Monroe County, Florida
Sell your land in Marathon for cash
Parcel Buyers buys vacant land for cash in Marathon, an incorporated city that issues its own building permits. 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 Marathon?
- Parcel Buyers is a direct land buyer that makes written, no-obligation cash offers on vacant lots and acreage in Marathon, Monroe 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 Marathon sell for in 2025?
- In 2025, vacant lots in Marathon sold for a median of $400,000 across 11 arm's-length sales; the middle half sold for $180,000 to $674,500.
- How many vacant lots are in Marathon?
- The 2026 Florida property tax roll lists 550 vacant residential lots in Marathon; 21% are acreage tract (10+ acres)s, and the median lot is 0.21 acre.
- How is a cash offer for land in Marathon 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 Marathon 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 Marathon?
- In 2025, companies bought 36% of the vacant lots that sold in Marathon, including 9% bought by homebuilders. Individuals bought the rest.
- Are vacant lots in Marathon in a FEMA high-risk flood zone?
- About 100% of vacant lots in Marathon have their center point in a FEMA high-risk flood zone (effective maps dated February 18, 2005). This is map screening, not a determination; check FEMA's Map Service Center for your parcel.
- How many vacant lots in Marathon got a home on the tax roll in 2025?
- 35 vacant lots in Marathon changed from vacant-residential use to a home with new-construction evidence on the 2026 preliminary tax roll.
Local data
Marathon land at a glance
Tax-roll figures cover parcels whose property address city is Marathon in Monroe County. Local rules and services are sourced below.
| Vacant residential lots | 550 parcels classified vacant residential on the 2026 tax roll [1] |
|---|---|
| Most common lot size | Acreage tract (10+ acres) (435,600–+ sq ft): 21% of vacant lots; next, sliver / remnant at 15%. Median lot: 0.21 acre (8,960 sq ft). [1] |
| Typical assessed value | $175,400 median just (market) value for a vacant lot; the middle half fall between $110,700 and $345,000 [1] |
| Recent lot sale prices | $400,000 median across 11 arm's-length sales of vacant lots in Marathon (Jan 2025–Dec 2025); the middle half sold for $180,000–$674,500 [1] |
| Who bought lots in 2025 | Companies made 36% of those purchases, including 9% by homebuilders; individuals made the rest [1] |
| Owners who live elsewhere | 25% of vacant lots have an owner mailing address outside Florida (most often MI, MD, TX); 2% outside the U.S. [1] |
| Incorporated, with city permits | Marathon incorporated in 1999. Building permits go through the city building department and its online portal. [2],[3] |
| Seven Mile Bridge to mile marker 60 | The city sets its limits from the east end of the Seven Mile Bridge, about mile marker 47, to the west end of Toms Harbors Bridge, about mile marker 60. [2] |
| BPAS caps new houses | BPAS is the city's cap on new homes. Every new residential structure needs an allocation. Awards are made twice a year; the posted annual total is 12 in an even year and 15 in an odd year. [4] |
| Stormwater bill includes vacant lots | For fiscal year 2025-2026, stormwater is $120 per ERU. The roll includes unimproved property, and the city page says the program includes vacant properties. [5],[6] |
| Sewer assessment, by EDU | For the year that began October 1, 2024, service areas 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 were capped at $415 per EDU plus $93 per connection. EDU means one house on that sewer bill. [7] |
| Coastal floodplain, including VE | The city says all of Marathon is a coastal floodplain and sits in the Special Flood Hazard Area. In a VE zone, the code bars structural fill. [11],[12],[13] |
| Aqueduct water and a local pump | Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority keeps a booster pump in the city. As of October 1, 2025, a 5/8-inch meter base charge is $24.74, and that meter's system charge is $5,279. [16],[17] |
| Florida Keys Marathon Airport | Florida Keys Marathon International Airport is a general-aviation facility at 9400 Overseas Highway. Monroe County lists aeronautical, emergency, business, and ground-transportation services at the airport. [18] |
| Vacant lots that got a home on the tax roll in 2025 | 35 recorded with new-construction evidence. [1] |
| Years of lot supply at the 2025 building pace | 15.7 years; simple ratio, not a forecast. [1] |
| 2026 so far (Jan-Jun) | County-level for Monroe County: 43 recorded vacant-lot sales; median $268,000. [1] |
| FEMA high-risk flood-zone screen | About 100% of vacant lots in Marathon have their center point in a FEMA high-risk flood zone (effective maps dated February 18, 2005). 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 Marathon are 1 acre or less and have their center point in an adopted Florida springs BMAP. |
Pricing
What is a lot in Marathon worth?
