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- 20K Residents
- $470M County GDP
- $23,960 GDP per Capita
Holmes County
Holmes County
Holmes County is a small rural Panhandle county on the Florida–Alabama line. Bonifay is the county seat. The economy is anchored by agriculture, timber, and a small-town retail base. Court records run on Civitek OCRS.
Property in Holmes
What every owner, heir, and investor should know.
Owning a home in Holmes.
Holmes is one of Florida's lowest-cost markets.
- Florida Homestead Exemption and Save Our Homes apply.
- Tax bills Nov 1; discounts through February; delinquent April 1.
- Inland exposure keeps wind insurance moderate; tornado risk is real.
- Tax deed redemption to day of sale (Ch. 197, F.S.).
- Foreclosure surplus rights under § 45.032, F.S. (60 days).
Investing in Holmes.
Holmes offers very cheap rural land and timber tracts; rental demand is thin.
- Court records via Civitek OCRS (county/30).
- Property Appraiser via qPublic.
- Watch for agricultural/timber exemptions and unrepaired Hurricane Michael damage in some pockets.
After a Holmes foreclosure or tax deed sale.
Holmes uses Florida's judicial foreclosure process and Ch. 197 tax deed sales; volume is very low.
- Foreclosures filed in the 14th Judicial Circuit.
- Surplus claim window: 60 days under § 45.032, F.S.
- Tax certificates sold yearly; tax deed application after 2 years.
Courts and records in Holmes.
- Holmes County Courthouse — 201 N Oklahoma St, Bonifay, FL 32425 — 14th Judicial Circuit
- 14th Judicial Circuit (Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Washington)
- First District Court of Appeal — Tallahassee
- Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller — Sam Bailey — (850) 547-1100 — holmesclerk.com
- Property Appraiser — qPublic Holmes
- Tax Collector — Bonifay
- Sheriff — John Tate — 351 E Iowa Ave, Bonifay