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How to Participate in County Tax Sales

The following are necessary steps to participate in the Tax Certificate Sale:
Register for the Online County Tax Certificate Sale

Registration is required to participate in any County Tax Sales. The process is free, easy and only takes a few minutes to complete. Click here to register.


Interested bidders are urged to examine the title, location and desirability of the properties available to their own satisfaction prior to the sale. A complete list of properties available for auction will be posted for viewing and downloading three to four weeks prior to the auction date. Where? When you find an item your interested in bidding on, make sure you read the entire listing description and any additional information included in the "Additional Details" tab.

After reviewing the information included in the auction listing, if you have additional questions you are encouraged to contact the Tax-Collectors Office of the County in which the property you are interested in is located. This information can be found in the center of the County specific storefronts.
Tax Sale Example - Important Dates Screenshot
For questions regarding the auction and the bidding process, please contact [email protected]

It's important to remember that Bids are binding contracts; if you are the winning bidder, you are legally obligated to purchase the item. Make sure you have done all necessary research before moving forward with your bid.


Place Deposit

Most counties require bidders to place a deposit prior to placing their first bid. A "BidDeposit" helps the County ensure that only qualified and authorized bidders are participating in its auction. Generally a "BidDeposit" is good for bidding on any and all auctions within that County and will not be transferable from County to County. Deadlines to place your deposits are set for 7 days before the close of the last auction for a particular County. "BidDeposit" deadlines, specific to the County you are interested in, are located on the County Specific Storefront.
Bid Deposit Instructions - Sample Screenshot


The acceptable forms of deposit method vary by County. County Specific deposit instructions are located under the General Tax Sale Information tab in the "County Terms of Sale" document
Sample Tax Sale - Terms and Due Diligence Example Screenshot
For additional information on placing a deposit, Click here for a step-by-step guide on how to place a BidDeposit;

Bidding

Auto Bid is a maximum bid which is held in confidence by the system. Bid4Assets will use only as much of the maximum bid as is necessary to maintain the bidder's high bid position or to meet the reserve. [Please Note: In Reserve Price Auctions, if your maximum bid is the first to meet or exceed the seller's reserve price, the system will automatically move your bid up to meet the reserve, and bidding will continue from there.]

When you are ready to place a bid, choose a bid type, enter your bid amount in the Bid Amount box and click on the Bid on this item button. You will be prompted to login (or register, if you haven't already).

Once you've submitted your bid, we will send you a bid confirmation notice via email and place a similar notice in your My Messages in-box located within My Account.
A more comprehensive, step-by-step guide to bidding is available by clicking here.
Monitor Your Auction

Monitoring your auction is very easy with Bid4Assets' auction management center, My Account. You will also receive county auction updates in your My Messages center also located in the My Account section of the site.

Please note: Include information on counties withdrawing properties.

When an Auction Ends

  • If you are the winning bidder of a County Tax Sale auction, you will receive an e-mail (and message in your My Messages in-box) from Bid4Assets with settlement and deed transfer instructions within 24 hours. As a winning bidder your deposit will be transferred to the County Tax Collector as a non-refundable down payment for the property. As a reminder, your bid is a binding contract.
  • If you are not the winning bidder on the auction, your deposit will automatically be refunded within 10 business days of the close of the auction.

  1. Online check deposits are refunded by online check (ACH) to the originating bank account within 10 business days of the day the auction closes.
  2. Check or wire deposits are refunded by check, to the name and address provided in your Bid4Assets profile, within 10 business days after the close of the auction. To confirm your profile information, click on the My Profile link located in My Account.