I am a 1st lien holder with no payments & 6 month balloon.

If the owner doesn't pay the taxes, the mortgage holder will pay to protect their interest. 95%-97% of all property tax liens are paid off before going to foreclosure.By looking for very good properties with mortgages you will most likely be paid off.

Im 27 years of age from ireland working in oz and about to finish up a job im in due to my holiday visa.

Only a few title companies will issue that certificate, which states that county records for that property were audited and all prior claim holders were properly notified.

However full disclosure to original seller would be required.Please understand that as the holder of an option you do not hold legal, and probably not even equitable title to the property.

I get the concept of buying discount notes, meaning -Note holder needs cash and is willing to sell note at a discountBut where do you start shopping?

I'm talking where people buy a house under contract to pay the deed holder without having to get a traditional loan.

As a note holder you are not entitle to the title of the real property, you are entitle to the amounts due under the note, that is all.

If I come to an agreement with the title holder, do we need cooperation from the borrower?

If you're in 2nd position on the property, you can't really start any kind of foreclosure process until the 1st position lien holder is taken out (which brings me back to my first question above).