The short answer is yes: selling Florida property while living abroad can be possible.
The more useful answer is that “possible” does not mean “automatic”.
For my Florida land, I want to understand the practical friction before I ever accept an offer.
The sale is not the only question
Who handles closing? What identification or tax number is required? Do documents need notarisation, originals or a power of attorney? How will FIRPTA withholding be handled? How will the proceeds be transferred safely?
None of these questions is dramatic. Together, they can make a remote sale slower and more stressful than the listing photos suggest.
Because this is raw land, there is another issue: liquidity.
Access, buildability, utilities, zoning, parcel records, financing and the buyer’s intended use all affect how easy land is to sell. A parcel can have value and still take a long time to turn into cash.
What I would organise early
Before accepting an offer, I would want written confirmation of:
- the title and parcel records, tax history and legal access;
- zoning, buildability, utilities and any restrictions;
- which documents require notarisation or original signatures;
- whether remote online notarisation or an overseas notary is accepted;
- what identification and tax numbers are required;
- who handles FIRPTA forms and withholding; and
- how bank details will be verified before funds are sent.
The exact answer belongs with the Florida title company, closing attorney and tax adviser handling the transaction. My job is to know which questions cannot wait until closing week.
For the FIRPTA distinction itself, see the separate FIRPTA post.
The lesson I carried forward
Before buying abroad, I now want to understand not only how I get in, but how I manage and get out from where I actually live.
That is the practical idea behind the Spain Property Buyer Toolkit: organise the questions early, measure the real costs and treat the exit as part of the purchase decision—not an emergency for Future Me.
This is personal experience and a due-diligence checklist, not legal, tax or closing advice.