Two Counties, Zero Banks, One Happy Landowner: Your Guide to Buying Land in Putnam and Highlands County, Florida |

People always ask me the same question: "Juliana, where should I buy land in Florida?"

And I always give the same answer: "How much time do you have? Because I'm about to talk your ear off about two counties that most people have never heard of."

Those two counties are Putnam and Highlands. They're about 150 miles apart. One sits in northeast Florida along a river that literally flows the wrong direction. The other sits in Florida's interior heartland, surrounded by citrus groves and freshwater lakes. They don't look alike. They don't feel alike. But they have two very important things in common.

First, you can still buy beautiful, buildable land here for prices that would make a Miami realtor fall out of their chair.

Second, I sell land in both of them. With owner financing. Which means no banks, no credit score panic attacks, and no 47-page loan applications. Just you, me, a handshake (figuratively), and a piece of Florida with your name on it.

Putnam County: Where a River Flows North and History Runs Deep

Let's start with Putnam County, because it has a party trick that never gets old: the St. Johns River, which runs right through the county, is one of the few rivers in North America that flows north. Not south. North. Against the rules. Like a river that read the instructions and said, "Nah, I'm good."

The St. Johns River is what put Putnam County on the map. Literally. In the 1800s, Palatka (the county seat, originally called "Pilotaikata" by the Timucuan Indians, meaning "Crossing Over") was neck and neck with Jacksonville as a major shipping and transportation hub. Steamboats carried timber and citrus downriver while tourists sailed up from the coast to escape the cold.

And we're not talking about regular tourists. Thomas Edison visited. Harriet Beecher Stowe came through. President Grover Cleveland stopped by. At its peak, Putnam County had over 6,000 hotel rooms. In the 1800s. Let that sink in. This sleepy little county was once Florida's version of the Hamptons.

Things have slowed down since then. But that's exactly what makes it special.

The Stuff You Can't Find Anywhere Else

Putnam County has things that make you stop and say, "Wait, that's in Florida?"

• Ravine Gardens State Park has a 100-foot-deep ravine with suspension bridges, clear-water springs, and thousands of azaleas that bloom every spring. A ravine. In Florida. The state where the highest natural point is 345 feet above sea level. This park shouldn't exist, but it does, and it's gorgeous.

• Fort Gates Ferry is the oldest continuously operating ferry in Florida. It's been shuttling people across the St. Johns River for over 160 years. You can drive your car onto it. The views are unreal.

• Mount Royal is the largest sand temple mound in the state, built by Timucuan Indians sometime between 1250 and 1500 A.D. William Bartram, the famous naturalist, was the first person to write about it. You can visit it today for free.

• The Welaka National Fish Hatchery and Aquarium is a free federal facility where they raise and stock fish for rivers and lakes across the region. It has an observation tower, nature trail, and live eagle cams.

• A. Philip Randolph, one of the most important civil rights leaders in American history and the man who organized the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, was born in Crescent City, a charming little town in south Putnam that sits on the banks of a crescent-shaped lake.

I could keep going, but you get the idea. Putnam County has character. The kind you can't manufacture or import. It just is what it is, and it doesn't care if you've heard of it or not.

Highlands County: Old Florida With a Growth Engine Under the Hood

Now let me take you 150 miles south to Highlands County. If Putnam is the history buff with stories for days, Highlands is the quiet overachiever who's about to surprise everyone.

Highlands County was carved out of DeSoto County back in 1921. They named it for the terrain, and for good reason. This part of Florida actually has contour lines on the map. Rolling hills, ridgelines, and views that stretch for miles. It's the Florida that nobody expects.

The county seat is Sebring, a small city with a historic downtown, a growing commercial corridor along US-27, and a racetrack that draws motorsports fans from around the world. But beyond Sebring, what really makes Highlands County shine is what's between the towns: open land, citrus groves, cattle ranches, and freshwater lakes that look like postcards.

And unlike coastal Florida, where land prices have gone completely sideways, Highlands County is still affordable. We're talking about real, buildable parcels that a normal person can actually purchase without emptying their retirement account.

What Makes Highlands County Different

• The economy is diversifying beyond agriculture. Healthcare, logistics, and light manufacturing are growing, which means the population base is stabilizing and expanding.

• Sebring has seen real infrastructure investment along the US-27 corridor. New retail, new medical facilities, new restaurants. It's not Orlando, and it never will be, but it's not standing still either.

• The county sits on the Floridan Aquifer, which means excellent well water quality. For rural landowners, this matters a lot.

• Property taxes are low compared to coastal counties. Your carrying cost while you hold land is minimal.

• It's citrus country. The soil and climate here built an entire industry. If you've ever wanted to plant a few orange trees on your own land, this is literally the place where that works.

Highlands County isn't flashy. It doesn't try to be. It's the kind of place where people wave at you from their trucks and the cashier at the gas station asks how your day is going and actually wants to know the answer.

Why I Offer Owner Financing (And Why It Changes Everything)

Here's where both of these counties become accessible to people who thought buying land in Florida was out of reach.

