Tax deed
A deed issued by a county to transfer ownership of a property sold for unpaid property taxes.
Definition
A tax deed is a deed a county or tax collector issues to transfer ownership of a property sold for unpaid property taxes. In a tax deed sale, the property itself is auctioned and the winning bidder receives a deed, rather than a lien certificate.
The path differs by state. Some states sell the property directly after a set period of delinquency. Others, like Florida, sell tax certificates first and let the certificate holder apply for a tax deed later; in Florida, a holder can apply once two years have passed since April 1 of the year the certificate was issued, under section 197.502 of the Florida Statutes. A tax deed may not give insurable title right away, and many buyers need a quiet title action or a waiting period before a title company will insure. Owners facing a tax deed sale can usually still pay the taxes before the auction, which makes a quick sale an option when they have equity.
Source: leg.state.fl.us
Read the guide
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Tax Lien vs Tax Deed States: What Investors Need to Know
Tax lien vs tax deed states explained: what each sale sells, redemption periods by state, interest and premiums, buyer risks, and how to reach owners first.
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Where counties publish the tax sale list, what each column means, why most rows drop off before auction day, and how to reach owners first.
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Tax Delinquent Properties: How to Find Owners Behind on Property Taxes
How tax delinquent properties work, where county delinquency lists come from, how to read them, and how to reach owners before the tax sale.
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