22 years tax delinquent...

[Adrian Schlueter]

Property is a 3/2/2... appraised value on the county tax report is $132,000... The owner is 22 years behind on taxes and owes $43,000~ in taxes...

The owner is listed at the same address... So let's say I send her a letter and she calls me back.... How do I go forward? I would offer to pay the back taxes right? What benefits would someone in that situation be looking for?

Very broad questions, I know, but I'm just trying to figure out how to approach these properties...

Thanks!

[Rick H.]

Adrian - You wouldn't be very happy if a cop arrested you for having a black eye would you? Of course not. It's not, by itself, an offense. There may be a back story (fight, medical issue, silly accident, etc.) but the black eye would only be part of the story.

Showing up to someone's house with a distressed situation requires a little finess. Yup, they've got a black eye (property tax problem?) but if they didn't ask you to help them, they'll be wondering why you're knocking at their door.

So, before you knock on the door, don't you think they deserve you investing a little time in researching their property better? If you don't understand title, either pay someone to research the property or better, study how property taxes work in your state as well as how deeds and liens are recorded. Then you'll understand a bit more and know how or who can help them.

This way, when you talk to the residents (notice I did not assume and say "owner") you'll know part of the story (title ) before you step in it by asking them how they got that shiner.