St. Petersburg, FL – April 2025
In the chaos of foreclosure, many Florida homeowners walk away from their homes without realizing they may still be owed money. When a property sells for more than the outstanding mortgage balance, the excess — called surplus funds — is held by the court for the former owner.
“You’d be surprised how many people never claim what’s legally theirs,” said Lisa Monroe, a foreclosure researcher in Pinellas County. “They assume everything is lost.”
Experts recommend checking court dockets and surplus registers regularly, especially in counties like Hillsborough, Orange, and Broward, where property values are rising.
