About vacant land in Citrus County
Citrus County sits on Florida's Nature Coast, north of Tampa. Citrus Springs and Beverly Hills were platted as large residential subdivisions decades ago, and a substantial share of their lots remain vacant and out-of-state owned.
Citrus is a county where lot shape and topography matter more than most. Citrus Hills parcels are valued differently depending on whether they are standard, skinny or cube-shaped, and on which part of the community they sit in. Elsewhere the deciding factors are whether county water is available or the parcel needs a well, and whether gopher tortoises are present.
Why Citrus County has so many vacant lots
Citrus County sits on Florida's Nature Coast, and its vacant lot inventory comes largely from two big 1960s platting efforts: Citrus Springs in the north near Dunnellon, and Beverly Hills in the centre of the county. Both were sold nationwide as retirement communities. Citrus Hills came later and was developed in phases across noticeably varied terrain, while Sugarmill Woods was laid out around golf and greenbelt corridors in the south. A substantial share of all four remains unbuilt.
What drives value in Citrus County
Citrus is the county where the physical shape of the lot matters most. In Citrus Hills, a square or cube-shaped two-acre parcel in the upper sections and a narrow acre in the undeveloped west are valued very differently even at comparable acreage. Elsewhere the drivers are more conventional: county water availability versus well and septic in Citrus Springs, and in Beverly Hills whether the parcel slopes. Central Citrus County has genuine topography, which is unusual for Florida and affects what it costs to prepare a site.
Who sells us land in Citrus County
Citrus Springs in particular has been actively worked by land buyers for years, so owners here are often already familiar with cash offers and are comparing rather than deciding whether to sell at all. Elsewhere in the county the pattern is the familiar one: inherited lots from the 1960s and 1970s sales campaigns, and owners who bought a Nature Coast retirement parcel that never got built on. Sugarmill Woods sellers tend to be the most organised, since the community has an active association and maintained records.
What we check on a Citrus County parcel
- Wetlands. The most important one. Most builders will not take on wetland permitting, so a wetland parcel is usually not something we can buy.
- City water availability versus well and septic
- Lot shape and size, which vary widely in Citrus Hills
- Gopher tortoise activity
- Slopes, which affect buildability in parts of the county
- Flood zone and wetlands
Two things need checking carefully in Citrus County that matter less elsewhere. The first is gopher tortoise activity, which is common here and expensive to resolve, since relocation permitting comes straight off what a builder will pay. The second is slope. The county GIS carries the layers for both, and on Citrus Hills parcels we also pull the plat to establish the actual lot geometry rather than relying on the acreage figure alone.
Communities we buy in across Citrus County
How selling works
- 1Send the parcel number. Or the address or legal description if that's what you have.
- 2We research it. Property appraiser record, county GIS, flood mapping, utilities and environmental flags. No cost to you.
- 3Written offer in 24 to 48 hours. A specific number, in writing.
- 4Title company closes it. Remote and online notary available.
- 5You get paid. Wire or check at closing, typically 21 to 30 days.
Citrus County questions
Why is lot shape such a big deal in Citrus Hills?
Because a builder needs a workable building envelope, and acreage alone does not tell you whether there is one. A narrow or irregular acre can be worth considerably less than a square parcel of the same size, so we pull the plat rather than working from the acreage figure.
Does a gopher tortoise on the lot mean you will not buy it?
Not necessarily. It means relocation permitting will be required, which is a real cost that has to be reflected in the offer. Tell us if you know tortoises are present and we will factor it in properly rather than discovering it later.
Do I need to live in Florida to sell?
No. Most owners we work with live out of state. Closing documents are handled remotely with a Florida title company and a mobile or online notary.
What if I owe back taxes or association dues?
Common, and not a barrier. Balances are normally settled at closing out of the sale proceeds. Tell us the situation so the offer reflects it accurately.
Do I need a survey or appraisal?
No. We research the parcel ourselves from public records. You are never asked to pay for a survey, appraisal or inspection.
What does it cost me?
No agent commission and no listing fee. Closing costs are handled as set out in the purchase contract.