All Forum Posts by: Ondrece Love

It looks like you have covered most of the bases but I've found that I'm able to locate more information by going down to the county records building and doing the research as opposed to doing it online. I'm sure the HOA has some type of Lien or balance on the property, if they haven't been paid. If they have a lien, it should have been filed in the courts so it should show up. The HOA will probably bid on the property as well, if they are owed anything. Some may say to use a service to do the research but nobody can pay for a title search for every house that peaks there interest. The IRS would only be notified if they have a lien on the property. There are others with a lot more experience than me so maybe they have additional ideas.

It was Linebarger

Richard, thank you for sharing this information.  I'll check out your blog as well.  I'll see if I can catch up to the owner first.  I was told by the firm that managed the foreclosure and sale that they could not locate the owner.  We'll see if I have better luck.  As you mentioned, I'll probably just do the minimum to bring things up to code and worry about the cosmetics later. 

Good point!  Thanks

I purchased a home from a sheriff tax sale in texas.  The home was abandoned by the owner.  It's not in a great area so it has been gutted by neighbors that like to take metal to the scrap yard to get a few dollars.  Anyway, the house claims a homestead exemption although the person hasn't lived there in about 4 years. 

My first question is does the homestead rule of 2 years still stand if the property was abandoned?  If not, how do I get it reduced?

My second question is what repairs can be made to make the house livable again.  I know structural but not cosmetic.  However, this will be a complete redo because the electrical and plumbing has been removed.  This is fine because I can bring everything up to code and get the work done cheap.

I don't imagine that the previous owner would ever come back but I want to be on the safe side. 

Thanks for your responses.

Thank you for the valuable information.  I believe I may have dodged a bullet.  The release was found by the foreclosure company.   

Yes, the county does contract to a law firm which manages their foreclosures and they also appoint a different attorney for the owner, if they can not contact them.  Some research was done before the purchase but everything was done online through the county website.  I've found that it maybe better to go to the records building to do the research as the information is more complete. 

I spoke with a person at the firm that handles the foreclosures and I was told that I should have done better research.  She is correct but I didn't expect that response.  I called back and spoke with a manager in the foreclosure department and they told me that they will do more research and if it turns out that a lien holder was not notified, they will void the sale.

I noticed that there was a lien on the property while doing my research but I assumed that they had been contacted...never assume.  When I checked the documentation that was sent by the firm, it was only addressed to the owner and not the lien holders.  They publish the information as well.  I'm not sure how I missed this but I did.  Hopefully, there is a release out there that just didn't show up online.  The manager did seem to be concerned and is working to rectify the problem.  Thanks for the response, I think I've learned a valuable lesson and I hope the lesson doesn't cost me too much.     

I'm wondering if anyone has come across the issue where the a property was purchased at the Sherriff's tax sale in texas and there was a first lien on the property in which the lien holder was not notified by the firm that handles the tax foreclosures for the county.  Are there any remedies to this problem or does the purchaser own that lien now? 

Unforetunately, I have have not received a good answer from my sources. The Sheriff's office told me that I'm not eligible to receive the funds as I was not the owner at the time of the sale. I spoke with someone at the law office which mailed me the letter and the attorney told me that he wasn't sure why they mailed the letter but I'm not eligible to receive the funds. Let me know if you hear otherwise.

Thanks for the feedback. There were several people that bid the property so the amount paid was higher then the amount owed. Those extra funds did not go toward the additional taxes owed. I will definately check with the Sheriff office and see what happens.

Thanks again