I offer owner financing on my properties in both Putnam County and Highlands County. If you're not familiar with how this works, let me explain it the simplest way I can:

You pick a property. We agree on a price. You put down a small deposit. Then you make monthly payments directly to me. No bank. No mortgage broker. No underwriter asking for your tax returns from 2019. No 30-day wait for approval. No denial letter because your credit score was 12 points too low.

The process takes days, not months.

I've worked with first-time buyers who never thought they could own property. I've worked with investors in other states who wanted Florida exposure without the six-figure price tag. I've worked with families who wanted a place to build someday, and couples who just wanted to own a little piece of something beautiful. Owner financing made it possible for all of them.

Here's What You Don't Need

• Perfect credit. I don't run your credit through a gauntlet. Your score is your business.

• A massive down payment. We're not talking 20% like a bank. We're talking something that actually fits your budget.

• A relationship with a Florida lender. If you live in Texas, Ohio, New York, or anywhere else, you can buy land from me without ever stepping foot in a bank branch.

• An MBA in real estate finance. I explain everything in plain language. English, Portuguese, or Spanish. Whichever you prefer.

Here's What You Do Need

• A desire to own land in Florida. That's the big one.

• Enough for a small down payment. We'll work together to figure out what makes sense.

• The ability to make monthly payments. Think car payment territory, not mortgage territory.

That's it. Seriously. I've closed deals in less time than it takes most people to get a callback from their bank.

Six Reasons to Buy Land in Putnam or Highlands County Right Now

1.  You're Buying Before the Crowd

Both of these counties are in the path of growth. Putnam County is just south of Jacksonville, which is expanding rapidly. Highlands County sits between Orlando and Fort Myers, two of the fastest-growing metros in the country. Development radiates outward from these cities, and when it reaches Putnam and Highlands (it will), land prices adjust accordingly.

Buying now is buying ahead.

2.  Florida's Population Isn't Slowing Down

Florida adds over 1,000 new residents per day. They need somewhere to live. Coastal cities are full. Suburban cities are getting expensive. Rural counties with buildable land, good road access, and affordable prices are next in line. That describes both Putnam and Highlands perfectly.

3.  Land Is the Lowest-Maintenance Investment That Exists

No tenants. No toilets. No 2am phone calls about broken water heaters. (If you've read my other blog, you know how I feel about those.) Your only expense is property tax, which in these counties is very manageable. You can literally forget you own it and check back in a year.

4.  Multiple Ways to Profit

Hold for appreciation. Sell to a builder or developer when the time is right. Lease it for agriculture or hunting. Subdivide and sell individual lots. Sell it with owner financing and create your own monthly income stream. Or build your dream home when you're ready. Land gives you options that other investments don't.

5.  Florida Tax Advantages

No state income tax. Florida repealed the 5.5% business rent tax in October 2025. Homestead exemption is available if you build and live on your property. The tax environment here is one of the most investor-friendly in the country.

6.  Owner Financing Removes the Biggest Barrier

The number one reason people don't buy land isn't that they don't want to. It's that they think they can't. Banks make it hard. Down payments are

intimidating. The process feels overwhelming. Owner financing removes all of that. I've made it as simple as I possibly can, because I believe everyone deserves a shot at owning a piece of Florida.

Working With Me: What to Expect

I'm not a big corporation. I'm not a faceless website. I'm Juliana, and when you call my number, I'm the one who picks up.

Here's what working with me looks like:

• We start with a conversation. You tell me what you're looking for, what your budget is, and what your goals are. I listen. (Novel concept, I know.)

• I show you what I have available. Photos, maps, parcel details, county information. No mystery. No surprises.

• If something fits, we agree on terms that work for both of us. I'm flexible because I want this to work for you, not just for me.

• We close quickly. I handle the paperwork. You start making payments. Done.

• After the sale, I'm still here. Questions about your property? Thinking about what to do next? Want to buy another one? I'm a phone call away.

I speak English, Portuguese, and Spanish. I work with buyers across the country and internationally. And I genuinely love what I do. Helping people own land in Florida is not just my business. It's my favorite thing.

Two Counties. One Easy Path to Ownership.

Putnam County gives you Old Florida history, the St. Johns River, and land prices that haven't caught up to reality yet. Highlands County gives you rolling terrain, agricultural roots, and a growth trajectory that smart investors are starting to notice.

Both counties offer buildable land at prices you won't find anywhere near the coast or the major metros. And both are available with owner financing through me, which means the only thing standing between you and a piece of Florida is a phone call.

So make the call. Or send me an email. Or a text. Or a carrier pigeon. (Okay, maybe not that last one. I don't have a system set up for pigeons yet. But I'm working on it.)

Let's Find Your Land

Owner financing available in both Putnam and Highlands County. No banks.

No drama. Just beautiful Florida land and monthly payments that make sense.

Juliana Scolari

juliana@goldenrp.land | (561) 229-5490

Golden Ridge Partners