Highlands County, FLsheriff sales & tax auctions

A tax deed issued by the clerk of court after the sale is paid. Under s. 197.552 no right, interest, restriction or covenant survives the tax deed except a lien of record held by a municipal or county governmental unit, special district or community development district that is not satisfied from the sale proceeds. Clerks sell 'as is' and warn their property information report 'is not a title search' (Alachua).

Redemption

None once the winning bid is paid in full. The owner (or anyone) can redeem the underlying tax certificate at any time before the tax deed is issued, i.e. right up until the clerk receives full payment for the deed (s. 197.472).

Deposit

A nonrefundable deposit of 5% of the bid or $200, whichever is greater, at the time of the sale (s. 197.542(2)). Clerks running electronic sales require that amount on deposit before you can bid (Alachua: hand-delivered by 3 p.m. the last business day before; ACH at least 4 days ahead).

Balance due

Full payment of the bid plus documentary stamp tax and recording fees within 24 hours of the sale, excluding weekends and legal holidays, or the deposit is forfeited and the property is re-sold (s. 197.542(2); Hernando, Lake, Alachua clerks). Cash, cashier's check, money order or wire; no personal checks.

To bid

Register on the county's realtaxdeed.com site and have your advance deposit settled with the clerk by the day before the sale (Lake: by 4 p.m. Eastern the day before). Deposits can stay on account for future sales.

Where

Online, county by county, at {county}.realtaxdeed.com (RealAuction); s. 197.542(4) lets clerks sell electronically instead of by public outcry. Sales start at 10:00 a.m. in Hernando.

When

Year-round on each clerk's calendar; a sale is scheduled whenever a certificate holder applies for a deed, which they may do 2 years after April 1 of the year the certificate was issued (s. 197.502(1)).

Rules checked 2026-09-17 against flsenate.gov, alachuacounty.us, hernandoclerk.com, lakecountyclerkfl.gov. Terms vary by county — confirm Highlands County's own notice and the linked source before you bid. Not legal advice.