Inherited, Neglected, and Facing City Fines on West 29th Street
How we helped an out-of-state owner navigate City of West Palm Beach code violations, mounting fines, and structural hazards—closing in just 19 days.
Project Lead: Max Cohen
Licensed General Contractor
Actual photo from the property intake
Location
Northwood Shores
Issue
Code Violations
Condition
Unsafe / Neglected
Result
Sold in 19 Days
The Challenge: A Legacy of Neglect
When Mrs. Rodriguez inherited her family's home on West 29th Street in the Northwood Shores neighborhood of West Palm Beach, she inherited a headache. Originally a modest 1968 concrete block structure, the property had been subjected to decades of neglect and unpermitted modifications.
The house was literally falling apart. The original cast iron plumbing was corroded, causing frequent backups and water damage. The roof, long past its useful life, leaked into multiple rooms, feeding a growing mold problem. An unpermitted patio enclosure from the 1980s had electrical wiring that was visibly unsafe and structural components that were failing.
Structural damage and exterior deterioration.
The roof and property were in critical condition.
Behind the Walls: Major System Failures
It wasn't just cosmetic. The "guts" of the house were dangerous. During our inspection, we found:
- Fire Hazards: Unsafe electrical wiring in the unpermitted enclosure and outdated electrical systems.
- Plumbing Failures: Corroded cast iron pipes causing backups and water damage throughout.
- Structural Issues: Failing structural components in the unpermitted addition and roof leaks causing mold growth.
Interior Conditions: Unfinished and Deteriorating
The interior was a mix of water damage, mold, and decades of deferred maintenance. From leaky ceilings to bathrooms with failing fixtures, the property was completely unlivable. Mrs. Rodriguez didn't have the tens of thousands of dollars needed to make this market-ready, and the accumulating City of West Palm Beach code enforcement fines were making the situation worse.
The Solution: A Fair Cash Offer
Unlike a traditional buyer who would run away from these inspection photos, FL Home Buyers ran toward the problem. We are licensed General Contractors. We understood exactly what it would cost to address the code violations, replace the plumbing, fix the electrical, and bring it up to West Palm Beach code.
We made Mrs. Rodriguez a cash offer that factored in these repairs and the accumulated city fines, taking the risk completely off her shoulders.
"I honestly thought I was going to lose my home to the city. The fines were too much, the house was falling apart, and no one would touch it. Max and his team at FL Home Buyers were a godsend. They handled everything, exactly as they said they would. It was such a relief to finally close and get a fresh start. Max made this easy."
— Mrs. Rodriguez, Seller
Do You Have a Problem Property in West Palm Beach?
Code violations? Accumulating fines? Inherited stress? We buy houses exactly like the one on West 29th Street.