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The commissioner of lands holds properties that are seized for tax forfeiture in trust at the state level. The commissioner is responsible for recovering outstanding assets by selling seized property. This is done through public auctions, which take place in each county a couple of times a year.
Contact the office of the commissioner to be placed on the mailing list for auction announcements. These announcements will list the dates and locations of the auctions, as well as a detailed inventory of the properties that are available. The amount of outstanding tax will be listed. The winner of the auction will be responsible for paying the amount of the winning bid plus the amount of back taxes. -
Properties that do not sell at public auction can be purchased directly from the office of the county clerk in the county where the property is located. If the property has been delinquent for at least a year and failed to sell at public auction, it can be purchased for the amount of back taxes only.
If the property has been delinquent for at least two years and failed to sell at auction both times, it can be purchased for less than the amount of taxes owed. Be warned, however, that this is usually an indication of an undesirable lot. - Be aware that the previous owner may still have a period of time in which to pay the taxes and reclaim the property. In most states, there is a two to three year window for the old owner to reclaim the deed by paying the taxes.
Comments
kerrykause said
on 8/18/2009 cool