Tax Lien Investment Guides

Posted by Jim | Posted in tax lien investment guides | Posted on 18-06-2010-05-2008

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Real estate is a hard business. Long delays, waiting, patience of the gods, huge capital requirements (ie. money down and upfront), and severe maintanence upkeep make managing and thriving in real estate one of the most challenging businesses to succeed in. It’s a miracle anyone makes income from it and doesn’t go insane. One way to get around the above problems is to deal in paper real estate, which includes tax liens, real estate notes, or any similiar mortgage instrument. You own a certificate not unlike a stock certificate or CD from a bank except that you are paid a lot more money and are secured by actual real estate property (homes, malls, shopping centers, land, etc.). If this is much easier and cheaper to do, why don’t more do it? Simple, because there is one problem with it, and that is it takes time to do (patience). Real estate naturally has a long turnover rate, even for foreclosures or delinquencies. The easiest of the bunch, and hence the fastest, is still real estate paper. There are many guides, free and paid, out there that teach you the process but most leave you gaps to fill out for yourself (bad) and yet others tell you this can be done online (true) but don’t tell you what websites do the listing and buying/selling for you (the real secret).

Now Melford’s advice isn’t for everyone. But if you’re able to follow what he and his wife have to offer on the subject of tax liens, you will be able to profit enormously.

Melford’s help is not for everyone but if you follow his advice on his website (see below), he will tell  you to do the following:

1. Filter out which “deals” to go for. Believe it or not, there are still some homes or properties you should absolutely avoid. Doing so will allow you to profit either 16% return or a house for pennies on the dollar.

2. Use his tax property database system to browse the entire United States’s delinquent tax list. This cuts down the searching to a minimum of a few hours.

3. Buy tax liens or real estate notes that go for only $100-$3000 each. The government is so desperate for money that they are willing to take almost anything as long as they get their back taxes.

4. Follow the instructions exactly so you realize success and profit in about 30 days.

5. Receive tax benefits and good will from the IRS.

6. Buy tax lien deeds from all over the country every month to have a stable source of income.

Since Melford’s advice isn’t for everyone, he does have some flaws. They include…

1. This information should be priced at like $1,000. I don’t want this kind of information leaking out to everyone. I like keeping secrets that everyone else can’t have. Don’t you?

2. Helping the IRS make money. The US government will love you because you’re helping them get badly needed cash dollars to run services like the post office, roads, or courts. Also you will be helping to provide affordable housing to people (which is the U.S. government’s primary motivation besides taxes) by getting these unused homes into use as fast as possible.

3. Too much money to be made. With more money comes more taxes. Even though there are many legal tax loopholes, credits, and deferrals, paying taxes is always a pain.

4. I hate waiting. Often, you will be dealing with the government, and the government is SLOW. It can take a while before deeds or property are transferred to you. You can get around this by doing assignments (and thus “sell” the liens to a bank, letting them take title to the lien).

5. Many homeowners pay back the taxes with interest. Instead of taking over the homes for cheap, the homeowners pay their back taxes with 16-50% interest. So many times you will get your money back plus 16%-50% interest (return) on investment. Not too bad but I still rather have the big house.

6. Could fix some of the spelling typos here and there, which is a common problem amongst successful real estate investors. I bet Donald Trump & Robert Kiyosaki has a team of proofreaders to fix all their little grammar and spelling mistakes.

The Overall Verdict…

Melford’s tips will make you great money in real estate paper and tax liens. 2 million homes are in foreclosure at any given time, and a good portion of those are behind in tax payments as well. By giving the government badly needed funds, you will help lower taxes in the region in question since the government can perform it’s vital everyday functions.

If you’re not sure if this will work for you, see what these people had to say about Melford’s tips:

So if you’re ready to dive into the lucrative world of real estate and tax liens, then check out Melford’s website here. Remember, I do not know if he can help you with your particular needs or goals but his experience is gauranteed to make you richer if you listen to him.

