn, the wholesaler charges the price difference as the service or the assignment fee.
Wholesaling Real Estate Example
A homeowner wishes to unload a distressed property without investing in repairs. Also, the owner is ready to sell below FMV. So, a wholesaler enters into a contract with the homeowner for $120,000.
Then, the wholesaler finds an investor from their buyer’s list who offers $140,000 for the property. At last, the investor takes over the contract by paying $20,000 to the wholesaler as the assignment fees.
7 Steps to Wholesaling Real Estate in Florida
Anybody with knowledge of the housing market can be a wholesaler in Florida. However, you need to be systematic and prepare well for the deal to guarantee success.
Here’s how to wholesale real estate in Florida in 7 steps:
1. Learn About the FL Housing Market and Real Estate Laws
Find a mentor or a coach who can introduce you to wholesaling real estate in Florida. You can also analyze and assess Florida housing market trends to get the latest updates, or enroll in a wholesale real estate course.
After you grasp the fundamentals, learn about Florida real estate wholesaling laws. Consult a Florida real estate attorney to learn about the legalities of wholesaling homes in the Sunshine State.
2. Create a Diverse Buyer’s List
With a diverse buyer’s list, you can offer faster closings and attract more home sellers. Your buyer’s list should include Florida cash buyers, rehabbers, rental property owners, and other wholesalers.
Here’s how you can build a diverse buyer’s list:
- Send cold emails.
- Attend real estate seminars.
- Visit property auctions to meet investors.
- Join the online forums of real estate professionals.
- Connect with local property management companies.
3. Find the Right Sellers
Most sellers want to maximize their net proceeds, even if it means waiting longer. So, you need to target sellers who want to sell quickly and below the FMV. For instance, a seller who wants to sell a distressed property in Florida or on the verge of foreclosure.
Here’s how you can find your ideal seller:
- Use the MLS: MLS is a database where real estate agents list all types of properties. If you have (or can get) access to the Florida MLS, search for “As Is” properties. Sellers who are in urgent need of funds and want a speedy closing list properties “As Is”.
- Search Your Local Area: Scan the houses on sale while driving or taking a walk. Focus more on abandoned or vacant homes in your neighborhood.
- Network to Find Properties: Take inputs from your family and friends about the properties on the market. 63% of Realtors use social media to market property listings. Join Facebook groups and follow Instagram pages to learn about new property listings in Florida.
- Use Bandit Signs: These are like small billboards or printed signs. Buy a “We Buy Houses For Cash” bandit sign to attract motivated home sellers.
- View Listings on Real Estate Websites: Find homes that have been on the market for a long time. You can use real estate websites like Houzeo, Zillow, Trulia, etc. They have advanced search features that will help you to find foreclosure homes in Florida.
4. Perform Due Diligence and Make an Offer
Before you make an offer on a property, try to gather as much information as you can. Determine the fair market value of the property by running comps.
While making an offer, account for Florida closing costs, your fee, the buyer’s holding costs, and their end profit. Communicate to the seller that you are a real estate wholesaler and not the buyer.
» Free Home Value Calculator: Find your home’s value within a minute.
5. Draw a Purchase and Sale Contract
The wholesale real estate contract in Florida contains asking price, closing timeline, and other contingencies. Remember to include inspection contingency clause while drafting it. This allows you to back out if major defects are found during the inspection.
As a wholesaler, you need to decide whether to assign the contract to an investor or an eligible buyer. In both cases, there is a “contract handoff”, where you give authority over the contract to the buyer.
6. Assign the Contract
Finalize a buyer from your buyer’s list. Pitch the house to the buyer based on its FMV report and the after repair value (ARV) estimate.
If the buyer agrees, you assign the contract to them and transfer the ownership of the purchase agreement. In return, you get the assignment fee from the buyer.
7. Coordinate the Closing
Depending on whether you find the buyer or not, there are two ways to close real estate wholesale deals in Florida.
- Assign the Contract: You finalize a buyer and hand over the contract to them. You get your assignment fee after the buyer completes the purchase.
- Double Close: You buy the property for a short period of time to wholesale it to an end-buyer later. In this case, you owned the property for some time before selling it.
