Highlands County, Florida
Sell your land in Highlands Park Estates for cash
Parcel Buyers buys vacant lots in Highlands Park Estates for cash, including lots on the benefit district billed $20 for each lot or fraction in FY 2026-27. You get a written, no-obligation cash offer within 24 hours, and closings run through an independent title company, typically in about 10 days, with no fees or commissions.
By Parcel Buyers · · Lot figures from the 2026 Florida property tax roll · How we made this page
Quick answers
- Who buys land for cash in Highlands Park Estates?
- Parcel Buyers is a direct land buyer that makes written, no-obligation cash offers on vacant lots and acreage in Highlands Park Estates, Highlands County, usually within 24 hours. Sales close through an independent title company, typically in about 10 days, with no fees or commissions to the seller.
- What did vacant lots in Highlands Park Estates sell for in 2025?
- In 2025, vacant lots in Highlands Park Estates sold for a median of $8,500 across 95 arm's-length sales; the middle half sold for $6,800 to $12,000.
- How many vacant lots are in Highlands Park Estates?
- The 2026 Florida property tax roll lists 4,256 vacant residential lots in Highlands Park Estates; 74% are quarter-acre lots, and the median lot is 0.26 acre.
- How is a cash offer for land in Highlands Park Estates set?
- We start from recent sales of similar lots nearby, like the 2025 prices on this page, then adjust for water and sewer, road access, flood zone, lot size and any title issues, and for the time and cost of reselling. You get one written number, not a range.
- How do I know a land buyer in Highlands Park Estates is legitimate?
- A real buyer closes through an independent, licensed title company and never asks you to pay anything up front. We never charge sellers a fee, deposit or closing-cost advance, and the title company pays you by check or wire at closing.
- Who is buying lots in Highlands Park Estates?
- In 2025, companies bought 23% of the vacant lots that sold in Highlands Park Estates, including 2% bought by homebuilders. Individuals bought the rest.
- What was the median recorded 2025 sale price by lot size in Highlands Park Estates?
- The median recorded 2025 sale price for a quarter-acre lot in Highlands Park Estates was $8,000 across 71 sales.
- Are vacant lots in Highlands Park Estates in a FEMA high-risk flood zone?
- About 18.1% of vacant lots in Highlands Park Estates have their center point in a FEMA high-risk flood zone (effective maps dated November 18, 2015). This is map screening, not a determination; check FEMA's Map Service Center for your parcel.
- How many vacant lots in Highlands Park Estates got a home on the tax roll in 2025?
- 17 vacant lots in Highlands Park Estates changed from vacant-residential use to a home with new-construction evidence on the 2026 preliminary tax roll.
Local data
Highlands Park Estates land at a glance
Tax-roll figures cover the Highlands Park Estates subdivision sections (Lake Placid addresses) in Highlands County. Local rules and services are sourced below.
Property addresses here read Lake Placid (99%).
| Vacant residential lots | 4,256 parcels classified vacant residential on the 2026 tax roll [1] |
|---|---|
| Most common lot size | Quarter-acre lot (9,000–13,000 sq ft): 74% of vacant lots; next, half-acre lot at 14%. Median lot: 0.26 acre (11,250 sq ft). [1] |
| Typical assessed value | $5,500 median just (market) value for a vacant lot; the middle half fall between $1,000 and $9,000 [1] |
| Recent lot sale prices | $8,500 median across 95 arm's-length sales of vacant lots in Highlands Park Estates (Jan 2025–Dec 2025); the middle half sold for $6,800–$12,000 [1] |
| Who bought lots in 2025 | Companies made 23% of those purchases, including 2% by homebuilders; individuals made the rest [1] |
| Owners who live elsewhere | 37% of vacant lots have an owner mailing address outside Florida (most often NY, NJ, NC); 3% outside the U.S. [1] |
| FY 2026-27 lot charge | The FY 2026-27 county schedule bills this district $20 for each lot or fraction of a lot. The line is Fund 148, code X089, and the sheet says rates were revised on July 16, 2024. [2] |
| Park, cleanup and lights | Resolution 23-24-146 applies the money to parks and recreation sites, nuisance cleanup such as mowing, street lights, and county administrative costs. County facility terms direct Highlands Park Estates clubhouse reservations to the Non-Ad Valorem office. [6],[12] |
| Two county records give different start dates | The FY 2026-27 rate sheet records an adoption date of August 18, 1981. A 2024 board packet says the district was created August 22, 2000, for the park and street lights. [2],[6] |
| FY 2026-27 adopted budget | The county's adopted budget lists $146,426 for FY 2026-27, up from $137,066 in FY 2025-26. The 2024 resolution packet estimated that the $20 rate would collect about $121,125, up from about $60,563 at the prior rate. [5],[6] |
| Separate vacant fire charge | The FY 2026-27 county fire schedule lists $61.45 for a parcel classed vacant. That fire assessment is separate from the $20 district charge. [4],[2] |
| County road categories differ | The county classifies some roads as county-maintained and others as non-county unpaved roads. It also uses a category for platted rights-of-way that may have no visible or traversable road. [7] |
