Tennessee
Sell your land in Rhea County for cash
Parcel Buyers buys vacant lots and land throughout Rhea County for cash, including Watts Bar-area parcels and rural tracts that still need access, 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 Rhea County?
- Parcel Buyers is a direct land buyer that makes written, no-obligation cash offers on vacant lots and acreage in Rhea 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 Rhea County sell for in 2025?
- In 2025, vacant lots in Rhea County sold for a median of $42,800 across 109 arm's-length sales; the middle half sold for $26,000 to $100,000.
- How many vacant lots are in Rhea County?
- The 2026 Tennessee parcel and assessment data lists 5,132 vacant residential lots in Rhea County; 13% are half-acre lots, and the median lot is 0.61 acre.
- How is a cash offer for land in Rhea 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 Rhea 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 Rhea County?
- In 2025, companies bought 8% of the vacant lots that sold in Rhea County, including 3% bought by homebuilders. Individuals bought the rest.
- What was the median recorded 2025 sale price by lot size in Rhea County?
- The median recorded 2025 sale price for a mini-estate (2-3 acres) in Rhea County was $40,000 across 15 sales.
Local data
What is land in Rhea County worth?
In 2025, vacant lots in Rhea County sold for a median of $42,800 across 109 arm's-length sales; the middle half sold for $26,000 to $100,000. [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 Rhea County
| Lot-size class | 2025 sales | 2025 median lot sale |
|---|---|---|
| Mini-estate (2-3 acres)70,000–139,999 sq ft | 15 | $40,000 |
| Small acreage tract (7-10 acres)280,000–435,599 sq ft | 14 | $99,500 |
| 5-acre ranchette210,000–279,999 sq ft | 14 | $47,500 |
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 | 5,132 parcels classified vacant residential on the 2026 Tennessee parcel and assessment data [1] |
|---|---|
| Most common lot size | Half-acre lot (19,000–24,000 sq ft): 13% of vacant lots; next, third-acre lot at 10%. Median lot: 0.61 acre (26,740 sq ft). [1] |
| Typical appraised value | $24,300 median appraised value for a vacant lot; the middle half fall between $11,400 and $48,300 [1] |
| Recent lot sale prices | $42,800 median across 109 arm's-length sales of vacant lots in Rhea County (Jan 2025–Dec 2025); the middle half sold for $26,000–$100,000 [1] |
| Who bought lots in 2025 | Companies made 8% of those purchases, including 3% by homebuilders; individuals made the rest [1] |
| Owners who live elsewhere | 16% of vacant lots have an owner mailing address outside Tennessee (most often FL, GA, OH) [1] |
| Assessor of Property | Rhea County lists a Property Assessor office, and the CTAS county directory identifies Debbie Byrd as the Assessor of Property. [2],[4] |
| County Trustee | Rhea County lists a Trustee's Office, and the CTAS county directory identifies Neva Webb as County Trustee. [2],[4] |
| Register of Deeds | Rhea County lists a Register of Deeds office, and the CTAS county directory identifies Teresa J. Hulgan as the Register. [2],[4] |
| County has a building inspector | Rhea County publishes a Building Department and Building Inspector for county permit questions. The state lists the county as exempt from its residential permit program. [3],[6] |
| TDEC handles septic permits | Rhea County is not on Tennessee's contract-county list, so TDEC reviews septic applications and may require a licensed soils map. [7],[8] |
| Unmapped streams have a setback | Beside unmapped streams, the county flood ordinance bars fill and development within an area at least twice the stream width, measured from the top of each bank, unless a Tennessee-registered professional engineer provides the required certification. [5] |
| Watts Bar has extensive shoreline | TVA's land plan reports about 39,000 water-surface acres and 783 shoreline miles at Watts Bar Reservoir, with 367 parcels in the planning inventory. [9] |
| Watts Bar Nuclear Generating Station | TVA places Watts Bar Nuclear Plant on 1,700 acres near Spring City and says it supports approximately 1,000 full-time jobs. Those figures identify a large employment site when comparing Rhea County parcel location and access. [10] |
| 2025 sale price by lot size | The median recorded 2025 sale price for a mini-estate (2-3 acres) in Rhea County was $40,000 across 15 sales. [1] |
Where we buy
Areas we cover in Rhea County
- Dayton
579vacant lots
These pages cover the largest lot markets in Rhea 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 Rhea County
Confirm the parcel, deed and responsible office first
Confirm the parcel number before relying on a street or mailing address. Rhea County publishes separate offices for the Assessor of Property, County Trustee and Register of Deeds. The assessor's record supplies the tax appraisal and parcel identity; the register's records show the deed and other recorded instruments; the trustee supplies the county tax status. The roll contains 5,132 vacant residential parcels in this county scope. Their median appraised value is $24,300, with the middle half at $11,400–$48,300. Those numbers describe the roll, not a guaranteed price. A recorded plat, deed restriction, shared-road agreement or lien can change what a buyer can do with the property. Parcel Buyers checks the parcel, title and access together before calculating a written offer. [2],[4],[1]
Building and septic approvals depend on the site
