Tax Sale Basics

If you are an investor in real estate, you may have noticed that many properties are not reaping the financial benefits that they once were. Before the American economy became unstable and the housing bubble burst, investing in real estate was a fairly straightforward process and often paid off nicely. However, more and more real estate agents and brokers are looking for other work and having to supplement their income in new and creative ways. One of the most popular ways to gain real estate for much cheaper than the valued price is to buy at a tax lien or tax deed sale.

A tax sale is a sale conducted by the government in order to sell real estate that has outstanding or delinquent taxes. These properties are owned by individuals or corporations that have not been able to keep up with the taxes owed. This is an increasingly common situation in America as more families are struggling with unemployment and rising costs of living. Businesses and corporations are going out of business and leaving buildings that have outstanding taxes owed. The government regularly sells these properties to interested individuals at a tax sale.

A tax sale is conducted as a public auction by the government on behalf of the delinquent properties. The property auctions were traditionally held in person as most auctions are. However, with advances in internet communication and online services, many of the auctions are now held online. Online access is especially helpful for large counties that have several liens for sale. It is also helpful for individuals that want to bid on a lien but do not live in that particular part of the country.

Often several investors are interested in the same lien at a tax sale. In order to fairly determine who gets the property, there are a number of methods employed. The lien may go to the investor that accepts the lowest rate of interest return or the investor willing to pay the highest premium. In many cases, random or rotational selection is used and a computer generates the winner from a list of possible investors interested in the property.

The benefits of investing at a tax sale include the potential to gain a higher rate of return than on other investments. However, several drawbacks make this a real estate investment that is best left to professionals and to individuals that have experience with the tax sale process.