Carter County, Tennessee
Sell your land in Elizabethton for cash
Parcel Buyers buys vacant lots and land for cash in Elizabethton, including lots on city water and sewer and lots that would need a septic permit. You get a written, no-obligation cash offer within 24 hours, and closings run through an independent, licensed title company, typically in about 10 days after the purchase agreement is signed, with no fees or commissions.
By Parcel Buyers · · Lot figures from the 2026 Tennessee parcel and assessment data · How we made this page
Quick answers
- Who buys land for cash in Elizabethton?
- Parcel Buyers is a direct land buyer that makes written, no-obligation cash offers on vacant lots and acreage in Elizabethton, Carter 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.
- How many vacant lots are in Elizabethton?
- The 2026 Tennessee parcel and assessment data lists 402 vacant residential lots in Elizabethton; 14% are quarter-acre lots, and the median lot is 0.40 acre.
- How is a cash offer for land in Elizabethton 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 Elizabethton 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.
Local data
Elizabethton land at a glance
Tax-roll figures cover parcels on the Carter County roll whose community code is Elizabethton in Carter County. Local rules and services are sourced below.
| Vacant residential lots | 402 parcels classified vacant residential on the 2026 Tennessee parcel and assessment data [1] |
|---|---|
| Most common lot size | Quarter-acre lot (9,000–13,000 sq ft): 14% of vacant lots; next, standard city lot at 13%. Median lot: 0.40 acre (17,410 sq ft). [1] |
| Typical appraised value | $41,600 median appraised value for a vacant lot; the middle half fall between $30,000 and $66,800 [1] |
| Recent lot sale prices | Too few arm's-length vacant-lot sales in 2025 to report a reliable median for Elizabethton [1] |
| Owners who live elsewhere | 5% of vacant lots have an owner mailing address outside Tennessee (most often FL, VA, GA) [1] |
| Local government | Elizabethton is a city incorporated in 1905 and the Carter County seat. Its Building Department requires a permit for construction or demolition on private property inside the city. [2],[3] |
| Permit review | Plan review normally takes 2 to 5 days and costs nothing. A permit follows plan approval and payment of any water or sewer tap fees. Starting work before a permit doubles the permit fee. [3] |
| Tap fees | As of November 2026, the city's rates page lists a $650 municipal tap for a 5/8 by 3/4 inch water meter and a $1,400 sewer tap for a new residence. A residence that needs a sewer pump is listed at $900. [4] |
| Water and sewer system | Elizabethton Water Resources serves about 75 square miles, with about 269 miles of water line, 70 miles of sewer line, 11,448 water connections and 7,000 sewer connections. [5] |
| Property tax rates | The city's rates page lists a city property tax of $1.57 per $100 of assessed value and a county rate of $2.03, with residential property assessed at 25%. The page is undated. [4] |
| Stormwater and erosion rules | The city runs a federally mandated stormwater quality program. Its municipal code has chapters on stormwater discharge control and on erosion and sediment control for new development. [6] |
| Flood maps | The city's planning page posts a 2024 parcel flood-zone map, a 2025 Flood Insurance Study and flood profile maps. Its floodplain section also lists a draft 2024 floodplain ordinance. [7] |
| Septic permits | Where no sewer line reaches, a septic system needs a state permit. A TDEC environmental scientist does a site evaluation and may ask for a soils map from a licensed soil consultant. [10] |
| Watauga River | The city's water page lists the Watauga River Regional Water Authority among its water sources, alongside Hampton Spring, Valley Forge Spring and Big Springs. [5] |
Pricing
What is a lot in Elizabethton worth?
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.
What moves the price in Elizabethton
City water and sewer versus a septic permit
A lot that can tap city lines starts with known costs. The city's rates page lists a $650 municipal water tap for a standard meter and a $1,400 sewer tap for a new residence, or $900 where a pump is needed. The water department reports about 7,000 sewer connections against 11,448 water connections, so not every water customer is on sewer. Where sewer is not available, the state septic rules apply. A TDEC environmental scientist evaluates the site and may ask for a soils map before a permit is issued. A buyer prices those steps into any offer. [4],[5],[10]
Lot size and the assessor's appraisal
The Carter County roll shows 402 vacant residential lots with an Elizabethton community code. The median lot is 0.40 acres (17,410 square feet), larger than a typical quarter-acre city lot. The assessor's median market appraisal is $41,600, and the middle half of lots fall between $30,000–$66,800. An appraisal is the assessor's estimate for tax purposes. It is not a sale price and it is not a Parcel Buyers offer. Frontage, slope and utilities decide where a single lot lands in that range. [1]
Flood zones and stormwater rules
The city posts a 2024 map of parcel flood zones and a 2025 Flood Insurance Study, plus a draft 2024 floodplain ordinance. The city's own map is the place to see whether a given lot touches a mapped flood zone. Separately, the city's stormwater program and municipal code add erosion and sediment control rules for new development. A lot with a clean flood map and room for runoff controls is simpler for a builder to price than one that needs a floodplain review. [7],[6]
What it costs to hold an empty lot
A vacant lot still carries a tax bill. The city's rates page lists a city rate of $1.57 per $100 of assessed value and a county rate of $2.03, and shows residential property assessed at 25% of value. The Carter County Trustee collects county property taxes and says taxes more than 13 months past due are handled through the Clerk & Master's office. The rates page is undated, so use your current bill for today's amount. [4],[8]
Common situations
Selling land in Elizabethton in these situations
You inherited a lot and never saw it
You can sell an inherited lot even if you have never visited it. The Carter County Register of Deeds keeps the recorded deeds in the county seat, but its office says it is not licensed to run title searches or give legal advice. That work belongs to a licensed professional. Parcel Buyers closes through an independent, licensed title company, and the title path decides what paperwork is needed before closing. [9]
The property taxes have fallen behind
You can still sell a lot with back taxes. The Carter County Trustee says delinquent tax questions go to its office, and that taxes more than 13 months past due go through the Clerk & Master's office, which runs tax sales for the county. Liens or back taxes can be paid from the sale proceeds at closing, with the seller's consent. Selling before a tax sale keeps the decision in your hands. [8]
You live out of state
You can sell without living in Tennessee. 5% of vacant-lot owners in this roll scope have a mailing address outside the state. Parcel Buyers uses electronic signing and mail-away closings, and pays by check or wire, so you do not need to travel to the Carter County seat to finish. [1]
Step by step
How do I sell my land in Elizabethton?
