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Making Money and Understanding Tax Lien Certificates

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By Ted Thomas

The simplest way to understand tax lien certificates is to realize all real estate is taxed by the county and sometimes the county and municipality. Property taxes are collected to provide many different benefits to citizens of the county, for example property taxes pay for schools, they pay the sheriff’s department, they pay for firefighters, of course the roads have maintenance, they also pay to help the hospitals and libraries, these are just a few.

Every property owner is assessed property tax one or more times a year. In many states if the property owner does not pay the property taxes the county or municipality will issue a tax lien certificate. Anyone can purchase a tax lien certificate, they could be valued at only $50 or they could be $5,000. The county will auction the certificates. The reward for purchasing a tax certificate is the counties pay a high rate of interest on those certificates.

The rates could be as high as 16%,18%, 24%, all the way up to 36%. When the property owner finally pays the property taxes, they will recover the certificate, in other words they will pay you whatever you paid for the certificate plus the outrageously high interest rate.

So, to summarize this process, you the investor, will invest directly with the county and you will receive a check back from the county when the property owner pays the taxes. The check will be the full amount of your investment plus the high interest rate.

The objective in selling tax lien certificates is to allow investors to generate money but more importantly the county now has revenue to pay for county employees plus police and fire departments, schools, roads, libraries, and hospitals.

Tax lien certificates are a winner for the county, they get revenue, tax lien certificates are winners for the investors because they earn a high rate of interest and they are a good deal for the homeowner or property owner because it gives them time to pay their taxes.

The sales for delinquent property taxes occur in approxim ately half of the counties in the United States. Tax sales are announced by the county, sometimes in the newspaper, sometimes online, many times both. This is a very formal process, it has been in effect for over 100 years.

Most investors have no idea about the tax system. Once you learn this process and learn how to honorably and ethically take advantage of it, you can earn money for the rest of your life.

Tax lien certificates are a safe, secure investment. The property sec ures the tax lien certificate. For example, if you purchased a tax lien certificate and paid the county and the property owner never redeemed, that is comes forward and pays you back your money and the high interest, the defaulting property owner will lose the property to you.

Let me repeat that. You will invest your money with the county, your investment is secured by the real estate, the interest rate on your certificate is guaranteed. However, if the property owner fails to pay the principle and the interest the owner will default and you, the owner of the tax certificate, will be awarded the property mortgage free. Of course, this sounds way to be good to be true. However, this system has been in effect for well over 100 years.

Unfortunately, tax lien certificates and the processes and procedures are not uniform and they’re different from county to county. This will require some study on behalf on the investor.

Here is a perfect example from recent students of mine. Drew and Recia, a young couple, attended my training and followed it step by step. They purchased a tax lien certificate in the amount of $11,000. The property owner failed to redeem, that is failed to pay their taxes. The law allows Drew and Recia to become the new owners of that property, they now own the property without a mortgage. The value according to the tax assessor, the MLS system and Zillow was $180,000.

As you can see, you can make money with interest rates 16%,18%,24%,36% and every once in a while, a property owner fails to pay, and you get the property without a mortgage, that’s pretty amazing but it’s the law in all counties. Watch for my next article and I will have more about the 3,000 plus counties that sell tax lien certificates and tax defaulted properties.

Here is a couple of most frequently asked questions, I’ll have hundreds of these which I’ll make a gift to you in future articles:

  1. Q: Who can buy a tax certificate?

A: Anyone who has cash to pay the local county government (auctioneer)

  1. Q: Why don’t people pay their property taxes…?

A: Numerous answers, People pass on (die) and no one pays the property tax in many instances Heirs do not understand taxes are due. People run out of money… they become unemployed and have temporary money problems. Family crisis, hurricane blows off the roof, car accident no insurance.

Many people know Ted Thomas© as Americas tax lien certificate and tax defaulted property authority. For more than 25 years Ted has been the information source. More information and free videos go to www.TedThomas.com

How To Get Paid Big Dollars And Work Where You Want And When You Want AND RETIRE EARLY

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By Ted Thomas

This Will Knock Your Socks Off!

 2 Distinct Investment Opportunities

#1 Tax Lien Certificates – One of the Safest Investments In America Today!

