Brilliant? Dumb? Totally unworkable?

[Mike McClung]

Hi all,

I suspect my understanding of liens is faulty, otherwise someone else would probably be doing this already:

Search county tax rolls (many of which are online) to find delinquent/forfieted tax properties in areas you like. Pay the tax, place a lien on the property for the tax amount, then eventually either get the property or get reimbursed the tax amount.

Downside I can see is that it might be a junior lien and get wiped out in forclosure/bankruptcy.

Thoughts? Gentle mockery? Outright laughter?