Tax sale glossary
- Tax deed
- A deed sold at county auction transferring ownership of a property because its taxes went unpaid.
- Tax lien certificate
- A claim against a property for unpaid taxes, sold to investors who earn interest until the owner redeems.
- Redemption period
- The window during which a delinquent owner can pay what is owed (plus interest or penalties) and keep or reclaim the property.
- Opening bid
- The starting auction price, usually the back taxes owed plus fees and costs.
- Parcel ID
- The county’s unique identifier for a piece of land; the key you use across GIS, appraiser, and auction records.
- Quiet title action
- A lawsuit that clears clouds on a title after a tax deed purchase so the property can be sold with title insurance.
- Bid-down auction
- A lien auction format where investors compete by accepting lower interest rates rather than paying higher prices.
- Redeemable deed
- A deed the original owner can buy back during a set period by paying the investor a penalty premium.
- Struck-off / OTC property
- Property or liens that received no bids at auction and can often be bought directly from the county afterward (over the counter).
- GIS
- Geographic Information System — the county’s online parcel map, used to check parcel shape, road access, and flood layers.