Introduction: The Pulse of Tax Sale Auctions Across America
In the vast and varied landscape of the U.S. tax sale sector, a narrative of economic resilience and diverse investment potential unfolds. The data spanning from 2019 to 2022 offers a snapshot of an industry marked by regional distinctiveness and evolving opportunities.
Understanding the Market's Heartbeat
Tax sale auctions serve as a gauge for the economic vitality across states, where each fluctuation in data points reflects the unique heartbeat of its local market. By analyzing the ebb and flow in sales counts, parcels advertised, and total amounts bid, we gain insight into the shifting dynamics of property investment.
A Foundation for Future Investment
This compilation of state-by-state tax sale auction activities doesn't just recount past performances; it provides a foundation for anticipating future market movements. Recognizing patterns and understanding their implications is crucial for investors looking to capitalize on the opportunities that lie ahead.
Join us as we distill a nationwide and state by state auction data, providing clarity and direction for navigating the complex currents of the tax sale sector.
Nationwide Tax Sale Summary
The tax sale auction market has demonstrated considerable growth over the past four years.
The aggregated data indicates a dynamic and growing market for tax sale investors, with tax lien auctions, in particular, displaying a robust increase in both the number of transactions and the total value of sales. This trend suggests an overall healthy and expanding environment for investors in the tax sale auction space. However, do consider that the tax sale industry suffered repercussions in 2020 and 2021, due to COVID restrictions, with less sales and product available. As you will see in the numbers provided, the industry has seemingly recovered.
Below, we break the analysis down by auction type to get a more granular view.
Nationwide Tax Deed Summary
In tax deed auctions, there was a noteworthy upswing in activity, with the number of sales climbing from 1,299 in 2019 to 2,350 in 2022. This uptrend was mirrored in the number of parcels advertised, which rose from 74,446 to 114,540 over the same period. The total dollar value of amount advertised reflected this growth, escalating from approximately $608.79 million in 2019 to around $827.61 million in 2022.
Nationwide Tax Lien Summary
For tax lien auctions, the increase was more gradual but still significant, with sales growing from 1,011 in 2019 to 1,517 in 2022. The parcels advertised associated with these auctions saw a marked rise, with the count going from 1,144,907 in 2019 to 1,364,345 in 2022.
Notably, the dollar value for tax lien auctions surged, nearly doubling from around $2.70 billion in 2019 to approximately $4.57 billion in 2022.
Nationwide Redeemable Deed Summary
Redeemable deed auctions experienced some fluctuations, with sales initially dropping from 711 in 2019 to 596 in 2020, only to rebound to 955 by 2022. The parcels advertised followed a similar pattern, dipping in 2020 but surpassing the 2019 numbers by reaching 81,724 in 2022.
Alabama Tax Sale Summary
Alabama has held 223 tax lien auctions over the reported period. From 2019 to 2022, the sales count increased by 35, with a total of 67 sales in 2022. The number of parcels advertised grew by 11,827, with 49,136 parcels advertised in 2022. The amount advertised increased by $8,407,662.57 from 2019 to 2022, totaling $35,563,904.70 for the last year. Overall, the total amount advertised over the years amounted to $138,785,297.70.
Arizona Tax Sale Summary
Arizona has held 58 tax lien auctions over the reported period. There was a slight change in the sales count, with an increase of 1, totaling 15 sales in 2022. The number of parcels advertised decreased by 15,911, with 68,566 parcels advertised in 2022. The amount advertised decreased by $20,630,103.58 from 2019 to 2022, coming to $103,566,214.62 for the last year. The total amount advertised across the reported years reached $461,329,904.80.
California Tax Sale Summary
California has held 170 tax deed auctions over the reported period. The sales count increased by 15 from 2019 to 2022, with 54 sales occurring in 2022. The number of parcels advertised saw a decrease of 1,022, with 9,686 parcels advertised in 2022. The amount advertised increased by $7,146,390.66 over the same period, reaching $145,829,772.48 in the last year. The total amount advertised over all the years is $536,342,888.82.
Colorado Tax Sale Summary
Colorado has held 222 tax lien auctions over the reported period. The sales count rose by 17 from 2019 to 2022, with 62 sales in 2022. There was an increase of 6,710 in the number of parcels advertised, totaling 35,840 in 2022. The amount advertised grew by $21,809,846.89 from 2019 to 2022, with the year's amount being $70,683,396.72. Across the reported years, the total amount advertised was $269,546,873.09.