Investing in Tax Lien Certificates for a safe return

Posted by Jim | Posted in Tax Lien Investing | Posted on 14-09-2011-05-2008

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In order to understand what exactly are tax lien certificates and how investing in them can help you earn money, it is first necessary for you to understand the basics of our taxation system. Every person who owns some land, real estate or property, is liable to pay tax on it to the government and if he fails to do so, he automatically comes under a tax lien i.e. the government has the authority to auction the total amount of tax debt he owes on his property to another investor. The investor pays the total debt liability and gets a tax lien certificate in return; in this way, the government gets the money it requires for funding activities and the investor become the new creditor.

The tax lien certificate has a specific date and period mentioned on it in which the debtor is supposed to pay the principle sum of money along with the pre-decided interest rate. This interest rate is generally very high from the market interest rate, normally ranging from 15% to 50%.

It is a win-win condition for both the government and the investor. Once the debtor gets enough money to pay the tax debt, the tax lien certificates are sent to the government agency and are placed in closed accounts. However, in case, the debtor is not able to repay the total sum of money, the investor has the legal authority to take over his property at a very small amount of total market price.

Hence, the investment in tax lien certificates will definitely result in some return to the investor. Nevertheless, it is not as simple as it sounds. In the real world, you have to look at a number of factors before you invest in tax lien certificates. The primary thing you have to understand includes the rules and regulations for tax lien certificates that differ from one state to another i.e. California tax lien certificates are different from tax lien certificates in New York.

You will need to study the laws related to your particular state before you go out to invest in any of the tax lien certificates. In addition to this, the auction of these certificates takes place only once a year and no observers are allowed into the auction. So if you plan to buy some tax liens, you will have to be at the auction to buy only and ready to make payment on the spot. Otherwise, if you miss the window, you can either wait for a year or invest in some other state.

Before making the investment, make sure you have verified the details about the property in question and check to make sure it has a good market value and does not have any pending dues that you might have to clear once you get a hold of the land. Choose places in posh areas since they will definitely provide you with a better return. Intelligently investing in tax lien certificates can result in very high returns, so you should definitely consider making it a part of your portfolio especially if you do not like to take high risks on your investment.

What’s The Reality Behind Its Tax Lien Profits?

Posted by Jim | Posted in Tax Lien Investing | Posted on 14-09-2011-05-2008

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Most people consider taxes as a burden and hate the idea that almost everything they own is subject to taxes. However, in certain cases taxes can lead you towards an unprecedented opportunity resulting in very high profits. Most people might not take this statement seriously but there is substantial proof of a brand-new industry that has taken shape in the last decade that thrives on earning profits through taxes. This industry is centered on the taxes of people who have not paid their property taxes.

Thousands of people do not pay taxes that are levied on them under state and federal law on any kind of property they own. This could be residential as well as commercial. Residential property can be defined as a house or an apartment where you currently reside or have given someone to rent. Commercial land is your office space or retail shop, if you have any. However, regardless of the type of property you own, failing to pay the property taxes qualifies your land to be put up for sale through an auction. Forcing the sale of your land is known as a tax lien. However, in reality, it is a little more complex than simply selling your home to the highest bidder.

The auction allows anyone to bid for the property, taking into context the interest and premium house rate, as well as the tax amount that has not been paid.  In many States, the process is simple. When the owner of a property is unable to pay the taxes that are due by a specific date, the local authority in that area has the right to issue a tax lien on the property. This tax lien is then eligible to be sold in an auction to the highest bidder and once sold it will be considered a tax lien certificate. The major advantage of a tax lien is that you might not be able to get a nice piece of land at a price that is much lower than the market rate. However, the original owner has a redemption period, in which he or she can repay all taxes that have accumulated on their property and retain the land.

