Tax Lien Blog
Real stories from a real investor. No fluff, just what worked and what didn't.
Auction Radar: November 3 to November 9, 2026 - Nineteen Verified Sales, With Eighteen Landing on One Day
Eighteen of the nineteen verified sales fall on November 3, 2026, across Texas and Georgia.
The Investor Brief: AI Agents, Rate Shifts, and the Limits of Old Playbooks
HousingWire reports Meta launched Muse on 09/08/2026, raising new questions for mortgage servicers on disclosure, authentication and delegated authority.
Auction Radar: October 26 - November 2, 2026 - Eight Verified Sales, Indiana Leads with Six
Eight tax sales are verified across three states between October 26 and November 2, 2026.
Auction Radar: October 5-21, 2026 - 31 Verified Sales Across Indiana, Texas, and Pennsylvania
31 county-verified tax sales occur between October 5 and October 21, 2026.
The Investor Brief: Capital Concentrates as Rate Views Shift
HousingWire reported that a small fraction of lenders are capturing most new mortgage production as loan officers shift to brokerage and correspondent platforms.
The Investor Brief: AI in Mortgage Servicing and Rate Shifts Reshape Secured Real Estate
HousingWire outlines three questions mortgage servicers aren't asking about borrower AI agents, focusing on disclosure, authentication, and ongoing fitness.
The Investor Brief: Default Servicing Handoffs and Rate Shifts Reshape Secured Real Estate
HousingWire reports that five default servicing handoffs cost mortgage investors, servicers, and law firms time, visibility, and money.
Auction Radar: September 18 to October 9, 2026 - Indiana Tax Lien Sales Dominate, 37 Verified Sales
37 verified sales across Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Texas from September 18 to October 9, 2026.
Average Return on Tax Lien Certificates: What the Statute Pays vs What Investors Keep
There is no single average. The statutory rate is a ceiling set by state law (Iowa 24% fixed, Florida and New Jersey 18%, Arizona 16%, Kentucky 12%; Illinois sells penalty bids capped at 9% per six-month period, 35 ILCS 200/21-215), and the realized return depends on the bid method, how soon the owner redeems, and your costs.
Tax Lien Investing vs Rental Property: Capital, Returns, Time and Risk Side by Side
Tax liens are a lending position that pays a statutory rate (typically 8% to 18% a year, up to 25% flat in Texas) when the owner redeems; a rental is an ownership position that pays cash flow plus appreciation and carries a mortgage, tenants and repairs.
The Investor Brief: Rate Hikes and Sector Shifts Reshape Secured Real Estate
HousingWire reports the Fed rate-hike cycle has started, with mortgage rates influenced by the Iran conflict and trade war, not just the economy.
Auction Radar: September 15-24, 2026 - Five Verified Sales Across Four States
Five county-verified tax sales occur between September 15 and September 24, 2026.
Auction Radar: September 9-24, 2026 - Seven Verified Sales Across Five States
Seven county-verified tax sales are scheduled between September 9 and September 24, 2026.
Auction Radar: Aug 31 - Sep 21, 2026 - Mississippi and Wyoming Lead, 10 Verified Sales
Mississippi's DeSoto and Jackson counties both start sales on Monday, August 31, 2026.
How to Become a Surplus Funds Recovery Agent in 2026: State Rules, Fee Caps and Real Startup Costs
A surplus funds recovery agent finds former owners whose property sold at a tax or foreclosure sale for more than was owed, explains the money to them, and helps them claim it for an agreed fee.
How to Claim Surplus Funds in Florida: Tax Deed and Foreclosure Surplus, Step by Step
Florida has two kinds of surplus: tax deed surplus, held by the county clerk under Fla. Stat. 197.582, and mortgage foreclosure surplus, held by the clerk of the court that handled the foreclosure under Fla. Stat. 45.032.
How to Claim Surplus Funds After a Foreclosure: A Step-by-Step Guide for Former Owners
Foreclosure surplus funds are what is left when a foreclosed home sells at auction for more than the loan balance, costs and fees. After lienholders that rank ahead of you are paid, the rest belongs to the former owner.
Surplus Funds Courses Compared: Overages Blueprint vs Surplus Funds Profit System (2026)
Two of the most searched surplus funds programs are Bob Diamond's Overages Blueprint and Eric Richardson's Surplus Funds Profit System. Both teach the business of helping former owners claim surplus funds for a fee.
Is Surplus Funds Recovery Legit? Red Flags, Scams and the Fee Caps in Every State
Surplus funds are real. When a property sells at a tax or foreclosure sale for more than was owed, counties and courts hold the extra money for the former owner and lienholders, and they publish lists of it.
