Simple Definition: County offers at auction properties that have delinquent property taxes.

Legal Definition: A County attempts to collect personal property taxes owed by the owner. The County will conduct an auction where the tax lien certificate, or the actual deed, is sold, usually to investors. The primary purpose is to sell the debt, or the property, to investors in an attempt to collect past due taxes.

Ownership: Only in rare instances does the property actually transfer from the owner to the investor. Usually the tax is brought current by the owner shortly after the sale.

Unique Process Involved: Details of the tax lien process are too lengthy to describe here for the purpose at hand. Auctions are usually conducted in a “theater” setting at a site designated by the County.

Important to Keep in Mind: A very small percentage of what Atlantic does.