Buying Tax Lien Certificates After the Auction Date

The majority of states set tax lien certificate sales for one, maybe twice, a year. Part of the research that goes into successful investing is knowing when those auctions are scheduled and being prepared to attend them when that date comes along. But what happens if you miss the sale? Are you just out of luck until next year?

Not necessarily.

One way that you can still invest in tax lien certificates after the date of the auction has passed is by purchasing liens left over from the sale. Not every tax lien certificate is going to sell at every auction. You can bet that the county is going to want to get rid of whatever certificates are remaining. In this instance, you need to do your research and find out where you can find the list of leftover properties and figure out the process of purchasing them. Don’t be afraid to consider this real estate; there are still some great deals to be had by buying tax lien certificates that didn’t sell at auction and your competition is bound to be slim or even none.

Another way to benefit from post-auction tax lien sales is to use the mail-in method. Some counties allow interested investors who do not live in the area to submit bids in absentia throughout the year, either at predetermined times or any time. Although you can find some fantastic properties this way, do be cautious and work with a local realtor to ensure that the parcels are of appropriate value – ask your real estate partner to drive by the property and submit photos before bidding on the tax lien certificates.

The successful tax lien certificate investor never discounts an opportunity to make a profit – even after a county’s auction has officially ended for the current period. Remember, where there’s a will there’s a way and the most successful investors think outside the box to nab great deals that others aren’t aware of.