Florida Tax Certificate / Tax Deed Questions

[Bastian P.]

I am living in Florida (Brevard county) and I recently came across tax certificate auctions. I was searching for tax certificates and some are as low as 40 USD and some go up to 14000 USD in Brevard. I hope this here is the right place to post some questions about the tax deed process and would appreciate your feedback.

The tax collector's website says: Certificate holders who apply for a tax deed must pay the Tax Collector the amounts required for redemption of all other outstanding certificates, plus interest; any omitted taxes, plus interest; any delinquent taxes, plus interest; and current taxes, if due; and other fees as mandated by state law (including a title search fee and a Tax Collector fee)

1) Lets assume I have a tax certificate and now want to get a tax deed for that property. If I understand this right, I first would have to buy any other outstanding tax certificates for that property, plus interest, before the process can start?

2) From your experience, how much are the fees that come along with a tax deed sale? A rough ballpark would help me.

3) I assume these fees would not be shared with the other tax certificate holders, i.e. the one who actually applies for the tax deed is the 'lucky one' who has to pay all the feeds. Yes? Or would the fees be covered / reimbursed from the sale price of the property?

4) I found tax certificates as low as 40 USD. Why could it make sense to buy such small amount tax certificates at all? Because the costs to get a tax deed would most likely be much higher. Maybe I am missing something.

Again, your feedback is much appreciated.