Getting Your Home Back After a Tax Sale

People who own real estate must pay property taxes. Failing to pay them can have severe consequences, including losing your home. When property taxes go unpaid, local governments use a tax sale process, which varies from state to state, to recover the delinquent amounts. However, many jurisdictions offer a lifeline to homeowners—a process called “redemption.”

If you fail to pay your property taxes and then lose your home in a tax sale, you might be able to get it back. Many states let you redeem your home—that is, pay a certain amount after the sale to regain title. This right to redeem is typically available for a specific period after the tax sale, known as the “redemption period.” Other states offer a redemption period before the sale. How much you'll have to pay and how much time you have to do so varies by state.

Below, you can learn about redemption laws in specific states.

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