Tennessee
Sell your land in Cocke County for cash
Parcel Buyers buys vacant lots and land for cash in Cocke County, including parcels that need separate zoning, access, flood and septic checks. 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 Tennessee parcel and assessment data · How we made this page
Quick answers
- Who buys land for cash in Cocke County?
- Parcel Buyers is a direct land buyer that makes written, no-obligation cash offers on vacant lots and acreage in Cocke County, Tennessee, 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 Cocke County sell for in 2025?
- In 2025, vacant lots in Cocke County sold for a median of $40,000 across 202 arm's-length sales; the middle half sold for $20,000 to $64,800.
- How many vacant lots are in Cocke County?
- The 2026 Tennessee parcel and assessment data lists 6,769 vacant residential lots in Cocke County; 15% are mini-estate (2-3 acres)s, and the median lot is 1.31 acre.
- How is a cash offer for land in Cocke County 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 Cocke County 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 Cocke County?
- In 2025, companies bought 8% of the vacant lots that sold in Cocke County, including 2% bought by homebuilders. Individuals bought the rest.
- What was the median recorded 2025 sale price by lot size in Cocke County?
- The median recorded 2025 sale price for a mini-estate (2-3 acres) in Cocke County was $35,000 across 28 sales.
Local data
What is land in Cocke County worth?
In 2025, vacant lots in Cocke County sold for a median of $40,000 across 202 arm's-length sales; the middle half sold for $20,000 to $64,800. [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 Cocke County
| Lot-size class | 2025 sales | 2025 median lot sale |
|---|---|---|
| Mini-estate (2-3 acres)70,000–139,999 sq ft | 28 | $35,000 |
| 5-acre ranchette210,000–279,999 sq ft | 27 | $70,000 |
| Small acreage tract (7-10 acres)280,000–435,599 sq ft | 17 | $65,000 |
| Estate parcel (3-5 acres)140,000–209,999 sq ft | 14 | $45,500 |
| Oversized half-acre24,000–29,999 sq ft | 14 | $26,000 |
| One-acre homesite40,000–45,999 sq ft | 13 | $36,000 |
| Three-quarter acre30,000–33,999 sq ft | 12 | $16,000 |
| 1.25-acre homesite52,000–57,999 sq ft | 12 | $31,500 |
| Acreage tract (10+ acres)435,600+ sq ft | 10 | $69,200 |
| Half-acre lot19,000–23,999 sq ft | 10 | $18,100 |
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.
| Vacant residential lots | 6,769 parcels classified vacant residential on the 2026 Tennessee parcel and assessment data [1] |
|---|---|
| Most common lot size | Mini-estate (2-3 acres) (70,000–140,000 sq ft): 15% of vacant lots; next, 5-acre ranchette at 11%. Median lot: 1.31 acre (57,060 sq ft). [1] |
| Typical appraised value | $31,900 median appraised value for a vacant lot; the middle half fall between $19,600 and $51,000 [1] |
| Recent lot sale prices | $40,000 median across 202 arm's-length sales of vacant lots in Cocke County (Jan 2025–Dec 2025); the middle half sold for $20,000–$64,800 [1] |
| Who bought lots in 2025 | Companies made 8% of those purchases, including 2% by homebuilders; individuals made the rest [1] |
| Owners who live elsewhere | 27% of vacant lots have an owner mailing address outside Tennessee (most often FL, NC, SC) [1] |
| Property records | The Assessor of Property discovers, lists, classifies and values property; the office is elected to a four-year term. [2] |
| Property-tax office | The County Trustee bills and collects property taxes. Payment is due by the last business day of February to avoid penalty and interest. [3] |
| Recorded land documents | The Register of Deeds records deeds, deeds of trust, restrictions, agreements, liens and other land documents; most recordings cost $5 per page with a $10 minimum plus a $2 data-processing fee. [4] |
| County development review | The county says it does not currently require a building permit or certificate of occupancy, but development, zoning, 911-address and septic approvals are still required. [5] |
| Septic permitting | Cocke County requires TDEC septic approval. A TDEC environmental scientist evaluates the site and may request a detailed site plan or soils map. [5],[8] |
| Flood-area paperwork | For development in a mapped flood zone, the county requires an elevation certificate before construction begins. [6] |
| County road network | The Highway Department reports responsibility for 702.66 miles of county roads and 186 bridges, including emergency work during snow, ice and flooding. [7] |
| Great Smoky Mountains National Park | Great Smoky Mountains National Park includes land in Cocke County and covers 522,427 acres across Tennessee and North Carolina. [9],[10] |
| 2025 sale price by lot size | The median recorded 2025 sale price for a mini-estate (2-3 acres) in Cocke County was $35,000 across 28 sales. [1] |
Where we buy
Areas we cover in Cocke County
- Newport
431vacant lots · 2025 median lot sale $30,300
These pages cover the largest lot markets in Cocke County. We buy land anywhere else in the county too: send the parcel details through the form below.
