Georgia vs Texas Tax Lien Investing (2026)
For a retail investor, Texas edges it overall (6.7/10 vs 5.7/10). The biggest single difference is effective yield: Georgia scores 8, Texas scores 10. Neither is "best" for everyone — match the state to your goal below.
- System:
- redeemable deed
- Max rate:
- 20% penalty flat
- Redemption:
- 12mo
- System:
- redeemable deed
- Max rate:
- 25% flat premium yr-1 / 50% yr-2 (homestead-ag); 25% within 180d for other property
- Redemption:
- 180d/2yr
Head-to-head: 9 dimensions
Flat 20% premium in yr 1 even on day-1 redemption; +10%/yr thereafter
25% flat within 180d non-homestead (~50%+ annualized); 50% yr2 homestead
20% of full bid due on any first-year redemption (O.C.G.A. 48-4-42)
25% premium due even on day-1 redemption (34.21); 50% in year 2
12mo minimum; purchaser may then bar redemption via notice
180d for most property; 2yr only homestead/ag/minerals
First-Tuesday courthouse-steps sales; only some counties on GovEase
First-Tuesday sheriff sales statewide; growing online county adoption
Metro Atlanta deeds bid up hard; rural courthouse sales thinner
Metro auctions packed; bid-ups erode the deed discount
Redeemable deed: full winning bid price due upfront
Full property price in certified funds at auction
Barment notices (48-4-45) then quiet title needed for clean deed
Post-judgment deed with possession; quiet title often still needed
Premium structure unchanged since 2002 amendments
Tax Code ch.34 stable for decades
No OTC program; unsold parcels rare
Struck-off resale lists from taxing units and their law firms
Choose Georgia if…
it doesn't clearly out-score Texas on any single dimension — see the full Georgia guide.
Choose Texas if…
- you want stronger effective yield — 25% flat within 180d non-homestead (~50%+ annualized); 50% yr2 homestead
- you want stronger redemption speed — 180d for most property; 2yr only homestead/ag/minerals
- you want stronger process safety — Post-judgment deed with possession; quiet title often still needed