Tax-Delinquent Houses & Tax Liens
If your house is headed to a Pinellas or Hillsborough tax deed sale, the auction can wipe out years of equity. A direct sale before the deed is issued pays the back taxes at closing and puts the rest in your pocket.
The short answer
In Florida, the owner can redeem the property by paying everything owed up until the tax deed is issued. That also means you can sell: a cash sale can close before the auction, the title company pays the Tax Collector or the Clerk at closing, and you keep the difference.
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At a tax deed auction the house goes to the highest bidder. Surplus money, if there is any, has to be claimed through the Clerk afterward and liens get paid first. Selling before the deed is issued lets you set the price, choose the closing date, and walk away with your equity in hand.
Dates matter: Pinellas published tax deed sale dates of October 21, November 18 and December 16, 2026, and Hillsborough runs weekly auctions (per the Clerks’ published calendars as of September 2026 — always confirm your own date with the Clerk). Read more: Behind on property taxes in Pinellas · Fall 2026 tax deed auction dates · How to redeem before a tax deed sale.
Rebecca’s family house was one day from a Pinellas tax auction in December 2025. You can watch and read the whole conversation, in her own words: She was one day from a tax auction.
If you can pay the taxes yourself or set up what you owe, that’s usually your best move — and AL will tell you so. We’re here for owners who can’t, or who don’t want the house anymore.
When taxes go unpaid, the county sells a tax certificate — a lien on your property. If it stays unpaid long enough, the certificate holder can apply for a tax deed, which leads to a public auction. Until the deed is issued, you still own the house.
Once the tax deed is issued, it’s too late to sell. Before that, a sale can usually close in time if we start right away. Call the same day.
That’s common. Everything is paid from the sale proceeds in the right order by the title company. We’ll show you the numbers before you sign.
“I was skeptical at first when these guys approached me about my home, but they were very knowledgeable and straightforward. They did all the work. These guys know what it means to do good business, which is unfortunately rare nowadays.”
“Working with HomeSellerCashOffer has been nothing but a positive experience. Al is extremely professional, transparent, and always a pleasure to work with. He communicates clearly, keeps the process smooth, and goes above and beyond to make sure everything stays on track”
“As an investor myself, I get bombarded from people trying to buy my houses. AL and his team were miles above anybody else that’s approached me, super knowledgeable, professional and transparent. Recommend to anyone that wants top tier service.”
Straight answers first. If selling isn’t your best move, he’ll say so.
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