| Septic permitting stays local | Florida DEP lists Highlands among the counties where the county health department still handles onsite-sewage permits. An application requires a site plan, floor plan, fee, and site evaluation. [10] |
| Zoning and building are separate questions | County Planning and Zoning administers the comprehensive plan and land-development regulations. The Building Division handles permits, inspections and construction codes, but sends use, setback and building-location questions to Zoning. [9],[13] |
| Lake Istokpoga | The Property Appraiser lists a neighborhood code named Lake Istokpoga Highlands Park Est. FWC describes 27,692-acre Lake Istokpoga about five miles northeast of Lake Placid and lists public ramps on its north, northeast and southwest shores. [14],[15] |
| 2025 sale price by lot size | The median recorded 2025 sale price for a quarter-acre lot in Highlands Park Estates was $8,000 across 71 sales. [1] |
| Vacant lots that got a home on the tax roll in 2025 | 17 recorded with new-construction evidence. [1] |
| Owner-type shares | Individuals 81.1%; companies 14.8%; trusts 2.9%; estates/heirs 1.2%; government/associations 0.0%. [1] |
| 2026 so far (Jan-Jun) | 30 recorded vacant-lot sales; median $10,200. [1] |
| FEMA high-risk flood-zone screen | About 18.1% of vacant lots in Highlands Park Estates have their center point in a FEMA high-risk flood zone (effective maps dated November 18, 2015). This is map screening, not a determination; check FEMA's Map Service Center for your parcel. |
| Springs BMAP small-lot screen | About 0% of located vacant lots in Highlands Park Estates are 1 acre or less and have their center point in an adopted Florida springs BMAP. |
Pricing
What is a lot in Highlands Park Estates worth?
In 2025, vacant lots in Highlands Park Estates sold for a median of $8,500 across 95 arm's-length sales; the middle half sold for $6,800 to $12,000. [1]
These are open-market sale prices. A direct cash offer is usually lower, because a cash buyer closes in days and takes on the time and cost of reselling the lot.
Recorded 2025 sale prices by lot size in Highlands Park Estates
| Lot-size class | 2025 sales | 2025 median lot sale | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quarter-acre lot9,000–12,999 sq ft | 71 | $8,000 | $6,800–$10,500 |
| Half-acre lot19,000–23,999 sq ft | 12 | $13,800 | $9,700–$17,400 |
These are open-market sale prices. A direct cash offer is usually lower, because a cash buyer closes in days and takes on the time and cost of reselling the lot.
See what similar lots sold for
What moves the price in Highlands Park Estates
The district bill is a yearly holding cost
Yes. A lot in this district is billed $20 for each lot or fraction on the FY 2026-27 schedule. The non-ad valorem office puts the charge on the tax bill, and the county says district money is used in the area where it is collected. Resolution 23-24-146 says the proceeds pay for parks and recreation sites, mowing and other nuisance cleanup, street lights, and county administrative costs. The packet estimated about $121,125 in collections at the $20 rate. The adopted FY 2026-27 district budget is $146,426. A separate fire schedule lists $61.45 for a vacant parcel. [2],[3],[6],[5],[4]
Road status must be checked parcel by parcel
A street name or a platted right-of-way does not, by itself, prove that a road is county-maintained or even traversable. The county's road page separates county-maintained roads from non-county unpaved roads and platted rights-of-way that may have no visible or traversable road. It also says the Board will not accept new unsurfaced roads for county maintenance. County Engineering reviews construction plans and plats for unincorporated development and work in public rights-of-way. Before an offer, we check the frontage instead of treating the subdivision name as proof of access. [7],[8]
District powers are not proof of utility service
The district rate sheet lists possible powers that include water and sewer systems, but that list does not prove a particular lot has a hookup. For a future onsite system, Florida DEP says Highlands County permits still go through the county health department. The application requires a site plan, floor plan, fee, and a site evaluation by a qualified professional or the health department for a fee. Allowed uses and setbacks go to county zoning; construction permits and inspections go to the Building Division. [2],[10],[9],[13]
Sales set a baseline, not the offer
The 2025 vacant-lot sales are a baseline, not the cash offer. In this subdivision, 95 arm's-length, single-parcel vacant-lot sales from 2025 had a median of $8,500, and the middle half ran $6,800–$12,000. The usual vacant residential piece is a quarter-acre lot, about 74% of the vacant residential land. Typical size is about 0.26 acres, or 11,250 square feet. Some tracts are acre-sized instead. The median just value is $5,500, and the middle half of just values runs $1,000–$9,000. Just value is a tax figure, not a sale price. The district bill, frontage, septic path and title can move an offer away from that median. [1],[2],[7],[10]
Common situations
Selling land in Highlands Park Estates in these situations
Your frontage may be only a platted right-of-way