How Long Does It Take to Get Surplus Funds? Claim Windows and Payout Times by State
There are two clocks: how long you have to file a claim, and how long it takes to be paid once you file. People mix them up all the time.
Tyler v. Hennepin County, Three Years On: What It Means for Surplus Funds and Home Equity
On May 25, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 9 to 0 in Tyler v. Hennepin County that a county which sells a home for unpaid property taxes cannot keep the equity left after the debt is paid. Keeping it is a taking under the Fifth Amendment.
Tax Sale Overages vs Foreclosure Surplus Funds: Who Holds the Money and Who Can Claim It
Tax sale overages come from a property sold for unpaid property taxes. Foreclosure surplus comes from a property sold because a mortgage or other loan was not paid. Both are the money left after the debt and costs are paid.
Surplus Funds When the Owner Has Died: How Heirs Claim, and What Agents Need to Know
When the former owner has died, surplus funds from a tax sale or foreclosure belong to the owner's estate. The county or court pays whoever has legal authority for the estate, not simply whoever asks first.
California Excess Proceeds: How the Claim Works in Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange and Every County
In California, money left after a tax-defaulted property sale is called excess proceeds. Parties of interest, meaning lienholders and the owners of record, can claim it from the county under Revenue and Taxation Code section 4675.
Georgia Excess Funds: How Tax Sale Claims Work Under O.C.G.A. 48-4-5
In Georgia, excess funds are what is left when a tax sale brings in more than the taxes, interest and costs. The tax commissioner (or sheriff) who held the sale keeps the money and pays it out under O.C.G.A. 48-4-5.
Texas Excess Proceeds: How Tax Sale Claims Work, and Why Only Attorneys Can Charge
In Texas, excess proceeds are what is left after a tax foreclosure sale pays the judgment, taxes and costs. The district clerk holds the money in the registry of the court that ordered the sale.
Ohio Foreclosure Surplus: How to Claim Excess Funds From a Sheriff's Sale
In Ohio, excess funds are what is left when a sheriff's sale brings in more than the judgment, interest and costs. The sheriff hands the balance to the clerk of courts within 45 days after the court confirms the sale.
Pennsylvania Excess Funds: How Tax Sale Surplus Claims Work Under the Real Estate Tax Sale Law
In most Pennsylvania counties, the county tax claim bureau sells tax-delinquent property at an upset sale or a judicial sale. When the price is more than what is owed, the extra is excess funds, sometimes called overbid or surplus.
Overages Meaning: What Tax Sale Overages Are, Who the Money Belongs To, and How Claims Work
An overage is the money left over when a property sells at a tax sale for more than the taxes owed. It is also called surplus funds or excess proceeds, and it belongs to the former owner, not the county.
Auction Radar: Aug 24 - Sep 8, 2026 - Missouri's Fourth-Monday Wave Leads 12 Verified Sales
Twelve tax sales with county-verified dates land between August 24 and September 8 across Missouri, Michigan, New York, Mississippi, Wyoming and Indiana.
Auction Radar: August 4, 2026, Georgia and Texas Monthly Sales
We're launching Upcoming Auctions coverage with 9 verified counties across Georgia and Texas.
I Bought My First Texas Tax Deed: Here's Exactly What Happened
I spent $2,847 at a Cameron County auction, not on a certificate, but on the property itself, subject to the former owner's right to redeem.
Why I Stopped Chasing Houses and Started Buying Tax Liens
House flipping requires $50K+ per deal, contractors, timelines, and luck. Texas tax deeds need a few thousand dollars and research.
The Real Math: How Texas's 25% Redemption Premium Actually Works
Texas is not a lien-certificate state. You buy the property at auction; if the former owner redeems, they owe you a flat 25% premium, not tiered interest, not prorated.
My 3 Biggest Tax Lien Mistakes (And What They Cost Me)
Mistake 1: I bid on a property with a senior lien I did not know about. Cost me $800 to fix.
I Assumed Every State Worked Like Texas - Here is What It Cost Me
Texas's 25% flat premium is state law, uniform across every Texas county. I assumed every state worked the same way.
I Won the Bid at $2,500 - Then Realized I'd Killed My Ownership Upside
Bidding up at a Texas tax sale doesn't hurt your redemption payout - the 25% premium applies to whatever you paid, so it scales right along with your bid.
My First Redemption Came in 3 Months, Not 180 Days - Here is Why That's Good
In Texas the redemption premium is flat, not prorated - a 3-month redemption pays the exact same 25% as a 179-day one.
The County Almost Rejected My Deed - 3 Mistakes That Nearly Cost Me Everything
A missing form almost held up recording my deed.
I Tracked 47 Certificates in a Spreadsheet. One Mistake Cost Me $3,400.
One wrong cell in my Google Sheets cost me a missed redemption deadline. The legal fees and lost interest totaled $3,400.