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.
-
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.
-
Sign electronically
If you accept, everyone signs the purchase agreement electronically. There is nothing to print or mail at this stage.
-
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.
-
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 Elizabethton: common questions
Do I need a permit from the city before I sell a vacant lot?
No permit is needed just to sell. Elizabethton requires a building permit when someone builds or demolishes on private property inside the city. Plan review normally takes 2 to 5 days with no review fee, so a buyer plans for that step.
What does a water or sewer tap cost on an Elizabethton lot?
The city's rates page lists $650 for a municipal 5/8 by 3/4 inch water tap and $1,400 for a new-residence sewer tap, or $900 where a pump is needed. Those are listed municipal fees, not a quote for any one lot.
Can I sell my lot if it has no sewer connection?
Yes. We buy lots with no water, sewer or road work. In Tennessee a septic system needs a state permit after a TDEC site evaluation, and the department may ask for a soils map from a licensed soil consultant. We check utilities, access and title on every parcel before offering.
Who do I call about unpaid property taxes on my lot?
The Carter County Trustee collects county property taxes and takes delinquent-tax questions. The Trustee's page says taxes more than 13 months past due go through the Clerk & Master's office, which handles tax sales. You can sell before that point.
How do I find out if my lot is in a flood zone?
Start with the city's planning page, which posts a 2024 parcel flood-zone map, a 2025 Flood Insurance Study and flood profile maps. A mapped flood zone does not stop a sale, but it can change what a builder will pay.
Owner resources
Guides for your situation
- How to Sell Land in a Flood Zone
Flood-zone land can be sellable and sometimes buildable. A FEMA flood zone describes mapped risk; it is not a building permit. The buyer must verify the current effective Flood Insurance Rate Map and any map changes, then ask the local floodplain administrator what elevation, floodway, coastal, permit, and design rules apply.[1][2][4] Vacant land itself is not covered by an NFIP policy; flood insurance covers qualifying buildings and contents, not land value.[5][6]
- Can You Sell Land With a Lien?
Yes. Land with a lien can often be sold, but signing a deed does not by itself erase a valid claim. The lien may need to be paid, released, discharged, or otherwise resolved under the law that applies. With the seller's consent, an approved payoff can come from sale proceeds at closing. If the balance or lien is wrong, dispute it before closing and require proof of the cure.
- 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]
More places in Carter 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
- Carter County
4,959 vacant lots countywide
- Unicoi
419 vacant lots · 2025 median lot sale $33,800
- Johnson City
1,921 vacant lots · 2025 median lot sale $105,000
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
Parcel and assessment figures cover parcels on the Carter County roll whose community code is Elizabethton. Source [1] is our own count of the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury's county parcel and assessment files (assessment data dated August 28, 2026): a vacant lot is a residential parcel with no buildings, mobile home or improvement value; values are the county assessor's appraised (market) value; sale prices count only 2025 warranty-deed sales of a single lot that was vacant when it sold, at $1,000 or more, with bulk deeds and development-land deals removed. Treat medians as a guide to recent recorded amounts, not as an offer or an appraisal. Page updated November 7, 2026.
- [1] Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury (data); Parcel Buyers (analysis), Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury, Office of Local Government parcel and assessment data (accessed 2026-10-01)
- [2] Wikipedia, Elizabethton, Tennessee (accessed 2026-11-07)
- [3] City of Elizabethton, Building and Codes Enforcement FAQs (accessed 2026-11-07)
- [4] City of Elizabethton, Rates: tax structure and tap fees (accessed 2026-11-07)
- [5] City of Elizabethton, Water Resources (accessed 2026-11-07)
- [6] City of Elizabethton, Stormwater Quality Program (accessed 2026-11-07)
- [7] City of Elizabethton, Flood Information (accessed 2026-11-07)
- [8] Carter County Government, Carter County Trustee (accessed 2026-11-07)
- [9] Carter County Government, Register of Deeds (accessed 2026-11-07)
- [10] Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Subsurface Sewage Disposal Systems (SSDS) FAQs (accessed 2026-11-07)