Many people from all over the world ask this question, “Can anyone outside the United States invest in tax liens and tax deeds?”

Well, the answer is a yes.

All that person needs is a US TAX Identification or ID number, which is fairly easy to get from the IRS. What’s even great about it is – even foreigners have the opportunity to invest in tax liens and deeds. But of course, an investor not from the United States has to have all the needed due diligence in order to join the bidding. Here are a few samples of the most significant things one must have:

• Location
• Value
• Property Condition

Since international investors are away from the subject properties that are to be placed in auction, one cannot be in person near the site.

There are two choices that a potential buyer outside the country can do:

1. Have the due diligence through phone. With advanced software tools like Google Earth, counties can very well provide picture databases and map quests or MSN Live Search
2. Hire a Real Estate professional who can very well visit the property for you, take some pictures for you to check out, and do research for the investor.

Now, there are also cases wherein counties or states hold their auctions online and investors, inside or outside the country, can attend to. But again, the investor needs a real estate professional to check out the property or have the due diligence over the phone prior to bidding. Remember, it is always needed to see the property you plan to invest in.

The international investor can also just wait for the actual auction to be over and then ask for the list of the leftover properties known as over-the-counter tax liens. These tax liens are commonly available without the need to bid but by just mailing a cashier’s check with the details of the Tax Lien ID, the investor’s Tax ID, the Property ID, and Bidder ID. The county will then send the investor the Tax Lien Certificate of the property.

With today’s technology, investors from all over the world can now purchase tax liens and tax deeds in the United States.

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.