Does Zillow Really Buy Your House · South Florida
Does Zillow Buy Houses? What Florida Sellers Need to Know
Zillow Offers shut down in 2021. Florida homeowners asking does Zillow buy houses now have better options — local cash buyers close in days, no fees.
Introduction
f you've been Googling 'does Zillow buy houses,' you're not alone — and you deserve a straight answer. S.
markets. Then, in November 2021, Zillow shut the entire program down after losing over $500 million on mispriced home purchases.
Florida sellers in Palm Beach County, Broward County, Miami-Dade County, and beyond were left searching for alternatives. This guide explains exactly what happened, which iBuyer platforms still operate in Florida, how their service fees compare to local cash buyers, and why a direct cash offer from a company like Cash Buyers Network often beats every other option — no commissions, no repair demands, no uncertainty about closing.
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S. markets and made over 9,000 home purchase offers in Q3 2021 alone before abruptly halting operations on November 2, 2021. The company's automated valuation model (AVM) — the algorithm that estimates home value — systematically overpaid for houses during the post-pandemic price surge, then got caught holding overpriced inventory when the market cooled.
Zillow reported a $304 million write-down on homes it couldn't sell at purchase price. CEO Rich Barton cited 'too much volatility and unpredictability' in home pricing as the reason for the shutdown. For Florida homeowners, this meant that a service that had quietly expanded into the Orlando metro, Tampa Bay, and Southeast Florida markets simply vanished overnight.
“markets and made over 9,000 home purchase offers in Q3 2021 alone before abruptly halting operations on November 2, 2021.”
The lesson: algorithmic pricing works in stable markets but fails badly when local conditions — like Florida's hurricane-driven insurance spikes or rapid HOA fee increases — aren't properly weighted. Zillow's AVM was never built to account for HVHZ (High-Velocity Hurricane Zone) structural requirements that add real cost to Miami-Dade and Broward homes.
The Bottom Line on Zillow
Zillow does NOT buy houses anymore. Zillow Offers shut down in November 2021 and has not relaunched. Any seller hoping to use Zillow as a direct buyer must look elsewhere.
3 major iBuyer platforms remain active in Florida as of 2024: Opendoor, Offerpad, and in limited markets, HomeLight's Simple Sale network. Opendoor operates in the Orlando metro (Orange County, Osceola County, Seminole County), the Tampa Bay area (Hillsborough County, Pinellas County), and parts of Southeast Florida including Miami-Dade County and Broward County. Offerpad covers similar but smaller footprints, typically focusing on Orlando and Tampa.
Neither platform covers rural Florida counties, the Treasure Coast (St. Lucie County, Martin County), the Space Coast (Brevard County), the Florida Keys (Monroe County), Southwest Florida (Collier County, Lee County), or the Panhandle. That geographic gap is significant — roughly half of Florida's counties fall outside iBuyer coverage.
“3 major iBuyer platforms remain active in Florida as of 2024: Opendoor, Offerpad, and in limited markets, HomeLight's Simple Sale network.”
gov/portal/home)) status. Local cash buyers like Cash Buyers Network purchase in every Florida county, regardless of condition or flood zone.
What You Get
What iBuyers Won't Touch in Florida
Flood Zone Properties
Homes in FEMA AE or VE flood zones face mandatory flood insurance premiums that iBuyer algorithms can't easily price — most platforms decline these outright.
Roofs Over 10 Years Old
Florida insurers often won't write new policies on roofs older than 10-15 years. iBuyers avoid the liability and typically require a recent roof replacement before closing.
Active Code Violations
Unpermitted additions, open building permits, or city code violations trigger automatic iBuyer declines. Local cash buyers purchase with violations in place and handle resolution themselves.
Probate and Estate Properties
iBuyer platforms require a clear title and a single, legally authorized seller. Probate situations — common in Florida given the retiree population — are declined without exception.
Storm-Damaged Homes
Post-Ian (2022) and post-Irma (2017) damage, including compromised roof decking, water intrusion, or mold, disqualifies properties from every major iBuyer platform.
Side-by-Side
iBuyers vs. Local Cash Buyers: Side by Side
| Feature | iBuyers (Opendoor, Offerpad) | Cash Buyers Network |
|---|---|---|
| Service Fee | 5–8% of sale price | 0% — no fees of any kind |
| Repair Credits | Deducted after inspection (often $5,000–$20,000+) | None — buys as-is, no deductions |
| Closing Costs | Seller pays 1–3% | Cash Buyers Network pays all closing costs |
| Coverage Area | Select metros only (Orlando, Tampa, Miami-Dade, Broward) | Every Florida county, statewide |
| Flood Zone Homes | Typically declined | Purchased — all flood zones accepted |
| Probate / Estate Sales | Declined | Purchased — experienced in probate closings |
| Close Timeline | 14–30 days, subject to inspection | As fast as 4 days from accepted offer |
| Move-Out Date | Fixed by platform contract | Seller chooses their own move-out date |
The math on iBuyer fees is rarely disclosed upfront in plain language. Opendoor charges a service fee of 5% of the sale price, plus a repair credit (deducted after a post-acceptance inspection) that averages $8,000–$12,000 on a typical Florida resale home. Offerpad's fee structure runs similarly, at 5–7% service fee.