When it comes to real estate investing, there is much to be learned and a lot of money to be made. The prudent investor knows that it is impossible to learn about all facets of real estate investing at once and instead focuses on a certain kind of purchase or investment, works to make the investment profitable, before moving on.  One of the most unknown but highly profitable types of real estate investments is investing in tax lien certificates.

Purchasing a tax lien certificate is a fantastic way to build wealth and generate revenue.  This investment vehicle is a very real way in today’s economy to work towards financial independence.  However, you must know what happens when you purchase a tax lien certificate and how it works in order to be successful. Never jump into a real estate investment opportunity without proper education.

A tax lien certificate is offered by a local county government who is looking to collect on delinquent property taxes.  The certificate, when it is offered, becomes the first lien on the property and gives you, the investor, the opportunity to collect on the tax payments that are owed.

First, it is good to work in tax lien certificates if you do not have a lot of working capital to invest.  This is also a great investment tool if you are looking for a guaranteed return on your initial investment. The returns on tax lien certificates can be up to 16%, 18%, even 36%.  A tax lien certificate is typically a solid addition to any investment portfolio. Tax lien investments are one of the safest investments found in America today.

In order to purchase a tax lien certificate, as an investor you must find out the terms and conditions of the public tax auction in the county where you are interested in doing business.  Keep in mind, tax lien terms and conditions vary widely by county and state, so in order for you to be properly educated over bids, interest rates, terms, collection, and other matters, you must know what the county government requires. This may sound tricky but with the proper training it’s actually quite easy and extremely profitable. This business can be done online from anywhere including your kitchen table or home office.

This is a passive investment, perfect for the newcomers to real estate investing. Once you get a tax lien certificate you just sit back and wait for the profit check to come in the mail.

#2 Properties for Pennies – Mortgage Free

Tax deeds or tax defaulted properties are sold in about half the states in the US. Many times you can buy these properties for low prices because a great value because you are bidding on the property at a tax deed auction.

Here’s the simplified version of how tax deed sales work. Each homeowner must pay their real estate tax to the local government jurisdictions.  When a homeowner does not pay their county mandated taxes on their property, the county will confiscate the property and offer it for sale at a government tax defaulted property auction for only back delinquent taxes.  The county must do this because the county must pay for important services like local police, fire, schools and infrastructure, without the tax money they cannot do this and the local government would be in a world of trouble.

During a tax deed auction, property is usually sold for starting bid back tax plus any fees, interest charges, and court costs. Property taxes are only a small percentage of the market value and because of this investors who purchase a tax deed buy the full property rights for just pennies on the dollar.

A tax deed sale must be announced publicly and by law and in most instances are sold to the highest bidder.  When you are the winner at a tax deed auction you actually own the property and you own full legal rights to the property that very same day without any mortgages, liens or deeds of trust.

Of course this is a real estate investment and with any investment there can be risks.  It is important to become educated and always do your own due diligence before purchasing at the tax deed sale to minimize your risk.

You’ll want to make sure you research the property values before bidding on any tax deed property.

There are many ways to locate tax lien certificate auctions and tax defaulted property auctions. You can search Google, go directly to the local county government websites or call local county government offices. Having experience on your side can make a big difference in the amount of time it takes to get off and running in this investment opportunity. Ted Thomas and his team have been teaching investors how to do this business for over twenty-five years. Ted Thomas has helped thousands of students become successful tax lien and deed investors.

 

Ted Thomas

Ted Thomas is a Florida-based author and publisher who specializes in tax lien certificate and tax defaulted property investments. Visitors to his website www.tedthomas.com will find 3 must see FREE instructional videos. No credit card required. The video lessons will give you information about government tax defaulted real estate which is sold at public auctions starting bid back taxes which could be 10 cents to 20 cents on the dollar. You’ll also learn the secrets of tax lien certificates which generate returns of 16%, 18%, up to 36%. Go to www.tedthomas.com for more information.

Getting Started with Your Tax Lien Certificate and Tax Deed Investment Business

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By: Ted Thomas


Investing in tax lien certificates and tax deeds is a business that almost anyone can start. It doesn’t require any more than motivation, a small amount of money, and knowledge of how the system works. While I can’t help you with the first two requirements, my successful students and I can help you with the third one.

