Purchasing tax liens from an investor?

[Melissa Kirchhoff]

Has anyone out there done this? I am interested in buying an already purchased tax lien that was already bought at a sale. Could I offer to pay off the full amount (plus interest) to them and go from there? Since I know it will be asked, the why, is basically that I'm hoping to get the property, since I know it's going into foreclosure, and I want to wholesale to area flippers that love snapping up deals in this neighborhood. I don't know if that's stupid, but I'm willing to try for that amount of money, and worst comes to worst, I feel like I can sell it as-is for a decent profit still. Anyone done anything like this and can give me some ideas? Thanks!