Did you know that you could make money by paying someone else’s property taxes? Thirty-one states provide a little-known investment opportunity that might be perfect for you.
You could even see an annual interest return from 18% to 50%.
The returns are available through tax lien and tax deed certificates sold by the county. Tax liens are placed on a property when the real estate taxes are late. Many local governments auction the liens off to investors once or twice a year as a way to get their owed money. These are called tax sales.
For example, if Mr. Jones owes $2,000 in real estate taxes and hasn’t paid it, the county will place a lien on his property. Eventually the lien will be auctioned to an investor. The investor may get the lien for $2,000. The county gets the money it needs right then. The treasury or finance department will start going after the money from the delinquent tax payer. They send nasty little notes, warning them of future actions. They charge penalties and interest rates of up to 50%. The local government can then turn around and pay the investor a large return.
You can find these investment opportunities through...