Sell your Lakeland house fast, as‑is, for cash
We buy houses in Lakeland and across Polk County, in any condition, including ones with a foreclosure case, unpaid taxes or a City code lien. You get a written cash offer and pick the closing date.
Get your free cash offer
Takes 2 minutes. Zero obligation. We respond within 1 hour during business hours.
No fees, no commissions, no obligation. Your cash offer comes in writing.
Rather talk it through? Call or text (215) 703-9223
- Written cash offer, no obligation
- Liens and back taxes paid at closing
- No commissions or listing fees
- Close in 7–30 days on your schedule
Selling a house in Lakeland: what's different here
Lakeland is in Polk County, so its court, clerk, tax collector and probate office are all county offices, most of them in Bartow. Each fact links to the office that publishes it.
General information from official court, county and state sources, not legal advice. Last reviewed October 19, 2026.
- Court
- Polk County is in Florida's Tenth Judicial Circuit, with Hardee and Highlands counties. Polk's courthouse is at 255 N. Broadway Ave. in Bartow, not in Lakeland.
- Foreclosure sales
- The Polk County Clerk holds every foreclosure sale online through RealAuction, at polk.realforeclose.com. Florida law sets the sale 20 to 35 days after the final judgment, and bidders post a 5% deposit.
- Tax certificates
- On or before June 1 each year the Tax Collector sells a certificate online on each parcel with unpaid taxes. Bidding starts at 18% interest and goes down. Two years after April 1 of the certificate year, the holder can apply for a tax deed.
- Tax deed sales
- The Clerk holds them on the third Thursday of each month at 9:30 a.m., online at polk.realtaxdeed.com.
- City code liens
- For a payoff on a Lakeland Code Enforcement Board lien or special assessment, email the City's Code Enforcement Division. Allow four business days.
- Doc stamps
- Florida charges documentary stamp tax of 70 cents per $100 of the price on the deed. All parties to the deed are liable.
- Probate
- Filed with the Polk County Clerk's probate division at the Bartow courthouse. The Clerk also has a Lakeland branch at 930 E. Parker St.; its contact page lists probate at the Bartow courthouse.
- Free counseling
- Housing and Neighborhood Development Services of Central Florida, 825 E. Main St., Lakeland (863-682-1025), is on HUD's list for default and foreclosure counseling.
How a cash sale works in Lakeland
Three steps. Most of the paperwork runs through Polk County offices, and the title company handles it.
-
Send the address
Lakeland, Winter Haven, Bartow or anywhere else in Polk County. If there's a foreclosure case number, a tax certificate or a City code lien, mention it; it doesn't stop a sale, but it changes the payoff list.
-
Get a written offer
We price the house as it stands, including roof, plumbing or storm repairs, and send the offer in writing. There's nothing to fix or clean out first.
-
Close at a title company
The title company orders payoffs from your lender, the Tax Collector and the City, pays them from the sale, records the deed and handles the doc stamps.
Situations we see in Polk County
How the county's process shapes each one, and where a direct sale fits.
Foreclosure judgment entered
Once the judge signs the final judgment, the Clerk's online sale is 20 to 35 days away. You can sell before that date; you can also redeem until the Clerk files the certificate of sale (Fla. Stat. 45.0315). See Florida foreclosure basics.
Someone bought a tax certificate
The certificate holder earns interest of up to 18% and, after two years, can apply for a tax deed. Selling pays the certificate off at closing, before it becomes a deed sale.
A City code lien
Lakeland code board liens and special assessments have to be paid or settled before a clean title transfers. We ask the City for the payoff and buy the house as-is.
Inherited a Lakeland house
Probate is opened with the Polk County Clerk in Bartow. If the estate, less exempt property, is $150,000 or less, or the person died more than two years ago, summary administration may apply (Fla. Stat. 735.201). See Florida inherited homes.
Moving and keeping your tax savings
Your homestead exemption does not transfer automatically, but you can carry up to $500,000 of Save Our Homes benefit to a new Florida homestead set up within three years (Polk Property Appraiser).
Rental or vacant house
Tenants in place, an empty house that's been sitting, or one that needs a full clean-out: we buy it as it is, and you skip showings and repairs.