Connecticut Tax Sale Summary
Connecticut has held 156 redeemable deed auctions over the reported period. From 2019 to 2022, the sales count changed by 83, with 87 sales in 2022. The number of parcels advertised saw a change of 365, with 458 parcels advertised in 2022. The amount advertised changed by $11,877,074.51 from 2019 to 2022, with the amount reaching $13,408,039.09 in the last year. The total amount advertised over the years amounted to $30,719,482.86.
District of Columbia Tax Sale Summary
The District of Columbia has held 3 tax lien auctions over the reported period. From 2019 to 2022, the sales count remained unchanged, with 1 sale in 2022. The number of parcels advertised saw a change of 965, with 2,868 parcels advertised in 2022. The amount advertised changed by $57,721,501.06 from 2019 to 2022, with the amount reaching $80,087,596.69 in the last year. The total amount advertised over the years amounted to $141,645,277.43.
Florida Tax Sale Summary
Florida Tax Lien Auctions
Florida has held 266 tax lien auctions over the reported period. From 2019 to 2022, the sales count increased by 1, with 67 sales in 2022. The number of parcels advertised decreased by 81,583, with 527,305 parcels advertised in 2022. The amount advertised increased by $5,615,268.83 from 2019 to 2022, with the total reaching $1,188,718,828.06 in the last year. The total amount advertised over the years amounted to $4,938,614,537.50.
Florida Tax Deed Auctions
Florida has held 3,248 tax deed auctions over the reported period. From 2019 to 2022, the sales count decreased by 18, with 847 sales in 2022. The number of parcels advertised decreased by 2,174, with 15,102 parcels advertised in 2022. The amount advertised decreased by $32,730,527.79 from 2019 to 2022, reaching $130,319,906.72 in the last year. The total amount advertised over the years amounted to $592,781,540.47.
Georgia Tax Sale Summary
Georgia has held 521 redeemable deed auctions over the reported period. From 2019 to 2022, the sales count changed by 57, with 157 sales in 2022. The number of parcels advertised saw a change of 999, with 10,611 parcels advertised in 2022. The amount advertised changed by $872,377.21 from 2019 to 2022, with the amount reaching $38,303,178.26 in the last year. The total amount advertised over the years amounted to $162,492,510.86.
Idaho Tax Sale Summary
Idaho has held 38 tax deed auctions over the reported period. From 2019 to 2022, the sales count increased by 7, with 11 sales in 2022. The number of parcels advertised decreased by 8, with 46 parcels advertised in 2022. The amount advertised increased by $18,097.45 from 2019 to 2022, with the amount reaching $210,509.60 in the last year. The total amount advertised over the years amounted to $1,525,597.63.
Indiana Tax Sale Summary
Indiana Tax Lien Auctions
Indiana has held 326 tax lien auctions over the reported period. From 2019 to 2022, the sales count changed by 23, with 91 sales in 2022. The number of parcels advertised saw a change of -7,151, with 30,326 parcels advertised in 2022. The amount advertised changed by -$29,187,205.78 from 2019 to 2022, with the amount reaching $235,688,008.39 in the last year. The total amount advertised over the years amounted to $1,009,388,099.60.
Indiana Tax Deed Auctions
Indiana has held 13 tax deed auctions over the reported period. From 2019 to 2022, the sales count changed by 2, with 3 sales in 2022. The number of parcels advertised saw a change of 174, with 199 parcels advertised in 2022. The amount advertised changed by $9,450.35 from 2019 to 2022, with the amount reaching $19,150.35 in the last year. The total amount advertised over the years amounted to $425,416.69.
Indiana Redeemable Deed Auctions
Indiana has held 135 redeemable deed auctions over the reported period. From 2019 to 2022, the sales count changed by -12, with 30 sales in 2022. The number of parcels advertised saw a change of -6,236, with 13,825 parcels advertised in 2022. The amount advertised changed by -$25,390,418.98 from 2019 to 2022, with the amount reaching $133,788,137.37 in the last year. The total amount advertised over the years amounted to $455,922,700.80.
Iowa Tax Sale Summary
Iowa has held 295 tax lien auctions over the reported period. From 2019 to 2022, the sales count increased by 3, with 97 sales in 2022. The number of parcels advertised decreased by 10,625, with 38,040 parcels advertised in 2022. The amount advertised increased by $21,125,110.57 from 2019 to 2022, with the amount reaching $63,651,266.39 in the last year. The total amount advertised over the years amounted to $195,038,241.32.
Kentucky Tax Sale Summary
Kentucky has held 342 tax lien auctions over the reported period. From 2020 to 2022, the sale count increased by 1, with 113 sales in 2022. The number of parcels advertised decreased by 7,792, with 68,643 parcels advertised in 2022. The amount advertised decreased by $14,075,561.06 from 2020 to 2022, with the amount reaching $38,945,338.27 in the last year. The total amount advertised over the years amounted to $133,392,202.
