Tax Sale

[Julie Doke]

I found an empty house yesterday and after doing research it appears this property has been empty since the owner went into a nursing home in 2007 - she passed away in 2011 and has children/grandchildren so I'm not sure why the home was not sold then. As luck would have it (not sure if it's good luck or bad) I also found out this house is part of an up coming tax sale. I plan on calling the county Monday but a view point from experienced investors would be extremely helpful. Here are the details and areas of confusion ... There are outstanding back taxes from 2007 - 2008.  Is it possible to pay the back taxes and purchase the house before it goes up for auction?? and two another item of concern is a lien for medical payments dated 2007 from Medicaid - the amount owed on this lien is not stated instead it gives an address so I will have to write or find a number. Is there a chance this debt was wiped out upon her death?? Is there a "normal" for this type of thing??