What is it you feel you're missing that he can provide for that fee?

If she wants to pay 10% - 15% more every month due to late fees, that is ok with us.

Heck probably because he could easily pay off his $700,000 personal income tax delinquency in California in which he is listed on CA's government website as tax deliquent and it was just updated 6/6/24.They want to charge me with extortion for telling them to make the situation right, to not rent that house out to anyone else before making repairs, and to give me a portion of my money back for the rented house or I wasn't going to let up on reviews.

Without considering insurance, taxes, maintenance, vacancy, or cap-ex you would need to rent the units for ~$3k/month to break even.

At present, a fully drawn $250K HELOC with (optimal credit) would offer an indexed rate based off of Fed Funds or Prime + 3-4% rate (depending on LTV, Property Type, Credit and LA) currently pricing at between 8.5-11% (11.5-13% w/lower credit) and interest only payments of +/- $2000 but the qualifying rate and payment for underwriting would be nearer $2300+ (on the low end) plus the 1st mortgage, and accurate taxes and insurance. 

Thanks for all the responses and getting my "shady fee" compass back to north. 

There are no yearly fees.

Is there a way to do your own title search when looking up tax deed properties?

I have personally never heard of the county having any say .. other than I do get calls from (state of Colorado) Tax collector after I purchase something and they want to know why we paid less than market value.. but they contact after the fact..

From my understanding, Alabama changed the tax sale system in 2020, and most counties now only do Tax Lien auctions.