The TaxLienSimple Index / Delaware

The TaxLienSimple Index · DE · 2026

Delaware Tax-Lien & Tax-Deed Investing

What Delaware statute actually pays — return, redemption and bid method — cross-referenced with the live auction inventory we track. Every figure traces to state law or a county source.

Statutes verified Jul 29, 2026

53 /100
Tier C National rank #23 of 51
The TaxLienSimple Index is a 0–100 research guide built from statutory terms and the inventory we track — not a yield, a guarantee, or investment advice. Realized returns depend on competition, redemption and your own due diligence. Verify every figure with the county before bidding.
Sale type
Redeemable Deed
Statutory return / penalty
15% flat penalty (added to the purchase price, not per-annum)
Redemption period
60 days from the day the court confirms/approves the sale
Bid method
highest bid (deed)
Sale season
rolling/irregular sheriff sale dates
What you buy
monition tax deed sale

Statutory note. County sheriff sells via monition sale to the highest bidder; owner redeems by paying purchase price + 15% + costs within 60 days of court approval (9 Del. C. §§8771-8779).

190live parcels tracked
4counties with inventory
#23of 51 jurisdictions
Read the score correctly. The TaxLienSimple Index is a 0–100 research guide built from statutory terms and the inventory we track — not a yield, a guarantee, or investment advice. Realized returns depend on competition, redemption and your own due diligence. Verify every figure with the county before bidding.

Remote Investor Snapshot

Verified public-data profile for out-of-area investors — every figure below traces to the cited government source. Blank fields mean the source does not publish that value for this area (we never estimate).

Market & demographics

Population
993,635
5-yr population growth
+5.3% growing
Median household income
$79,325
Median age
41.4
Poverty rate
11.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year 2022

Housing market

Median home value
$305,200
Median gross rent
$1,286/mo
Owner-occupied
72% 28.0% renter
Vacancy rate
13.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year 2022

Property-tax burden

Median real-estate taxes
$1,674/yr
Effective property-tax rate
0.55% of home value

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year 2022

Natural-hazard risk & safety

Unemployment rate
4%

Source: FEMA National Risk Index (2023); U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, LAUS (2023 annual)

Growth & livability signals

New residential permits
5,765 units, 2023
Broadband subscription
90.3%
Bachelor's degree +
34.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey (2023); U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2022 (household broadband subscription; FCC availability not yet integrated); U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2022 (educational attainment — school-quality proxy; NCES ratings not yet integrated)

Risk & opportunity flags

Opportunity Zone tracts
25 tax-advantaged
EPA Superfund (NPL) sites
28
EPA Brownfield sites
168

Source: U.S. Treasury CDFI Fund / IRS designated Opportunity Zones; U.S. EPA (SEMS National Priorities List; ACRES Brownfields)

Counties we track in Delaware

#CountyTaxLienSimple IndexLive parcels
1 New Castle County B 57 88
2 New Castle County County B 56 46
3 Sussex County B 56 23
4 Kent County C 53 33

Delaware tax sale — FAQ

What is the TaxLienSimple Index for Delaware?

Delaware scores 53/100 (Tier C), ranked #23 of 51 jurisdictions. The TaxLienSimple Index is a 0–100 research guide built from statutory terms and the inventory we track — not a yield, a guarantee, or investment advice. Realized returns depend on competition, redemption and your own due diligence. Verify every figure with the county before bidding.

How does redemption and return work in Delaware?

15% flat penalty (added to the purchase price, not per-annum) Redemption period: 60 days from the day the court confirms/approves the sale. County sheriff sells via monition sale to the highest bidder; owner redeems by paying purchase price + 15% + costs within 60 days of court approval (9 Del. C. §§8771-8779).

What is Delaware's statutory return on a tax lien or tax deed purchase?

15% flat penalty (added to the purchase price, not per-annum) County sheriff sells via monition sale to the highest bidder; owner redeems by paying purchase price + 15% + costs within 60 days of court approval (9 Del. C. §§8771-8779).

What is the bid method for Delaware tax sales?

Delaware uses a highest bid (deed) method for its redeemable deed sales.

Does Delaware use tax-lien auctions or tax-deed sales?

Delaware uses a redeemable deed system. County sheriff sells via monition sale to the highest bidder; owner redeems by paying purchase price + 15% + costs within 60 days of court approval (9 Del. C. §§8771-8779).

See the actual parcels in Delaware

Browse the live tax-lien, deed and foreclosure inventory we track — search by county, redemption window and opening bid.

Browse live auction inventory →  ·  Delaware tax delinquent property list →  ·  Delaware state guide →  ·  Set a max bid →  ·  Academy: deed states and redeemable deeds →
The TaxLienSimple Index is a 0–100 research guide built from statutory terms and the inventory we track — not a yield, a guarantee, or investment advice. Realized returns depend on competition, redemption and your own due diligence. Verify every figure with the county before bidding.

© 2026 TaxLienSimple · The TaxLienSimple Index is compiled from state tax statutes and county treasurer/tax-collector offices; live inventory counts reflect parcels currently tracked by TaxLienSimple and update continuously. Nothing here is investment or legal advice.