Neighboring land going to Auction

[Owen Boller]

The county has listed some land next to my house via a tax foreclosure auction. I know the owner died and her relatives are all unable to pay for the land. The taxes are only a few hundred each year. My worry is that if I bid on the property I may have to pay more than market value since people may know i want it (or the auction company will bid against me). 

I tried to buy the land before the auction but they won’t allow it. Can I just pay the taxes to the county for 10 years then file for adverse possession, or is that too risky? Has anyone done this? 

[Wayne Brooks]

Quote from @Owen Boller:

“they” is the County. It’s a tax delinquent foreclosure. Why wouldn’t adverse possession work if I paid the taxes for 10 years? 

Read your state laws carefully….simply paying the taxes for 10 years likely doesn’t qualify. At any point an heir can pop up and reclaim, or simply pay the taxes one year. Your Brest bet is to make a deal with the heirs and guide/help through the process to have the legal authority to sell it to you.