Greetings Alicia, I’ve bought 3 properties here in central Illinois using this method albeit in a round about way. If tax sales are active on a property and the bank hasn’t stepped in to redeem them, then usually that means they have been written off as bad debt. Often times if you contact the owner and the bank you can work something out. While you’ll still have to pay taxes and consideration to owner( very little) , the bank usually is happy to get it off their books. However caveat emptor because with tax delinquencies often come municipal judgements. The cost of the judgements can exceed the cost of property , this requires a good relationship with the city attorney and a friendly banker who will include the cost to clear these things up in your construct loan.
