[Griewe]

[F]Hi my name is Tina from Missouri,

My husband and I are looking to buy a house and I know there is a way that we can pay the back taxes on a house instead of the price they are selling it at. Where do I start, and what do I do. I have no clue where to look or who to talk to and if there are any in the area I am looking at to live.

Thanks,
Tina

[Fr_Chuck]

Hello, you don't really "just pay the back taxes" what you do is go to the county ( government) auction where the county tax dept sells the property at auction. The bid starts at the tax due. So you bid against other bidders for the home. If you are the high bidder, you go into the court house and pay for the home. I think in MO ( but not sure) you get a receipt TAX Certificate, it gives you right to the home after a certain period ( 1 or 2 years) if the past owner does not buy it back during that period (plus interest) then you turn that certificate back in for a special deed from the county.

There are some states that give you deed at the time of the sale. I believe MO has a period for redemption.

But if you go down to the county tax dept they can give you the detail.

Each county normally has a sale about once a year. They advertise them in the legal sections of news papers.

Now don't expect to get a 300,000 home for 1000, that just does not happen but you can get some deals