How To Buy Tax Sale Properties May 2026

Contact your county treasurer or tax collector's office for the "delinquent tax list".

The rules vary by county, but the standard flow usually looks like this: how to buy tax sale properties

If they don't pay by the deadline, you finally get the deed. 💡 Key Risks to Watch Contact your county treasurer or tax collector's office

You buy a "tax lien certificate." You don't own the house yet; you own the debt. You earn interest on that debt, and if the owner never pays you back, you can eventually foreclose to take the property. 2. The Step-by-Step Process You earn interest on that debt, and if

You are either buying the property itself or the right to collect debt:

Visit the property (though you often can't go inside) and check for other liens like mortgages or utility bills that might not be wiped out.