Many real estate investors who thought they knew everything about their chosen sector are surprised to learn about individuals generating double-digit returns with tax lien certificates. In some cases, these investors have licensed realtors who remember seeing the topic mentioned in continuing education classes.
The process is simple. Tax lien certificates are sold at auction when the property owner fails to pay their taxes. The certificate holder becomes the new property owner and the investor earns interest on the investment.
The key is to do your homework before bidding on a tax lien certificate. Make sure you understand what liens are in place and what kind of property you’re buying. Also, be sure to research the municipality in which the certificate will be redeemed.
It’s important to remember that tax lien certificates are not without risk. If the property owner redeems the certificate, the investor can lose their entire investment. However, if you do your homework and pick the right certificate, the potential rewards can be great.
The reality of tax lien investing is that it is not limited to real estate professionals; similar to how Wall Street is open to the public, tax lien certificates and deeds can also be obtained are also open to everyone.
Investing in tax liens can be very profitable, but we cannot say that this strategy to derive financial gain is for everyone. It is important to remember that the purchase of tax liens, certificates and deeds are not an investment in a property or piece of real estate, but rather an investment in a government debt.
The interest rates that are associated with tax lien certificates can be quite high when compared to other traditional investments; however, this is because the risk is also high. When purchasing tax lien certificates, you are essentially lending your money to the government in exchange for a higher interest rate.
The way you make money on tax lien certificates will depend on where the property is located. If the property is located in a state that does not have a redemption period, you can simply wait until the certificate expires and then foreclose on the property. If, however, the property is located in a state with a redemption period, you will need to wait until the redemption period expires and then foreclose on the property.
In either case, you can make money by either selling the certificate or borrowing against it. When you sell the certificate, you will receive a lump sum of cash; when you borrow against it, you will receive a set amount of cash each month. Either way, you will make more money on tax lien certificates than you would if you simply bought the property outright.
It is important to keep in mind, however, that there are risks associated with tax lien investing. The main risk is that the property will not be redeemed and you will have to foreclose on it. This could result in a loss of your investment. It is also important to remember that you will not be able to sell the certificate or borrow against it if the property is redeemed.
Despite these risks, tax lien investing can be a profitable endeavor if you do your homework and are willing to take on some risk. With careful planning, you can make a lot of money on tax lien certificates.
You can learn more about the tax lien investing process from our free and informative workshops. Join us: https://www.tlwbevents.com/workshop
