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The world of real estate provides the exciting opportunity for investment and financial growth. If you're interested in getting involved in this market, but you don't have a whole lot of money to invest, you might want to consider buying a house using real estate tax liens. In the past, to find estate sales in the area, you'd need to read the local paper or visit the county courthouse to learn about upcoming auctions. While those are still viable resources, in the digital age, you can now look for tax lien auctions online, as many auctioneers look for out of area investors to get involved. Make sure you take the time to understand the specific process to purchase tax liens. It will vary from state to state. You may find that you need to show up to the county courthouse at a specific day and time for the month. Once you have made your purchase, the sale process will also vary, depending on the state. If another investor is looking to buy the same property, the winner is determined by different methods. Some states will pick the winner by random. Other states will select winners by who will accept the lowest rate of interest returns. Finally, winners can be decided by those willing to purchase tax liens for the lowest percent of encumbrance on the property (meaning that you will have less than 100% ownership of the property if it is not redeemed). Also, make sure you have plenty of cash on hand, as the amount of money to buy an eligible property will usually be for far more than the total debt. If you think that buying home with this kind of process is right for you, make sure you take the necessary precautions that come with buying any kind of real estate. Take the time to visit the house or land in person. Inspect the exterior of the property to its fullest to reduce potential surprises, such as environmental contamination or shoddy workmanship. Use online resources to check out the value of surrounding properties and compare it to your potential investment. Finally, learn more about the infrastructure nearby. Is the house near an airport or a landfill? Look for any elements beyond your control that will knock down the value of the estate. Finally, always keep the financial risks in mind. You will need to have the necessary cash to cover the expenses before experiencing any kind of return on your investment. The amount of time you'll need to float the cash depends on each state. Often, the property owner will be given a certain amount of time to repay your tax liens (plus interest in other fees). This "redemption period" can last as long as a year. Also, some states will demand you to pay for the unpaid property taxes during this period, as a way of protecting your interest. Remember, as with any investment, understand the benefits and pitfalls before risking your cash on your future decisions. Tax liens provide excellent opportunities for real estate investment and growth. For extraordinary investment opportunities using CivicSource, view the properties at: http://www.civicsource.com.
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