Pay, redeem or get help
If you want to stay, call the State Tax Sale Ombudsman at (833) 732-8411 (toll free). The state's Homeowner Protection Program offers short-term loans and help to limited-income, elderly and disabled homeowners.
Behind on property taxes in Maryland? A tax sale isn't the end of the road.
How Maryland tax sales work, the protections for owner-occupied homes, how redemption works, and where to get free help.
No obligation. No pressure. Takes about 2 minutes.
How it works in Maryland
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1
A final bill 30 days ahead
At least 30 days before a property is first advertised for tax sale, the county collector must mail the owner a final bill and legal notice listing the taxes due. Owner-occupied homes owing less than $1,000 in total taxes, interest and penalties must be held out of the sale.
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2
The sale sells a lien, not your deed
At a Maryland tax sale, county collectors auction tax lien certificates to the highest bidder. You still own the home afterward and can redeem it by paying the bid amount plus interest and fees.
Source: Maryland SDAT, Office of the State Tax Sale Ombudsman
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3
Redeem before foreclosure
You can redeem at any time until the right of redemption is foreclosed. For an owner-occupied home, taxes, interest and penalties that come due after the tax sale can't be added to the redemption payment.
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4
When the buyer can foreclose
The certificate holder can file to foreclose the right of redemption 6 months after the sale, or 9 months for an owner-occupied home, and only after sending you two notices. For an owner-occupied home, the first notice can't go out until 7 months after the sale.
Your real options
Sell for cash and clear the taxes
If the taxes are part of a bigger problem, a cash sale can close in as little as 7 days. The taxes owed are typically paid from the proceeds at closing, and the rest of your equity goes to you. No fees or commissions, and no obligation.
List it, if there's time
If a sale date isn't close and the house is in good shape, listing often brings a higher price. We'll show you the cash offer next to what listing could net so you can choose.
See both numbers
Example: a $250,000 home
| Offer | $205,000 |
|---|---|
| Repairs | $0 |
| Commissions | $0 |
| Closing costs | $0 |
| You walk away with | $205,000 |
| In 7 to 14 days | |
| Sale price | $250,000 |
|---|---|
| Repairs | about $8,000 |
| Commissions | about $13,800 |
| Closing and holding | about $6,000 |
| You walk away with | about $222,200 |
| In 60 to 90 days | |
Example only. Your numbers depend on your home and market.
This page explains Maryland's general tax sale rules. It isn't legal or tax advice. Counties set their own sale dates and interest rates, so check with your county collector, the State Tax Sale Ombudsman or an attorney about your property.
Frequently asked questions
Do I lose my house at a Maryland tax sale?
Not right away. The sale sells a lien certificate, and you still own the home. You can redeem by paying the bid amount plus interest and fees until the right of redemption is foreclosed, which for an owner-occupied home can't be filed until 9 months after the sale.
Is my home protected if I owe only a little?
Maryland law requires the collector to hold an owner-occupied home out of the tax sale when the total taxes, interest and penalties are less than $1,000. Local governments can also hold out some homes that meet their own criteria.
Can I sell my house after it went to tax sale?
Often, yes, because you still own it until the right of redemption is foreclosed. The sale has to redeem the tax lien, so it helps to start early. A cash sale can close in as little as 7 days.
Who are you?
We are real estate investors based in Baltimore, helping homeowners since 2016. We buy houses directly for cash. We are not a licensed real estate brokerage and do not list homes ourselves; if listing could get you more, we show you the math so you can choose.