Cash also allows you to buy auction or distressed properties that don't qualify for loans.

Thanks @Ben HowardHere are some quick insights (lists) about the Sacramento County MFR 2-4 market:16,044 properties designated MFR 2-45,056 owners live outside Sacto County4,476 owners live outside of California884 were sold/purchased in last 365 days (~5.5%)2018 YTD: 3432017: 9432016: 8632015: 8124,520 have 100%+ equity796 are underwater12 are in Preforclosure263 marked vacant by USPS143 were purchased at auction by a trustee sale buyer1,445 have had a death of joint tenant in last 365 daysSince 2016, 676 transactions were off-market - and scanning through those buyers a lot appear to be investors as they've done 2+ deals or their LLC name indicates investment orientation.

You don’t “pay the taxes”, you bid at the auction the parish holds.

Auction requires you to take the property as is with no guarantees of possession and you cannot access the property.

Within the past 2 weeks, most of the pre-foreclosures I had contacted now appear in the "auction" status with dates set in the next couple of weeks.

Quit Claims is what courts use when auctioning the property.

Hello BP, I recently won a bid on a property at the Franklin County Sheriff's auction, at this auction you make a downpayment and pay the balance after the confirmation is filed.

How are those properties auctioned?

Not much you can do about future special assessments though.Melissa Bailey-Comstock Based on the home values it does appear to be in a sweet spot for flipping, and there are a few foreclosures in the area posted for auction soon. 

We were the last buyers before builder “auction’s” began (demand was that crazy).