Tax Deed Sales: Everything You Need To Know

Tax deed sales are probably more common than you think, especially when the economy isn’t what it used to be. Those who own personal property are typically required to pay tax on it. The only exceptions are in certain states where an individual is allowed to be exempt if the property is considered their homestead. In most other cases, however, a homeowner will have to pay the IRS for the privilege of owning that home. If they fail to do so, the government may put a lien against the property. If this doesn’t convince the owner to pay their taxes, the property will go up for auction. 

In most cases, tax deed sales are open to anyone who has the ability to find out where and when they are going to be held. An auction is held and the home or property will go to the highest bidder. A savvy buyer will pay close attention to notices in their local newspaper, which the government is required to place to ensure they have made every opportunity to not only notify the buyer of the impending auction, but to see that they get the best possible price for the property. Unlike many other auctions, there are no specific requirements for participating in the bidding. You need no special licensing. 

Naturally, because of the auction setting and the fact that the government wants to get the property off the books as soon as possible, tax deed sales provide a nice opportunity for buyers to make a profit. Under the right circumstances, it is very possible to turn around and sell a piece of property for much more than what you paid for it at auction. This can sometimes be done without the slightest efforts in renovation. However, if the market is depressed, a buyer needs to be able to live without their capital for some time, as it may take a while for a property to be sold at a fair market price.

Because of the opportunities for profit, many people buy at tax deed sales as a full or part time job. This can be a lucrative business to get into, and there are a number of resources online that can help the beginner get started. As stated, however, you need to have a considerable amount of capital to begin and you should be prepared to live without that money for some time. After you’ve made your first sale, you’ll begin to be able to use your profit for subsequent investments.