Sell a House With Back Taxes, Liens or Code Violations — We Pay Them at Closing

Tax deed sales in Pinellas and Hillsborough

Here’s how a property gets to a tax deed auction in Florida. Taxes go unpaid; the county Tax Collector sells a tax certificate on the delinquent amount; the certificate holder earns interest; after two years the holder can apply for a tax deed; the Clerk notifies the owner and lien holders and sets an online auction. In Pinellas and Hillsborough these auctions run on the Clerk’s online platforms and are listed weeks in advance.

Until the deed issues, the owner can redeem by paying everything owed. Owners who can’t pay but have equity are the ones who get hurt: the property sells at auction, and any surplus over the taxes must be claimed through a court process where other lien holders get paid first. A cash sale before the auction pays the taxes from the sale price and puts the equity in your pocket instead.

If you’ve received a tax deed application notice or see your property on the Clerk’s auction list, call us the same day. The title company can pay off delinquent taxes at closing with days to spare.

Code enforcement liens

Overgrown lot, an unpermitted addition, a roof tarp that’s been up too long, an unsafe structure, junk vehicles, a pool without a barrier — St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Largo, Pinellas Park, Tampa and the counties all run active code enforcement, and fines can run from $50 to $500+ per day under a magistrate or board order. Those fines become liens recorded against the property (and sometimes against other property you own in the county).

Two things most owners don’t know: the lien usually can be reduced through a lien-reduction request once the violation is corrected, and the city or county will generally work with a buyer who is going to fix the problem. We handle both. We cure the violation after closing, request the reduction, and pay the agreed amount — not you.

Other liens we deal with

• Mortgages and HELOCs — paid off at closing with a payoff letter.
• HOA or condo association liens — estoppel letter, paid at closing (we don’t buy condos, but HOA liens on houses are common).
• Construction (mechanic’s) liens — contractors who weren’t paid; we verify, negotiate, and pay or bond off.
• Judgment liens — a creditor who sued you and recorded the judgment; paid or negotiated at closing.
• IRS and state tax liens — the title company requests a release or a discharge; it takes a few weeks.
• Utility and special assessment liens — water, sewer, reclaimed water, solid waste; paid at closing.
• Medicaid estate recovery claims on an inherited house — handled through the probate; see our probate page.

What if the liens are more than the house is worth?

Tell us the numbers and we’ll tell you quickly whether it works. Code liens are often negotiable; some judgment creditors accept a reduced payoff; mortgage lenders may approve a short sale. We can’t promise a result, and deals where the liens on paper are higher than the price can still get the seller out clean. If it truly can’t be done, we’ll say so and point you to a real estate attorney.

We are a cash home buyer, not a law firm. This page is general information about Florida law and local process, not legal advice. For advice on your situation, talk to a Florida attorney — we work with several and are glad to make an introduction.