Skip to content
×
Try PRO Free Today!
BiggerPockets Pro offers you a comprehensive suite of tools and resources
Market and Deal Finder Tools
Deal Analysis Calculators
Property Management Software
Exclusive discounts to Home Depot, RentRedi, and more
$0
7 days free
$828/yr or $69/mo when billed monthly.
$390/yr or $32.5/mo when billed annually.
7 days free. Cancel anytime.
Already a Pro Member? Sign in here

Join Over 3 Million Real Estate Investors

Create a free BiggerPockets account to comment, participate, and connect with over 3 million real estate investors.
Use your real name
By signing up, you indicate that you agree to the BiggerPockets Terms & Conditions.
The community here is like my own little personal real estate army that I can depend upon to help me through ANY problems I come across.
Foreclosures
All Forum Categories
Followed Discussions
Followed Categories
Followed People
Followed Locations
Market News & Data
General Info
Real Estate Strategies
Landlording & Rental Properties
Real Estate Professionals
Financial, Tax, & Legal
Real Estate Classifieds
Reviews & Feedback

Updated over 5 years ago on . Most recent reply

User Stats

1,185
Posts
728
Votes
Nghi Le
  • Investor / Lender
  • Seattle, WA
728
Votes |
1,185
Posts

Tax Sale Prep

Nghi Le
  • Investor / Lender
  • Seattle, WA
Posted

I'm planning on attending my first tax deed foreclosure sale/auction in a couple of months in Seattle, WA (King County).  Just wanted to see if anyone has been to this specific auction before, and what was your experience like?

Some general questions about tax sales:
I'm considering driving by all of the properties to check them out (after I narrow down the list online).  Would you guys recommend that, or is that a waste of time?  Do the majority of them not make it to the auction?  If so, is it because investors are reaching out to them before the auction (and is that legal)?

Most Popular Reply

User Stats

141
Posts
85
Votes
Christopher Gilbert
  • Investor
  • Pflugerville, TX
85
Votes |
141
Posts
Christopher Gilbert
  • Investor
  • Pflugerville, TX
Replied

@Nghi Le 

To answer some of your general questions, we ALWAYS at least do a drive by of any property that we are willing to put a bid in on.  We have come across many burned out houses, flood houses, landlocked lots (no road access) and places that were in such bad condition a good wind will bring them down.  You cannot get all the information driving by but at least you can get an estimate to help you determine if you should even bid and if so, how much.

Past experience has shown that at least half of the houses get pulled.  Some are for legal reasons or the owner paid the back taxes and some are probably other investors getting in touch with the owner and putting a deal together before the auction.  Of the ones that make it to auction half are not worth bidding on and the remaining ones generally have no clear "owner" as the previous one passed away and had no direct heirs or will to give the house to. 

Loading replies...