These payments, however, are not made to the state but rather to the Tax Lien Certificate Buyer, since the certificate holder has already paid the state during the auction. The payment that the Tax Lien Certificate Holder receives is usually much higher than what he paid in the auction, thus resulting in a reasonable profit. On the other hand, if the original property owner is not able to make the payments, then the property is simply transferred to the tax lien investor. Tax liens and tax lien investing have become very popular in the United States. These tax lien certificates are government issued; therefore, the tax lien certificate risk of default should be low. Investing in a tax lien seems like a great opportunity but in reality it requires a lot of research and hard work in order to earn a reasonable profit.

If you have received a tax lien from the IRS, this link may be of help to you: http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=108339,00.html

If you are looking to purchase tax liens, here is an example of a government locality that lists their auction dates http://www.co.cattaraugus.ny.us/treasurers-office/events

Why You Should Invest in Tax Liens?

Posted by Jim | Posted in Tax Lien Investing | Posted on 14-09-2011-05-2008

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Tax liens are basically are a very complex and highly integrated industry that has always been dominated by the biggest investors and banks in the country. They have had a stranglehold on the market for a while now.  However, this should not shatter your dreams of tax lien investing and building great wealth along the way. Tax liens are imposed on individuals who do not oblige and pay their property taxes.  The state simply puts their property on sale through an auction, which can be seen as a way to threaten individuals to pay up or lose everything that they have.

The individual who wins the auction is issued a tax lien certificate.  If the original property owner pays back the debt, the investor will return the certificate in exchange for the amount he paid in the auction plus interest.  If the owner is not able to pay back the debt in the time specified by the state, the property is transferred to the certificate owner.  However, like most investments in this world, there are both advantages and disadvantages and tax liens are no different.  We will only list down the benefits of investing in tax liens because they simply outweigh and overshadow the disadvantages.

In general, interest rates vary from state to state and where you invest will decide the amount you are going to earn.  However, regardless of the location, tax liens are a great way to earn large profits in a short period of time.  If the original property owner asks for two years time to pay back his debt, you can easily earn a profit that amounts to half of your investment within this time period.  Another major advantage is the very low levels of risk involved with tax liens and this is because of various reasons. First, the entire tax lien process is controlled and monitored by the federal and state governments. Therefore, the chances of fraud and default are very low.  Secondly, property owners are at a great risk of losing their house if they do not pay back their debt.  Once people are given this sort of reality check, they work even harder to pay back all their dues and when these debts are cleared the investors are returned the amount they paid the government with the interest.

Thirdly, if the property owner is not able to pay back the debt, the tax lien investor will be named the new owner of that land or property. In addition, the last reason as to why this is a safe investment is how external economic conditions have almost no effects.  Tax lien investors are one of the few people who have nothing to worry about if the economy is performing badly.  It has even been reported that when the economy is in a recession, more and more tax lien certificates are issued, further cementing the statement above. Another advantage of investing in tax liens is the mismatch in the supply and demand. The majority of people out there have no idea of what tax lien certificates are, let alone how to invest in them. There are thousands of properties in each city that go up for auction each year. Therefore, people who have specialized in learning how to invest have a world of opportunities to take advantage of.

Right Way to Buy Tax Liens for Sale

Posted by Jim | Posted in Tax Lien Investing | Posted on 14-09-2011-05-2008

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The tax lien industry has become a powerhouse over the last decade or so. It has elevated the wealth of so many individuals in just a couple of years. People seem to fall head over heels when they hear about new ways to make money and step into it without having the proper training or knowledge. This market is one that will eat you up if you underestimate it or make a wrong move because in reality, it is a very complicated way of making money.

A few important steps need to be carried out with great precision in order to buy tax liens that are for sale. Since this is your first time buying tax liens, you need to begin with the local market. You probably lack proper knowledge and experience and you often need to travel to other cities to buy property. It is important to stay in your comfort zone so you can easily move around to look at the tax liens for sale. You also need to figure out whether your state is a tax deed or tax lien state. The main difference between the two is, in a deed you are trying to take ownership of the property, whereas the interest that would be earned on tax liens is your top priority.

