A tax lien or judgment lien does not prevent you from selling your home. Cash buyers like Pages of Purpose LLC handle liens regularly and pay them off at closing.
Types of Liens on Maryland Property
Tax Liens: Filed by the IRS for unpaid federal income taxes or by the state for unpaid property taxes. Maryland allows tax sales after unpaid taxes accumulate.
Judgment Liens: Filed by creditors after winning a lawsuit against you. These must be satisfied at closing or negotiated down.
Mortgage Liens: The standard mortgage on the property. Paid off first from proceeds.
Maryland's Tax Sale Timeline
If property taxes go unpaid, Maryland allows the county to hold a tax sale. The timeline varies by county but typically begins 6-12 months after taxes are due. Selling before the tax sale closes the lien problem entirely.
How We Handle Liens
We get a title search, identify all liens, and factor them into our cash offer. At closing, liens are paid from the proceeds. You walk away with the remaining cash.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sell a house with an unpaid tax lien?
Yes. Maryland law allows the sale of property with tax liens. The lien is satisfied from closing proceeds.
What if the lien amount exceeds the home's value?
This is called being "underwater." In most cases, the lien holder will accept a negotiated payoff from the sale proceeds, even if it's less than owed.
How is the lien payoff order determined?
Tax liens and mortgage liens typically have priority. Judgment liens come after. The title company manages the payoff order at closing.
Will selling remove the lien from my credit?
Yes. Once the lien is paid from sale proceeds, it's released and removed from public records and your credit report.
What if I'm facing a tax sale deadline?
Contact us immediately. We can often close fast enough to prevent the county tax sale. Time is critical.
Liens Slowing Down Your Sale?
We handle them. Fair offer, fast closing, no surprises at the closing table.
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