Sale typeWhat you actually buy. A lien sale gives you a claim on the property and the owner keeps it for now; a deed sale transfers the property itself. A redeemable deed transfers ownership but still gives the former owner time to pay you back. See the full glossary for more terms.
Interest / penaltyWhat you earn when the owner redeems. Interest is a rate paid over time; a penalty is usually a one-time percentage of the tax or redemption amount. A rate that is bid down during the auction is still interest. See the full glossary for more terms.
18% per year maximum certificate rate (bid down); 1.5% per month after tax deed application
Fla. Stat. § 197.172(2); § 197.542(1)
RedemptionHow long the former owner has to repay the debt and keep the property after the sale. Your money stays tied up until this window closes, so a long period can mean a multi-year wait on a lien. See the full glossary for more terms.
2 years (before tax deed application)
Fla. Stat. § 197.502(1)
Bid methodHow the winner is chosen: bidding the interest rate down, bidding a premium above the amount owed, a random or rotating draw, or simply buying at the minimum bid. See the full glossary for more terms.
Sale timingWhen sales are typically held. Many counties publish sale lists only a few weeks ahead, and some sell continuously or on their own schedule. See the full glossary for more terms.
HybridWhether the sale is online, in person, by sealed bid, or a mix. The format decides how you register and whether you can react to other bids. See the full glossary for more terms.
1.A tax deed sale is advertised and held at public auction by the clerk of the circuit court of the county where the property is located (197.542(1))
2.The certificateholder has a right to bid and the property is struck off and sold to the highest bidder (197.542(2))
3.The high bidder posts with the clerk a nonrefundable deposit of 5 percent of the bid or $200, whichever is greater, at the time of the sale (197.542(2))
4.Pay the full final bid plus documentary stamp tax and recording fees within 24 hours, excluding weekends and legal holidays (197.542(2))
5.The clerk issues and records the tax deed upon payment (197.542(1), (3)); a clerk may instead conduct electronic tax deed sales with proxy bidding (197.542(4)(a))
RegistrationSigning up as a bidder before the sale. Counties set the deadlines and paperwork, which may include an application, identification, and a no-delinquent-taxes statement. See the full glossary for more terms.
Required: UnknownUnknown
Not verified from a source yet.
DepositMoney you must post before or at the sale, often a flat amount or a percentage of your bid. It is usually applied to the purchase price if you win and is often non-refundable if you fail to pay. See the full glossary for more terms.
Required: Yes
Unknown
5% of amount owed
at the time of the sale
FormsPaperwork a county may collect before you can bid, such as a bidder ID card or a W-9 for tax reporting. See the full glossary for more terms.
Bidder ID card: UnknownW-9: Unknown
EligibilityRules about who may bid. Some counties restrict non-residents or bar anyone who owes delinquent taxes from participating. See the full glossary for more terms.
PaymentHow and when you must pay after winning. Certified or cleared funds are common and personal checks usually are not; missing the deadline typically forfeits your deposit. See the full glossary for more terms.