
Liens of record encumbering (attaching to) the Florida real estate that are held by a municipal or county governmental unit, special district, or community development district will survive the issuance of a TAX DEED, when such liens are not satisfied from the excess proceeds of the highest bidder on the TAX DEED sale.
Does the sale of a tax deed get rid of liens in Florida?
Florida statutes also provide that the sale of a tax deed will not extinguish liens of record held by a municipal or county governmental unit, special district, or a community district when such lien is not satisfied from the proceeds of the sale. These liens include but are not limited to code enforcement liens and liens from utility authorities.
What types of liens can survive a tax deed?
Also, certain mortgages, judgments, Federal Tax Liens, and other types of liens (such as Homeowners’ Association and/or Condominium Association Liens) may, under certain circumstances, survive the issuance of a TAX DEED.
What happens if a tax deed is returned undelivered in Florida?
Applying the due process standards announced in Flowers and Rosado to Florida tax deed sales dictates that clerks who learn that a notice has been returned undelivered before a scheduled tax deed sale occurs must take additional reasonable steps to give notice before selling a property, if it is practicable to do so.
Does a tax deed sale extinguish a lien?
A tax deed sale extinguishes most liens. For the most part, only liens of record that run with the land, or those held by a municipality or county survive a tax deed sale. A recurrent issue has been whether a tax deed sale extinguishes homeowners or condominium associations’ liens or claims.

Do mortgages survive tax deed sales Florida?
If proper notice is given, the sale of a tax deed will extinguish all mortgages, except those held by the Federal Department of Insurance Corporation. However, pursuant to Florida courts, other mortgages held by the United States are not entitled to special protection in priority.
What happens when you buy a tax deed in Florida?
When bidding on a tax deed you are actually bidding on the amount of the initial tax lien plus the interest that was accrued while the lienholder held the tax lien. In addition to the tax lien amount and the interest accrued, the county also will apply any hard costs incurred to the base bid of the tax deed.
Is Florida a tax deed or tax lien state?
A Tax Lien state sells tax certificates to investors when homeowners become delinquent. Once the homeowner pays the taxes the investor is paid off their investment plus interest. Florida is a Tax Deed and a Tax Lien state.
Can someone take your property by paying the taxes in Florida?
Generally, when taxes remain unpaid, the taxing authority will eventually sell the lien (and if you don't pay the past-due amount to the lien purchaser, that party can foreclose or use some other method to get title to the home), or sell the property itself in a tax sale.
How do tax lien sales work in Florida?
A tax lien sale is where outstanding liens are sold off to the highest bidder. In a tax lien sale, the winning bidder does not own the property itself; rather, he or she simply gains the right to collect on the liens, including interest, from the homeowner via a tax lien certificate.
What liens survive foreclosure in Florida?
An example of a lien that will survive a Florida Homeowners' Association's foreclosure sale of a Florida property is First Mortgage Liens as they are automatically attached to a Florida property as the Superior Lien when a Homeowner first purchases said Florida Property.
Who gets the money from a tax deed sale in Florida?
Surplus funds are held by the Clerk and Comptroller for one year. If the Clerk and Comptroller receives no claims within one year from the date of the Notice of Surplus Funds, the monies are transferred to the State of Florida for holding.
How do you buy a tax lien property in Florida?
Buying a Tax Lien The tax lien certificate, which documents the taxes owed on the property, plus any interest or penalties due, is auctioned off in an in-person or online buyer-bid auction. When this type of auction occurs, the highest bidder takes ownership of the tax lien at the bid price.
How long can property taxes go unpaid in Florida?
2 yearsProperty owners have 2 years from the date taxes become delinquent (April 1st) before they risk loss of the property. As stated in Florida Statute 197.502, after the 2 year period has elapsed and taxes remain unpaid, the certificate holder may file a tax deed application with the Tax Collector's office.
How long do you have to squat in a house to own it in Florida?
7 yearsWhile different states have different requirements, Florida requires that a squatter occupy a property for at least 7 years before laying legal claim to it.
What happens when someone buys a tax certificate in Florida?
A tax certificate, when purchased, becomes an enforceable first lien against the real estate. The certificate holder is actually paying the taxes for a property owner in exchange for a competitive bid rate of return on his investment.
How do I stop a tax deed sale in Florida?
This is how to stop a tax deed sale in Florida. The simple answer is, by paying the taxes, you stop the sale. Paying the treasurer the delinquent back taxes and any late fees or expenses would stop the auction. Tax sales can easily be stopped by property owners.
What Is a Lien on a Property?
Liens can be defined as an individual’s or entity’s right to claim one’s property as collateral for any unpaid debt that is owed to them whether it be a mortgage or services that have been rendered.
Governmental Lien Examples
An example of a governmental lien is what we have been discussing throughout this very blog: Delinquent Property Taxes. Furthermore, there are also certain liens that are extinguished completely even if they are recorded.
How The Haynes Law Group Can Help
As a Florida tax deed foreclosure surplus funds recovery attorney, it is critical for me to know and understand which types of liens survive and do not survive a Florida Tax Deed Foreclosure Sale as this will determine how much a former Florida Homeowner will receive in their claim for surplus funds.