Tax Lien vs Tax Deed vs Redeemable Deed: What I Learned Running All Three
There are three systems, not two: lien states pay accruing interest, deed states hand you the property outright, redeemable-deed states (like Texas) sell you the property with a flat penalty if the owner buys it back.
Reddit Tax Lien Investing: Is It a Scam or Legit? Here’s the Truth
Tax sale investing is legal and backed by county government across the country - different states use different mechanisms, though. You are buying a legal claim, not gambling.
How to Find Tax Lien Properties: A Complete County-by-County Guide
Every county publishes a delinquent tax list before auction free of charge.
Can You Lose Money on Tax Liens? Reddit Investors Share Their Losses So You Do Not Have To
Yes you can lose money. The most common way is overpaying at auction.
Reddit Tax Lien vs Tax Deed: Which Strategy Actually Makes More Money?
Lien states let you earn interest on delinquent taxes. Deed states let you buy properties at auction. Texas is a third thing: a redeemable deed.
Reddit Tax Lien Redemption: How the Owner Pays You Back and What to Expect
Redemption is when the original owner pays you back. What they owe on top depends on the state - accruing interest in lien states, a flat penalty in Texas. The county handles the payment either way.
Reddit Tax Lien Auction: What to Expect Your First Time at the County Courthouse
County tax auctions are held monthly. Registration takes 15 minutes with ID and a form.
Do You Need an LLC for Tax Lien Investing? Reddit Answers and What I Learned
You do not need an LLC to buy tax liens. I bought my first 10 certificates as an individual.
Best Counties for Tax Lien Investing: Reddit-Approved Counties That Actually Produce Returns
Cameron County Texas has low bidder turnout and consistent 25% returns.
Tax Liens vs Stocks Bonds and Real Estate: Reddit Compares the Returns
Some states advertise statutory rates of roughly 16-36%, but that's a ceiling, not a realized return, competitive bidding, early redemption, idle capital and costs pull actual results well below it.
3 Biggest Tax Lien Mistakes Reddit Investors Make and How to Avoid Every One
Mistake 1: Not researching the property before bidding. The appraised value tells you nothing about title issues.
How Do Tax Liens Work? A Plain-English Explainer for First-Time Investors
A tax lien certificate is a debt instrument, not a deed. You buy the government's right to collect back taxes plus interest - not a property.
How to Buy Tax Lien Certificates: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners
Buying tax lien certificates requires county-specific registration, auction bidding, and post-sale tracking - there is no national marketplace or broker.
How Much Money Do You Need to Start Tax Lien Investing? A State-by-State Reality Check
Some counties sell liens for as little as $100-$500, but these are outliers. Most active investors need $2,500+ per lien to win competitive bids.
Is Tax Lien Investing Safe? The Honest Answer (With Real Data)
Safe is relative. Tax liens sit between bonds and stocks - safer than equities, riskier than FDIC-insured CDs.
Can You Lose Money on Tax Liens? Yes. Here's Exactly How.
Yes, you can lose money on tax liens. The gurus who claim otherwise are selling courses, not telling the truth.
Tax Lien Investing Risks: Every Single Way Things Go Wrong
Tax lien risks break into six categories: property, legal, operational, market, liquidity, and geographic - most investors only think about one or two.
7 Tax Lien Investing Mistakes (And What They Actually Cost)
The most expensive mistake is the one you don't know you made - the systematic error that bleeds 3-5% off returns every year.
What Happens If a Tax Lien Doesn't Redeem? The Foreclosure Roadmap
Most tax liens redeem - roughly 95-98% are paid off by the owner or a mortgage lender before the foreclosure stage.
How to Buy Tax Liens in a Self-Directed IRA: The Complete Setup Guide
A self-directed IRA (SDIRA) lets you invest in alternative assets like tax lien certificates - something a regular IRA or 401(k) won't allow.
Over-the-Counter Tax Liens: The Hidden Market Individual Investors Can Actually Win
Over-the-counter (OTC) tax liens are certificates that didn't sell at the main county auction - usually because no bidder wanted them.
Deed Theft Is Rising: 5 Warning Signs Every Property Owner Needs to Know
Deed fraud, when someone forges a property deed and transfers ownership out from under the real owner, is surging across the US, with the FBI reporting a 500%+ increase in related complaints since 2020.
20 Tax Sale Questions, Answered With Data
The 20 questions beginners ask most about tax lien and tax deed investing, answered with sourced data, not sales pitches.
"95% of Tax Lien Certificates Are Redeemed": Is That Claim True?
A viral TikTok pitch claims 95% of tax lien certificates redeem at 8-36% interest and the other 5% hands you a house, real, currently running, and worth fact-checking line by line.