Louisiana Tax Sale Summary
Louisiana Tax Lien Auctions
Louisiana has held 305 tax lien auctions over the reported period. From 2019 to 2022, the sales count changed by 93, with 116 sales in 2022. The number of parcels advertised saw a change of 18,373 over the same period, with 36,556 parcels advertised in 2022. The amount advertised changed by $19,513,080.91 from 2019 to 2022, with the amount reaching $40,598,927.58 in the last year. The total amount advertised over the years amounted to $118,936,320.15.
Louisiana Tax Deed Auctions
Louisiana has held 412 tax deed auctions over the reported period. From 2019 to 2022, the sales count changed by 67, with 112 sales in 2022. The number of parcels advertised saw a change of 462, with 602 parcels advertised in 2022. The amount advertised changed by $2,495,619.50 from 2019 to 2022, with the amount reaching $3,321,313.50 in the last year. The total amount advertised over the years amounted to $11,524,373.21.
Maryland Tax Sale Summary
Maryland has held 305 tax lien auctions over the reported period. From 2019 to 2022, the sales count changed by 93, with 116 sales in 2022. The number of parcels advertised saw a change of 18,373 over the same period, with 36,556 parcels advertised in 2022. The amount advertised changed by $19,513,080.91 from 2019 to 2022, with the amount reaching $40,598,927.58 in the last year. The total amount advertised over the years amounted to $118,936,320.15.
Michigan Tax Sale Summary
Michigan has held 386 tax deed auctions over the reported period. From 2019 to 2022, the sales count changed by 122, with 158 sales in 2022. The number of parcels advertised saw a change of -172 over the same period, with 4,449 parcels advertised in 2022. The amount advertised changed by $7,403,896.53 from 2019 to 2022, with the amount reaching $21,230,500.83 in the last year. The total amount advertised over the years amounted to $53,177,057.30.
Minnesota Tax Sale Summary
Minnesota has held 53 tax deed auctions over the reported period. From 2019 to 2022, the sales count changed by 14, with 18 sales in 2022. The number of parcels advertised saw a change of 386 over the same period, with 654 parcels advertised in 2022. The amount advertised changed by $8,802,932.86 from 2019 to 2022, with the amount reaching $12,361,018.46 in the last year. The total amount advertised over the years amounted to $30,301,598.94.
Mississippi Tax Sale Summary
In Mississippi's tax lien auction market, there were 100 sales in 2022, up from 84 in 2021, with a consistent number of sales in 2020. Over the past three years, the state has seen 284 sales. The total number of parcels advertised was 421,576, with 139,641 parcels advertised in 2022. The total amount advertised in 2022 was over $110 million, contributing to a three-year combined advertised value of approximately $342.73 million.
Missouri Tax Sale Summary
Missouri's tax lien auction market saw an increase to 97 sales in 2022 from 59 in 2021, with 90 in 2020, totaling 246 sales over three years. The number of parcels advertised slightly increased to 15,119 in 2022, with a total of 43,097 parcels advertised over the same period. The total amount advertised in 2022 was roughly $46.96 million, with the combined value for the past three years reaching approximately $169.21 million.
Nebraska Tax Sale Summary
Nebraska has held 336 tax lien auctions over the reported period. From 2019 to 2022, the sales count increased by 33, with 92 sales in 2022. The number of parcels advertised decreased by 1,229, with 20,649 parcels advertised in 2022. The amount advertised increased by $3,541,133.74 from 2019 to 2022, totaling $33,030,549.57 for that year. The cumulative amount advertised over the years is $123,269,272.81.
Nevada Tax Sale Summary
Nevada has held 37 tax deed auctions over the reported period. From 2019 to 2022, the sales count decreased by 7, with 7 sales in 2022. The number of parcels advertised decreased by 606, with 391 parcels advertised in 2022. The amount advertised decreased by $1,521,022.71 from 2019 to 2022, with the amount reaching $1,852,206.07 in the last year. The total amount advertised over the years amounted to $14,308,596.59.
New Jersey Tax Sale Summary
New Jersey has held 2,131 tax lien auctions over the reported period. From 2019 to 2022, the sales count increased by 7, with 535 sales in 2022. The number of parcels advertised decreased by 42,881, with 91,173 parcels advertised in 2022. The amount advertised decreased by $114,046,095.27 from 2019 to 2022, resulting in $192,354,377.14 for the last year. The total amount advertised over the years reached $974,160,723.64.
