I joined about a month ago looking for the good word on tax lien certificates in Baltimore, MD, and I am finally getting around to introducing myself.My name is Andy, and I am from the Baltimore area.

Basically, we don't have tax liens we have tax certificates where you're just lending the money to the county for a bid down interest rate, you get no property rights, and to collect after a minimum 2 years you can send it to a tax deed auction.

But I'm wondering about applying for a Certificate of Discharge.

I want a guy who is licensed, will warranty the work and carry insurance that will protect my property in case he messes up. flood burst pipe/fire/boiler blows up etc...but when hiring carpenter, painters or flooring people ...do I really care if they are insured or not. those folks will show you certificate of liability insurance ...which does not protect the guy from injuring themselves on the property. how much damage a painter can cause or flooring guy ?

I've read that the skills lawyers bring to the table, especially with a completed degree and certification, generally show they have good talents for the biz, so should I be putting that out there?

I just purchased a water lien at a tax sale.4 months later, I confirmed water bills are STILL unpaid by the homeowner, and I have confirmed the $$ amount owned, but I have tried unsuccessfully to pay this water lien AND ADD it to my current Tax Certificate (recorded from the county).Whenever I speak to the Tax Collector, she says yes I can pay it, but when I tell her I want to pay it ONLY to add the balance to my outstanding Tax Certificate balance owed so I can collect 18% on the new amount paid, she looks at me like I have two heads.My assumption was it was possible to add new outstanding liens to my previous Tax Sale purchase.

We asked for a "Certification of Property Line", which is supposed to protect us, and the developer agreed to give us.

I would refund the deposit amount in the lease - minus any claim - to the tenant and chalk up the difference to a life lesson.I am glad you circulated Estoppel Certificates to the tenants.  

Also look into more than one way to invest in real estate, roll the money from one to other, I use handyman business to improve skills and fund my flips, rentals, or tax liens/certificates.  

Obtaining copies of the application and background checks may require the tenants consent - here in Canada, it would be a violation of federal privacy law for the Vendor to simply had them over.One thing Kevin omitted, and why you need the leases before the end of your diligence period, is to prepare an estoppel certificate for each tenant using the information obtained from the lease, then meet with the tenant to affirm the information and to discover any other material facts (i.e. side agreements, pets unknown to Vendor, etc) and have the tenant sign the estoppel.