Research Software? Tax Lien / Deed

[Gaston Ortega]

I am interested in the personal experience of tax lien and deed investors regarding research software that would facilitate access, visibility and research to filter through >3000 county auctions.

1- Are there some which are highly reputable while others considered more scammy in nature?

2- which do you have a good experience with?


3- From a common sense perspective I believe technology should be a good facilitator to waste less time creating a competitive advantage to find good deals faster. What do you all think? Interested in the opinion of those who have acquired properties and attended auctions over a few years.


4- As for expediting my education, and research, do you have opinions about the value of these two sources?

- Tax Sales Academy - Casey Denman

- Ted Thomas - and his “magic map” for research 

[Bruce Lynn]

Personally I don't think you want to do this.

The experts on here will likely tell you that you don't need to scan 3000 county auctions.

You need to do the ones near you, where you learn and know the rules, can drive every property you plan to purchase.

Even in one state where the basic rules should likely be the same they seem to get implemented differently in each jurisdiction....so you really need to learn the specifics of that ONE sale.

I doubt there is any one software that scans all the auctions....almost every one in my area has some differences where it is not even easy to parse the data and get it in a spreadsheet in a simple format. Have to have a VA do that.

Personally I would not pay for the education from a national provider.  I've watch many videos online from them and attended in person their free training sessions.  I saw enough in the free sessions to understand they were not going to be useful and typically a gateway for you to buy coaching and perhaps software thru them.

I always say start with the county your are in or near.  Go to the auction, see how it works, don't go to bid the first 1-2-3 times.  See what people pay.  Learn the rules.  Talk to everyone.   You will learn in some places that have bid down, that the interest rate quickly goes from 16% to 1% on many properties.  You will see in deed states where the minimum bid might be $1000 for the property to go to $10,000 or $50,000.  You will find in deed states there is no financing typically that you need to pay cash money the same day....sometimes they'll take cashier checks, but often it is real cash cash....in Dallas County Texas just to give you an idea...they auction the property, and the minute that auction is over you step to the front of the room with the deputy that ran that auction $100K-$200K-$300K comes out of bras, boots, and briefcases and gets run thru a bill counter in front of everyone.  This while the next deputy steps to the podium and auctions the next property.

We're starting to see a few online in Texas, but not many...most of the time you are required to be there in person.  Typically one auction a month, but you might get lucky and make it to two.  If you are going to scan all 254 counties are you willing to attend an auction in any one of those counties?   Are you willing to hold the property for 2-4 years and pay taxes and insurance on it?

What state are you in....there are a handful of experts for various states on this forum so maybe we can send you to the right person for advice or training.

You might also attend your local REIAs and ask them who the tax sale experts are in your area.

For good general very very basic get started advice, read the 16% solution book.