Tax Lien Investing Blog

How to Find Tax Lien Properties: A Step-by-Step Guide for New Investors

The certificates don't come to you. Most beginners spend weeks studying interest rates and redemption periods without ever answering the more immediate question: where do you actually find properties to bid on? This guide walks through the full process — from pulling the county's delinquent tax list to running a six-point property screen before auction day. By the end, you'll know exactly where to look, what to verify, and how to build a repeatable system that filters 200 properties down to the ones worth your capital.

Best States for Tax Lien Investing in 2026: A Complete State-by-State Guide

Not all tax lien states are created equal. Interest rates range from 8% to 36%. Redemption periods run from one year to three or more. Some states let you invest entirely online — others require you to show up at a county courthouse. The state you choose determines your return, your capital requirements, and how long your money stays locked in. This guide covers the seven strongest markets for 2026, breaks down the states to approach with caution, and includes a full reference table for every major lien and deed state in the country.

Tax-Free Bonds: How They're Taxed, Who They're For, and How They Compare to Tax Lien Certificates

Tax-free bonds aren't always as tax-free as they sound. Municipal bonds skip federal income tax on interest — but capital gains are fully taxable, some bonds trigger the AMT, and out-of-state munis get taxed by most states. This guide breaks down exactly how each bond type is taxed, who they actually make sense for, and why most bond investors have never seriously looked at the alternative: tax lien certificates paying 8–36% annually, backed by the same government authority.

Tax Lien and Tax Deed Investing: What They Are, How They Differ, and Where to Start

Tax lien and tax deed are two of the most misunderstood terms in real estate investing. Most beginners treat them as the same thing — they're not. One lets you buy the debt on a property and earn government-backed interest. The other transfers full ownership after a public auction. Different mechanics, different risk profiles, different capital requirements. This guide breaks both down clearly so you can decide where to start.

How to Find a Lien on a Property (And What to Do If You Find One)

Before you buy any property, you need to know if it's clear. A lien is a legal claim that follows the property — not the owner — which means you could inherit someone else's debt at closing. This guide walks you through exactly how to find a lien on a property, what each type means, and how to act on what you find. Most of it is free. None of it should be skipped.

Tax Lien Investing: How to Buy Certificates, Properties, and Generate Returns

Tax lien investing is one of the few legal, government-backed strategies that lets you earn fixed interest — anywhere from 8% to 36% annually — without owning physical property. But the headline rate is not your return. Competition, auction formats, redemption timing, and the quality of the property behind the certificate all determine what you actually earn. This guide covers everything: how liens are created, how auctions work, how to research a property before you bid, what happens when an owner doesn't pay, and how to build a portfolio that compounds over time. No shortcuts. No fluff. Just the full picture.

A Guide on Redemption Periods in Tax Lien Investments

Redemption: where patience turns into profit. When you buy a tax lien, you are not buying property. You are buying time. Specifically, you are buying the right...

Developing a Successful Approach to Tax Lien Investments

The Importance of Property Valuation in Tax Lien Investing

You're buying a lien, not the property itself. So why does property value matter? Because that value is the only thing backing your investment. If the lien...

Discovering Profitable Opportunities in Tax Lien Auctions

Most investors look at the same auction lists and see the same properties. A few see something different. They spot the liens everyone else overlooked, the...

How the Government Influences Tax Lien Investing

Tax lien investing doesn't exist in a vacuum. Every opportunity, every interest rate, every redemption timeline gets shaped by government decisions made at the state and county level. Understanding how policy influences your investments helps you anticipate changes and adapt before they impact your returns.

Tax Lien Auctions Explained: What Every Beginner Should Know

What exactly happens when you click "bid" at a tax lien auction? And what are you actually buying? These questions stop more beginners than they should, mostly...