Tennessee
Sell your land in McMinn County for cash
Parcel Buyers buys vacant lots and acreage in McMinn County for cash, including land that needs road-frontage, setback, septic or flood review. 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 McMinn County?
- Parcel Buyers is a direct land buyer that makes written, no-obligation cash offers on vacant lots and acreage in McMinn 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 McMinn County sell for in 2025?
- In 2025, vacant lots in McMinn County sold for a median of $37,500 across 107 arm's-length sales; the middle half sold for $19,800 to $65,000.
- How many vacant lots are in McMinn County?
- The 2026 Tennessee parcel and assessment data lists 5,196 vacant residential lots in McMinn County; 11% are mini-estate (2-3 acres)s, and the median lot is 1.00 acre.
- How is a cash offer for land in McMinn 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 McMinn 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 McMinn County?
- In 2025, companies bought 14% of the vacant lots that sold in McMinn County, including 4% bought by homebuilders. Individuals bought the rest.
- What was the median recorded 2025 sale price by lot size in McMinn County?
- The median recorded 2025 sale price for a 5-acre ranchette in McMinn County was $59,500 across 18 sales.
Local data
What is land in McMinn County worth?
In 2025, vacant lots in McMinn County sold for a median of $37,500 across 107 arm's-length sales; the middle half sold for $19,800 to $65,000. [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 McMinn County
| Lot-size class | 2025 sales | 2025 median lot sale |
|---|---|---|
| 5-acre ranchette210,000–279,999 sq ft | 18 | $59,500 |
| Mini-estate (2-3 acres)70,000–139,999 sq ft | 15 | $47,900 |
| Small acreage tract (7-10 acres)280,000–435,599 sq ft | 15 | $73,800 |
| One-acre homesite40,000–45,999 sq ft | 13 | $25,000 |
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 | 5,196 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): 11% of vacant lots; next, 5-acre ranchette at 10%. Median lot: 1.00 acre (43,560 sq ft). [1] |
| Typical appraised value | $20,000 median appraised value for a vacant lot; the middle half fall between $11,900 and $37,100 [1] |
| Recent lot sale prices | $37,500 median across 107 arm's-length sales of vacant lots in McMinn County (Jan 2025–Dec 2025); the middle half sold for $19,800–$65,000 [1] |
| Who bought lots in 2025 | Companies made 14% of those purchases, including 4% by homebuilders; individuals made the rest [1] |
| Owners who live elsewhere | 8% of vacant lots have an owner mailing address outside Tennessee (most often FL, GA, IL) [1] |
| Assessor of Property | The Assessor inventories real estate and maintains tax maps and ownership cards. The county FAQ says appraised value is an estimate of fair market value, and residential and farm property are assessed at 25 percent of that appraisal for tax billing. [3],[2] |
| County Trustee | The Trustee collects all county property taxes. The Trustee's page and the county FAQ give an October 1 through the last day of February payment window and add 1.5 percent monthly after March 1. [2],[4] |
| Register of Deeds | The Register of Deeds records real-estate conveyances, deeds of trust, leases and contracts, and the office provides certified copies of recorded documents. [5] |
| County building setbacks | The Planning Commission FAQ posts 35 feet from the front property line, 10 feet from a side line and 15 feet from the rear for county review. [2] |
| Small split staff review | A one-lot split may receive staff review when it has direct county-road frontage and requires no new road or water-line extension; other plats may go to the commission. [2] |
| State septic permit | The county sends septic questions to Tennessee's state program. TDEC charges $400 for a conventional permit up to 1,000 gallons per day plus a $100 inspection. [2],[6] |
| Floodplain contact | The Planning Commission FAQ directs parcel-specific floodplain questions to a named county contact rather than publishing a countywide flood determination. [2] |
| Starr Mountain | The Forest Service describes a proposed purchase of about 153 acres on Starr Mountain in McMinn County, about four miles south of Etowah. The parcel adjoins Gee Creek Wilderness and would be managed as a scenic corridor. [11] |
| 2025 sale price by lot size | The median recorded 2025 sale price for a 5-acre ranchette in McMinn County was $59,500 across 18 sales. [1] |
Selling here
How selling land works in McMinn County
Road frontage and setbacks shape usable land
A large tract can still have a tight building area when access or setbacks cut into it. The county Planning Commission FAQ posts a 35-foot front setback measured from the property line, not the road edge or centerline, along with 10 feet at the sides and 15 feet at the rear. It warns that a surveyor may be needed to locate the actual line. The same page allows staff review for a limited one-lot split only when the lots have direct county-road frontage, no easement access, no new or extended road, no new water-line extension and only one additional lot. That list shows why acreage is not the whole price story. The roll's median vacant residential parcel is 1.00 acres, and a mini-estate (2-3 acres) is the largest size group at 11%. We review legal access and usable shape before comparing offers. [2],[1]
Septic approval starts with a state site evaluation
