Top tips for lien tax
Introduction
A lien is a method that is used by a lender to secure, encumber or restrict property if the debts owed to him are not paid in the agreed time. A tax lien can be defined as a government's right to hinder property when the taxes owed to them are not paid in the due date. A tax lien in general is issued when a property owner fails to pay the taxes of the property as required. Tax liens tend to affect the credit score. What many people fail to realize is that it is very possible to invest in the tax lien and get some good returns. The following are tips of investing in the tax lien.
Step 1
Set a goal
Your goal should state clearly if you are investing for the future or just the present. Setting a goal will help to choose the best tax lien that caters for your needs like you are able to choose between a redeemable tax deed, tax lien certificate and a tax deeds. Setting a goal will also help you to figure out the best bidding technique to adopt and the returns to expect in future from the investment that you make.
Step 2
Determine where to invest
The area you choose to invest in will in one or the other determine the returns of your investment. If you are planning to invest in many different areas, it is important to start with one area that will help to learn the best tactics of achieving success through tax lien investment. Although this may not always help as much since different states have different guidelines and procedures.
Step 3
Get the auction data
It is essential to know where the tax sale are conducted and get a listing of the properties in the sale. In most cases, this is not difficult to attain as you will need to call a person who will give all the details and sometimes you may be required to pay a small amount of money.
Step 4
Prepare for the tax auction
This entails registering for the bid, getting the paper work done and payments cleared. Depending on the States guidelines, the preparation process may be long and complicated. While others will only require the right paper work and payments and you will be good to go. The payment may also vary depending on the state you invest in and large deposits may be returned if nothing is purchased but small deposits may not be returned depending on the state's guidelines.
Step 5
Figure out the bidding strategy
Before attending the bidding, it is essential to know and understand the bidding process and techniques that are applied. This is because different sates tend to have different bidding technique and not understanding them may lead to losses. However, it advisable to go on one tax sale if it is your first time so that you can understand what really happens and to reduce your chance of making huge losses as a result of poor understanding.
Step 6
Protect your tax lien investment
As soon as you purchase a tax lien certificate, it is important to protect your investments and earnings by recording the tax lien with the state's recording officer, paying the required taxes, making sure that your clear the title to the property and foreclosing on the right to redeem.
Tips
It is very important to carry out due diligence of the tax lien sale properties before the bid starts. Relying on what other states do would not be advisable as different states operate differently depending on the kind of investment an individual makes.
Sources and Citations
http://taxesandliens.com/blog/8-tax-lien-investing-tips/
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-tax-lien.htm
http://www.ehow.com/how_5008626_buy-tax-lien-mortgage-notes.html