You can ask for an offer without building a road first. The county warns that one road category is a platted right-of-way that may have no visible or traversable road. Another category covers non-county unpaved roads. County Engineering reviews plats, construction plans and work in public rights-of-way in unincorporated areas. We check the lot's actual frontage during our review instead of assuming that a line on a plat is maintained access. [7],[8]
You inherited a lot from out of state
Yes. An heir can sell without traveling to Highlands County. 37% of vacant-lot owners in this scope use a mailing address outside Florida, and 63% use a Florida address. 3% use a foreign address. You can sign electronically, and an independent licensed title company can handle a mail-away closing paid by check or wire. If an owner has died, that company will say which estate papers it needs. Closing is typically about 10 days after the purchase agreement, depending on title. [1]
The lot has no well and no septic
You can sell a vacant lot without drilling a well or installing septic first. For a future onsite system, Highlands County still sends the permit through the county health department. Florida DEP says the application requires a site plan, floor plan, fee, and site evaluation. Whether a house is allowed and where it can sit are county zoning questions; construction permits and inspections go through the Building Division. [10],[9],[13]
Grass and old bills are sitting on the lot
County code enforcement says it does not enforce grass and weeds taller than 18 inches on vacant property. It also says open violations and liens become the new owner's responsibility, so tell us if you know of one. The district charge and vacant-parcel fire charge are separate tax-bill lines. Liens or back taxes can be paid from sale proceeds at closing if you agree. You do not have to clear the lot before asking for an offer. [11],[3],[4]
Step by step
How do I sell my land in Highlands Park Estates?
From your first message to money in hand, with nothing left out. Requesting an offer costs nothing and commits you to nothing.
See every detail of the process-
Tell us about your land
Fill out the short form (about 60 seconds) or email us. A land specialist reaches out to confirm the details, usually the same business day.
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Get your cash offer within 24 hours
We review the property and send a written, no-obligation cash offer within 24 hours. It is a real number, not a range. Take it or leave it, with no pressure either way.
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Sign electronically
If you accept, everyone signs the purchase agreement electronically. There is nothing to print or mail at this stage.
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We inspect, the title company verifies
Our team inspects the land and an independent title company runs a title search for liens or taxes owed. If the land does not pass inspection, you are never charged anything.
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Close and get paid
The title company prepares the closing documents for notarization and issues your funds by standard check, overnight check, or wire transfer. A typical sale closes in 10 days.
Questions
Selling land in Highlands Park Estates: common questions
What yearly district charge is on an empty lot here?
The FY 2026-27 schedule bills $20 for each lot or fraction in this district. Resolution 23-24-146 ties that money to parks and recreation sites, nuisance cleanup, street lights, and county administrative costs. The adopted FY 2026-27 district budget is $146,426. A vacant parcel also shows $61.45 on the county fire schedule. Read your tax bill for the lines that actually posted.
Can I sell my lot if it has no water or sewer?
Yes. You can ask for an offer without installing a well, septic system or utility connection. The district's list of possible powers is not proof that a particular lot has service. A future onsite system in Highlands County requires a county-health-department permit and site evaluation.
Who answers land-use and building questions?
County Planning and Zoning administers the comprehensive plan and land-development regulations. The Building Division handles building permits, inspections and construction codes. Its site directs questions about allowed uses, setbacks and where a building may sit to Zoning.
Does a platted road mean the county maintains it?
No. The county uses separate categories for county-maintained roads, non-county unpaved roads, and platted rights-of-way that may have no visible or traversable road. It also says the Board will not accept new unsurfaced roads for county maintenance. Check the parcel's actual frontage before assuming access or upkeep.
Who reviews plats and right-of-way work?
Highlands County Engineering reviews construction plans and plats for proposed development in unincorporated areas. It also reviews proposed work in public rights-of-way. That review role does not prove that a particular platted road is open or county-maintained.
Does a vacant lot here also pay a fire assessment?
The FY 2026-27 fire schedule lists $61.45 per vacant parcel. That countywide fire line is separate from the $20 district charge for each lot or fraction. Both can show on the same tax bill. The district resolution directs its proceeds to parks, cleanup, street lights and administrative costs.
Owner resources
Guides for your situation
- Can You Build on a Vacant Lot?
