Delinquent taxes are one of the most common reasons people call us — not a reason we say no.
People are often embarrassed to mention it, and sometimes assume it disqualifies them entirely. It doesn't. A meaningful share of the parcels we look at have some balance owed, and the reasons are mundane: the tax notice was going to an old address, the owner died and nobody redirected the mail, or the amount grew past the point where writing a cheque for land you don't want felt sensible.
In a normal sale, what's owed is simply paid out of the proceeds at closing, the same way a mortgage payoff would be. You don't have to clear the balance first in order to sell.
If what's owed is close to or more than the land is worth, we'll tell you that plainly. Sometimes the honest answer is that the parcel has negative value and the sensible route is different — which is a real conversation worth having with your own advisor rather than something to discover after months of waiting.
Counties can eventually take and sell a parcel for unpaid taxes. The process, the notice you're entitled to, the redemption period, and whether any surplus comes back to you all vary substantially from state to state — and in some places from county to county.
If you've received a notice about a tax sale, foreclosure, or forfeiture, treat it as time-sensitive and talk to a real-estate attorney in that state now. Do not rely on this page, or on us, for your deadlines — we don't know your county's rules and getting them wrong can cost you the parcel and any equity in it. Tell us the deadline when you call and we'll be straight with you about whether a sale could realistically close in time.
What we can say without qualification: the earlier you make the call, the more options exist. A parcel with a balance owed is a routine transaction. A parcel two weeks from a sale date is a much harder one.
It doesn't disqualify you and it isn't unusual. Send the parcel number and county and we'll look at where things stand.
Send Us the Parcel Details