In 2025, vacant lots in Marathon sold for a median of $400,000 across 11 arm's-length sales; the middle half sold for $180,000 to $674,500. [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.
See what similar lots sold for
What moves the price in Marathon
A new house needs a scarce BPAS award
A future house in Marathon needs a BPAS allocation before it can be permitted as a new residence. BPAS, the Building Permit Allocation System, is the city's limit on residential permits. Awards are made twice a year, and the application periods end on January 13 and July 13. The current sheet lists 12 total allocations in an even year, 9 of them market-rate, and 15 in an odd year, 12 of them market-rate. A parcel with an allocation is at a different permitting stage from one that still has to enter a scoring period. [4]
Empty parcels can still get city assessments
An empty parcel can still get a yearly city assessment. For fiscal year 2025-2026, stormwater is $120 per ERU. ERU is the billing unit for one house's drainage. The resolution applies that rate to residential, non-residential, and unimproved property, and the stormwater page says vacant properties are included. The sewer construction assessment is a second line. For the fiscal year that began October 1, 2024, service areas 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 were limited to $415 per EDU and $93 per connection. In the supplemental sewer program, vacant property is assigned one EDU and one connection per parcel. The non-ad valorem lines on the tax bill show what a given parcel owes. [5],[6],[7],[8]
Flood maps change building requirements
Marathon floodplain staff say the entire city is a coastal floodplain and may flood, and the flood-safety page puts the whole community in the Special Flood Hazard Area. The city identifies storm surge from Georges, Wilma, and Irma in its local history. Where the map shows a VE zone, a coastal high-hazard area, the code bars structural fill. New construction documents in that zone must include a V-zone certification prepared and sealed by a registered design professional. [11],[12],[13]
Location and lot records need separate checks
The median lot is 0.21 acres, or 8,960. The largest size class is acreage tract (10+ acres)s at 21%; it leads the chart but is not a majority. Boot Key Harbor lies entirely inside the Marathon city limits. The city marina operates a 226-ball mooring field, with its main entrance at mile marker 49 on U.S. 1. The city redeveloped Sombrero Beach in 2001, and loggerhead turtles nest there primarily from April through October. Qualifying 2025 vacant-lot sales totaled 11. Their median was $400,000, and the middle half was $180,000–$674,500. The roll's median just value is $175,400, with a middle half of $110,700–$345,000. Those figures cover parcels addressed Marathon, not every parcel inside the legal city boundary. [14],[15],[1]
Common situations
Selling land in Marathon in these situations
The sewer lateral was never installed
Yes. You can sell vacant land in Marathon that was never tied to a sewer lateral. City utilities operate wastewater plants plus force mains and vacuum collection lines, so the system exists, but one parcel can still be unconnected. The utilities page lists a $30.74 base charge and a $19.23 customer charge as of October 1, 2025. Those are account rates, separate from the yearly assessment. Drinking water is a different utility. Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority lists, as of that same date, a $24.74 monthly base and a $5,279 system development charge for a new 5/8-inch single-family meter. We buy lots that still lack a water meter, a sewer lateral, or a finished road. Before an offer, we review utility status, legal access, and title. The only contingency is our land inspection, and if it fails the seller pays nothing. [10],[9],[17]
Your mail goes to another state
Yes. You can sell a Marathon lot without traveling here. 75% of these owners get mail in Florida. 25% get mail outside Florida, and that outside share includes 2% outside the United States. Parcel Buyers uses an independent, licensed title company, offers electronic signing or a mail-away closing, pays by check or wire, and covers closing costs. [1]
You never planned to enter the permit queue
You can request an offer for a Marathon lot you do not plan to build on. A new residence still needs a BPAS allocation; the posted annual totals are 12 in even years and 15 in odd years. Lot size also varies. The median is 0.21 acres (8,960), while the largest class is acreage tract (10+ acres)s at 21%. Those size figures do not determine whether a parcel will receive an allocation. [4],[1]
Step by step
How do I sell my land in Marathon?
