Tax Lien versus Tax Deeds and How to Purchase a House for Under $2K

By Chris McKay

Have you ever considered what the penalty is when a property owner is unable to pay their taxes? Well as you may of guessed the IRS is intolerant and will do whatever is required to retrieve the taxes due, including forcing the buyer to foreclose on their home. On the outside this may seem like a very unpleasant situation, however, there are other sources of alternative financing available to assist this owner. That's where individuals like yourself can profit while providing a possible 'light at the end of the tunnel' for the distraught home owner.

A public property tax sale, also known as 'property tax liens', are auctions organized by local government councils in an effort to dispose of tax debt. What occurs is that the public bids on the debt owed by the property owner. For argument sake say you are the winning bidder. That means you are paying off the tax debt on behalf of the property owner by buying a tax lien certificate which establishes you as the new lender to the property owner. The property owner has to pay you back with interest before the expiration of the redemption period as predefined by the government. This redemption period can be any time between 6 months to 4 years.

If the homeowner fails to pay back the lender, the lender then has every right to foreclose the property and to transfer the title in their name. In order for the homeowner to remain on the title, the owner must keep up with the payments on the new tax lien loan. The lender will charge the homeowner a predetermined interest rate which is much higher then the going mortgage rate in return for saving their home.

I won't tell anybody, but I'm guessing you are actually hoping the owner will default on your property tax sale loan so that you can take ownership of the property. Actually you don't have to feel guilty because you have relieved them of an impossible debt situation and saved them from being forced into bankruptcy. It allows the owner a chance to start a new chapter in their life with available credit and a clean slate.

A tax deed sale is different then a tax lien sale. The main detail the two hold in common is that they're both sold at local municipal government auctions. At a tax deed sale the municipality sells the actual property with title, with the top bid winning the rights to the property immediately. The current homeowners do not have an option to pay a new lender in an effort to maintain the property. Any outstanding liens and or penalities may or may not have to be honored as declared by the local or state governments. You can find which is the case beforehand by contacting these offices toavoid encountering any unexpected costs.

Tax lien sales and tax deed sales are two ways that a person can benefit from participating at a government auction. Imagine all the money that the winners of these auctions can profit by either charging the owners high interest, or taking over the home themselves and renting or reselling it for a handsome profit. - 23199

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To find sites with the top tax lien and tax deed opportunities and receive a free Government Tax Sale Properties Report visit property tax sales or to visit the home page click government auctions.