Secondly, VA loans wouldn't work because although the flood certificate for the home had the floor inches above the flood plain, VA underwriting guidelines wanted about 5 more inches or they wouldn't loan on it.

I will not allow the lead certificate to be issued until I have my final check. 

One by certified mail and the other with a certificate of mail.

You receive a CET (certificate of title) which is the same as a deed but issued from a courthouse sale.

Thanks, Kaleb.Crystal, IL tax certificates is my primary practice area.

If you bought it for 5k that was paying back the tax certificate & fees but unless it brought some more than 5k at the sale there would be no funds left over to pay off the HOA leins and maybe they would stick like a code enforcement would.

Now an LLC that will have multiple-members, a board, shares, etc (setup like a corporation) may pax its own taxes, and therefore folks try to incorporate in Delaware, etc.Start off by creating a single-member LLC in your state, pay the annual certificate fee, get an ITIN from the IRS for that LLC, all on LegalZoom for whatever basic package they charge.

Today I learned that there was a first and second mortgage on this property; however, after the sheriff's sale there is no longer a note, only a sheriff's certificate of sale. 

Your offer to purchase should include a requirement that the Seller provide all documentation and agree to sign an estoppel certificate (also called estoppel form or agreement).

Mark, you need to spend an hour with a local RE attorney familiar with tax liens/certificates/deeds whatever you're bidding on, in Your local area.