What comes out of a Lakeland sale
Florida has one statewide deed tax, so the math is the same anywhere in Polk County. Liens and back taxes are paid from the proceeds too.
| Item | Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Doc stamps on the deed | 70 cents per $100 of price; all parties liable | $1,750 on a $250,000 sale |
| Delinquent taxes or a tax certificate | Paid off through the Tax Collector at closing | Amount from the Tax Collector |
| City code lien or assessment | Payoff requested from Code Enforcement (allow 4 business days) | Amount from the City |
| Mortgage, if any | Payoff from your lender | Amount from the lender |
Who pays the doc stamps is negotiable in the contract. The example is arithmetic from the Florida Department of Revenue rate, not a quote.
Where we buy in Lakeland
All of Lakeland, including its seven local historic districts as listed by the City's Historic Preservation office, and the rest of Polk County.
- Beacon Hill
- Biltmore-Cumberland
- Dixieland
- East Lake Morton
- Lake Hunter Terrace
- Munn Park
- South Lake Morton
- Rest of Polk County
Selling a house in Lakeland: common questions
Still have a question? Call or text (215) 703-9223 or email info@eternalhomebuyers.com.
Where are Polk County foreclosure sales held?
Online. The Polk County Clerk runs every foreclosure sale through RealAuction at polk.realforeclose.com, 20 to 35 days after the final judgment, and bidders post a 5% deposit. You can still sell the house before the sale date.
What happens if I'm behind on property taxes in Polk County?
On or before June 1 each year, the Tax Collector sells a tax certificate on each delinquent parcel, with bidding starting at 18% interest. Two years after April 1 of that year, the holder can apply for a tax deed, and the Clerk auctions tax deeds on the third Thursday of each month.
Can I sell a Lakeland house with a code enforcement lien?
Yes. The lien is paid or settled from the sale. Request a payoff from the City's Code Enforcement Division by email and allow four business days; the title company can do this for you.
Where is probate filed for a Lakeland house?
With the Polk County Clerk's probate division at the courthouse in Bartow. The Clerk's Lakeland branch on E. Parker St. handles other services. Small or older estates may qualify for summary administration.
Do I keep my homestead savings if I sell and buy again in Florida?
The exemption itself doesn't transfer automatically, so you apply again at the new home. You can carry up to $500,000 of Save Our Homes benefit to a new Florida homestead established within three years.
Is there free foreclosure help in Lakeland?
Yes. Housing and Neighborhood Development Services of Central Florida, on E. Main St. in Lakeland, is a HUD-approved agency offering default and foreclosure counseling. Florida's Hardest Hit Fund programs are closed to new applications.
More for Lakeland sellers
Sources
Official pages we used for the local facts on this page, checked October 19, 2026.
- Tenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, About the 10th Circuit
- Polk County Clerk, Contact Us (courthouse, Lakeland branch, probate)
- Polk County Clerk, Foreclosure Sales
- Polk County foreclosure sale site (RealAuction), FAQ
- Florida Statutes 45.031 (judicial sales)
- Polk County Tax Collector, Delinquency and Tax Sale Information
- Polk County Clerk, Tax Deeds
- City of Lakeland, Code Enforcement Liens and Assessments
- Florida Department of Revenue, Documentary Stamp Tax
- Polk County Property Appraiser, Exemptions
- Polk County Property Appraiser, Portability (PDF)
- Florida Statutes 45.0315 (right of redemption)
- Florida Statutes 735.201 (summary administration)
- HUD housing counselor search, within 15 miles of Lakeland
- Florida Housing Finance Corporation, Florida Hardest Hit Fund (closed)
- City of Lakeland, Historic Preservation FAQ
This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules, rates and sale dates change; confirm with the office linked above, an attorney, a tax professional or a HUD-approved housing counselor. Last reviewed October 19, 2026.
Get your Lakeland cash offer
Tell us about the house, including any case number, tax certificate or lien you know about, and we'll follow up with a written cash offer. No obligation, no pressure.
- A written, no-obligation cash offer
- No repairs, fees, or commissions
- Close in as little as 7 days
- Zero obligation to accept
Tell us about your property
Less than 2 minutes. No inspections needed.