Tax Sales Will Turn Your World Upside Down

Have you heard about tax sales recently? Have you been wondering what they are and what they can do for you? Lots of people have had this experience. “Who would sell their taxes?” many are wondering. Others, knowing that tax sales actually involve real estate, are wondering how these sales can work for them and what they need to know about the ins and outs of the whole process.

Tax sales are auctions held by the county auditor where properties belonging to delinquent tax payers are bid upon. They come in two forms; tax lien certificates and tax deeds. With tax lien certificates the government gives you a percentage of interest (18+ %) upon your payment over the course of however many years are decided upon (varying by state) and with tax deeds the investor gains ownership over the property (sometimes with encumbrances attached, such as paying off the owed taxes).

You don’t have to go to tax sales to get the properties though. Another option is obtaining a copy of the list from the county auditor one to two months before the auction. Sometimes these lists are available online as well, often with weekly updates (some owners pay off their taxes before the tax sales). From these lists of properties you can do some research and get in contact with the property owners.

While contacting the owners can seem a little bit intimidating there really is nothing to be concerned about. You will be able to learn more about the property and their situation through contacting them and can make an offer that they may refuse or they may not. The worst they can say is no and there is no harm in that. On the other hand they might sign over their deed to you for less than you would have paid at tax sales.

Make sure that you also research the properties. Research is essential to successful investment, because you need to know what you are getting yourself into. It is possible that the property could be in poor enough condition that even a small amount of money spent at tax sales would not be worth it. So, drive by, talk to the owners, do some internet research, whatever it takes to make a good decision.

Tax sales can be intimidating, but with the right amount of effort put into it you can make a good amount of money and returns. Though the general public hasn’t learned much about these tax sales until recently, the wealthy have been using them as a guide to their affluence for years on end. You too can aspire to and reach that same level of financial security.

Learn more about Tax Lien Certificates investing. Stop by No Risk Investor where you can find out all about Tax Lien Certificates and how you can profit by them.