Mobile Home Park for Tax Sale

[Brian Jackson]

Looking at a piece of property but would love to see the history on it. It's a old mobile home park if it makes a difference. Any sites to get lien info, code enforcement tickets ? 

It's been abandoned for a few years, has about 9 run down homes on the land. Was functional maybe 4yrs ago. Recieved offer from state to buy the tax certificate and just wanted to know what to look for and should I.

Mobile, Alabama area

[Denise Evans]

@Brian Jackson, you should research the deed records, where you will find sales, foreclosures, liens, etc. You also want to check to make sure the true owner was the same as the assessed owner on the date of the tax sale. Otherwise, the tax sale was void and the true owner can get it back by paying you the taxes and interest only. No improvements. Any rent you collect you will have to fork over.

Often, those mobile home parks are on long term leases, not true ownership. The tax assessment records should indicate if it was a long term lease or ownership. If a long term lease, all that got sold at the auction was the lease, which has probably been cancelled due to payment default by now.

Look for flood plain maps.  I think they are online.

Find out if there is sanitary sewer. Older mobile home parks often on septic tanks. If the tanks are shot and there is no sanitary sewer nearby, you might not be able to put in new tanks because regulations have changed since it was originally built.  Local health department can tell you about septic tank requirements.  City water department can tell you about sanitary sewer.  While you are at it, check out location of all utilities. Was there city water, or was it well water?

Local government liens trump a tax sale. They can foreclose their liens (or sell to someone else, who can foreclose) and pay you only taxes and interest. No improvements.  General liens, like banks, judgment creditors, IRS, Medicaid, etc. have to redeem before they can foreclose. They have to pay all the normal redemption charges, including improvements.