United States Public & Sheriff Auctions
Direct county portal links, sheriff foreclosure dockets, tax deed sales, over-the-counter land purchases, and unclaimed surplus funds across all 3,144 US counties.
Select a State to View County Auctions
Filter by state tax sale system. Discover statutory interest rates, upcoming auction schedules, and available over-the-counter inventory.
Everything You Need to Know Before Bidding
Whether you are pursuing 24% statutory yields on liens, acquiring vacant lots for under $1,000, or claiming excess auction proceeds.
Lands Available & Over-The-Counter (OTC) Directory
Properties and certificates that received no bids at public auction enter the county's permanent OTC catalog. Anyone can purchase them directly over the counter from the county treasurer for the opening tax balance.
Up to 36% Annual Returns
Tax lien certificates are first-lien governmental obligations. If the property owner redeems, state statutes guarantee maximum returns (Iowa 24%, Illinois up to 36%, Florida 18%).
Unclaimed Surplus Funds
When an auction bid exceeds delinquent taxes, the surplus proceeds legally belong to the former property owner. Learn statutory claim deadlines and required court petitions.
Where US Auctions Actually Take Place
Over 70% of high-volume counties host sales online. Master the registration protocols, pre-sale deposits, and bidding software for RealAuction, Bid4Assets, CivicSource, and GovEase.
Need Fast Capital to Bid in Any US County?
Most tax deed auctions require cash or cashier's checks within 24–48 hours. Compare pre-approved hard money loans, transactional funding, and bridge loans for tax sale investors in All 50 States.
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How Real Property Tax Sales Work in the United States
Unlike ordinary real estate transactions, tax auctions arise from delinquent ad valorem property taxes. Each state operates under one of three distinct statutory frameworks:
1. Tax Lien States
The county does not sell the property itself, but rather an official tax lien certificate representing the unpaid tax bill. Investors bid down interest rates or pay premiums. If the owner redeems, the investor receives their capital back plus statutory interest of 8% to 36%.
2. Tax Deed States
The county forecloses on the property and auctions the physical real estate deed to the highest bidder at public auction. In pure deed states, the winning bidder obtains immediate possession and ownership with no post-sale right of redemption.
3. Redeemable Deeds (Hybrid)
The buyer receives a recorded deed immediately, but the former owner retains a statutory window (typically 6 months to 2 years) to redeem the property by paying the purchase price plus a hefty flat penalty (e.g. 25% penalty in Texas, 20% in Georgia).