A buildability review needs both a building-office answer and a wastewater answer. Rhea County publishes a Building Department and Building Inspector, while Tennessee's jurisdiction list marks the county exempt from the state residential permit program. The state exemption does not answer the county's own requirements, so owners should ask the Building Department what applies to the exact parcel. If public sewer is unavailable, TDEC handles septic because Rhea is not one of the contract counties. A septic construction permit is required before installation or repair. The application can require a sketch showing property lines, the house, drive, utilities and water sources, plus a soils map when the site warrants one. TDEC generally reviews within 10 days and requires completion of its review within 45 days. Those site details can change where a system fits. [3],[6],[7],[8]
Floodplain and reservoir review can limit usable ground
Water proximity needs parcel-level review rather than a map glance. Rhea County's flood ordinance addresses mapped flood zones and also sets a rule for unmapped streams: absent the required Tennessee-registered engineer's certification, fill or development must stay out of an area at least twice the stream width measured from the top of each bank. TVA's Watts Bar land plan reports about 39,000 water-surface acres, 783 shoreline miles and 367 parcels in its planning inventory. TVA warns that plan maps are not enough for a site decision and directs users to obtain the necessary permits or land agreements before making a property purchase or commitment. A lake view therefore does not establish dock rights, shore access or permission to grade. Surveyed elevation, drainage, legal access and agency boundaries all affect the usable portion of a lot. [5],[9]
Lot sales provide context, not a parcel guarantee
Recent lot sales are one input after title and site constraints. The median vacant parcel in the county roll is 0.61 acres, and the most common category is half-acre lot, representing 13% of the inventory. Qualifying 2025 lot sales had a median of $42,800; the middle half ranged from $26,000–$100,000, across 109 sales. These are lot sales selected from the roll's warranty-deed records, not every transfer and not an appraisal for a particular tract. The ownership data also show 84% of owners with Tennessee mailing addresses and 16% with addresses elsewhere in the United States. A cash offer still has to account for access, wastewater, floodplain, terrain, restrictions, delinquent tax and title work. [1]
Step by step
How do I sell my land in Rhea 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 Rhea County: common questions
Which Rhea County offices should a land seller contact?
Start with the Assessor of Property for parcel and appraisal information, the Register of Deeds for recorded instruments, and the County Trustee for the tax balance. Rhea County publishes direct contact information for all three offices, and CTAS independently lists them in its county directory.
Who handles a rural septic permit?
TDEC's Division of Water Resources handles it. Rhea County is not on the state's contract-county list. A permit is required before a system is installed or repaired, and a site drawing or licensed soils map may be needed before the agency can determine the approved system area.
Does state residential exemption mean no permit is needed?
No. The state list marks Rhea County exempt from Tennessee's residential permit program, but the county publishes its own Building Department and Building Inspector. Ask that office what county building requirements apply to the exact parcel, and obtain separate TDEC septic approval where sewer is unavailable.
Can I build beside an unmapped stream?
Possibly, but the county ordinance creates a specific review. Without the required engineer's certification, fill or development must remain outside an area at least twice the stream width measured from the top of each bank. A Tennessee-registered professional engineer should evaluate whether a proposed encroachment can meet the ordinance.
Can I sell Rhea County land from another state?
Yes. A remote seller can sign electronically or use a mail-away closing through an independent, licensed title company. Payment can be made by check or wire. Closing is typically about 10 days after the purchase agreement is signed, depending on title.
Owner resources
Guides for your situation
- 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.
- 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 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]
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 Rhea 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] Rhea County, Tennessee, Rhea County government offices (accessed 2026-10-08)
- [3] Rhea County, Tennessee, Rhea County departments (accessed 2026-10-08)
- [4] University of Tennessee County Technical Assistance Service, Rhea County officials directory (accessed 2026-10-08)
- [5] Rhea County, Tennessee, Rhea County flood damage prevention ordinance (accessed 2026-10-08)
- [6] Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, Residential building permit jurisdictions (accessed 2026-10-08)
- [7] Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Online application for septic related services (accessed 2026-10-08)
- [8] Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Septic system construction permit (accessed 2026-10-08)
- [9] Tennessee Valley Authority, Watts Bar Reservoir Land Management Plan (accessed 2026-10-08)
- [10] Tennessee Valley Authority, Watts Bar Nuclear Plant (accessed 2026-10-08)