Hi, thank you all for the replies, I found the statue:
197.432 Sale of tax certificates for unpaid taxes
(13) The holder of a tax certificate may not directly, through an agent, or otherwise initiate contact with the owner of property upon which he or she holds a tax certificate to encourage or demand payment until 2 years after April 1 of the year of issuance of the tax certificate.
(14) Any holder of a tax certificate who, prior to the date 2 years after April 1 of the year of issuance of the tax certificate, initiates, or whose agent initiates, contact with the property owner upon which he or she holds a certificate encouraging or demanding payment may be barred by the tax collector from bidding at a tax certificate sale. Unfair or deceptive contact by the holder of a tax certificate to a property owner to obtain payment is an unfair and deceptive trade practice, as referenced in s. 501.204(1), regardless of whether the tax certificate is redeemed. Such unfair or deceptive contact is actionable under ss. 501.2075-501.211. If the property owner later redeems the certificate in reliance on the deceptive or unfair practice, the unfair or deceptive contact is actionable under applicable laws prohibiting fraud.
I understand many investors might be doing this, but if we all backed out of the race because we have competition then we automatically loose, the only way to have a shot is to stay in the game.
I also understand the owners may not be appreciative of the postcards and yellow letters, until they realize the best option is to sell before they loose all the equity in delinquent tax related fees and interest once they are foreclosed on, at least if they sell early enough they get something back. If I was one of the owners in a tight spot looking to sell, I would probably call the number on several postcards and go with the best offer if I'm not able to sell through MLS.
I can see how investors contacting property owners with offers to redeem the certificate and buy the property might upset the certificate holder a bit, after all the golden goose is getting the property not the % return on $ and redeeming the certificate puts them out of the equation, but I do believe it's the better scenario for the property owners. Like I said, they get a bit of equity back if any, and get to save their credit. It's a win, win, win, when the property gets sold because the owner may get some $ back and save their credit, the Certificate Holder gets some % of their $ back, and the investor gets a property to work with (rent, fix and flip, etc...).
