Colorado vs Florida Tax Lien Investing (2026)
Statutes verified Oct 23, 2026
For a retail investor, Florida edges it overall (6.6/10 vs 5.1/10). The biggest single difference is legal stability: Colorado scores 4, Florida scores 9. Neither is "best" for everyone, match the state to your goal below.
- System:
- lien
- Max rate:
- Fed discount rate +9 pts, set Sept 1: 13% for 2026 liens, 14% for 2025; premium bids earn 0%
- Redemption:
- Holder may apply for deed auction 3yrs after sale; owner redeems until deed issues
- System:
- lien
- Max rate:
- 18% max, bid down in 0.25% steps; 5% minimum on redemption unless bid is 0%
- Redemption:
- Holder may apply for deed 2yrs after Apr 1 of issue year; certificate expires at 7yrs
Head-to-head: 9 dimensions
13% for 2026 liens (14% in 2025) but premium bids earn nothing and are not refunded
18% ceiling bid down to ~0.25% online; 5% min penalty floor rescues most redemptions
Simple interest only; rate reset yearly at discount rate +9 pts (39-12-103)
5% minimum penalty on redemption regardless of bid, but 0% winning bids earn nothing
3yrs from sale before treasurer's deed application
2yr hold before certificate holder can apply for tax deed
Most counties run online sales (RealAuction/GovEase); county-level auctions
Nearly all 67 counties auction certs online (LienHub/RealAuction) each June
Online premium bidding is aggressive; premiums erode net yield
Heavily institutional; funds bid rates to 0.25% in metro counties
Certificates sell at taxes+fees; small liens plentiful in rural counties
Certificates start at a few hundred dollars; small liens plentiful
HB24-1056 deed path now ends in public auction; holder may get cash, not land
After 2yr must apply for tax deed; property goes to deed auction, not to holder
Post-Tyler HB24-1056 (eff. 7/2024) rewrote the treasurer's deed process
Ch.197 certificate framework stable for decades, minor tweaks only
County-held certificates assignable OTC from treasurers year-round
County-held certs struck at 18% purchasable OTC through tax collectors
Choose Colorado if…
it doesn't clearly out-score Florida on any single dimension, see the full Colorado guide.
Choose Florida if…
- you want stronger legal stability, Ch.197 certificate framework stable for decades, minor tweaks only
- you want stronger redemption speed, 2yr hold before certificate holder can apply for tax deed
- you want stronger effective yield, 18% ceiling bid down to ~0.25% online; 5% min penalty floor rescues most redemptions