In every state, there are several counties that have tax lien properties for sale. Why? Basically, there are property owners who are not able to pay the property’s taxes within a specified time and what happens is that the government will then seize it and then have it auctioned in public. This way, the government will be able to recoup for the property taxes owed.

So where do we find such properties? The best way to find one is to contact the specific county you plan to buy from. You can go online and visit the county’s website or you can call their number. They will give you the best details on when or where the next auction is and they can even advise you where to get properties for sale listings. You might also want to try looking in the local newspapers as most counties published the up-for-grabs properties.

It’s also highly recommended to actually visit the properties before actually bidding on them. Remember, if you get to win such property, you can do anything with it. You can make improvements and then resell it or you can have it rented. Or you can even move in to the property yourself. So just make sure to plan ahead so you won’t have any regrets in the future.

What you can expect from a tax sale all depends on the state you are attending to. Just remember, counties and states have different processes in doing tax lien sales unlike tax deed sales wherein they are most likely to be the same.

Take Florida, Illinois, and Arizona for example, these states have interest rates that are bid down. Other states, on the other hand, have interest rates that are in constant and their lien prices are bids up. Now a premium is the fee that is bid up from the original amount due, it’s also called as overbid. And again, different states handle these things differently.

There are states that you can actually get an interest from the premium that is paid for tax liens such as Indiana and Alabama. While there are also states that you are not able to receive an interest on the premium like West Virginia. States that somehow don’t pay interest on the premium and don’t give back the premium to its investor include Vermont and Colorado. But there is one state wherein you can bid down its interest rate to zero and then to premium – New Jersey.

There are also states that use a random selection process and even the so-called round robin process to award the tax lien certificates during tax sales. In the first process, the person who conducts the auctions randomly chooses bidders. Oklahoma and Wyoming use this procedure.

The round robin process on the other hand, the auctioneer will offer a parcel according to the list to the next waiting bidder. The problem with this procedure is that you are not able to choose freely which properties you would somehow like to bid on to. So you will really have no idea which properties will be offered to you and the only thing you can do is to either accept the offer or decline it. Some counties in Colorado use this procedure to tax liens on certain amounts.

It is indeed important that if you decide to bid on a certain state or county, make sure to know the procedures so as not to be disappointed and to fully take advantage the great opportunities being offered in tax lien auctions.

Question 1: What is a Tax Lien?

A tax lien is a right to take ownership of a property due to tax payment delinquency usually by a federal government, a state, or even a county.

Question 2: Who can buy tax lien certificates?

Anyone who has the money can buy tax lien certificates. Just remember, you are only paying for the owner’s unpaid taxes, so you are not actually doing any foreclosures.

Question 3: What is the limit of acquiring tax liens?

There is no limit actually. You can acquire as many tax liens as you like if you have got the cash to pay for them.

Question 4: Where do I pay?

You will be paying the government agency not brokers or any other intermediaries.

Question 5: Who will then pay me the returns?

The government agency to which you paid the delinquent taxes for will be the one to contact you when the property owner has paid for his taxes. The agency will then require that you return the tax lien. After the process, you will be receiving a government check.

Question 6: Are tax lien certificates transferable?

Yes, tax liens are transferable. You can transfer these to anyone you like.

Question 7: Will all the counties and states have the same processing when you purchase tax liens?

Actually no, each county and state have different rules to acquiring tax liens. So before you go and purchase tax liens, make sure to research about your chosen county’s rules.