D . Successful bidders must apply for a Certificate of Eligibility by completing an application and submitting it , along with a $ 10.00 processing fee , at any County Tax Office . The application will require a bidder to list all property owned in the County . Property Tax Department personnel will research accounts and confirm that taxes are current on all of a bidders ’ properties . Certificates will be mailed upon completion of the research .
E . The Certificate of Eligibility and $ 30.00 money order or cashier ’ s check ( payable to the Galveston County Clerk ) must be submitted to the Sheriff ’ s Department in order for the deed to be prepared and recorded . Buyers will receive a copy of the deed upon filing . Please note that a Sheriff or Constable
Deed is without warranty and is subject to redemption by the tax debtor ( see F ).
F . A purchaser is entitled to possession immediately but it could become necessary to either lease to an occupant or evict through legal proceedings . Assuming the property is vacant , you are on your way – whether joining investors in repairing and reselling or those building an inventory of rental properties . Note : before investing an abundance of time and money understand that the redemption ( process that allows the original owner to reclaim the property ) period ( starts when deed is filed with County Clerk ) is two years for homesteads , agricultural use and mineral interests and six months on all other property types . You will be entitled to the sale price + 25 % in the first year and , for homesteads , sale price + 50 % during the second year .
G . Those properties not sold are “ struck off ” to one of the affected taxing entities and sold in a variety of methods . Struck off properties within the cities of Galveston and Texas City are re-offered to the public at Sheriff Sale . Properties in the cities of La Marque , Hitchcock , Dickinson and League City can be purchased by making a written offer to purchase the property . These written offers may be submitted to the County ’ s delinquent tax attorney , Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson , LLP . For more information , contact judy . fuller @ lgbs . com or , for additional information , contact the law firms handling these sales for their respective clients ( Linebarger , et al via email at mark . ciavaglia @ lgbs . com or Perdue Brandon , et al at 800-833-5886 ).
Other options to investing in tax foreclosures ? Purchase from banks and mortgage companies . These sales are conducted in the foyer of the County Courthouse at the conclusion of each Sheriff Sale . Listings are available for review at the Office of the County Clerk ( 409-766-2200 ).
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