Tennessee
Sell your land in Fentress County for cash
Parcel Buyers buys vacant lots and land for cash in Fentress County, including acreage outside a city, where the county has no zoning and has opted out of the state residential building program. You get a written, no-obligation cash offer within 24 hours, and closings run through an independent, licensed title company, typically 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 Fentress County?
- Parcel Buyers is a direct land buyer that makes written, no-obligation cash offers on vacant lots and acreage in Fentress 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 Fentress County sell for in 2025?
- In 2025, vacant lots in Fentress County sold for a median of $35,000 across 125 arm's-length sales; the middle half sold for $16,000 to $50,000.
- How many vacant lots are in Fentress County?
- The 2026 Tennessee parcel and assessment data lists 4,404 vacant residential lots in Fentress County; 21% are mini-estate (2-3 acres)s, and the median lot is 2.00 acre.
- How is a cash offer for land in Fentress 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 Fentress 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 Fentress County?
- In 2025, companies bought 10% of the vacant lots that sold in Fentress County, including 1% bought by homebuilders. Individuals bought the rest.
- What was the median recorded 2025 sale price by lot size in Fentress County?
- The median recorded 2025 sale price for a mini-estate (2-3 acres) in Fentress County was $25,000 across 28 sales.
Local data
What is land in Fentress County worth?
In 2025, vacant lots in Fentress County sold for a median of $35,000 across 125 arm's-length sales; the middle half sold for $16,000 to $50,000. [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 Fentress County
| Lot-size class | 2025 sales | 2025 median lot sale |
|---|---|---|
| Mini-estate (2-3 acres)70,000–139,999 sq ft | 28 | $25,000 |
| 5-acre ranchette210,000–279,999 sq ft | 28 | $40,200 |
| Estate parcel (3-5 acres)140,000–209,999 sq ft | 15 | $46,000 |
| Small acreage tract (7-10 acres)280,000–435,599 sq ft | 10 | $107,500 |
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 | 4,404 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): 21% of vacant lots; next, 5-acre ranchette at 14%. Median lot: 2.00 acre (87,120 sq ft). [1] |
| Typical appraised value | $21,900 median appraised value for a vacant lot; the middle half fall between $12,200 and $36,400 [1] |
| Recent lot sale prices | $35,000 median across 125 arm's-length sales of vacant lots in Fentress County (Jan 2025–Dec 2025); the middle half sold for $16,000–$50,000 [1] |
| Who bought lots in 2025 | Companies made 10% of those purchases, including 1% by homebuilders; individuals made the rest [1] |
| Owners who live elsewhere | 23% of vacant lots have an owner mailing address outside Tennessee (most often FL, OH, IN) [1] |
| Property tax due window | The trustee says taxes are due and payable from October through February without a penalty. [3] |
| Interest on unpaid tax | On March 1, and on the first day of each later month, 1.5 percent interest is added to unpaid property tax. [7] |
| Delinquent-tax lawsuit | After February 1 and before April 1, the delinquent-tax attorney must sue in chancery or circuit court. [8] |
| Time to redeem a tax sale | The usual redemption period is one year from the order confirming the sale, unless the court shortens it. [9] |
| Assessor and appraisal records | The Assessor of Property maintains ownership records, maps, improvements, and property accounts. Residential and farm land is assessed at 25 percent of appraised value. [2],[11] |
| County zoning rules | The county has no zoning regulations and no special building permit requirements. State permit laws still apply. [5] |
| Residential building status | As of August 21, 2026, the State Fire Marshal lists the county as OPT OUT of the residential building program. [12] |
| Who permits septic systems | The state Division of Water Resources permits septic systems. A new conventional permit is $400 up to 1,000 gallons a day. [13] |
| Big South Fork | Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area covers about 123,679 acres in southeastern Kentucky and four Tennessee counties, including Fentress. It protects the free-flowing Big South Fork and its tributaries. [14] |
| 2025 sale price by lot size | The median recorded 2025 sale price for a mini-estate (2-3 acres) in Fentress County was $25,000 across 28 sales. [1] |
Where we buy
Areas we cover in Fentress County
- Wilder Mountain
269vacant lots · 2025 median lot sale $29,400
- Jamestown
218vacant lots
These pages cover the largest lot markets in Fentress 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 Fentress County
When the county property tax is due
In Fentress County, property taxes are due and payable from October through February with no penalty. The trustee collects the bill and also runs property-tax relief. The assessor of property sets the appraised value. State law then assesses residential and farm land at 25 percent of that appraisal, and the county commission sets the rate charged on the assessed amount. On March 1, interest of 1.5 percent is added to any tax still unpaid, and another 1.5 percent is added on the first day of each month after that. The trustee has no power to waive that interest. [3],[2],[6],[7],[11]
What happens if the tax stays unpaid
In Fentress County, an unpaid tax bill is collected through a court case. After February 1, and before April 1, the delinquent-tax attorney must sue in chancery or circuit court for the tax, interest, penalty, and costs. Pay the tax, the interest, the penalty, and the court costs that have accrued, and the case is dismissed for that parcel. If a judge later orders a sale, the usual time to redeem is one year from the order confirming the sale. The court can shorten that to 180 days if the tax was delinquent more than five years but less than eight, to 90 days at eight years or more, or to 30 days only if it finds a reason to treat vacant land as abandoned. [8],[9]
Who issues a septic permit on a rural lot
Septic permits here come from the state, not from a county health office. The state permit page names nine contract counties that may require their own installer permit, and this county is not on that list. The Department of Environment and Conservation, Division of Water Resources, issues the construction permit. A new conventional system is $400 for a design flow up to 1,000 gallons a day, and the construction inspection is another $100. Review generally takes about 10 days and must be finished within 45 days after the application is submitted. A soils map from a soil scientist is required only if the division asks for one. You need the permit before a system is installed or repaired, not merely to sell the lot. [13]