Moreover, you need to ensure that the property you are looking to buy is free from all other sorts of debt and liens. It is highly possible that additional liens are attached to the tax liens for sale. There are certain types of debts that might be erased due to foreclosure, while others might remain; the example being a lien from the IRS.

In addition, you have to be very careful in the purchasing a piece of land that you can actually do something with if it is transferred under your name. Most importantly, you should try to avoid vacant lands, unless you have seen the property and plan to do something with it afterwards.

The best way to track down auctions in your area is to visit the website of the county you live in. Almost all details pertaining to the sale of tax liens will be on that website, including time, date and, location of the auction. Furthermore, keep your expectations grounded in terms of gaining ownership of the property. Because it is more likely that the debtor will pay back the taxes before the specified time elapses, thus retaining their property. Finally, it is vital that you negotiate the interest rate at the auction if applicable and remember the highest bid will always win since that is the amount the government will get.

However, you need to play your cards right. Don’t be too stiff or lenient in terms of negotiations. Following these simple steps is the best way to learn how to buy tax liens for sale. The rest you will only learn with time. It is important for every person to understand that buying tax liens for sale is not an easy task and it requires a lot of experience. However, for people who are willing to learn it becomes easy for them to catch up as they begin to learn the ins and outs of buying tax liens.

Why Tax Lien Sales are increasing?

Posted by Jim | Posted in Tax Lien Investing | Posted on 14-09-2011-05-2008

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If you want to buy tax liens, you need to get in line to be a part of one of the fastest growing industries in the world. Only the government has the authority to impose a lien on someone, mostly due to an individual’s unwillingness or inability to pay back the tax debt. A tax lien is frequently imposed against the failure to pay property taxes and sometimes against income or other types of taxes. The actual process consists of the government putting up the defaulter’s property up for sale in a public auction, in which the individual who pays the total amount to the government on behalf of the original property owner, as well as, agreeing on the lowest possible interest rate.  The person who wants to buy tax liens has to be ready to face aggressive bidders and needs to play the market intelligently.

The winner will get a certificate in return that will have to be returned if the original property owner is able to repay the debt amount in the specified time. However, if he or she cannot pay it back, the property will be transferred to the person who won the bid to buy the tax liens certificate. People frequently question about the difference between tax lien are tax deeds. Think of it this way, where liens are invested to earn a monthly profit, people buy tax deeds seeking to take full ownership of the property. However, people now prefer to buy tax liens, which have increased their sales for a number of reasons. Primarily, there is very low level of risk since the entire tax lien sales process is monitored and regulated by the government.

There is little or no chance of your investment going bad because one way or the other, you will get something in return. For instance, if the original owner of property does not pay back taxes, the property in question is transferred to the tax lien certificate. On the other hand, if he is able to pay back all taxes owed, then the original principal amount that the investor spends on the tax lien sales will be returned with interest. Therefore, it is certain that you will not lose your investment because of any external factors. The only way you might lose out is if you do not follow the terms and conditions that come with purchasing tax lien certificates.

Another reason of increased tax lien sales is how this industry reacts inversely to economic slumps worldwide. When the economy enters a recession, a lot more people find it difficult to meet their debt obligations, thus, forcing the government to take action and impose tax liens as per the criteria. The tax lien sales actually increase because there is still a significant percentage of the population that has money to invest. Decisions are now made on the basis of opportunity cost as people want to secure a second source of income in a financial crunch. These individuals will spend extensively on tax liens, thus driving up the sale of tax liens. Investing in tax liens is a great way to earn large amounts of profits in a very short period.

Knowing About The Basics Of Tax Lien Investing

Posted by Jim | Posted in Tax Lien Investing | Posted on 14-09-2011-05-2008

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Making money with different investment options cannot be worth pursuing if you do not know the basics of investing. Therefore, it is very important to learn as much as you can about tax lien investing, before you actually become a part of it. This will require consistency and hard work from your end and the rest should just fall into place. It is quite necessary to know the ins and outs of tax liens in order to get the best deals possible. Initially, you might have to design strategic plans and analyze dozens of deals because finding the right tax liens to buy takes a lot of time and effort.

