Tax Deed Sale and an Investment Opportunity

Tax deed properties can be found everywhere in a failing economy. These sales provide investors with plenty of opportunities to make key investments that will pay off in the future. As with any type of investment there are benefits and risks to obtaining property this way. It is important to have the right people lined up in order to make the process go smoothly.

What It Is

When a property owner doesn’t pay their real estate taxes the local government still needs to collect the funds to ensure municipal services continue. In some cases this means that a property will go to a tax deed sale. The government agency sells the right to collect the taxes on the property as a method to recoup their losses. A public auction is conducted and people will typically start bidding at the amount that is owed. While each state is different, there is a set amount of time (a redemption period) that a property owner has to pay the back real estate taxes plus fees and interest.

Benefits

Investors often find that in this type of situation they wind up owning property and pay just a fraction of what it is worth. For most people, this is a huge opportunity. They need to wait for the redemption period to expire; meaning that the original owner has not come back to pay up and regain the property. However, even if the owner does succeed in redeeming the property, your original investment plus a specified amount of interest must be paid. So investors in tax deed properties will still make money on the original investment.

Problems

With a tax deed sale there are some issues that can cause complications to the investor. While they hold the tax deed during the redemption period, their money is tied up and there isn’t a lot they can do.

After the redemption period is over and foreclosure begins, investors may find that there is a "cloud" or other claims on the title to the property. These types of troubled properties often have problems with multiple claims or liens on the title. A quiet title action may be necessary in order to remove the "cloud" on the title and obtain title insurance. This is an often lengthy and expensive court action to determine who has the most valid claim to the property. The goal is to have the titles free and clear without anyone being able to come in and dispute it.

Solutions

As an alternative, many seasoned investors turn to companies that can help make it easier to obtain title insurance on property obtained through a tax deed auction. This is known as property certification. For many investors, this is the key to being able to make money and make money quickly on their new purchase. As soon as the receipt of purchase is in it can be sent over to a title company that will begin the process of certification allowing investors to resell the property quicker and increase their profit potential.

If this sounds like a type of investment that you would like to participate in it is important to find out more about the laws in your area so that you understand how the entire process works. You also want to make sure that you have a title company that will be able to assist you with the process.