Oregon Property Tax Delinquencies

[Bobby Vernazza]

Hello Everyone,

First off this is my first post in the forums, so cut me a little slack if my post isn’t very clear. I have been considering getting a tax delinquency list for Oregon and started to do a little research on the topic and came up with a few questions. Please correct me if I am wrong about anything I state below.

With a tax foreclosure in Oregon, this occurs after a homeowner has been three years delinquent on their taxes. The county then sends them a notice of default and later a notice of foreclosure. Once the foreclosure judgement is put into action, is there any kind of redemption period? According to this website : http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/what-happens-if-i-dont-pay-property-taxes-oregon.html it is stated that: “After the court issues its foreclosure judgment, you get two years to get caught up on the delinquent amounts before you lose your home (Or. Rev. Stat. § 312.120)” So apparently there is a redemption period of two years where the homeowner can pay back their delinquent taxes (plus fees, penalties and interest). Does this then allow the homeowner to have a total of 5 years to slack off with their property taxes before they have to get caught up or have the house be taken by the county? In addition to this according to https://www.oregon.gov/DOR/forms/FormsPubs/310-671.pdf it has been stated that “When one year remains in the redemption period, the county sends a notice by certified and first class mail to all persons with a legally recorded interest in the property.” Would this “person with legally recorded interest” pertain to investors seeking to obtain the property at some point? At what point is a "person with interest" able to obtain the property? This is all a little confusing to me, any insight on this topic would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

[Jered Souder]

@Bobby Vernazza

Oregon property tax foreclosures do take "forever". Usually the auction is filled with properties that are vacant plots of land that have no legal access rights and are near worthless which is why no one stopped the process by selling. There are a few exceptions but the sale information is usually front page in the newspaper (Lane County) so anything that is decent, is bid at competitive auction (so not likely to be a great deal). In most cases where there is a loan, the bank is going to pay the property tax and/or foreclose before it gets to that point. Typically, not paying property tax goes hand in hand with not paying the mortgage.

A strategy could be getting a property tax delinquencies list and market to those people. Whether it is mail or door knocking. The key to successful RE investing is finding motivated sellers and being the only one talking to them. People that are behind on property taxes may be motivated to sell. Waiting for the auction is not going to give you a competitive advantage.

These are just generalities from my limited insight.