There are thousands of counties in the US, each county has different laws regarding tax liens, and some do not even deal with tax liens. In addition to this, the states that impose tax liens have varying interest rates, which makes remembering all this information somewhat impossible. The best thing you can do is concentrate on a specific state or county and work from there. Tax lien investing is ideal for anyone who has money lying around and is ready to invest it to earn a decent profit. The great benefits of tax lien investing are that almost any amount you have will suffice and you have a chance to really build or enhance your wealth within a year. This wealth can then be further re-invested down the line to take profitability even higher.

Tax lien investing, if you are lucky, can also help you become an owner of the property you hold the certificate of by paying less than a quarter of the price. However, this is only possible if the original owner is not able to pay back the debt. In addition, before you start celebrating your earnings, you need to learn some more basics about the process of actually investing in tax liens. First of all, decide on which county’s auction you want to participate in and then try to find when and where the auction will take place. As you know, each state has varying interest rates you will earn and if you really want to earn high profits, then you must opt for the state with the highest interest rates.

Most auctions are conducted in a court or sheriff’s office but there might be a slight chance that the one you want to take part in might occur online. After that, you will need to get your hands on a list of all properties/tax liens that are going to be auctioned. Contact the county treasurer or department of finance for this information or check their website. Furthermore, tax lien investing has rules and regulations and it is essential that you look at them beforehand. The most important aspect of auction interest rates that are offered by the state is that some states have better interest rates than others. The person who bids or agrees to receive the lowest interest rate will win the auction by paying upfront all the back taxes owed. Thus, it is vital that you do not get greedy with an auction because that way you will only end up hurting yourself in the long run.

Ins and outs of Tax lien Certificates

Posted by Jim | Posted in Tax Lien Investing | Posted on 14-09-2011-05-2008

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Not everyone has heard of tax liens before so it would be best to start with knowing the ins and outs of tax lien certificates. To keep things simple we have to understand that there are people all over the country that, for whatever reason, do not pay their property taxes. Some probably cannot afford to pay them and others do it because they have fled the country. People do not realize how detrimental these actions can turn out to be because the state has complete authority to take any action they want. One of the latest and more popular methods used to collect taxes involve selling tax liens.

Tax liens and tax lien investing has not only turned into an industry but a booming one. However, before moving on, it would be useful to explain the word lien. A lien is a government mandated right given to a chosen individual, usually through an auction, to take possession of a piece of property that belongs to someone else, generally who is under a significant level of tax debt. A tax lien, therefore, is when the government puts the property of an individual who has not paid their property taxes for quite some time up for sale. However, the nature of tax liens has become broadened to all other types of taxes over time, which includes various government and state taxes.

The properties of any individual that are tax defaulted are sold in public auctions, operated by the government. The winning bidders make the payments to the government on behalf of the property owners. In return, the investors are given tax lien certificates, which can be used as a proof of purchase. There are certain possible outcomes that are expected when investing in tax liens. First, the holder of the tax lien certificates will receive a yearly profit on the amount that he or she paid to the state. The profit can vary depending on the interest rate that has been agreed upon by the two parties.

Tax liens can turn out to be great investments most of the time. When the original owner has decided to make the payment of the owed amount to the state, the local authorities contact the tax lien investor. Once you have been notified about these latest updates, the authorities will ask for the tax lien certificates that they gave you. In return, they will hand you a check of original payment that you made plus interest, the same rate that was agreed upon by the two parties.

Investing in tax liens is a very safe option, but in order to be successful, you need to have frequently updated information about this business. There is a strong need for research to understand how the market works and you need to know the right people that will keep you informed about the auctions, which usually occur only once a year.

