[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":95},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc:guides:_":3,"i-lucide:globe":86,"i-lucide:menu":91,"i-lucide:landmark":93},{"tax-sales":4,"tax-liens":26,"tax-deeds":41,"foreclosure":56,"due-diligence":67},{"eyebrow":5,"title":6,"intro":7,"updated":8,"sections":9},"Guide","The Complete Guide to Tax Sales","What tax sales are, how they work, and how to participate as an investor.","June 2026",[10,14,18,22],{"id":11,"heading":12,"body":13},"what","What is a tax sale?","A tax sale is the sale of a property by a municipality to recover unpaid property taxes. When an owner fails to pay taxes for a set period, the municipality can sell the property to recover the arrears.\nTax sales are a long-established, legally governed process — and a way for investors to acquire property below market value.",{"id":15,"heading":16,"body":17},"how","How tax sales work","Most Canadian tax sales use a public tender process: investors submit sealed bids above a minimum tender amount, and the highest valid bid wins.\nUS jurisdictions more commonly use live or online auctions for tax deeds, and interest-bearing certificates for tax liens.",{"id":19,"heading":20,"body":21},"process","The tender process","Review the official notice and minimum tender. Complete your due diligence. Submit your tender with the required deposit before the closing deadline.\nIf you win, you pay the balance and the property is transferred, subject to any statutory redemption period.",{"id":23,"heading":24,"body":25},"risks","Risks to understand","Tax sale properties are sold as-is. Title issues, occupancy, environmental concerns, and redemption rights all carry risk.\nThorough due diligence — title searches, site checks, and reviewing the assessment — is essential before bidding.",{"eyebrow":5,"title":27,"intro":28,"updated":8,"sections":29},"Tax Liens Explained","How tax lien certificates work and how investors earn interest on them.",[30,33,37],{"id":11,"heading":31,"body":32},"What is a tax lien?","A tax lien certificate represents unpaid property taxes. Investors purchase the certificate and, in return, earn interest until the property owner redeems it by paying the back taxes plus interest.",{"id":34,"heading":35,"body":36},"interest","How you earn","Interest rates are set by statute and vary by jurisdiction, often ranging from 8% to 18%. If the owner redeems, you receive your principal plus accrued interest.",{"id":38,"heading":39,"body":40},"foreclosure","If the lien isn't redeemed","If the owner does not redeem within the statutory period, the certificate holder may be able to foreclose and acquire the property — the higher-risk, higher-reward outcome.",{"eyebrow":5,"title":42,"intro":43,"updated":8,"sections":44},"Tax Deeds: A Beginner's Guide","How tax deed sales transfer property ownership to the winning bidder.",[45,48,52],{"id":11,"heading":46,"body":47},"What is a tax deed?","In a tax deed sale, the property itself is sold — not just a lien. The winning bidder receives a deed to the property, subject to the rules of the jurisdiction.",{"id":49,"heading":50,"body":51},"auction","The auction","Tax deed sales are typically live or online auctions starting at the amount of back taxes owed. The highest bidder wins the deed.",{"id":53,"heading":54,"body":55},"title","Title considerations","Tax deed titles can require a quiet title action to be fully marketable. Understand the local process before you bid.",{"eyebrow":5,"title":57,"intro":58,"updated":8,"sections":59},"Foreclosure Auctions Guide","How bank- and court-ordered foreclosure sales fit alongside tax sales.",[60,63],{"id":11,"heading":61,"body":62},"What is a foreclosure auction?","A foreclosure auction sells a property to satisfy a defaulted mortgage or court judgment. They run alongside tax sales as another source of below-market opportunities.",{"id":64,"heading":65,"body":66},"diligence","Due diligence","Foreclosure properties may carry existing liens that survive the sale. Confirm what you are taking on before bidding.",{"eyebrow":5,"title":68,"intro":69,"updated":8,"sections":70},"Due Diligence Checklist","The research every investor should do before bidding on a tax sale.",[71,74,78,82],{"id":53,"heading":72,"body":73},"Title & liens","Run a title search to identify ownership, mortgages, and liens. Understand which encumbrances survive the sale in that jurisdiction.",{"id":75,"heading":76,"body":77},"property","Property & zoning","Verify zoning, land use, access, and physical condition. Review parcel maps and visit the site where possible.",{"id":79,"heading":80,"body":81},"value","Value & comparables","Estimate fair value using assessed values and recent comparable sales. Set a maximum bid and stick to it.",{"id":83,"heading":84,"body":85},"environmental","Environmental","For commercial or industrial parcels, consider an environmental assessment to avoid inheriting cleanup liability.",{"left":87,"top":87,"width":88,"height":88,"rotate":87,"vFlip":89,"hFlip":89,"body":90},0,24,false,"\u003Cg fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\">\u003Ccircle cx=\"12\" cy=\"12\" r=\"10\"\u002F>\u003Cpath d=\"M12 2a14.5 14.5 0 0 0 0 20a14.5 14.5 0 0 0 0-20M2 12h20\"\u002F>\u003C\u002Fg>",{"left":87,"top":87,"width":88,"height":88,"rotate":87,"vFlip":89,"hFlip":89,"body":92},"\u003Cpath fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M4 5h16M4 12h16M4 19h16\"\u002F>",{"left":87,"top":87,"width":88,"height":88,"rotate":87,"vFlip":89,"hFlip":89,"body":94},"\u003Cpath fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M10 18v-7m1.119-8.795a2 2 0 0 1 1.762 0l7.84 3.846A.5.5 0 0 1 20.5 7h-17a.5.5 0 0 1-.22-.949zM14 18v-7m4 7v-7M3 22h18M6 18v-7\"\u002F>",1784174186120]