Tagged “basics”
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A Plain-English Glossary of Tax Sale Terms
Delinquency, redemption, priority, quiet title, overage — the vocabulary of tax sales defined simply, with a note on which meanings vary locally.
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Tax Lien States, Tax Deed States, and Hybrids
States use different tax sale models, and published state-by-state lists go stale fast. Here's how the categories work and how to check yours reliably.
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Tax Sale Overages and Surplus Funds, Explained
When a tax sale raises more than the county is owed, the extra money goes somewhere. Here's how surplus funds work and why the topic attracts hype.
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How a Tax-Sale Auction Works, Step by Step
From the delinquency list to the winning bid, here's how a typical tax-lien or tax-deed auction actually runs — explained in plain English for beginners.
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Redemption Periods: How They Work and Why They Vary
A redemption period is the window an owner has to pay back what they owe and keep their property. Here's how it works and what sets its length.
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Tax Lien vs. Tax Deed: What's the Difference?
Tax liens and tax deeds are two different things a county can sell at a tax sale. Here's what each one is, in plain English, and why it matters.
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Tax Lien Investing for Beginners: Where to Start
A realistic starting sequence for tax lien investing: learn your state's model, read the statute, study a sale you don't bid in, then decide.
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What Is a Tax Lien Certificate?
A tax lien certificate is the document you receive after buying unpaid property taxes at auction. Here's what it represents and what it doesn't.
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What Happens When Property Taxes Go Unpaid
Unpaid property taxes don't go to auction overnight. Here's the general sequence of delinquency, notices and escalation — and why the timing varies.
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What Is a Tax Sale?
A tax sale is how a local government recovers unpaid property taxes. Here's what gets sold, who takes part, and why the rules differ everywhere.