Tax lein house takeover

[Charles Morgan]

I noticed an empty house while driving around. Checked county website, $27,000 in back taxes/fees. Does anyone think it would be possible to make a lowball offer to the tax office to clear up tax lien with the agreement that I will be remodeling with the idea of having it habitable in a few months?

I would need the taxable value lowered quite a bit until I had it repaired and could agree to a reappraisal in a couple of years, or upon sale to a final purchaser.

The actual back taxes without fees/interest is around $5,000-$8,000, ARV would be about $50,000. This is El Paso county, Texas. It looks like about $20,000 needed in total repairs (roof, drywall, plumbing, some exterior).

Any ideas on how best to present my offer?

Thank you.

This house has been empty for approximately 12 years if the tax info is correct, last payment in 2001.

[Josh James]

I would ask why none of the taxing entities have foreclosed on it yet. I have seen municipalities let the taxes get that high when they want to own the property. They let the back taxes rack up enough that no investor would want to bid. Then they strike off the property to the city asset manager or whichever taxing entity wanted the property.

This may not be the case in your situation, but 12 years of no tax revenue is a red flag.