What we buy, and what we don't

Properties we want

• Older single-family homes. Built decades ago, never really updated, or updated so long ago it no longer counts.
• Small houses on double or oversized lots. A two-bedroom on a lot wide enough for something much bigger, or a house that straddles two platted lots.
• Corner lots. Two street sides can give a builder more design options, depending on zoning and setbacks.
• Two lots side by side. A house on one and a yard, garden or garage on the other.
• Flood-damaged or flood-prone homes. Houses that took water, or that sit low in a flood zone and would need major work or elevation to keep.
• Duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes on big lots. Older rentals where the land is worth more than the rent roll.
• Vacant lots. Including lots left after a fire or a past demolition.
• Small commercial. Older small buildings on land that suits redevelopment.

Condition doesn't matter much

A regular buyer walks through a house and adds up what it will cost to fix. We walk through and look out the windows at the lot. Because we are buying the land, we are not worried about a bad roof, old wiring, cast iron pipes, a dead AC unit, termite damage or a kitchen from 1975. Fire damage, water damage and a house full of belongings are all fine. We buy the land, not the renovation. See when your house needs everything.

What we look at on the lot

When a property comes to us, these are the things that move the number:

• Lot width, frontage and depth
• Zoning, and what it allows to be built
• Whether the lot is one parcel or several platted lots, and whether it could be split (this always needs a zoning check)
• Flood zone and how high the ground sits
• Large trees that may be protected
• Whether it is in a historic district, which can make demolition hard or impossible
• What new homes on nearby streets sell for

You do not need to know any of this before you call. We look it up. If you have an old survey, a plat map or a closing packet from when you bought the house, those can help, but they are not required. Many long-time owners find the original paperwork in a drawer somewhere, and it sometimes shows that the house sits on more than one platted lot.

What we don't buy

We do not buy condos, co-ops or mobile or manufactured homes. Those do not come with land a builder can use the way a house lot does. We also only buy in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.

If your house is in good shape and would sell well as a home, we may not be the best buyer either. We will say so and point you toward listing it.

Not sure if yours fits?

Call or text (727) 353-6206 with the address. If it is not a fit, we will tell you quickly and you have lost nothing. Tampa Teardown is run by 131 Cash Home Buyers, which also buys houses that are not teardowns, so we may still be able to help. More detail is on our land value page.

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General information, not legal, tax or zoning advice. Every lot is different; local rules decide what can be built. Updated November 2026.