I’m hoping to buy a house at a tax resale auction. The house is in pretty bad shape. The plan is to make repairs and improvements and move the family in. This is my first experience with a tax resale, so I have a couple questions that maybe someone out there can give some advice on, or recommend a lawyer with good real estate experience.
Once I have the deed in hand, how do I actually take possession of the property lawfully and legally? The current owner stopped paying taxes a few years back when he went to prison for drug possession. He was released recently (possibly paroled?) and went by the house, but a neighbor talked to him and told me he isn’t interested in paying the taxes due so he can hold onto the property. He’s not living in the house and I believe he hasn’t been since 2015 (when he was incarcerated). The house was boarded up by the city at some point and it remains that way. So by all appearances, the property is abandoned. Once I have the deed, can I just go drill the lock? Or is there some legal process I need to follow to take possession?
Also, there’s a lot of personal property in the house (mattresses, stove, personal belongings, etc.). Can I just throw it all out or do I have to store it and try to give him a chance to take it (if I could even get in contact with him)?
Once I have the deed in hand, how do I actually take possession of the property lawfully and legally? The current owner stopped paying taxes a few years back when he went to prison for drug possession. He was released recently (possibly paroled?) and went by the house, but a neighbor talked to him and told me he isn’t interested in paying the taxes due so he can hold onto the property. He’s not living in the house and I believe he hasn’t been since 2015 (when he was incarcerated). The house was boarded up by the city at some point and it remains that way. So by all appearances, the property is abandoned. Once I have the deed, can I just go drill the lock? Or is there some legal process I need to follow to take possession?
Also, there’s a lot of personal property in the house (mattresses, stove, personal belongings, etc.). Can I just throw it all out or do I have to store it and try to give him a chance to take it (if I could even get in contact with him)?