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- $3B County GDP
- $26,943 GDP per Capita
Highlands County
Highlands County
Highlands County is an inland Heartland county centered on Sebring, Avon Park, and Lake Placid. The economy is anchored by retiree services, citrus, cattle, and the Sebring International Raceway. The Clerk (Jerome Kaszubowski) runs custom court and tax deed search systems.
Property in Highlands
What every owner, heir, and investor should know.
Owning a home in Highlands.
Highlands is a low-cost retiree-friendly housing market with several lake-front communities.
- Florida Homestead Exemption and Save Our Homes apply.
- Tax bills Nov 1; discounts through February; delinquent April 1.
- Inland exposure keeps wind insurance moderate; lake/wetland flood risk requires individual review.
- Tax deed redemption to day of sale (Ch. 197, F.S.).
- Foreclosure surplus rights under § 45.032, F.S. (60 days).
Investing in Highlands.
Highlands offers cheap retirement-community housing and lakefront opportunities with active foreclosure and tax deed activity.
- Tax deed search at tribute.hcclerk.org.
- Court case search at highlandsclerkfl.gov.
- Property Appraiser at hcpao.org.
- Watch for Florida-Heartland mobile-home parks, agricultural exemptions, and lakefront septic limits.
After a Highlands foreclosure or tax deed sale.
Highlands uses Florida's judicial foreclosure process and runs Ch. 197 tax deed sales through the Clerk's Tribute system.
- Foreclosures filed in the 10th Judicial Circuit.
- Surplus claim window: 60 days under § 45.032, F.S.
- Tax certificates sold yearly; tax deed application after 2 years.
- Notices published in the Highlands News-Sun.
Courts and records in Highlands.
- Highlands County Courthouse — 590 S Commerce Ave, Sebring, FL 33870 — 10th Judicial Circuit
- 10th Judicial Circuit (Hardee, Highlands, Polk)
- Second District Court of Appeal
- Clerk of the Circuit Court — Jerome Kaszubowski — (863) 402-6565 — highlandsclerkfl.gov
- Property Appraiser — C. Raymond McIntyre — hcpao.org
- Tax Collector — Eric T. Zwayer — hctaxcollector.com
- Sheriff — Paul Blackman — 434 Fernleaf Ave, Sebring