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- 1.5M Residents
- $116B County GDP
- $76,707 GDP per Capita
Hillsborough County
Hillsborough County
Hillsborough County anchors the Tampa Bay metro and is Florida's fourth-most-populous county. Tampa, the county seat, hosts the Port of Tampa, MacDill AFB, USF, and a deep healthcare, finance, and logistics economy. The Clerk & Comptroller (Victor D. Crist) runs Hover, Official Records, and a clerk-operated tax deed system with very large foreclosure and tax deed dockets.
Property in Hillsborough
What every owner, heir, and investor should know.
Owning a home in Hillsborough.
Hillsborough delivers a deep, diverse housing market with steady appreciation and broad price points.
- Florida Homestead Exemption and Save Our Homes 3% cap apply.
- Tax bills Nov 1; discounts through February; delinquent April 1.
- Wind insurance is moderate inland; flood and storm-surge risk concentrate along the Hillsborough River and Tampa Bay.
- Tax deed redemption to day of sale (Ch. 197, F.S.).
- Foreclosure surplus rights under § 45.032, F.S. (60 days).
- Significant CDD and HOA assessment activity in master-planned communities.
Investing in Hillsborough.
Hillsborough is a top Florida market for foreclosure and tax-deed investment plus a deep institutional rental and condo pipeline.
- Foreclosure auctions on hillsborough.realforeclose.com.
- Tax deed sales on hillsborough.realtaxdeed.com.
- Official Records at publicaccess.hillsclerk.com.
- Court case search at hover.hillsclerk.com.
- Property Appraiser at hcpafl.org.
- Watch for code enforcement liens, Tampa municipal liens, and condominium milestone-inspection costs.
After a Hillsborough foreclosure or tax deed sale.
Hillsborough operates one of Florida's largest foreclosure and tax deed dockets. All foreclosures are judicial (Ch. 45, F.S.); tax deeds run under Ch. 197, F.S.
- Foreclosure auctions held online via hillsborough.realforeclose.com; the 13th Judicial Circuit handles cases.
- Surplus funds: claim under § 45.032, F.S. within 60 days of certificate of disbursement.
- Tax certificates sold yearly by the Tax Collector; tax deed application after 2 years.
- Tax deed sales on hillsborough.realtaxdeed.com; surplus paid to lienholders, then former owner.
- Notices published in La Gaceta and the Tampa Bay Times.
Courts and records in Hillsborough.
- George E. Edgecomb Courthouse — 800 E Twiggs St, Tampa, FL 33602 — 13th Judicial Circuit
- County Center — 601 E Kennedy Blvd, Tampa (Clerk admin)
- Plant City Courthouse — 301 N Michigan Ave, Plant City
- Brandon Service Center — 311 Pauls Dr, Brandon
- 13th Judicial Circuit (Hillsborough only)
- Second District Court of Appeal
- Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller — Victor D. Crist — (813) 276-8100 — hillsclerk.com
- Property Appraiser — Bob Henriquez — 601 E Kennedy Blvd — hcpafl.org
- Tax Collector — Nancy Millan — 601 E Kennedy Blvd — hillstax.org
- Sheriff — Chad Chronister — 2008 E 8th Ave, Tampa