July 14, 2010
How To Keep Properties That Have Tax Liens Placed On Them
Tax liens are placed upon properties when the owners have failed to pay certain taxes for a certain period of time and have failed to respond to the government’s attempts to retrieve that payment. By placing tax liens on these homes the government ensures that the owner can’t really make a move without first making a payment.
First you should be aware that having tax liens on your property limits your financial possibilities. You most likely will not be able to pay off your tax lines with a loan because tax liens are reported to the credit bureaus. Another reason it is hard to get financing is because properties that have tax liens on them cannot be offered up as collateral. Finally you cannot even transfer the title of the property without paying off the tax lines.
One of the most common ways that people pay off their tax lines when their property is already mortgaged is by the lender paying the upfront costs and creating a repayment plan with the owner through that is attached to their mortgage payments through an escrow account. Mortgage lenders do this to avoid the risk of the government selling off the property and the lenders then being unable to recoup the money they lent out for purchasing it.
In the instance that the owner wants to sell the property that already has tax liens they can, but oft times the buyer will pay off the tax liens and they will be written into the closing costs of the loan or paid out right. This complies with the law that the tax liens must be paid off before the title is transferred. Many people buy houses with tax liens in order to get a good deal.
The final way to pay of tax liens is when the government seizes the property. It is then offered up at tax deed auctions or sold to investors as a tax lien certificate. Tax deeds have lower risks as the title transfer is guaranteed whereas with tax lien certificates don’t necessarily equal the right to gain the property as their own.
Despite the method chosen (or not) for paying off tax lines, rest assured that the government will get its money one way or another. The smart thing to do however, is to be prepared and pay the taxes when they come due instead of having to deal with the ups and downs of tax liens and getting them taken off of properties and credit reports.
If you’re looking to find the best strategies on Tax Foreclosure Properties, then visit www.noriskinvestor.com to find the best advice on Tax Lien Foreclosure Properties and other real estate investment opportunities.
Filed under Work From Home by Jack Preston