Tax Deed Investing in Florida: What It Really Takes

Short answer: Tax deed investing means buying property at a county's auction for unpaid taxes, then keeping or reselling it. The profit comes from buying well under value; the risk is buying something you can't build on, insure or sell. My own recorded purchases run from $1,600 to $31,800.

Where the money comes from

I paid $246,700 on 24 of my properties, and they're worth 7.18 times that on the highest available value. See how I count. That's my result over years, not a promise of yours.

What goes wrong

• Unbuildable land. Slivers, wetlands and landlocked lots sell cheap for a reason.
• Title. Resale can stall until title is cleared.
• Deadlines. Miss a payment and you lose your deposit.
• Surviving liens. Some government liens can outlast the deed.

Start small

1. Pick one county and learn its rules.
2. Watch a sale before you bid.
3. Set a maximum that includes title costs, and stick to it.

Questions

Sources

• Florida Tax Deed Finder
• Collier County Clerk: tax deed sales

Next: the Florida guide, the Volusia guide, the glossary, or work with me. Not legal, tax or investment advice.