Tax lien Certificate investing to diversify your Investment Portfolio

Posted by Jim | Posted in Tax Lien Investing | Posted on 14-09-2011-05-2008

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The basic concept of investing is: the higher the risk an investor is willing to take; the higher the return on his investment. Nevertheless, tax lien certificate investing defies this idea. It is considered one of the safest investments these days with high rates of return and very few chances of defaulting. So what are tax liens and how does this form of certificate investing work?

The notion behind this is very straightforward; nowadays, with the increasing economic instability within the United States and the pressure on people to save something for a secure future has resulted in a number of people defaulting on their property and real estate tax debt. When you are not able to pay your property tax debt for a long period of time, the government is forced to put it under a tax lien. As a result, tax lien certificates are issued on the amount you owe the government and are auctioned to interested investors. In this way, the government is able to recover the debt amount and you become a debtor to another investor.

Now why would any investor be interested in paying off your tax debt? The main reason for this is, these certificates offer very high rates of return, generally ranging from 20% to 50%. Through tax lien certificate investing, investors will be able to earn at least twice as much return on their investment as compared to the marketplace. Once the government issues tax lien certificates, the investor is liable to make the payment at once. The certificate has all the details of a settled interest rate and the payment schedule for the debtors’ repayments. If the defaulter fails to comply by the dates mentioned on the tax lien certificates, you as an investor have the legal right to take over his property/land etc. at a very small fraction of the market price. Thus, tax lien certificate investing results in some sort of return at all costs, either in the form of interest rates or by gaining new real estate.

Tax lien certificate investing does not mean that it is completely risk free as the laws in this regard varies from one state to another. For example tax lien certificates in New York do not apply to Californian tax lien certificates. Therefore, the investor needs to be well aware of the laws of his state before buying.

The investor also can face risk if he buys certificates from a poor property, which has a lot of un-cleared dues and payments. Since the investor becomes the new owner of the real estate once the debtor defaults completely, he is liable to pay all fees and payment due on the property. So choosing the location of your tax lien is very important for a successful investment in tax lien certificates. They can be a very good way of diversifying your portfolio and hedging it against economic instability and market fluctuations.

How to Buy Tax Liens – The Crash Course Method

Posted by Jim | Posted in Tax Lien Investing | Posted on 14-09-2011-05-2008

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Tax liens are imposed on those individuals who do not pay their property taxes.  This failure to pay up gives the state complete authority to put that individual’s property up for sale in an auction. A tax lien certificate is issued to the bidder who chooses the lowest interest rate and pays in full to the government.  This certificate in return will help the investor earn a monthly or yearly profit.  The profit will be handed out until the original property owner pays back the obligation and once this occurs, the investor will be returned the original capital. If not, the property is transferred over to the investor’s name.  Understanding this simple concept should be the first step on how to buy tax liens.

The first thing you need to do is determine whether your state offers tax liens, tax deeds or both because not all states offer tax liens.  Once you have figured out whether or not your state offers tax liens, determine the interest rate they are willing to provide an investor.  Some states have fixed interest rates, while others deal within a specific range, which will require you to bargain and negotiate.  Remember, there is always a chance that you might come across someone in an auction that will agree to a lower interest rate just to get a hold of a tax lien certificate.  It is important to play the auction smart and understand that even with an interest rate lower than what you desire will help you earn major profits.

The next step requires you to get in touch with your country treasurer or finance department, whether via e-mail, telephone, or in person. Ask for a list of properties and liens that are going up for bidding, as well as the date of the next auction. Auctions used to be held in public places but as of recent, they are carried out online. Once you have received information on the properties that are going up for sale, you need to research the ones you might be interested in.  Making a personal visit to the property will help you better understand the resale value, facilities available and local rent rates, which may affect your final decision.

Try to avoid commercial and empty lands if you intend to resell the property. However, if you plan to keep it for yourself then it would make sense to inspect such real estate. You can even hire professionals to make an assessment of the property and its profitability. They can also check to see if there are any existing problems with the land. All this information and research should prove fruitful as it will help you greatly on the day of the auction. Follow these steps on how to buy tax liens and you will always come out on the right side of it. In addition, always educate yourself on the latest advances in the tax lien industry.