How many witnesses are needed to witness a deed?
The deed shall be witnessed by two witnesses, the official seal shall be attached thereto, and the deed shall be acknowledged or proven as other deeds. Except as specifically provided in this chapter, no right, interest, restriction, or other covenant shall survive the issuance of a tax deed, except that a lien of record held by a municipal ...
Do government liens survive?
Governmental liens and judgments survive the issuance of a tax deed sale and are satisfied to the fullest extent possible with any overbid monies (also known as surplus funds) from the tax sale. Governmental liens not satisfied in full, survive and remain against the property. Anyone interested in knowing what liens are “of record” may research ...
What is a tax deed sale in Florida?
What Is a Tax Deed Sale? A TAX DEED Sale is the sale of Florida real estate for past due real estate taxes and for all fees associated with the TAX DEED Sale. A TAX DEED Sale is preceded by a TAX CERTIFICATE Sale. Each year, Florida real estate tax notices are sent to tax payers on or about November 1. The property taxes for any given year are due ...
Who must be notified of a tax sale in Florida?
The legal titleholder of record and all lienholders, including mortgage lenders and judgment/lien creditors, must be notified of the TAX DEED SALE. In certain instances others must also be notified. For example, pursuant to Florida Statute 197.522 (4) (h), owners of lots contiguous to the property described in the tax certificate must be notified of the sale when the property described is either submerged land or encompasses common elements of a subdivision. Failure to strictly comply with Florida’s mandatory notice requirements may be a violation of due process and may void the TAX DEED SALE.
What is cloud action in Florida?
Liens, claims by prior owners, and other matters affecting title are called “clouds” on title. The primary purpose of a QUIET TITLE ACTION is to eliminate any of these “clouds” on title and to forever bar prior owners, mortgage holders and lien holders from asserting any interest in and to the Florida real estate.
How long does it take to get a quiet title in Florida?
The QUIET TITLE ACTION typically take at least 3 months, but without marketable title, a Florida title insurance company will not issue a Florida title insurance policy on the Florida real estate.
What happens if someone disputes a quiet title?
However, if someone disputes the quiet title action, you may have to proceed to summary judgment or litigation depending on the issues that are raised. If the QUIET TITLE becomes contested, it could turn into a lengthy legal battle depending on the issues raised by the defendants named in and served with the lawsuit.
Is it safe to buy real estate in Florida?
Before purchasing Florida real estate at TAX DEED Sale, you should be safe and give yourself peace of mind by determining what, if any, mortgages, judgments and/or liens already encumber (attach to) the real estate you want to purchase. You want to ensure that you are maximizing the value of your Florida real estate purchase.
When do Florida tax certificates have to be sold?
According to Florida law, the County Tax Collector must conduct a sale of TAX CERTIFICATES beginning on June 1 for the preceding year of delinquent real estate taxes (For our example above, the TAX CERTIFICATE sale will occur June 1, 2018 for the delinquent 2017 property taxes). If the TAX CERTIFICATE has not been paid off within two (2) ...
Do courts uphold ad valorem taxes?
Courts also made frequent reference to the duty imposed on every property owner to know that his or her property is subject to ad valorem taxes that become due and payable each year, as additional support for upholding sales where notice had failed to reach the property owner. In fact, courts upheld tax deed sales even when ...
Can Florida deed sales be upheld?
In the past, Florida courts routinely upheld tax deed sales despite challenges brought by property owners who never actually received notices mailed by the clerk. If the tax collector prepared the required statements and the clerk mailed notice to the persons so identified, courts upheld the sale, even if the notices were misdirected due ...
What are the risks of a tax deed sale?
Some of the risks associated with a tax deed sale include: No home inspection. In most cases, buyers will not be able to inspect a home prior to the public auction. The home could have a number of deficiencies that could be expensive to remedy. No marketable title.
What is tax sale?
There are two types of tax sale properties. One is a tax deed sale is where a property with unpaid taxes is sold outright to a buyer. A tax lien sale is where outstanding liens are sold off to the highest bidder. In a tax lien sale, the winning bidder does not own the property itself; rather, he or she simply gains the right to collect on the liens, including interest, from the homeowner via a tax lien certificate. If the homeowner cannot pay, the lien owner can initiate the process to have the property sold at a tax deed auction.
Does the winning bidder own the property?
In a tax lien sale, the winning bidder does not own the property itself; rather, he or she simply gains the right to collect on the liens, including interest, from the homeowner via a tax lien certificate.
Is it risky to buy a tax sale property in Florida?
The Risks of Purchasing a Florida Property in a Tax Sale. Most Florida home buyers steer clear of properties that have outstanding liens against them, but there are some who may be attracted to a property with outstanding taxes since these are generally seen as great deals. However, there are risks involved in buying a tax sale property ...
Is there a risk in buying a tax sale property?
However, there are risks involved in buying a tax sale property that buyers should be aware of before proceeding.
Can a government lien survive a tax sale?
Only government liens or judgments survive a tax sale. If there are any private liens or judgments against the property, those do not survive a tax sale. The successful bidder may take immediate possession of the property upon payment. Some of the risks associated with a tax deed sale include: No home inspection.