On a $350,000 home — roughly the Florida median — a 6% iBuyer service fee equals $21,000 off the top, before repair deductions or closing cost allocations. Traditional agent commissions run 5–6%, so iBuyers often cost the same as listing on the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) with an agent, but with far less negotiating power. By contrast, Cash Buyers Network charges zero fees, zero commissions, and covers all closing costs — sellers keep the exact dollar amount written on the offer.
“On a $350,000 home — roughly the Florida median — a 6% iBuyer service fee equals $21,000 off the top, before repair deductions or closing cost allocations.”
For sellers weighing net proceeds, that gap is real money. com/) is a useful tool when vetting any company that offers to buy, repair, or flip your home.
By the Numbers
Zillow Offers — By the Numbers
$500M+
Zillow's iBuyer Losses
Reported losses that triggered the 2021 shutdown of Zillow Offers
5–8%
Typical iBuyer Service Fee
Opendoor and Offerpad charge 5–8% before repair credits
4 Days
Fastest Cash Close
Cash Buyers Network's fastest documented close: 4 days from offer to wired funds
A+
BBB Rating
Cash Buyers Network holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau
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Florida's housing market has 4 structural realities that make local cash buyers a better fit than national iBuyer platforms. First, Florida's insurance crisis has made homes with older roofs, cast iron plumbing, or four-point inspection (a Florida-specific insurer-required inspection of roof, electrical, HVAC, and plumbing) failures nearly unsellable on the open market — iBuyers decline them, but local cash buyers buy them daily. Second, Florida's subtropical climate accelerates deterioration: roofs age faster in UV-heavy, high-humidity environments, and iBuyer inspection algorithms flag deferred maintenance aggressively.
org)) mean structural upgrades that national platforms can't easily price. Fourth, Florida's probate volume is among the highest in the nation given its retiree demographics — and probate homes are categorically excluded by every iBuyer. Cash Buyers Network closes around 150 purchases per year across Florida, including many homes that national platforms declined.
“Cash Buyers Network closes around 150 purchases per year across Florida, including many homes that national platforms declined.”
That statewide volume means experienced closings in Polk County, Volusia County, Sarasota County, Manatee County, and markets that iBuyers have never served.
A+ Rated Florida Cash Buyer
Cash Buyers Network holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and has been featured in press coverage syndicated to Yahoo Finance — a verifiable track record in a market full of unverifiable 'we buy houses' signs.
Process
How a Cash Sale to Cash Buyers Network Works
- 1
Request Your Free Cash Offer
Submit your property address and basic details online or by phone. There's no obligation, no cost, and no requirement to clean, repair, or stage the home beforehand.
- 2
Receive Your Offer Within 24 Hours
Marissa Loftis or Eric J reviews your property and presents a written cash offer — typically within 24 hours of your inquiry. The offer is the amount you receive; no fees are subtracted at closing.
- 3
Choose Your Closing Date
Once you accept, you pick the closing date that works for your timeline. Cash Buyers Network has closed in as few as 4 days when sellers needed to move fast, or extended timelines for sellers coordinating a move.
- 4
Sign and Close
A licensed Florida title company handles the closing paperwork. Cash Buyers Network pays all closing costs — you show up, sign, and receive wired funds on the same day.
- 5
Move Out on Your Schedule
You choose your own move-out date. There's no landlord, no flip crew pressure, and no penalty for needing extra time to transition to your next home.
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Zillow relaunched a limited 'Zillow Offers' pilot in a handful of non-Florida markets in 2023 but has not re-entered Florida as of 2024. Even in active pilot markets, Zillow's current model operates as a referral network — connecting sellers to third-party cash buyers rather than purchasing directly. That means when you submit a request on Zillow today, you may be routed to a local investor anyway, often with Zillow collecting a referral fee from the buyer.
For Florida sellers, does Zillow buy houses is effectively a closed question: the answer is no, and the workaround routes through the same local buyer network you could contact directly. Bypassing the referral layer saves time and avoids any fee the intermediary collects. Sellers exploring all their options under the selling your home umbrella — whether speed, net proceeds, or simplicity is the priority — consistently find that direct local buyers outperform platform-mediated offers on every dimension that matters at the closing table.
