Lake County, Florida

Hybrid444,204 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: Lake County Tax Collector sells annual tax certificates; after minimum ~2 years a certificate holder may apply for a tax deed sold by the Clerk of Circuit Court & Comptroller online via RealAuction (lake.realtaxdeed.com). Tax deed sales generally several times per month on Tuesdays at 11:15 a.m. ET. Separate from mortgage foreclosure calendar. Sold as-is; owner may redeem until high bidder remits full payment.

Auction logistics

Format

Online

Frequency

Tax deed sales generally multiple Tuesdays per month at 11:15 a.m. ET online (confirm Clerk sales calendar)

Platform

RealAuction — Lake County Tax Deeds ↗

Deposit rules

Register on lake.realtaxdeed.com and fund account before bidding. Florida RealAuction standard: deposit typically $200 or 5% of maximum anticipated bid (whichever greater); successful bidder posts required deposit percentage of winning bid; balance due per Clerk terms (often next business day). Support: RealAuction 877-361-7325. Confirm current deposit rules on platform FAQ.

Title risk

Liens that survive the sale

Florida tax deeds generally extinguish many private liens, but federal tax liens, certain governmental liens, and some assessments can survive. Sales without warranty as to title or condition — run full title/lien search and review Property Information Report.

Quiet title

Often practically required for marketable/insurable title after a Florida tax deed, especially if occupancy, heir, or irregular-notice issues exist.

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

Lake County Tax Collector — Tax Certificates / Delinquent Taxes ↗

Clerk of court

Lake County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller — Tax Deeds ↗

352-253-2620

Property appraiser

Lake County Property Appraiser ↗

GIS / parcel map

Lake County GIS / Property Appraiser map search ↗

Areas trending up

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

Clermont / Four Corners edge

West Orange spillover and tourism-adjacent housing demand

Leesburg / Tavares lakefront

County-seat employment and retiree SF demand with relative inland pricing

Mount Dora / northeast Lake

Lifestyle downtown and constrained historic inventory supporting values