Knox County, Tennessee

Redeemable Deed506,748 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 redeemable-deed tax sale. Knox County Trustee conducts large in-person delinquent tax auctions ordered through court process (Tax Sale 25 scheduled June 2, 2026 — 200+ parcels; Grande Event Center; registration early, bidding ~10:00 a.m.). Clerk and Master historically conducts sales; 1-year statutory redemption at 12% under TN framework. Surplus/county-held stock may later be re-offered online (e.g. Powell Auction) with statutory rebid rights. Properties sold as-is; title insurance often difficult without further clear-title work.

Auction logistics

Format

In-person (primary Trustee tax sale) / Online (surplus re-offers)

Frequency

Periodic court-scheduled sales (large annual-style Trustee sales; Tax Sale 25 June 2, 2026); surplus re-offers as inventory warrants

Platform

Knox County Trustee Tax Sale (in-person); surplus sometimes via Powell Auction & Realty ↗

Deposit rules

Bidders must be current on property taxes (delinquent taxpayers ineligible). Registration day-of with deposit/payment rules per sale notice — arrive early. Confirm certified funds requirements with Trustee before sale day. Surplus online sales use vendor deposit/rebid rules (10% rebid window under T.C.A. 67-5-2507 examples).

Title risk

Liens that survive the sale

Tennessee tax sale is a redeemable deed structure; redemption rights and surviving governmental/federal liens require careful analysis. County materials warn title insurance may not be available at closing — full search essential.

Quiet title

Marketable title after redemption period typically requires quiet title or related clear-title litigation before most insurers will insure — budget legal process and time.

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

Knox County Trustee ↗

865-215-2305

Clerk of court

Knox County Clerk and Master / Chancery (tax sale process) ↗

Property appraiser

Knox County Property Assessor / KGIS ↗

GIS / parcel map

KGIS Maps — Property Tax Sale Maps ↗

Areas trending up

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

Downtown Knoxville / Old City

Urban revitalization and UT-adjacent demand supporting multifamily and adaptive-reuse

Farragut / west Knox

School-driven suburban demand with stronger resale liquidity than east-county stock

Hardin Valley / northwest corridor

Ongoing residential expansion and employment access with continued absorption into 2026