Maybe. A vacant lot is buildable only if the proposed use fits the rules that apply to that parcel and the site can satisfy access, utility, environmental, and permit requirements. Start with the local planning or zoning office, confirm that the parcel is a legal lot, and get a written parcel-specific answer. A zoning label or tax parcel number alone is not approval to build.[1][2]
- Selling a Vacant Lot With Code Enforcement Liens
Yes, a Florida vacant lot with a code enforcement lien can often be sold, but first confirm the violation, daily fine, compliance status, and written payoff with the city or county that issued the order. A fine can accrue until the violator complies or judgment is entered in an enforcement suit.[1] A reduction is not automatic. A clear-title closing normally needs a current payoff and a documented satisfaction or release path.
- How to Sell Land During a Divorce
Florida land can be sold during a divorce when the people with authority to convey title sign and the sale follows every applicable agreement and court order. Divorce law may treat land as marital even when only one spouse appears on the deed.[1][2] If ownership, signing authority, or the division of proceeds is unsettled, have a Florida attorney and the closing title company resolve those issues before closing.
More places in Highlands County
Your written offer
Get your cash offer
Four short steps, about 60 seconds. We review your property and send a written, no-obligation cash offer within 24 hours. You can take it or leave it.
What happens after you send this
- A land specialist reaches out, usually the same business day, to confirm the details.
- You get a written cash offer within 24 hours: a real number, not a range.
- You decide. Requesting an offer costs nothing and commits you to nothing.
You will never be asked to pay us anything. No deposit, no processing fee, no closing-cost advance.
Nearby areas we buy
- Lake Placid
21,790 vacant lots · 2025 median lot sale $12,500
- Leisure Lakes
5,335 vacant lots · 2025 median lot sale $12,500
- Placid Lakes
4,549 vacant lots · 2025 median lot sale $16,000
- Highlands County
50,783 vacant lots countywide
How we made this page
Parcel Buyers is a land-buying company based in Florida. We buy vacant land directly from owners and publish these local pages so owners can see what land in their area is doing before they sell, to us or anyone else. We count the tax-roll figures ourselves from state data, take local rules and fees from the official sources listed below, and use AI tools to help research and draft the text. Every number links to its source, and we update the page when the data changes.
Method and sources
Tax-roll figures cover the Highlands Park Estates subdivision sections (Lake Placid addresses). Source [1] is our own count of the Florida Department of Revenue's 2026 preliminary property tax roll: "vacant residential" means land-use code 000; lot sizes use the land square footage on the roll; values are the county property appraiser's just (market) value as of January 1, 2026; sale prices count only arm's-length sales of a single lot that was vacant when it sold and was still vacant on January 1, 2026 (bulk and multi-parcel deeds removed). Page updated October 20, 2026. Lot-size sale rows use the same qualified 2025 sale cohort and canonical square-foot classes; classes with fewer than 10 sales are omitted. The reviewed 2026 recorded-sale window runs from January through June 2026; unreviewed recent sales are excluded. Flood and springs-BMAP figures screen tax-roll parcel center points, not parcel boundaries. They are aggregate map screens, not flood-zone, insurance, buildability, elevation, septic, or permitting determinations.
- [1] Florida Department of Revenue (data); Parcel Buyers (analysis), Parcel Buyers analysis of the 2026 preliminary Name-Address-Legal (NAL) property tax roll (accessed 2026-10-03)
- [2] Highlands County, Florida, Non-Ad Valorem Assessments FY 2026-27 (accessed 2026-10-20)
- [3] Highlands County, Florida, Non-Ad Valorem Assessment (accessed 2026-10-05)
- [4] Highlands County, Florida, Fire Assessment Rates for FY 2026-27 (accessed 2026-10-20)
- [5] Highlands County Office of Management and Budget, FY 2026-27 Adopted Budget (accessed 2026-10-20)
- [6] Highlands County Board of County Commissioners, Resolution 23-24-146, Highlands Park Estates MSBU for FY 2024-25 (accessed 2026-10-05)
- [7] Highlands County, Florida, Road Maintenance (accessed 2026-10-05)
- [8] Highlands County, Florida, Engineering (accessed 2026-10-05)
- [9] Highlands County, Florida, Planning and Zoning (accessed 2026-10-05)
- [10] Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Onsite Sewage FAQ - Permitting (accessed 2026-10-05)
- [11] Highlands County, Florida, Code Enforcement FAQs (accessed 2026-10-05)
- [12] Highlands County, Florida, Facility Terms and Conditions (accessed 2026-10-05)
- [13] Highlands County, Florida, Building (accessed 2026-10-05)
- [14] Highlands County Property Appraiser, Neighborhood Codes (accessed 2026-10-05)
- [15] Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Lake Istokpoga (accessed 2026-10-05)