Investor Guides
A deliberate learning path — not a pile of overlapping titles. Work through each section in order, then use the calculators to test your assumptions before you bid.
Start Here
Begin with the fundamentals before you ever register for an auction.
How tax liens work, due diligence, risks, and true ROI — the full foundation in one guide.
The process from property delinquency to certificate creation and redemption.
Understand Tax Liens and Tax Deeds
Know exactly what you are buying before you choose a strategy.
Debt investing versus direct property acquisition — which fits your goals.
How a tax foreclosure differs from a bank mortgage foreclosure.
Research and Due Diligence
The county offers no warranties — your research is the only protection for your capital.
Public records, title searches, GIS maps, and condition analysis.
A structured checklist to verify every property before auction.
Key indicators of strong underlying real estate backing your lien.
County lists, auction sites, and over-the-counter sources.
Deciphering county records, parcel numbers, and assessed values.
Bidding and Return Calculations
Set hard ceilings and model true returns before the bidding starts.
Why overbidding reduces your return and how to calculate a safe bid.
What rate actually matters and how to avoid chasing weak deals.
Why early redemption can hurt your annualized yield, with worked examples.
Step-by-step purchasing: finding auctions, registration, deposits, and funding.
Bidding formats, registration, and the pros and cons of each auction type.
Capital requirements and how to start with a small budget.
State-Specific Guides
Rules, rates, and procedures vary by jurisdiction — verify with the county before bidding.
A comparison of rates, redemption periods, and auction rules across states.
Variable rate, premium bidding, and the HB24-1056 deed process.
18% maximum, bid-down, 5% minimum penalty, and tax deed applications.
County-set rates, the high-bid premium, and judicial foreclosure timing.
9% maximum penalty bid (effective July 10, 2026) and tax deed notices.
18% maximum, bid-down-then-premium auctions, and judicial foreclosure.
After the Auction
What happens once you hold the certificate — and what to do if it does not redeem.
Post-purchase processes, the certificate, and the redemption wait.
How redemption works across states and what it means for your capital.
Navigating foreclosure to take ownership of the underlying property.
A structured framework for deciding whether to keep or sell an acquired property.
Risk Management
Understand how capital is lost and build a disciplined strategy to prevent it.
The concrete ways capital is lost — worthless properties, surviving liens, bankruptcy, and foreclosure costs.
Common due-diligence and bidding errors that destroy capital.
A repeatable system for finding, bidding, and managing a portfolio.
Test every assumption before you bid
The guides explain the concepts; the calculators do the math. Run your numbers for premiums, redemption timing, and exit strategies before risking capital.