Utah tax lien help

[Drew Darlington]

Hey everyone I am just researching about tax liens in Utah and need some help from anyone who has done it before. I live in Arizona but Utah is pretty different so I'm not sure what in doing. So I know that you bid on % of ownership so if you get a house for 90% what do you do with the people who already live there? And what happens to their mortgage? Do you have to go through a lawsuit with the people who live there? What would be the best way about getting possession? Any advice would help me thanks!!

[Douglas Larson]

@Drew Darlington

I have been to a few tax auctions in Utah. Just as @William Hochstedler mentioned above, Utah does not sell the lien but the actual property after many years of delinquency. It was several years ago that I researched several properties and went to a couple auctions. Each county seems to hold their auctions on the same day at the same time in early May. Since you can't be in 2 places at once you have to have a team or just pick one county. 

The properties that make it to auction in Utah are usually vacant land parcels with no option to build or they are worthless old homes out in the boonies. I know of a couple people who picked up odd land parcels that had some value but most of the things I've seen are strange little pieces of land that have little value and no practical use. 

I did purchase a 12 ft. wide by 50 ft. long parcel a few years ago that adjoined my sisters home. It was an abandoned easement and would only have had value to one of the adjacent property owners. The price started at about $300 and got bid up to $800. It was worth something to my sister and her husband so they could expand their yard. I have no idea who the other bidders were or if they knew what they were bidding on. If you are the winning bidder, you have to pay cash that very day.

There may be some opportunities at Utah tax auctions but do the research and be sure what you are buying!