Lake County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller
Gary J. Cooney, Clerk

Frequently Asked Questions

Tax Deeds

• What is a tax deed sale?
  

  A tax deed sale is a public auction where property is sold to the highest bidder to recover delinquent property taxes.

• Who conducts the tax deed sale?
  

  The Clerk's Office conducts the sale via public auction on the internet in accordance with Florida Statute 197.542.

• Where is the tax deed sale held?
  

  Tax deed sales are held online at www.lake.realtaxdeed.com.

• When is the tax deed sale held?
  

  Tax Deed Sales are generally held several times per month on Tuesdays at 11:15 a.m. Check the online auction website, www.lake.realtaxdeed.com, for specific dates and times.

• Are the tax deed sales advertised in a newspaper?
  

  Yes. Tax deed sales are advertised in The North Lake Outpost.

• Do I have to register with the Clerk's Office before the sale?
  

  Yes.  In order to participate in the sale, bidders must register at www.lake.realtaxdeed.com to get a username and password and place a valid deposit in U.S. Dollars with the Clerk’s Office. Bidders must be registered on the site by the day before the sale. Deposits must be received by the Clerk’s Office by 4:00 PM Eastern the day before the sale date. Acceptable forms of payment for deposits are cash, cashier’s checks (no more than two months from the issue date), money orders, and wire transfers. See below for additional deposit information.

• Is there a deposit required to bid on property at a tax deed sale?
  

  Yes. A deposit of $200 or 5% of the winning bid, whichever is greater, is required for each item you anticipate winning at the sale. Deposits may be made via wire transfer, cash, cashier’s check (no more than two months from the issue date), or money order. Deposits must be received by the Clerk’s Office no later than 4:00 PM Eastern the day before the sale. All payments must be in U.S. Dollars.

  PLEASE NOTE that the Clerk’s Office will not accept cashier’s checks more than two (2) months from the issue date.

  ACH payments are not an accepted form of payment for tax deeds. When electronically submitting funds, please ensure your bank sends payment via wire transfer, as ACH payments will not be accepted.

  The name on your deposit/payment must match the individual name or business name on your bidder account.

• What if I need additional information regarding a property being sold at a tax deed sale?
  

  Additional information can be found on our website by clicking "Tax Deeds" under Record Searches on this web site's main menu. Once you have read and agreed to the disclaimer, you will be directed to a Tax Deed search screen where you may select various search criteria. After receiving your search results, click the certificate number to see additional information as well as view various documents pertaining to the certificate. Public Access terminals are also available in the Tax Deed Section at the Lake County Courthouse.

• How do I find out if there are any liens or encumbrances on a property being sold at a tax deed sale?
  

  A Property Information Report for each certificate is found in the tax deed file on our website. However, the Clerk's Office is not responsible for any discrepancies or omissions on this report and it is the responsibility of the buyer to research the property that he/she is interested in purchasing. Tax Deeds are sold AS IS on a BUYER BEWARE basis. Properties may be subject to additional taxes and/or liens.

• If I am the highest bidder at a sale, how long do I have to pay for the property?
  

  If you are the successful bidder for property at a tax deed sale, full payment must be received by the Clerk's Office within 24 hours after the time of sale. Accepted forms of payment are cash, cashier’s check, U.S. Postal money order, payment from deposit balance and wire transfer.

• What if I am the highest bidder and I then choose not to purchase the property for any reason?
  

  If full payment is not made within 24 hours after the time of the sale, your deposit will be forfeited.  Additionally, if you are the high bidder and refuse to honor your bid for any reason, you may be barred from participating in Lake County’s tax deed sales.

• Where can I find information regarding the sale of tax certificates?
  

  Any information regarding the sale of tax certificates must be obtained from the Lake County Tax Collector’s Office. Their contact number is (352) 343-9602 or visit the Tax Collector's Office at one of their three locations.

• What does it mean for an owner to redeem a tax deed property?
  

  To redeem a tax deed property means that all current and delinquent taxes are paid to the Tax Collector's Office and the property will no longer be going to sale.

• How do I know if a property has been redeemed before the sale date?
  

  The status of properties scheduled for sale will be updated periodically on the online auction site, www.lake.realtaxdeed.com.  Every effort is made to keep this information current.  However, to check for last minute redemptions, you may contact a Tax Deed Clerk at (352) 253-2620 or 2621.

• What happens to property that is not purchased at the tax deed sale?
  

  If a property goes up for bid at a tax deed sale and is not purchased, then the applicant holding the tax certificate may take ownership of the property. If the applicant chooses not to take ownership of the property, it is placed on the Lands Available List. Land is available for purchase from the Lands Available List after it has been listed for 90 days. The purchase price is the opening bid plus any taxes and interest that has accrued on the property since it was placed on the list. Utilize the tax deed record search to view properties on the Lands Available List.

 

NOTICE: Under Florida law, email addresses are public records. If you do not want your email address released in response to public records requests, do not send electronic mail to the Clerk’s Office; instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.