New Mexico Tax Sale Summary
New Mexico has held 47 tax deed auctions over the reported period. From 2019 to 2022, the sales count increased by 22, with 28 sales in 2022. The number of parcels advertised increased by 1,488, with 2,025 parcels advertised in 2022. The amount advertised increased by $3,521,673.36 from 2019 to 2022, with the amount totaling $5,367,074.76 in the last year. The total amount advertised over the years amounted to $7,336,476.16.
New York Tax Sale Summary
New York Tax Lien Auctions
New York has held 5 tax lien auctions over the reported period. From 2019 to 2022, the sales count remained unchanged, with 2 sales in 2022. The number of parcels advertised increased by 2,924, with 8,469 parcels advertised in 2022. The amount advertised increased by $42,470,636.05 from 2019 to 2022, reaching $101,217,885.18 in the last year. The total amount advertised over the years amounted to $216,305,741.72.
New York Tax Deed Auctions
New York has held 34 tax deed auctions over the reported period. Data for changes in sales count and parcels advertised from 2019 to 2022 are not available, but there were 17 sales in 2022 with 1,056 parcels advertised. The total amount advertised over the years amounted to $39,581,872.49.
North Carolina Tax Sale Summary
North Carolina has held 586 tax deed auctions over the reported period. From 2019 to 2022, the sales count increased by 186, with 244 sales in 2022. The number of parcels advertised increased by 908, with 1,137 parcels advertised in 2022. The amount advertised increased by $6,749,644.42 from 2019 to 2022, reaching $8,938,892.88 in the last year. The total amount advertised over the years amounted to $23,773,159.55.
North Dakota Tax Sale Summary
North Dakota has held 95 tax deed auctions over the reported period. From 2019 to 2022, the sales count increased by 30, with 38 sales in 2022. The number of parcels advertised increased by 495, with 707 parcels advertised in 2022. The amount advertised decreased by $615,195.04 from 2019 to 2022, reaching $2,502,094.58 in the last year. The total amount advertised over the years amounted to $12,231,743.95.
Ohio Tax Sale Summary
Ohio has held 1,161 tax deed auctions over the reported period. From 2019 to 2022, the sales count increased by 332, with 454 sales in 2022. The number of parcels advertised increased by 1,822, with 5,886 parcels advertised in 2022. The amount advertised increased by $78,269,759.22 from 2019 to 2022, reaching $152,946,666.51 in the last year. The total amount advertised over the years amounted to $388,546,623.09.
Oklahoma Tax Sale Summary
Oklahoma has held 60 tax deed auctions over the reported period. Data for changes in sales count and parcels advertised from 2019 to 2022 are not available, but there were 34 sales in 2022 with 3,649 parcels advertised. The total amount advertised over the years amounted to $29,774,190.93.
Oregon Tax Sale Summary
Oregon has held 39 tax deed auctions over the reported period. From 2019 to 2022, the sales count changed by 14, with 18 sales in 2022. The number of parcels advertised saw a change of 228, with 261 parcels advertised in 2022. The amount advertised changed by $3,376,946.21 from 2019 to 2022, with the amount reaching $7,259,275.21 in the last year. The total amount advertised over the years amounted to $16,952,883.86.
Pennsylvania Tax Sale Summary
Pennsylvania Tax Deed Auctions
Pennsylvania has held 337 tax deed auctions over the reported period. From 2019 to 2022, the sales count changed by 61, with 113 sales in 2022. The number of parcels advertised saw a change of 16,418, with 49,422 parcels advertised in 2022. The amount advertised changed by $79,793,036.84 from 2019 to 2022, with the amount reaching $267,237,402.13 in the last year. The total amount advertised over the years amounted to $824,070,064.39.
Pennsylvania Redeemable Deed Auctions
Pennsylvania has held 66 redeemable deed auctions over the reported period. From 2019 to 2022, the sales count changed by -17, with 10 sales in 2022. The number of parcels advertised saw a change of -4,368, with 729 parcels advertised in 2022. The amount advertised changed by -$38,638,776.50 from 2019 to 2022, with the amount reaching $732.15 in the last year. The total amount advertised over the years amounted to $56,859,416.45.
Rhode Island Tax Sale Summary
Rhode Island has held 5 tax lien auctions over the reported period. The change in sales count from 2019 to 2022 is not available, but there were 2 sales in 2022. Similarly, the change in the number of parcels advertised is not provided, with 418 parcels advertised in 2022. The change in the amount advertised from 2019 to 2022 is also not available, but the amount reached $3,374,227.74 in the last year. The total amount advertised over the years amounted to $9,185,668.91.
