Due dilligence with tax sales.

[Greg Carrier]

Everyone who buys properties or liens on tax sales knows among the other due diligence items on their respective lists, we really have to make sure the house actually exists.  That is because sometimes county websites are not up to date and google pictures are dated.  I have found many houses that from Zillow shots look great only to find the house has burned down or has a hole the size of a compact car in the back of the house which is not noticeable from the street view.  We also have to make sure the house has not been demolished buy the city or has a demo order on it.  Two weeks ago I drove St Joseph County Indiana and looked at houses for the commissioner sale going on today in the county.  One house I saw was in very rough shape but I like the neighborhood so thought if it was cheap enough I would buy it.  Normally in South Bend, houses with demo orders have a sign on the front door.  This house did not.  When I looked at the county website yesterday I could not find the house on the map that showed all demo orders.  The map shows both the to be demo'd houses and the completed demos.  I found that strange so took a drive back to see the house to make sure I was not confused about what house was actually on the auction.  Well you can probably guess what I found,  a freshly cleared empty lot.  Glad I made the second trip.