Selling Your Florida Home
From Canada — Handled Locally.
If you've inherited a property in Southwest Florida — or you're settling a parent's home from across the border — we'll coordinate the work on the ground in Florida so you don't have to fly down. We serve Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples, Punta Gorda, Sarasota, and everywhere in between.
We Understand the Situation
Maybe a parent passed and left you their Cape Coral condo. Maybe the family snowbird home has gone unused since the pandemic. Maybe you're managing the estate of a relative you barely knew, from Toronto, Calgary, or Vancouver.
The questions stack up quickly. Do you need a Florida probate? What is FIRPTA, and how much of your proceeds could the IRS require to be withheld at closing? How do you get the contents cleaned out without flying down? Will your dollars convert cleanly back to CAD?
These are the questions we help families think through. We're not a probate attorney or a cross-border CPA — but we know who is, and we'll bring the right specialists to the table. Our role is to be your local point of contact in Southwest Florida — coordinating the people, paperwork, and property work so the sale moves forward without forcing you onto a plane.
Cross-Border Concerns, Addressed
Each situation is different — but most Canadian owners we work with run into the same five hurdles. Here's how we help with each.
Florida Probate from Outside the U.S.
Florida real property typically requires Florida probate, regardless of where the owner lived or where the heirs reside. We'll connect you with a Florida probate attorney experienced in ancillary and out-of-country cases, then coordinate the property-side tasks (appraisals, condition reports, vendor access) so the legal and physical work move in parallel.
Selling Without Flying Down
You don't have to. We physically oversee cleanouts, repairs, photography, showings, and inspections on your behalf. Closings can be handled by mail-away or remote online notarization — with the help of a Canadian notary or the U.S. consulate when needed. Coming down for closing is a choice, not a requirement.
FIRPTA & Cross-Border Tax
Yes — FIRPTA (the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act) generally requires the buyer to withhold a portion of the gross sale price when the seller is a non-U.S. person. Reduced withholding or refund applications are often available depending on price point, use, and your tax situation. We'll connect you with a cross-border CPA who handles these filings regularly so you don't overpay or get tied up at closing.
Currency Conversion & Wiring CAD
Closing proceeds are wired in USD. We coordinate with the title company so funds can be wired directly to a Canadian bank account, or to a foreign-exchange specialist who typically beats the bank's USD-to-CAD rate by a meaningful margin. We'll walk you through the options well before closing day so there are no surprises.
Hurricane Exposure, Insurance, HOAs & Condition
We start with an in-person property assessment and a candid report on condition, deferred maintenance, current insurance climate, HOA standing, and any open code or assessment issues. From there we build a sale plan that fits your timeline — whether that's a quick as-is sale or a prepared listing that maximizes value. You'll always understand the trade-offs.
A Clear Plan — From Across the Border to Closing
The same hands-on, three-phase process we use for every property we represent, adapted for the realities of selling from Canada.
Assess
An on-site visit, condition report, market analysis, and a clear summary of probate, FIRPTA, and timeline considerations. Delivered in plain English — no jargon.
Coordinate
Cleanouts, repairs, photography, attorney coordination, vendor scheduling — handled by us in Florida. You get clear updates; you don't get pulled into the weeds.
Sell
Listing, marketing, negotiation, FIRPTA paperwork, remote signings, and wire coordination — guided through the final signature, with proceeds where they need to go.
Why Canadian Families Choose Us
Selling Florida property is hard enough when you live here. Helping families who don't is a focus of how we work.
We're Actually Local
We physically inspect the property, walk it with vendors, and meet at the home — not from an office in another state. Southwest Florida is our market, and we live in it.
We Know What to Ask & Who to Bring In
FIRPTA, ITINs, ancillary probate, snowbird tax residency, CAD wires — the cross-border layer adds real complexity. We don't give legal or tax advice ourselves, but we know what questions matter, and we coordinate with the attorneys, CPAs, and FX specialists who handle the answers.
We Communicate on Your Schedule
Email, phone, text, video — whatever works for the time difference and your work hours. Updates are clear, regular, and never just "we're working on it."
We Stay Through Closing
We don't list the house and disappear. Justin and Nicole are personally involved from the first phone call through the wire confirmation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the questions Canadian sellers ask us most often.
Do I need to come to Florida to sell the house?
The owner passed away. Do I need a Florida probate?
What exactly is FIRPTA, and how much will it cost me?
How do the proceeds get to me in Canada?
How long does the whole process usually take?
What does it cost to work with you?
What if the house needs major repairs after a storm?
Tell Us About Your Property
Share a few details about the home and your situation. Justin or Nicole will personally review it and follow up within one business day with next steps and an honest read on what we'd recommend.
No pressure, no obligation, no sales script.
Request a Property Review
Free, confidential — typically a 1-business-day reply.
By submitting, you agree to be contacted by SWFL Estate Solutions. We never share your information. Real estate services provided under FL Brokerage License CQ1068519.