What’s The Risk in Buying Tax Liens?

Posted by Jim | Posted in Tax Lien Investing | Posted on 14-09-2011-05-2008

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Spending money for tax liens is considered a relatively safe investment. However, there are many risks involved that most people neglect despite their significance. In addition, by not considering the risks and failing to notice them you are putting yourself in unprecedented danger that can ruin your investment. Here we will discuss some of the very significant risks of tax liens and take a glimpse into this exciting new investing world.

When deciding to attend an auction, you will probably have to work for at least a couple of days depending on the city you have chosen. This not only hurts your reputation at work but also incurs travelling and living expenses. People at work might see this as a lack of commitment to your organization and top-level executives might hold this as a grudge against you at some future point in time. You might not consider this a risk but imagine the odd situation that you might end up in if this does happen and at the same time the investment for which you left work for goes bad. You might be on the verge of losing your job and money.

Usually people do not make proper payment arrangements to buy tax liens and as a result, they are not able to make the payment wjithin 1-3 days, which is a limit typically given by the government. This will result in the cancellation of your certificate and you might even end up being banned from taking part in any future auctions. There is a complete list of guidelines available that one must follow prior to the purchase of tax lien certificates. If someone is not able to comply, he or she might risk not being able to purchase tax liens. Moreover, if you are thinking of going into the auction and buying the most expensive piece of land, you need to think again. The most valuable piece of land in the auction will have the lowest rate of return; therefore, choosing the wrong land will make all the difference in the actual profits you might be able to earn.

In most cases, major investors, banks, and wealthy private sponsors dominate the auction. One of biggest drawbacks of investing in tax liens is that they are completely illiquid. If an emergency need for cash arises, there is no option that will allow you to exchange the certificate for cash. You are stuck with the certificate until either the original property owner pays back the debt, or the agreed time expires and you are given possession of the property.

Lastly, there might be additional liens that you have to pay the government if you are entitled as the owner of the house after the foreclosure. No one is going to come to you and verbally tell you about liens that are owed money until the various other agencies get around to you. Therefore, it is important to carry out as much research as you can to keep yourself safe from all these risks of buying tax liens. Of course, no one is expected to buy tax liens blind and without proper knowledge.

Buying Tax Liens Online

Posted by Jim | Posted in Tax Lien Investing | Posted on 30-06-2011-05-2008

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An emailer recently asked me about where to buy tax liens online. This got me thinking that perhaps some of you reading this blog right now is thinking the same thing too.

So I will offer you the same answer I gave this person.

Anyone in the world can buy tax liens in the United States. HOWEVER, you must incorporate a business entity here. I recommend a cheap LLC or S-Corporation. If you file the paperwork yourself, it will be $50. Our corporation laws allow foreigners to buy American assets (as long as they basically stay in the United States) through corporations. The only exception to this is if you’re a multi-billion dollar governmental entity that believes in no human rights (China, Many Middle Eastern nations, etc), then you can’t incorporate. I’m assuming though you’re just looking to make some money so in general the US Government should not give you any problems unless you’re suspected of terrorism.

Depending on which websites you go to, you can browse for different types of tax liens online. However, most government municipalities require that your physical presence in some form to purchase said tax liens. They sometimes do list actual tax liens for sale in some states, many of which are for less than $500. Personally I would be cautious and do a lot of research as the tax delinquent may have skipped town or fled the country, and has no intention of paying (it’s not like that all the time but it’s a red flag). If you’re new to tax lien investing, which is why most people gravitate to this price range, I’d be on heightened alert.

I still recommend that you read the tax lien buying guide that I recommend here. It will help you avoid many of the pitfalls of investing in this business and hold your hand in some of the more complicated technical details of actually purchasing tax lien certificates for investing. You can read the guide by click here.