The Basics of Any Good Business

As the old saying goes, knowledge is power. The more you know, the better your investments will be – whether you are creating wealth through the stock market, by opening your own storefront, or by purchasing tax lien certificates and tax deeds.

Think of your investment business as an office building. Before the walls goes up, there has to be a foundation in place. Not only is the foundation the most important part of constructing the building, it’s the hardest part to do. It takes careful planning, using the blueprints (knowledge) to create a foundation that will support the subsequent structure.

Although its importance can’t be overstated, one day the foundation will be covered up. No one will be able to see it and it will become a forgotten part of the building. Nevertheless, the building must stand firmly on the foundation or it will crumble.

The same is true of a business. Your profits will speak for themselves, but no one will realize the time, research, and effort you put into creating a foundation of success. Just remember that without those ingredients, your road to profitable investments will be a rough one.

Understand the Process

The more comfortable you are with the process of bidding on tax lien certificates and tax deeds, the better your chances of making good buying decisions. One of my successful students, Craig Talkington, puts it this way, “You do it once and it gets easier every time you do it. It’s guaranteed. The worst that happens is you get your money back.”

Not only that, it gets more profitable! Recently, Craig bought a 10-acre tract of land at a Tax Lien certificate sale. It was next to a school in a bad part of town and everyone thought he was crazy. But Craig was crazy like a fox – he figured the school would eventually want to use it for expansion. He bought the certificate for $1,500 and later sold the property to the school system for $34,000. Craig kept investing part time and it didn’t take long for his profits to snowball.

Know the Rules

Each county is different when it comes to auctioning tax lien certificates and tax deeds. They have specific rules and particular bidding procedures. There are many bidding processes, I’m only mentioning two in this tutorial.

The bidding process at a tax lien certificate or tax deed auction varies. Two types are a reverse auction and rotational bidding.

At a traditional auction, bidding starts with a minimum amount and each subsequent bid goes up; in a reverse auction, it starts at the high point and then goes lower. This type of auction is used in the states of Arizona and Florida. In Florida, the bidding is on an interest rate that starts at 18 percent. The interest rate gets progressively lower as the bidding continues and may go down to less than one percent.

The state of Colorado, on the other hand, uses a rotational bidding process. This means the bidders are all given a card with a number; the auctioneer will go around the room in order from lowest to highest number asking for bids. At some rotational bid auctions, the numbers are printed on ping pong balls and put into a big drum, much like you might see at a bingo game.

Dates and times vary widely amongst tax districts, too. For instance, the state of Texas sells tax defaulted properties every month. Texas counties sell tax deeds; however the deed has an encumbrance. Texas allows the property owners to pay the investor directly and redeem the tax-defaulted property anytime within 180 days. The owner must pay the amount of the defaulting taxes on the deed plus 25%, no matter the amount of days the debt has been outstanding. You could easily make a tidy profit in less than 30 days and that is why Texas is a popular state when it comes to tax deed investing.

Obviously, there is a lot to learn about the particular rules imposed by each county and municipality – but learning them forms the foundation of your business.

Get Started Now

The most important thing is that you get started on your investment business. You don’t have to quit your day job; you need to make small changes and begin to control your destiny so you have money in the future.

Ask yourself, “Is this in my best interests?” The more you learn the better your investment business will be and the more you will like it. Tax lien certificate and tax deed investing is as safe an investment as you can imagine since it is secured by real estate, your money protected by tax code, and certificates pay one of the highest rates of interest in the market.

Ted Thomas is famous for showing newcomers and investors how to earn 6 figure incomes within 1 year of completing his training program. Conservative investors love tax lien certificates because they are predictable, certain and secure and sold by local government. Tax defaulted properties are sold at oral big auctions and online. Starting bid, only the back taxes…. More information at www.TedThomas.com

 

Savvy Investors Earn 16%, 18%, Up To 24% On Government Tax Lien Certificates

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The Question Is; What Is A Tax Lien?…It’s Not What You’re Thinking

By Ted Thomas

Across America, investors like you are discovering a safe, secure, predictable way to invest directly with the local government and then get checks back from the local government… here’s how..

The most common question I hear is “What is a tax lien certificate?” It is truly amazing how many people are not aware of this centuries-old investment vehicle.