The county directs septic-permit questions to Tennessee's state system. TDEC sends an environmental scientist to evaluate the site and may request a detailed site plan or a soils map. A complete application can take up to 45 days. The conventional permit fee is $400 for design flow up to 1,000 gallons per day, followed by a $100 construction inspection. An alternative system permit starts at $500 and requires more soil information. TDEC also says a permit should be obtained before dirt work or construction begins. That means a wooded or sloping tract cannot be priced as a ready homesite merely because a neighboring property has a tank. Public water and electrical providers also vary across the county. Parcel Buyers buys land with no water, sewer or road work and checks utility and wastewater paths before offering. [2],[6],[7],[8]
Appraised value, assessed value and a sale price differ
The Assessor's appraised value is an estimate of fair market value, while the assessed value is the fraction used for tax billing. The county FAQ lists residential and farm property at 25 percent of appraisal and currently posts a county rate of $1.61 per $100 of assessed value. The vacant-land roll has a median appraised value of $20,000 and a middle range of $11,900–$37,100; those figures are not tax bills. Qualifying 2025 lot sales show a median recorded amount of $37,500 and a middle range of $19,800–$65,000 across 107 lot sales. The Tennessee file keeps the most recent accepted sale and the page filters to qualifying single-parcel warranty deeds, so this is not every deed recorded in the year. Access, usable area, utilities, soil and flood status still control the parcel-specific offer. [2],[1]
Unpaid taxes move from the Trustee to court
The Trustee collects current county property tax and the Register of Deeds keeps the land records. The county FAQ says tax may be paid without penalty from October 1 through February 28. On March 1, delinquent balances begin adding 1.5 percent each month, and the county FAQ says delinquent tax is a lien on the property regardless of ownership. State county guidance says the delinquent-tax attorney must file suit in chancery or circuit court after February 1 and before April 1. The court sets each parcel's redemption period before the tax sale. That period starts when the court enters the order confirming the sale and cannot exceed one year. A seller does not have to solve every payoff alone. With consent, liens or back taxes can be paid from proceeds at closing after the title company obtains the correct figures. [2],[4],[5],[9],[10]
Step by step
How do I sell my land in McMinn 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 McMinn County: common questions
What setbacks does the county publish for a homesite?
The Planning Commission FAQ lists 35 feet from the front property line, 10 feet from each side and 15 feet from the rear. The front measurement starts at the actual property line, not the pavement or road center. The county notes that a surveyor may be needed to establish that line.
Can I sell a tract that has never passed a septic test?
Yes. A septic approval is not required to sign a deed. It does affect buildability and price. TDEC evaluates the site, may require a soils map and can take up to 45 days after a complete application. A conventional permit up to 1,000 gallons per day is $400, followed by a $100 inspection.
When do McMinn County property taxes become delinquent?
They become delinquent March 1. The Trustee's page and the county FAQ give October 1 through the last day of February as the collection period without penalty, then add 1.5 percent monthly to unpaid tax. It also warns buyers that delinquent tax remains a lien on the property regardless of ownership.
Does a one-lot split always need a Planning Commission meeting?
No. County staff may approve a qualifying one-lot split when it has direct county-road frontage, uses no easement access, needs no new or extended road, needs no new water-line extension and creates only one additional lot. A split outside those conditions may need commission review.
Can I close while taxes or liens are still owed?
Often, yes. The title company checks the recorded deed, tax status and other title items, then obtains payoff figures. Liens or back taxes can be paid from sale proceeds with the seller's consent. Electronic signing and a mail-away closing are available, and Parcel Buyers covers closing costs with no fees or commissions.
Owner resources
Guides for your situation
- 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.
- Water, Sewer, Septic, and Wells on Vacant Lots
A vacant lot may use public water, a private well, public sewer, or an onsite septic system, but nearby pipes and neighboring homes do not prove what the parcel can use. Ask each utility for a written availability decision, ask the permitting office whether connection is mandatory, and obtain a qualified site evaluation before saying septic will fit. Keep every response, permit, plan, test, and receipt.
- 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 McMinn 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 8, 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] McMinn County Government, Frequently Asked Questions (accessed 2026-10-08)
- [3] McMinn County Government, Assessor of Property (accessed 2026-10-08)
- [4] McMinn County Government, County Trustee (accessed 2026-10-08)
- [5] McMinn County Government, Register of Deeds (accessed 2026-10-08)
- [6] Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Septic System Construction Permit (accessed 2026-10-08)
- [7] Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Septic System Permit Frequently Asked Questions (accessed 2026-10-08)
- [8] Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Online Application for Ground Water Protection Services (accessed 2026-10-08)
- [9] UT County Technical Assistance Service, Delinquent Tax Suit (accessed 2026-10-08)
- [10] UT County Technical Assistance Service, Redemption After a Tax Sale (accessed 2026-10-08)
- [11] USDA Forest Service, Starr Mountain Land Purchase (accessed 2026-10-08)