Is Wholesaling Real Estate Legal in Florida?
Yes, wholesaling real estate is legal in Florida as long as you follow the real estate laws of the state. You should be transparent about your role in the transaction. Remember, at no point should you act like a licensed real estate agent representing the seller or the buyer.
The contract must state that you have an equitable interest in the property and don’t wish to buy the house itself. Apart from that, you will have to furnish proof of funds to clearly demonstrate your interest in the property. Furthermore, you should steer clear of:
- Wholesaling without a transparent contract
- Bringing the buyer to the deal first
- Failing to prove your intent as a wholesaler
Do You Need a License to Wholesale Real Estate in Florida?
No, you don’t need a license to wholesale real estate in Florida. However, having a real estate agent’s license can have added benefits. You get the MLS to search properties for wholesale and find a buyer.
Is Wholesaling Real Estate in Florida Profitable?
Yes, wholesaling real estate in Florida is profitable. On average, real estate wholesalers in Florida earn $41,624 per year. The number can go up to $63,146 for the top earners. However, if you are familiar with the basics of the process, the sky is the limit.
An average wholesaler earns $2,000 to $7,000 in the assignment fee per deal. For experienced wholesalers in Florida, this figure is between $15,000 and $20,000. So, it shouldn’t take you a lot of transactions to make a good profit.
Pros and Cons of Wholesaling Real Estate in Florida
Wholesale real estate requires low capital investment and offers a simple learning curve. However, like all things, this investment strategy has its pros and cons.
✅ Pros of Wholesaling Houses
- Little Cash and No Credit Requirements: You only act as a link between the buyer and seller and don’t purchase the property yourself. Therefore, the amount of money in your bank account or a poor credit score doesn’t impact the wholesaling process.
- Low Barrier to Entry: You don’t need a license or a degree to start wholesaling real estate in Florida. Also, you don’t have to learn how to make repairs and upsell. All you need to do is master the basics and complete your due diligence.
- Low Financial Risks: You don’t buy, hold, or finance the property while wholesaling it. This makes it a relatively risk-free real estate investment strategy.
- Quick Profits: Find a buyer to charge the assigning fee between 5% and 10% of the selling price. If you choose to double-close, you can increase your profit by buying a cheap house and reselling it.
❌ Cons of Wholesaling Houses
- Difficult to Finalize a Buyer: You may have to purchase the property yourself if you cannot find a buyer in the promised time frame. To avoid such problems, have a solid buyer’s list ready. You should have a buyer in mind even before you make an offer.
- Legal Complexities: Many people question the legality of this investment strategy. This is because wholesalers only sell the contract, not the house itself. Also, one doesn’t require a license to start wholesaling in Florida, which further adds to the distrust.
- Insecure Income: The number of properties you wholesale and your eventual earnings greatly depend on market conditions. So, be extra careful with your finances if you choose to wholesale full-time.
Is Wholesale Real Estate in Florida Worth It?
Yes, real estate wholesaling in Florida is worth all your efforts. Wholesaling involves minimal expenses and helps you earn more profits. You also build a strong network of Florida real estate professionals, which can help you explore other avenues of real estate investments.
Your success in wholesaling largely depends on searching for the right property and quickly closing the deal. Build a solid list of buyers to ensure faster closing.
Find Wholesale Properties For Sale With Houzeo
With thousands of property listings, Houzeo.com is one of the biggest and popular property listing sites in the US. You can find condos, townhouses, co-ops, and other types of homes for sale in Florida on Houzeo.
» Houzeo Reviews: Read what people have to say about Houzeo—Florida’s best home buying and selling website.
Best Places to Wholesale Houses in Florida
| # | City/County | How to Wholesale Property Near You |
| 1. | Jacksonville, FL | Wholesale Real Estate in Jacksonville |
| 2. | Orlando, FL | Wholesale Real Estate in Orlando |
| 3. | Bradenton, FL | Wholesale Real Estate in Bradenton |
| 4. | St. Petersburg, FL | Wholesale Real Estate in St. Petersburg |
| 5. | Tampa, FL | Wholesale Real Estate in Tampa |
