| Tax sale properties can be a great way for would-be | | | | several properties auctioned each month, so you want |
| homeowners to find an affordable residence. | | | | to make sure you choose the very best property in |
| Properties sold at a tax sale can also be an affordable | | | | which to invest. In order to purchase property at the |
| way to get started in the real estate investment | | | | sale, you will need to complete and submit a statement |
| market. Many of the previous owners of these tax | | | | of eligibility form. This form must be submitted to the |
| sale properties have not paid their property taxes in | | | | tax office roughly two weeks before the auction. |
| years. Because the tax assessor's office needs to | | | | Properties up for auction have a pre-approved |
| recover at least some of this lost tax income, they | | | | minimum bid. This minimum bid is usually a fraction of |
| often sell these properties for a fraction of their | | | | the appraised value of the property. If no buyer is |
| appraised value. Even during a rough real estate | | | | willing to purchase a property for the minimum bid |
| market, real estate can be a good investment. If you | | | | price, it will not be sold at the auction. When properties |
| purchase a tax sale property, you could make some | | | | are not sold at the auction, they are marked as |
| basic improvements and then resell it for a profit. If you | | | | struck-off. These properties may be available for |
| are interesting in flipping a tax sale property, look for a | | | | immediate sale. A listing of struck-off properties is |
| home in a nice neighborhood. Location truly is the most | | | | available on the Travis County tax office's website. |
| important thing in real estate. A nicely fixed-up home in | | | | All properties are auctioned on the west steps of the |
| a run-down neighborhood might not sell as quickly as | | | | country courthouse the first Tuesday of each month. |
| the same home in a good neighborhood would. | | | | The county courthouse is located at 1000 Guadalupe |
| Finding and buying tax sale properties in Travis County, | | | | St., Austin, Texas. The Travis County tax office |
| Texas is simple. The Travis County tax assessor's | | | | accepts the following forms of payment: cash, check, |
| office lists all the properties that will be auctioned 21 | | | | cashier's check, money order, and most credit cards. If |
| days prior to the safe. This listing can be found in the | | | | you do plan on using your credit card, you should know |
| Austin Chronicle. During this time period, you can take a | | | | that the tax office will charge you an additional service |
| look at the house or lot and decide whether or not it | | | | fee of 3%. Most mortgage programs, such as FHA, do |
| would be a good fit. Although the tax office provides | | | | not offer mortgages on foreclosed property. You will |
| detailed information about the listing, including appraised | | | | need to secure a private loan or pay for the |
| value, it would be in your best interest to research the | | | | foreclosed property outright. |
| surrounding properties as well. There are usually | | | | |