Reference
Glossary
The same wording behind every help tooltip in the app. Definitions describe how a term is generally used; state law and the county’s own instructions control.
- Assessed value
The value a local assessor assigns for tax purposes, or the amount a court determined (adjudged value). It is a reference point, not market value, and can differ a lot from a real sale price.
- Bid method
How 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.
- Bid-down
A competition to offer the lowest acceptable interest rate rather than the highest price. The debt is sold for the full amount owed and the winner is the bidder willing to earn the least.
- Bidder forms
Paperwork a county may collect before you can bid, such as a bidder ID card or a W-9 for tax reporting.
- Confidence
How well our rule data is backed by primary sources. High means verified against statute or an official page; low means treat it as a starting point only.
- County FIPS
The five-digit code for one county, shown on that county's page. Leave it blank to watch the whole state.
Example: 04013
- Deal score
A transparent rule-of-thumb from 0 to 100 comparing value to the minimum bid, the interest rate, and the redemption length. Educational only — not investment advice.
- Deposit
Money 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.
- Eligibility
Rules about who may bid. Some counties restrict non-residents or bar anyone who owes delinquent taxes from participating.
- Email address
Where the alert is sent. We use it only for the searches you save here, never for a marketing list.
Example: you@example.com
- Flood zone
The FEMA flood-risk area a property sits in. High-risk zones (AE, A, VE) usually require flood insurance if you build or hold the property, and can make a cheap parcel expensive to keep.
- Interest / penalty
What 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.
- Market value
What the property would likely sell for today in an open market. It is the number to compare against the minimum bid, because the assessor value alone can be far off.
- Minimum bid
The lowest amount the county will accept, typically the taxes owed plus costs. It is not the true cost — add fees, title work, and possession costs.
- Minimum bid lower limit
The smallest minimum bid to include. Use it to skip tiny liens and parcels that are not worth the paperwork.
Example: 1000
- Minimum bid upper limit
The largest minimum bid to include. Use it to keep an alert inside the budget you set.
Example: 5000
- Notice period
How many days before the sale the law requires the owner and public to be notified. Short or missed notice is a common ground to challenge a sale.
- OTC (over-the-counter)
Properties or liens left unsold after the auction that you can still buy directly from the county, usually at a set price or the minimum bid, on a first-come basis.
- Payment
How 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.
- Premium bidding
Bidding above the amount owed to win. The extra is a premium; depending on the state it may be treated as excess proceeds and can be lost or refunded.
- Redemption period
How 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.
- Registration
Signing 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.
- Sale date after
The earliest sale date you want to hear about. Sales before this date are left out of the alert.
Example: 2026-11-01
- Sale date before
The latest sale date you want to hear about. Sales after this date are left out of the alert.
Example: 2026-12-31
- Sale format
Whether 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.
- Sale timing
When sales are typically held. Many counties publish sale lists only a few weeks ahead, and some sell continuously or on their own schedule.
- Sale type
What 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.
- Sale type filter
Limits the alert to liens, deeds, redeemable deeds, or hybrids. Leave it on Any to see every sale type.
Example: Lien
- Search name
A short label so you can tell your saved searches apart. It stays in your account and is not sent to the county.
Example: Phoenix under $5k
- Search text
Matches words in the parcel number, address, or county name. Leave it blank to match every parcel in the area you picked.
Example: APN 123-45-678
- State
The two-letter state code to watch. Leave it blank to watch every state we cover.
Example: AZ
Set a saved search on the alerts page or read the docs for how the numbers are built.