Building rules outside a city
Fentress County does not have zoning regulations or special building permit requirements. Its own page says state permit and inspection laws still apply, and it tells owners to read the deed for any private limits. The State Fire Marshal's residential list, accurate as of August 21, 2026, marks the county OPT OUT. The page's key says that means the county passed a resolution opting out of the state residential building program. The county has two incorporated cities, and land inside a city can still have that city's zoning and permits. Deed limits, septic rules, and whether a road actually reaches the lot still matter on unincorporated land. [5],[12],[6]
Plateau ground and the vacant-lot mix
Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, on the Cumberland Plateau, takes in part of Fentress County. The park also includes Morgan, Pickett, and Scott counties, covers 123,679 acres and was authorized on May 7, 1974. County roads run 742 miles. The 2020 population was 18,489, or 37.05 per square mile. Vacant residential lots number 4,404. The median lot is 2.00 acres, and a mini-estate (2-3 acres) is about 21% of them. Median appraised value is $21,900 (middle half $12,200–$36,400). That is the appraisal, not the 25 percent tax assessment. The 2025 median lot sale was $35,000 (middle half $16,000–$50,000) on 125 warranty deeds of still-vacant lots, one parcel per deed, not every sale. It is not an exact market price or a cash offer. About 23% of owners mail from outside Tennessee. [14],[6],[1],[11]
Step by step
How do I sell my land in Fentress 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.
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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 Fentress County: common questions
What happens if I stop paying the property tax in Fentress County?
The unpaid bill moves from the trustee into a court case if you leave it. You can pay from October through February with no penalty. After that, 1.5 percent interest is added on March 1 and on the first day of each following month. The delinquent-tax attorney then files suit in chancery or circuit court after February 1 and before April 1. Paying the tax, interest, penalty, and court costs gets that parcel dismissed. Back taxes can be paid from the sale proceeds at closing if you agree.
Do I need a septic permit to sell a vacant lot?
No. The construction permit is for installing or repairing a septic system, not for signing a deed. If someone later builds, the state Division of Water Resources reviews the application because this county is not one of the nine contract counties named on the permit page. A conventional permit is $400 up to 1,000 gallons a day, plus a $100 inspection. Review must finish within 45 days after submission. A soils map is required only if the division asks for one.
Do I need a new survey to sell land in Fentress County?
Not necessarily. The Register of Deeds makes and preserves public records of deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and other instruments allowed by law. Those are the public records the office says it preserves, but the cited county page does not state that every sale requires a new survey. Our only contingency is a land inspection, and a failed inspection costs you nothing.
Can I sell land in Fentress County with no water or sewer?
Yes. We buy vacant lots and land for cash, including lots with no water, sewer, or road work. A missing tap does not stop a sale. Someone installing or repairing a septic system later must obtain a state construction permit. We check utilities, access, and title on every parcel before we offer. You can sign electronically, close by mail, and get paid by check or wire. We also cover the closing costs.
What is greenbelt rollback if the use of my land changes?
It is the tax that was saved, not an extra fine. If land leaves the farm, forest, or open-space class, the assessor of property adds up those savings for the prior three years on farm or forest land, or five years on open space. The bill is due when the assessor sends written notice, and it is not delinquent until March 1 of the next year. Farm or forest land generally needs at least 15 acres to qualify. A first application is due by March 15. If ownership on January 1 changes, the new owner has to apply again.
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]
- Cash Buyer vs. Realtor vs. FSBO for Land
No path always nets the most. A land agent can market the parcel broadly, FSBO can avoid hiring a listing agent but shifts the sale work to the owner, and accepting a direct cash offer can avoid public marketing and buyer mortgage approval. Compare written net proceeds, contingencies, closing costs, timing, and your workload—not the headline offer alone. Title problems can delay any route.
- 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.
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 Fentress 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] Fentress County, Fentress County Assessor of Property (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [3] Fentress County, Fentress County Trustee (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [4] Fentress County, Fentress County Register of Deeds (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [5] Fentress County, Fentress County zoning and permitting (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [6] University of Tennessee County Technical Assistance Service, Fentress County profile and officials (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [7] University of Tennessee County Technical Assistance Service, Interest on delinquent property taxes (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [8] University of Tennessee County Technical Assistance Service, Delinquent tax suit in chancery or circuit court (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [9] University of Tennessee County Technical Assistance Service, Redemption after a property tax sale (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [10] Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury, Greenbelt agricultural, forest, and open space rules (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [11] Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury, How to calculate a Tennessee property tax bill (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [12] Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, Residential building jurisdictions and inspectors (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [13] Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Septic system construction permit fees and review (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [14] National Park Service, Big South Fork geodiversity atlas (accessed 2026-10-02)