Clay County, Florida

Hybrid236,760 residentsLive auctions →

County research last verified 2026-07. Office holders, platforms, and deposit rules change — re-confirm anything time-sensitive.

Sale typestate default

Hybrid

Redemption periodstate default

Lien: 2 years before deed application allowed. Deed: none once issued.

Investor returnstate default

Lien: 5–18% (bid-down, 5% minimum return rule)

Governing statutestate default

Florida Statutes Ch. 197

Notes

Florida hybrid: Clay County Tax Collector sells tax certificates online (lienhub.com/county/clay; e.g. 2025 certificates sale May 28, 2026). After ~2 years, certificate holders apply for tax deeds sold online by the Clerk at clay.realtaxdeed.com. All tax deed sales online; search files at landmark.clayclerk.com/TaxDeed. Opening bids can change before sale — recheck listing.

Auction logistics

Format

Online

Frequency

Periodic online tax deed sales per Clerk calendar when applications are ready

Platform

RealAuction — Clay County Tax Deeds ↗

Deposit rules

Create account on clay.realtaxdeed.com and fund deposit before bidding per RealAuction rules (typically $200 or 5% of bid). Full payment window and certified-funds rules posted on platform/Clerk FAQ. Tax Deed Department Clerk Tina Altman (904) 529-4221.

Title risk

Liens that survive the sale

A Florida tax deed generally extinguishes most private mortgages and liens, but does not clear governmental liens (code enforcement, municipal liens) or IRS liens (120-day federal redemption). Run a municipal/code-enforcement lien search before bidding. Sales are as-is without warranty as to title or condition.

Quiet title

Under Fla. Stat. §95.192, continuous ownership and tax payment for 4+ years after the deed often supports marketable title without suit. For faster insurable title, a quiet title action with final judgment is standard practice.

Deal maths for Florida

Assessment ratio: 0.85× of market value
Typical quiet title: $1,800–$5,000 · 5 mo
Recording and transfer: $500

Florida assesses at just value, but Save Our Homes / Amendment 1 caps compress assessed below market on long-held homesteads.

Offices and records

Tax collector

Clay County Tax Collector — Delinquent Taxes / Certificates ↗

Clerk of court

Clay County Clerk — Tax Deeds & Foreclosures ↗

904-529-4221

Property appraiser

Clay County Property Appraiser ↗

GIS / parcel map

Clay County Property Appraiser / GIS ↗

Areas trending up

Directional read from dated market analysis — not a guarantee, and not a substitute for your own comps.

Orange Park / Fleming Island

Jacksonville south-suburban job access and school demand with strong SF liquidity

Middleburg / west Clay

Relative affordability and lot inventory versus riverside cores

Green Cove Springs / county seat

St. Johns River amenities and government employment anchoring mid-market demand