Tax sale homes have been praised for being a lucrative investment idea at any time. It has caused more interested investors to venture into the field, desiring to achieve what others have. However, not all emerge with desirable results for different reasons, mainly due to inadequate guidance.
If you’re a beginner in this form of investment, below is a guide to walk you through your first and successful tax sale home purchase.
What Are Tax Sale Homes?
Before investing in tax-sale homes, the first thing to consider is understanding what they are. Generally, tax sale homes are the house whose owners have defaulted in paying their relevant taxes, resulting in a repossession and potential re-sale by the government.
According to statistics, hundreds of properties undergo tax sales in Canada every year. So, you have infinite chances to invest regardless of your province. But there’s more you should know.
Benefits of Investing in Tax Sale Homes
Investing in tax sale homes can be highly profitable since the purchasing price often falls below the market value. This discount allows buyers to reinvest and make the most out of their new property.
When you buy a tax sale home, the process is usually streamlined because government officials carry it out. This ensures a lower risk of fraud and swift proceedings, providing peace of mind for investors. These properties often offer the potential for various tax reliefs, depending on factors such as property size or the number of outstanding liens. The new owner receives these financial advantages, enhancing their economic outlook.
There’s generally less competition to purchase tax-sale homes than standard properties. This can make the buying process quicker and more convenient for investors.
Disadvantages of Tax Sale Homes
It’s also essential to learn the few cons of investing in tax-sale homes to prepare adequately and combat them before closing a deal.
Unfortunately, most tax sale homes are in poor condition upon auction due to the previous owner’s negligence following financial incompetence. You may have to incur more costs repairing the property.
Additionally, this idea requires intensive research to ensure you don’t miss crucial details. The level of competition may not be so high, but when the relocation and home purchase season is at its peak, bidders may turn up in large numbers.
Financial institutions and banks don’t easily lend money to people who borrow to invest in tax-sale homes. Lastly, completing the legal procedures relating to this form of investment is quite demanding in terms of time and the complexity of the laws.
Look Into the Listings
You must follow a series of steps until you become a legal owner of a tax-sale home.
The first step of investing in tax-sale homes is to look into what listings are available in different regions and scrutinize for more favourable ones. The government announces delinquent properties for sale after a specific period and in various provinces. You can determine what region you want to purchase from and concentrate more on its listings.
Research About the Property
After you’ve settled on the location and the property you wish to acquire, it’s time to conduct more intensive research. The research will entail details such as the previous or current owners of the property, its age, market value, condition, and everything else that seems helpful. By the end of your research, you can decide if you still want the same home or will return to the listing.
Budget for the Investment
It’s not advisable to navigate a tax sale investment without a proper budget, regardless of how simple the project appears. Evaluate and make a detailed budget with the purchase price and every other fee that may be incurred. The budget will guide you when bidding and repairing the property.
Register as a Bidder
The next step is registering as a bidder, following all the rules and requirements that have been specified. Be sure to submit your registration by the stated date to stay on the list. It’s important to attend any meetings related to the potential auction while you dig for more information before the due date.
Attend the Auction and Bid Confidently
Here, you should attend the auction as per the specifications, virtually or physically. At the auction, be keen to bid according to your budget. Otherwise, you may easily torture your pockets. Winning a bid means you can proceed with the rest of the steps. If you don’t win, there’s always a next time.
Pay, Get the Title, and Manage Your Investment
After winning the bid, the last step is to pay for the property and work on the title transfer. If the owner doesn’t redeem the home at this point, you can proceed to close the deal when the period they were offered elapses.
You should be able to get your title deed soon after closing the deal. Following up with the relevant body is crucial to speed up the procedure. Property management for tax sale homes involves repairs, renovation, renting, or resell.
Buying a tax sale home puts you ahead of other investors. However, this only has several shortcomings, such as legal constraints and poor property conditions, which you should look for. That’s why you should thoroughly research the investment before everything else to understand the risks better.
Also Read: What is the difference between real property tax and estate taxes?
