Are you eyeing Maryland real estate or looking for a solid investment opportunity in Frederick? Consider a tax lien bundle with the assistance of Maryland tax sale attorney Ryan Lewis.
Between the Covid-fueled biomedical surge of the last few years and the ongoing investment in the Carrol Creek park and historic center investments, Frederick is looking to be one of Maryland’s more promising investment spots, especially for real estate. After all, the same forces that make those investments attractive also create a unique opportunity for domestic and foreign investors.
Rising real estate values go hand in hand with growing property taxes, and when Frederick residents or business owners cannot cover those taxes or fall behind, the County government places a lien on their property. These liens are then auctioned off, often in large bundles, every year in May to investors from all over the country or world during the annual Tax Sale, which is the domain of lawyer Ryan Lewis.
Having started out in the investment fund world, where he helped various funds raise over $350 Million in Tax Lien collateralized securities, no Maryland tax sales hold any secrets for this astute tax lien lawyer. So, when it comes to investment opportunities in Frederick’s upcoming tax sale, it is worth listening to what his law firm has to offer.
Tax liens, what funds and individuals bid on in the annual tax sales in each Maryland County, are a double-pronged investment. They offer two competitive and potent paths to profit, so long as you are careful with how you invest.
On the surface, tax liens are a form of debt. The state needs property tax revenues to fund essential services, so it gives private individuals and companies a chance to pay off those debts and obtain, in return, a tax lien on the delinquent properties.
These debts, however, are likely to be repaid as soon as the owners can, along with substantial fees and interest, which accumulates rapidly after the tax sale. If they don’t, a tax lien holder can, after a nine-month waiting period, force a foreclosure on the property and seize it. This means that investors can expect prompt and often considerable profits, and even if you do not…you’ll get the home or place of business!
you can bid on them in bulk, which can spread out your risk and give you an even higher chance of ending up with a clear deed to an exciting Frederick property.
That said, you should not just walk into a Maryland County Tax Sale like the one in Frederick and bid on everything that's up for auction, either. For one thing, the Tax Sale process and tax lien auction for Frederick County have been entirely online!
For another, the tax liens on properties up for auction are not all equally valuable, and a local tax lien attorney will be better able to assess the various properties and the associated opportunities and risks involved.
Finally, an attorney will be able to walk you and your investment through every step of the process, answering key questions you may have and handling the Frederick County paperwork before, during, and after the auction.
In Maryland, before any property’s tax lien goes up for auction at a tax sale, the list of probable liens is published and circulated, often in local online or print media. This begins in most Counties, including Frederick, in March. Then, if the opportunities interest you, registration for the tax sale begins in April, usually on the first. This means time is ticking, and if you are interested in some or all of the property liens, you should register ASAP.
Then, the actual tax sale, the auction of the tax liens, happens later in the spring or early summer; in Frederik County, it is held online on the second Monday of May. This is your chance to grab a bundle of tax liens, assuming you can cover the costs of the owner's tax debts.
Once purchased tax liens in the auction and covered those upfront costs, the debtors have a few months to pay back the lien before you can start adding fees and interest. This is usually three to six months, depending on the County and other details. An attorney will help you figure out exactly when and by how much you can add to the payment required to dismiss the tax lien.
Finally, starting roughly nine months after the initial purchase of the lien, if you want to, you can act to begin the foreclosure process on the property. This may take weeks, or more likely months, to go through, depending on the legal status of the property, how easy it is to find living owners, any challenges, and the skill of your attorney. Should you choose to do so, once your attorney has finalized the lien foreclosure process, you will get the property’s clear deed in your name.
LewisMcDaniels | Maryland tax lien lawyers to accompany you from initial tax sale registration to final foreclosure on your new Frederick property.
Frederick properties have rarely been so attractive, and tax liens more profitable. Time is ticking for registration and preparation for the upcoming tax sale auction, however.
The sooner you contact a Maryland tax lien attorney, like Ryan Lewis, the sooner you can get started on your next Frederick investment. Call (301) 818-0405 to get started right now, or set up an online consultation to learn more about tax sales and tax lien purchases.