We don't have the money to pay off the certificate.

There is no wholesaler fee included - I have the GFE and while the origination fee is around $2,000, the other settlement services include:Appraisal and Appraiser Management Fees ($550)Credit Report ($200)Flood Certification ($5)Government recording charges ($62)Title Services ($818)Title Insurance ($265)Escrow Deposit for taxes/insurance ($400)Homeowner's Insurance ($600)That really kicks it up.

Do they offer some kind of certification?

Tax lien certificates

I do Complete Rehab, water fire, mold damage restoration, mold inspections, (re-builds) drywall, painting, post construction cleaning, carpet installtion and tearouts, new flooring, property management, I have 11 certifications, 2 are Master Certifications.

As to the bigger picture about home inspectors, too many of them got their certification from Ranger Rick, and don't know jack.

Without going into great detail, he mentions that he invest a small percentage of his money (which, by small, I am certain he means hundreds of thousands) into tax lein certificates.

You don't need any certification to become an appariser however you should at least learn the basics of how that business works which doesn' t take a lot of know how.

Actually, I think they get a "certificate of purchase" which gives them the ability to eventually buy the property.

Some recommend that you get a contingent commitment from the title company that if you do buy a property they agree to write the title insurance.Note an auction of tax lien certificates is really a sale of the TLC from the county to you.