Carter County, Tennessee

Redeemable Deed57,434 residents

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

Sale typestate default

Redeemable Deed

Redemption periodstate default

1 year from the court's confirmation of sale (courts have discretion to extend)

Investor returnstate default

10% per annum statutory penalty on redemption

Governing statutestate default

Tennessee Code Title 67, Ch. 5

Notes

Tennessee judicial (Chancery Court) delinquent-tax county. Carter County Clerk & Master (Elizabethton) collects delinquent taxes and conducts court-ordered sales under TCA Title 67 Ch. 5. Confirm each sale notice for location, deposit, and confirmation practice — schedule is suit-driven, not a single annual open-outcry day on the county homepage. Northeast Tennessee mountain market (Elizabethton, Roan Mountain, Watauga Lake fringe) with Tri-Cities (Johnson City–Kingsport–Bristol) commute influence.

Auction logistics

Format

In-person judicial sale (Chancery Court / Clerk & Master)

Frequency

Periodic as individual delinquent-tax actions reach sale; newspaper and courthouse notices

Platform

Carter County Clerk & Master — delinquent tax sale ↗

Deposit rules

Deposit and balance deadlines are set in the sale notice/order. Bring cash or certified funds as directed. Confirm current terms with the Clerk & Master at the Carter County Courthouse, Elizabethton, before attending.

Title risk

Liens that survive the sale

Judicial tax sale subject to redemption after confirmation. Most junior private liens joined in the action are cut off after redemption expires; omitted parties and federal liens create residual risk.

Quiet title

Court confirmation helps; quiet title still common for insurer comfort on mountain and lakeside inventory.

Deal maths for Tennessee

Assessment ratio: 0.25× of market value
Typical quiet title: $1,800–$5,000 · 5 mo
Recording and transfer: $250

T.C.A. § 67-5-801 and Tenn. Const. art. II, § 28: residential and farm property is assessed at 25% of value, industrial and commercial at 40%, public utility at 55%. This entry uses the 25% residential rate.

Offices and records

Tax collector

Carter County Clerk & Master ↗

423-542-1825

Clerk of court

Carter County Clerk & Master / Chancery Court ↗

423-542-1825

Property appraiser

Carter County Assessor / TN Comptroller assessment data ↗

GIS / parcel map

TN Comptroller property assessment data (Carter parcels) ↗

Areas trending up

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

Elizabethton city / downtown–hospital edge

County-seat services and medical jobs with the strongest local SF turnover

Watauga Lake / recreation fringe

Second-home and short-term rental demand with seasonal liquidity

Roan Mountain / US-19E corridor

Tourism gateway and entry-priced workforce housing toward Avery/Mitchell NC