Many individuals wonder what sort of process is involved for a tax deed sale. Here are some things to think about.
A tax deed sale is not the same as a tax lien sale. Both are sales required by local government due to a homeowners' non-payment of property taxes. The deed sales are actual purchases of properties while the lien sales entail buying right to the tax lien and earning interest by holding the lien for a specified amount of time.
When a citizen owns a piece of real estate,
he or she is obligated to pay taxes that support the community. If a house is located in a town that has paved, maintained streets, public schools, parks, swimming pools, emergency crews such as the police and fire fighters and even mail delivery, these publicly funded services all contribute to what makes the place a desirable spot to live in. If a citizen fails to keep his or her end of the bargain, the country treasurer will move in to repossess the home. Here are some details about the process:
- Depending on your local government taxes are due either once or twice each calendar year. Homeowners or mortgage companies receive bills for property taxes. The amount will be based on the current appraised value of the real estate.
- Who pays it: If the house, condo or townhouse has a mortgage, these payments are usually paid by the lender. The lender collects 1/12th of the amount with each monthly payment and pays the county treasurer or tax assessor as scheduled. If a house is owned free and clear, the owner is responsible for paying the tax bills.
- What happens if they don't: If a homeowner has had financial setbacks, he or she may stop paying mortgages and all other bills. If the mortgage is not paid the lender will not pay the local tax bill. If the county doesn't receive the tax money owed on time, penalties and fines will be levied.
- Next steps: Homeowners will receive delinquency notices and warnings. Finally, the property will be scheduled for an upcoming auction for a tax deed to be sold to the highest bidder.
- Notifications to be sent out regarding the auction: The delinquent home owner will be sent a notice with the date his or her property will be auctioned off. The public will be notified through the newspaper legal listings and by posted notices at the local courthouse.
- Homeowner retaining ownership: Individuals may retain ownership of their homes if they are able to pay off delinquent amounts as well as all fines and penalties. This is true in cases where there isn't an outstanding mortgage. If the individuals have failed to pay their lender, the property may be lost to foreclosure instead.
- The auction: Auctions are held by public officials, often on the county courthouse steps in the locale where the properties are situated. It's the responsibility of investors to inspect properties in advance so they know what they're buying. This purchase will be a "cash and carry" and all parcels of real estate will be sold "as is." Buyers must do their homework to learn what remodeling must be done to make homes habitable and sellable. Because some are sold for a fraction of the property value, these can be wise investments.
A tax deed sale can be another way to obtain affordable investment properties. If homes are located in desirable locations and can be fixed up for selling, renting or living in, they can be quite the bargain.
