| In Pennsylvania, some counties have two different tax | | | | narrowed this down to only two properties that I |
| sales; the "upset" sale, and the "judicial" sale. If tax sale | | | | wanted to bid on. I did all of my research the day |
| properties are not sold at either of these two sales, | | | | before the sale and I had checked that morning to |
| the property then goes on the "repository" list and can | | | | make sure that all of these properties were still in the |
| be sold by private bid. The upset sale is held every | | | | sale. But by the next morning (the morning of the sale) |
| year in the fall. It's called an "upset" sale because the | | | | the two properties that I was interested in had paid |
| minimum bid for the properties in this sale is known as | | | | and were no longer included in the sale. I'm glad that I |
| the "upset" price; which includes any unpaid taxes from | | | | did my own research and did not pay a title company |
| the county as well as any municipal liens. If a property | | | | to do it!That brings us to the second method for finding |
| is not sold in this sale, it is sold in the "judicial" tax sale in | | | | out about liens and judgments on tax lien properties, |
| the spring. Not all Pennsylvania counties have judicial | | | | and that is to do it yourself. There is a little bit of |
| sales but they all have an upset sale.What you may | | | | education and some time involved, but it is well worth it. |
| not know about the upset sale is that all properties are | | | | In most states, to do this type of research you would |
| sold subject to any liens or judgments. That means | | | | go to the County Hall of Records. In Pennsylvania the |
| that if you purchase a tax deed at this sale, you are | | | | office that has the records that you need to search is |
| responsible for any other unpaid liens or judgments on | | | | the office of the Prothonotary. The people in this office |
| the property. Most people assume that when they buy | | | | are usually very helpful and will help you to look up |
| a property at a tax sale, that they don't have to worry | | | | what you need to know. You'll have to look for liens |
| about other liens such as a mortgage. This is not true | | | | and judgments by the name of the owner. If there are |
| at the upset sale. If you plan on bidding at any of these | | | | co-owners or joint owners, you will want to search |
| sales this fall, you'd better do your homework!So how | | | | under both names.Keep in mind, however, that if new |
| do you find out about other liens or judgments on tax | | | | liens were not yet recorded they could slip through the |
| sale properties? There are two ways that you could | | | | cracks in the system and you won't be able to find |
| do this; one is going to cost you some money and the | | | | them. There is always some degree of risk when you |
| other is going to take some of your time. The first | | | | buy a tax deed, even if you are careful and do your |
| way is to hire a title search company to do a simple | | | | homework. This is why it is always recommended that |
| title search on all of the properties in the sale that you | | | | you do not buy tax deeds in your own name, but in the |
| are interested in bidding on. This could turn out to be a | | | | name of a separate entity. It could be a corporation or |
| little costly, so it's not my method of choice. Another | | | | an LLC. If you need help forming a corporation or LLC |
| reason why I don't hire a title search company to do | | | | for the purpose of buying tax deeds, I know of two |
| title searches for me before the sale is that many of | | | | excellent programs to help you. They were both |
| the properties will come off the sale list the day before | | | | created by Darius Barazandeh, Texas attorney and |
| or the morning of the sale. You may pay for a few | | | | tax deed expert. You can find out more about these |
| title searches that you don't even need because the | | | | programs, Incorporate for Wealth, and The Wealth |
| properties that you wanted to bid on are not sold at | | | | Building LLC on the resources page of Joanne Musa is |
| the sale.Today I went to the Monroe County Upset | | | | a Tax Lien Investing Coach and Consultant who |
| Sale. I didn't even bid on any properties. I researched | | | | works with investors who want to learn how to buy |
| about 10 of the properties in the sale that were in an | | | | profitable tax lien certificates and tax deeds. |
| area that I was interested in. Through my research I | | | | |