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 Marathon: common questions
Can a Marathon lot sell with no sewer connection?
Yes. A missing sewer connection does not keep you from selling vacant land. Marathon runs the wastewater plants and the collection lines, and it also bills a construction assessment that is not the same thing as a live account. For the fiscal year that began October 1, 2024, areas 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 were capped at $415 per EDU plus $93 per connection. The $30.74 base charge on the utilities page is an account rate as of October 1, 2025.
What city lines can an empty parcel be billed?
Two non-ad valorem lines are the ones to look for. Stormwater for fiscal year 2025-2026 is $120 per ERU, and the city includes vacant properties in that program. Sewer assessments are charged per EDU and per connection on the adopted roll. The supplemental program assigns one EDU and one connection to each vacant parcel in that program. The tax bill lists the dollars. The stormwater hearing notice says failure to pay will cause a tax certificate to be issued against the property.
What does BPAS control on a vacant lot?
BPAS controls permits for new residential structures in Marathon. The city says every new residential structure must obtain an allocation. Awards are made twice a year, with 12 total allocations in an even year and 15 in an odd year.
What does a VE flood zone change for a future build?
VE is a coastal high-hazard area. City code bars structural fill there, and construction documents must include a V-zone certification prepared and sealed by a registered design professional. City staff also say the whole city is a coastal floodplain inside the Special Flood Hazard Area.
Why is my lot so far from the midpoint size?
The median and the largest class are different measures. The median lot in Marathon is 0.21 acres, about 8,960. The largest class is acreage tract (10+ acres)s at 21%. That group leads the chart but is not a majority. Qualifying vacant-lot sales in 2025 had a median of $400,000 across 11 sales. Floodplain rules, city location, and BPAS status require separate parcel checks.
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 Cash Land Buyers Price Offers
A cash-land offer may start with verified sales of land with similar use, then adjust those sales for meaningful differences.[1] Buyers may also account for access, utilities, legal use, size, shape, flood and soil questions, title issues, demand, and costs and risk they will carry. No universal assessed-value percentage applies. Compare each written offer by expected net proceeds, contingencies, seller work, and timing—not one asking price or headline number.
More places in Monroe 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
- Long Key
80 vacant lots
- Big Pine Key
864 vacant lots
- Key Largo
1,578 vacant lots · 2025 median lot sale $302,200
- Cudjoe Key
401 vacant lots · 2025 median lot sale $237,000
- Monroe County
5,994 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 parcels whose property address city is Marathon. 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 September 30, 2026. The reviewed 2026 recorded-sale window runs from January through June 2026; unreviewed recent sales are excluded. County-level figures are used on this place page. 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] City of Marathon, About Marathon (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [3] City of Marathon, Building department (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [4] City of Marathon, Building Permit Allocation System (BPAS) (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [5] City of Marathon, Stormwater assessment (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [6] City of Marathon, Resolution 2025-78, fiscal year 2025-2026 stormwater assessment (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [7] City of Marathon, Resolution 2024-70, wastewater assessments for fiscal year 2024-2025 (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [8] City of Marathon, Resolution 2011-49, supplemental wastewater assessment (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [9] City of Marathon, Utilities rates (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [10] City of Marathon, Wastewater utilities (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [11] City of Marathon, FEMA floodplain management (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [12] City of Marathon, Flood safety (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [13] City of Marathon, Ordinance 2018-05, floodplain management (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [14] City of Marathon, Boot Key Harbor city marina hours and directions (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [15] City of Marathon, Sombrero Beach (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [16] Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority, Drinking water (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [17] Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority, Water rates and fees effective October 1, 2025 (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [18] Monroe County, Florida Keys Marathon International Airport (accessed 2026-10-02)