Tax Certificate Birmingham, AL

[Pedro Martin]

Hello, Newbie here

Birmingham, AL

I recently purchased a tax lien to a property that has a residential structure , i have received the certificate already and the property has been assessed in my name (received the certificate and also a notice to have it assessed to my name or face a penalty after 30 days). The property has been abandoned for about a year if not a little more.  The property has trash all over the place (inside and out) and the grass hasn't been cut in who knows how long. My question is, how long do i have to wait to take possession of house since there is clear indication that the house has been abandoned? I know if the property is still occupied i would have to notify them (owner and/or lien holder) to redeem the property or face being  evicted via filing a ejectment law suit and have to wait 6 months. I do know that once i have the tax certificate i can take possession of the property only if the property has been abandoned, but not sure how long i have to wait to label the property as "Abandoned".

[Pedro Martin]

Update: I was able to locate the owner and get his contact information by using spokeo.com to get a report. I believed I spent a total of $2.00 by registering (7 day trial) and downloading a pdf file of the information i needed. After speaking to the former owner, I was notified that they were no longer interested in the property. Just for my records, i drew up by own notice to redeem and gave them a certain amount to pay before a certain date or the notice was no longer valid after the date posted. Also in the notice, interest was also factored into the amount due and still accumulating at a daily rate of $0.xx a day.  After everything was listed and filled in, i mailed the notice out with USPS (Certified Mail) and required a signature for pick up (that way i have it on record that a notice was sent and received). For some of you newbies (including me), if you have a tax certificate, interest is calculated by the county and should have this in order since the tax payer has to go through the county to be able to redeem. With a tax deed the tax payer has to go through you (the tax deed holder) to be able to redeem, the county is no longer involved. If you are still wondering how much interest you are making, you can go to   http://eringcapture.jccal.org/caportal/CAPortal_Ma...    . Once there go to redemption tab, Simply add the tax payers name (former owner) last name first then first name or the parcel #. you should have the property come up. Look for the Payoff Quote, you should have the amount you paid and the interest you are acquiring  on it. I'm trying to make this thread a little more knowledgeable for another reader since i went through many forms and passages myself.  Also before you work on a house if you have a tax certificate, i would recommend you hire to get a appraisal value of the home in the current condition that it is in, that way you get full credit for any future repair (not upgrades). They can usually give you the value amount added to the property on any repairs you might be doing. That way you have a idea of the total value amount added to the home after repairs are done for future purposes, you might come to need it. Please remember when/if the property gets redeemed, you get the value amount added to the property from "Preservation improvements", meaning if you spent $800 but the "preservation improvements" added $8,000 to the value, then you get the $8,000. In some instance, if you spent $10,000 on preservation improvements but it only added $6,000 to the value of the home, then you only get the $6,000 and leave with a loss.  

Happy Valentine's Everyone                     Tax liens/deeds are now on my radar