Tax Deed Sale Help - Washington State

[James A.]

Hey All,

I'm just getting started with this strategy approach. Has anyone dealt or actively purchased any tax deed sale properties in the greater Seattle area. I'm gearing up for one, and I'm just curious to know how this works out.

Any tips? What are your thoughts?

Best,

James

[Ryland Taniguchi]

James,

The Snohomish tax deed auction is in person up in Everett. Last year they had a vote by everyone there whether to have it online or offline in 2016 and everyone voted offline (because they don't want more competition). The Pierce and King county are held online. 

There maybe 1 or 2 deals at a tax deed auction.

You go to the auction and they give you a list of properties. They put the tax parcels up on an overhead. You should bring cashier's checks in different amounts like $1,000, $2,500, etc. They mail to you whatever the extra amount is.

The best strategy at the tax deed auction is raw land. Not many people are interested or know how to determine whether the raw land is worth. I take a different approach. Because I am a land developer, a common obstacle I run into is removing dirt from construction sites affordable. At the tax deed auction, I look for raw land that I can basically use as a dirt dump site for myself. Then I'll run a craigslist ad to anyone who wants free dirt within 5 miles and then use my tax deed auction land to dump what's left.

I am sure people think I am crazy at the auction buying land that has no buildable value.