Contacting property owner after purchasing a lien

[Justin C.]

I purchased a tax lien on a piece of property located in my state (MA). It is my understanding that I need to contact this person to inform them they should pay the back taxes and interest owed to me. Is that correct? Does anyone have a sample letter I could send? Hopefully without using an attorney?

The person's address is a P.O. box located halfway across the country. What do I do if the person never responds- how would I take her to court to claim my interest owed or foreclose on the property?

[Steve Babiak]

When it comes to tax liens, you have to really know the local laws before you act (including the initial acquisition of the lien itself).

If it were in my state of PA, I would first determine whether there were any redemption rights, and for how long. And I would "let sleeping dogs lie" for that long!

Now, you're in MA, I don't know how things are done there, but that's where you need to start - with the local laws that will tell you what is required of you. Maybe a local attorney might be your best bet.