“Zillow relaunched a limited 'Zillow Offers' pilot in a handful of non-Florida markets in 2023 but has not re-entered Florida as of 2024.”
gov) certified improvements can add value if you're considering listing instead, but for sellers who need certainty, cash is the benchmark.
No Repairs, No Commissions, No Surprises
Cash Buyers Network buys Florida homes in any condition — foreclosure, fire damage, mold, code violations, hurricane damage — with no repair requirements and no closing costs to the seller.
Get a Free Cash Offer on Your Florida Home
Zillow isn't buying houses in Florida. But Cash Buyers Network is — every county, every condition, every day. Contact us for a no-obligation cash offer and see exactly what your home is worth without fees, without agents, and without waiting. We close on your timeline, not ours.
Frequently Asked
Common Questions
Does Zillow buy houses in Florida in 2024?
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No. Zillow shut down its Zillow Offers home-buying program in November 2021 after reporting over $500 million in losses from mispriced home purchases. As of 2024, Zillow does not directly purchase homes anywhere in Florida — not in Miami, Orlando, Tampa, or any other Florida market. In some out-of-state markets, Zillow has tested a referral model that connects sellers to third-party investors, but Florida homeowners searching for a direct buyer need to contact a local cash buyer like Cash Buyers Network, which purchases homes statewide across every Florida county.
What happened to Zillow Offers, and why did it shut down?
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Zillow Offers shut down on November 2, 2021, after the company's automated valuation model (AVM) systematically overpaid for homes during the post-pandemic price surge. When the market cooled, Zillow held thousands of homes purchased above resale value and reported a $304 million inventory write-down. CEO Rich Barton cited 'too much volatility and unpredictability' in home pricing. For Florida sellers specifically, the shutdown meant losing access to a direct buyer in markets like Orlando, Tampa, and Southeast Florida where Zillow Offers had been operating — leaving homeowners to find alternatives among remaining iBuyers or local cash buyers.
Which iBuyers still operate in Florida as alternatives to Zillow?
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As of 2024, Opendoor and Offerpad are the two main iBuyer platforms still actively purchasing homes in Florida. Opendoor operates in the Orlando metro (Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties), the Tampa Bay area (Hillsborough and Pinellas counties), and parts of Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Offerpad covers similar but smaller footprints. Both platforms exclude rural Florida counties, the Treasure Coast, the Space Coast, Southwest Florida, and the Florida Keys. Both also decline homes with flood zone status, older roofs, active code violations, or probate complications. Local Florida cash buyers like Cash Buyers Network serve every county statewide with no condition restrictions.
How do iBuyer fees compare to a local cash buyer's offer?
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Opendoor and Offerpad both charge a service fee of 5–8% of the sale price, plus a repair credit deducted after a post-acceptance inspection. On a $350,000 Florida home, a 6% service fee equals $21,000 off the top — similar to paying a traditional real estate agent commission. Repair credits average thousands more. Cash Buyers Network charges zero service fees, zero commissions, and covers all closing costs, so sellers keep the full offer amount. For Florida homeowners comparing net proceeds, that fee gap is the most important number in the transaction.
Can I sell a damaged or hurricane-impacted home to a Florida cash buyer?
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Yes. Cash Buyers Network purchases Florida homes in any condition, including homes with post-hurricane damage from storms like Hurricane Ian (2022, Cat 4) or Hurricane Irma (2017, Cat 4), fire or flood damage, mold, missing roofs, and active code violations. iBuyer platforms categorically decline damaged properties because their algorithms can't accurately price repair costs. Local cash buyers take on the repair risk directly, which is why they can make offers on homes that no iBuyer or traditional buyer would touch. No repairs, no clean-up, and no showings are required before closing.
How fast can I close on a cash home sale in Florida?
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Cash Buyers Network's fastest documented close in Florida is 4 days from accepted offer to wired funds. Most closings happen in 7–14 days depending on title search timelines at the licensed Florida title company handling the transaction. Sellers who need more time can also extend the closing date — there's no penalty for choosing a later date. This flexibility stands in contrast to iBuyer platforms, which fix closing windows in their contracts and charge fees if sellers need to adjust. Selling your Florida home for cash through a local buyer gives you control of the timeline, not the platform.
Does Cash Buyers Network buy homes in every Florida county?
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Yes. Cash Buyers Network purchases homes statewide across every Florida county, including Palm Beach County, Broward County, Miami-Dade County, Orange County, Hillsborough County, Pinellas County, Duval County, Lee County, Brevard County, Polk County, Volusia County, St. Lucie County, Martin County, Monroe County, Sarasota County, Manatee County, Collier County, Seminole County, and Osceola County. This statewide reach is a key difference from iBuyer platforms, which serve only select metro areas and leave rural and coastal Florida counties without a direct-buyer option. The company is headquartered in Delray Beach, FL, and closes about 150 purchases per year across the state.