Selling here
How selling land works in Cocke County
Begin with the parcel record and recorded deed
Begin with the parcel record and recorded deed. The Assessor of Property identifies and appraises the land, while the Register of Deeds keeps deeds, deeds of trust and other recorded land documents. Those offices answer different questions: the assessor record helps identify the parcel, but the recorded instruments show the legal description, transfers and recorded interests. Most documents presented for recording cost $5 per page, with a $10 minimum and a separate $2 data-processing fee. Before a sale, a title company uses those records to determine what must be cleared and who must sign. [2],[4]
Development approval is more than a building permit
Development approval is more than a building permit. The county states that it does not currently require a building permit or certificate of occupancy, yet it still requires a development permit from the floodplain administrator, a 911 address, a TDEC septic permit and a zoning permit before development or use. Planning submissions are due at least 10 working days before the meeting. Those items should be reviewed before treating an empty parcel as ready to build. [5],[8]
Access and flood review can change the plan
Access and flood review can change the plan. The Highway Department maintains 702.66 miles of county roads and 186 bridges, but that countywide responsibility does not prove that a private tract has legal or practical access. The county also requires an elevation certificate before construction in a mapped flood zone. Confirm the recorded access, road surface, stream crossings and proposed building area before estimating site costs. We check utilities, access and title on every parcel before offering. [7],[6]
Taxes and lot-sale data answer different questions
Taxes and lot-sale data answer different questions. The Trustee collects the annual bill, which must be paid by the last business day of February to avoid penalty and interest. The tax roll shows 6,769 vacant residential parcels, with mini-estate (2-3 acres)s as the largest size group. Qualifying 2025 lot sales had a median recorded amount of $40,000, and the middle half ranged from $20,000–$64,800. Those sale figures describe filtered, arm's-length lot sales in the county; they do not replace a parcel-specific review of access, slope, utilities or title. [3]
Step by step
How do I sell my land in Cocke County?
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 Cocke County: common questions
Which office values my Cocke County land?
The Assessor of Property values it. The office discovers, lists, classifies and appraises real property for the tax roll. The County Trustee uses that information to bill and collect taxes, so valuation questions go to the assessor and payment questions go to the trustee.
Do I need county approval if there is no building permit?
Yes, other approvals can still apply. The county says it does not currently require a building permit or certificate of occupancy, but it still requires a development permit, zoning approval, a 911 address and TDEC septic approval. Planning items must be submitted at least 10 working days before the meeting.
Who approves a septic system on rural land?
Cocke County's development checklist requires TDEC septic approval. A TDEC environmental scientist evaluates the proposed site and may request a detailed site plan or soils map. TDEC says complete applications can take up to 45 days to process, so sewage review should come early in a buildability check.
Can I sell if Cocke County property taxes are behind?
Often, yes. Ask the Trustee for the current amount due and have the title company check for a delinquent-tax court case or other lien. The Trustee says taxes should be paid by the last business day of February to avoid penalty and interest. Liens or back taxes can be paid from the sale proceeds at closing, with the seller's consent.
Does a county road nearby prove my lot has access?
No. The Highway Department's 702.66-mile road network does not by itself prove that a particular parcel touches a maintained road or holds a recorded easement. Compare the deed and other recorded land documents with the physical route, then confirm who maintains any private segment and whether a driveway can be placed safely.
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]
- 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]
- Selling Land With Boundary or Survey Problems
Land with a boundary or survey problem can still be offered for sale, but closing may depend on how the buyer, lender, and title insurer handle it. The contract and closing requirements determine whether a survey is needed. A fence does not by itself establish the record boundary. A survey can identify gaps, overlaps, occupation lines, and encroachments; a competing Florida title claim may require a quiet-title action.[1][6][7]
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.
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 all parcels in Cocke County. 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 October 2, 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.
- [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] Cocke County Government, Assessor of Property (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [3] Cocke County Government, County Trustee (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [4] Cocke County Government, Register of Deeds (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [5] Cocke County Government, Zoning Department (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [6] Cocke County Government, Floodplain development requirements (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [7] Cocke County Government, Highway Department (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [8] Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Subsurface Sewage Disposal System FAQs (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [9] National Park Service, Cades Cove Opportunities Plan Appendix D (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [10] National Park Service, Great Smoky Mountains National Park statistics (accessed 2026-10-02)