South Carolina Tax Sale Summary
South Carolina has held 136 redeemable deed auctions over the reported period. From 2019 to 2022, the sales count changed by 23, with 44 sales in 2022. The number of parcels advertised saw a change of 8,512, with 41,046 parcels advertised in 2022. The amount advertised changed by $44,874,036.52 from 2019 to 2022, with the amount reaching $91,243,446.18 in the last year. The total amount advertised over the years amounted to $272,346,053.26.
South Dakota Tax Sale Summary
South Dakota has held 19 tax lien auctions over the reported period. From 2019 to 2022, the sales count changed by -4, with 1 sale in 2022. The number of parcels advertised saw a change of -1,499, with 342 parcels advertised in 2022. The amount advertised changed by -$2,622,565.29 from 2019 to 2022, with the amount reaching $397,972.89 in the last year. The total amount advertised over the years amounted to $9,548,865.38.
Tennessee Tax Sale Summary
Tennessee has held 143 redeemable deed auctions over the reported period. From 2019 to 2022, the sales count increased by 46, with 57 sales in 2022. The number of parcels advertised increased by 3,914, with 4,904 parcels advertised in 2022. The amount advertised increased by $7,512,685.80 from 2019 to 2022, reaching $24,318,353.69 in the last year. The total amount advertised over the years is $94,198,959.48.
Texas Tax Sale Summary
Texas has held 1,914 redeemable deed auctions over the reported period. From 2019 to 2022, the sales count increased by 46, with 543 sales in 2022. The number of parcels advertised decreased by 540, with 9,718 parcels advertised in 2022. The amount advertised increased by $1,683,447.40 from 2019 to 2022, totaling $103,543,538.52 for that year. Across the reported years, the total amount advertised was $351,750,580.11.
Utah Tax Sale Summary
Utah has held 67 tax deed auctions over the reported period. From 2019 to 2022, the sales count increased by 14, with 23 sales in 2022. The number of parcels advertised increased by 321, with 856 parcels advertised in 2022. The amount advertised increased by $485,875.53 from 2019 to 2022, with the total reaching $2,934,159.83 in the last year. The cumulative amount advertised over the years is $13,684,696.24.
Vermont Tax Sale Summary
Vermont has held 12 tax lien auctions over the reported period. There is no change data available for the sales count, parcels advertised, and the amount advertised from 2019 to 2022. However, there were 2 sales in 2022 with 13 parcels advertised and the amount reaching $66,135.56 for the last year. The total amount advertised over the years is $1,024,146.91.
Washington Tax Sale Summary
Washington has held 148 tax deed auctions over the reported period. From 2019 to 2022, the sales count increased by 8, with 40 sales in 2022. The number of parcels advertised decreased by 537, with 779 parcels advertised in 2022. The amount advertised decreased by $1,138,466 from 2019 to 2022, with the amount reaching $8,291,806.58 in the last year. The total amount advertised over the years amounted to $37,533,450.95.
Wisconsin Tax Sale Summary
Wisconsin's tax deed auction market experienced a slight rise to 58 sales in 2022 from 57 in 2021 and 45 in 2020, totaling 160 sales over three years. There were 352 parcels advertised in 2022, an increase from previous years, with a total of 1,204 parcels advertised over the three-year period. The total amount advertised in 2022 was around $7.64 million, making the three-year total approximately $20.28 million.
Wyoming Tax Sale Summary
Wyoming has held 68 tax lien auctions over the reported period. From 2019 to 2022, the sales count decreased by 1, with 19 sales in 2022. The number of parcels advertised decreased by 1,117, with 4,339 parcels advertised in 2022. The amount advertised decreased by $678,997.79 from 2019 to 2022, with the amount reaching $3,785,749.53 in the last year. The total amount advertised over the years amounted to $13,070,704.38.
Conclusion: Synthesizing the Auction Data Landscape
In examining the tax sale auction data across the United States, we see a market that's as diverse as it is dynamic. The fluctuations observed from state to state underscore a broader theme of change and opportunity within the tax sale sector.
Key Insights for Investors
The data from recent years reveal two essential points: the market's resilience and the presence of opportunity, regardless of the economic climate. Growth in some states and contractions in others reflect the nuanced nature of local markets.
The Bigger Picture
Investors should take note of the market's overall upward trajectory despite regional variations. The total amounts advertised demonstrate the significant impact of tax sale auctions on investment strategies. Armed with the knowledge of past trends and current data, investors are well-positioned to navigate the future of tax sale auctions.
This market remains a vital part of the investment landscape, offering diverse opportunities for those willing to delve into its intricacies.