The United States is a country where the majority of citizens own real estate, either residential or commercial, for many the most valuable asset they own is real estate.

Even though the housing bubble in recent years forced many people out of their homes, real estate ownership is still the goal to which most Americans aspire.

One of the costs of real estate ownership which cannot be avoided is the payment of property taxes. Local governments demand property taxes so that they may pay for civil servants and for roads, library, schools, police and fire departments to name a few. These property taxes are usually levied annually. In the U.S. there are 3,000 counties and over 1,400 municipalities that are classified as tax entities, sometimes called districts.

Tax Default

What happens if the property tax bill is not paid? The county government authorities do have remedies. They could repossess the property, but unlike vehicles or other goods, real estate can’t be moved. Instead, the government places a lien on the property.

A lien is similar to a mortgage, meaning that until the amount due is paid, the property is not owned free and clear. A delinquent tax lien is considered a senior lien – the local government must be paid before any other debtors if and when the real estate is transferred or sold. The lien is not beneficial to the municipality because it doesn’t fill their treasury with the money needed to pay for city and county services. In order to get their money right away, the municipality will offer tax lien certificates for sale to the public. This simply means, the defaulted taxes are sold at auction to willing investors. Investor’s purchase tax lien certificates because the county gives the investor a high interest rate and a secure position on the real estate.

The local government challenge is…

To collect property taxes. This is usually accomplished with an annual, or more frequent tax lien certificate auction or a tax defaulted property auction, today we’re talking about tax lien certificates. When the tax lien certificate is sold, the government collects their revenue from the investor and the property owner receives a notice of lien against their property, giving the property owner time to pay the delinquent bill. The purchaser of the certificate gets the lien certificate, which is secured by the actual real estate.

In order to remove the lien, the property owner must pay the amount of the unpaid taxes plus any applicable interest and penalties. When this revenue is received, the government authority sends a check to the tax lien certificate holder for the face amount plus the amount of interest accrued.

What If The Tax Isn’t Paid?

Sometimes the property owner just doesn’t pay the tax lien certificate which represents the taxes due, for one reason or another, it may be that the real estate became part of an estate and the heirs don’t want the property – or can’t afford it. How much time elapses between the taxes going unpaid and the municipality deciding to give up on ever receiving the revenue varies by tax district.

According to county treasurers across the United States, 95 to 97 percent of all property owners pay the delinquent tax in 24 months or less. It’s rare that a property owner fails to redeem (pay) the Tax Lien Certificate, but it does happen, nationwide, every year there are thousands of buyers who end up with property for only the cost of back taxes which they purchased at a tax defaulted auction. In a subsequent article, I’ll have more about tax defaulted property auctions, meanwhile, if the property owner fails to pay taxes, the tax lien certificate holder is awarded the property in exchange for paying the taxes, the county or municipality sends the tax lien certificate purchaser a deed, giving them the fee simple right to keep or sell the real estate.

Where To Find Tax Lien Certificates

Where can you find tax lien certificates that are up for auction? Local governments compile a list of delinquent property owners on a regular basis. This list can be found in one of three places: published by the newspaper, published online, or a printed list available directly from the government office. When you obtain the list, you can also get instructions and the date of the next auction of tax lien certificates.

To review, only two things may occur if you purchase a tax lien certificate. Number 1, the property owner gets their act together and redeems the certificate, that is they pay the certificate and when they pay you’ll receive all the money you invested plus a high interest rate which could be 16, 18, up to 36%. Number 2, the property owner continues the default and does not pay and the time limit runs out and you end up with the property free and clear. The mortgage is wiped out by an act of law, that is, the mortgage is extinguished by law in every state and every county in America.

Advantages of Tax Lien Certificate investing

Tax lien certificates pay interest rates up to 16%, 18%, 24% even 36% depending on the county where you purchase, each county has its own rules and amounts they pay. Conservative investors really like tax lien certificates because they are passive investments with very low risk. In short, they are predictable, certain and secure. Watch for more details in the future…

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Ted Thomas is famous for showing newcomers and investors how to earn 6 figure incomes within 1 year of completing his training program. Conservative investors love tax lien certificates because they are predictable, certain and secure and sold by local government. Tax defaulted properties are sold at oral big auctions and online. Starting bid, only the back taxes…. More information at TedThomas.com