How To Successfully Foreclose the Right to Redeem Following a Tax Sale

Tyner v. Edge, which was decided by the Georgia Court of Appeals on May 22, 2020 (A20A0265), provides guidance on the process of foreclosing the right of redeem following a tax sale.

The court clarifies several aspects relating to properly barring the right to redeem:

(1) With regard to foreclosure of the right to redeem, Georgia law holds that a party who owns “any right, title, or interest in or lien” on the subject property is entitled to redeem (see O.C.G.A. § 48-4-40). Therefore, because of the word “any,” even a party with an unrecorded interest is entitled to redeem a property lost at a tax sale.

(2)  A party’s failure to record its interest does, however, have consequences because the holder of an unrecorded interest is not entitled to get a notice of foreclosure of the right to redeem. See OCGA § 48-4-45(a)(1)(c) and Freeman v. Eastern Sav. Bank, 271 Ga. 439, 440 (1) (520 SE2d 902) (1999). This means a tax deed holder can successfully bar the right to redeem without notifying persons or entities not in the chain of title. For this reason, a title search and careful examination of the title search is necessary in all cases.

(3) Regarding service by publication, the court confirmed that if the name and address of an interested party can be reasonably ascertained, notice of a tax sale by publication does not meet the requirements of due process. Hamilton v. Renewed Hope, Inc., 277 Ga. 465, 466 (589 SE2d 81) (2003). Consequently, tax deed holders must make a reasonable effort to locate all interested parties to successfully complete a barment, and cannot simply rely on publication.

(4) Payment of taxes, in and of itself, does not create an interest in property sufficient to trigger the notice requirements mentioned above. Thus, in this case, the party trying to redeem, who was not in the chain of title but had paid taxes, was not entitled to receive a barment notice.

Here, the tax deed owner won and the party trying to redeem lost. However, all parties who deal with tax deeds in Georgia can learn from this case. If you own a tax deed and need a lawyer, please call us at (404) 382-9994 to discuss barring the right to redeem for your tax deed.

The Actual Tax Sale in Georgia

As a general rule, tax sales are held on the first Tuesday of the month. However, not every county has a tax sale every month. Generally, the tax sales are conducted between the hours of 10 am and 4 pm  on the steps of the county courthouse. If the first Tuesday of the month falls on a legal holiday, the sale is held the next day, Wednesday.

The opening bid for a particular property is the amount of tax due, plus penalties, interest, fi. fa. cost, levy cost, administrative levy fee, certified mail cost, advertising cost, and tax deed recording fees. The property is sold to the highest bidder.

Immediately following the conclusion of the tax sale all purchasers must pay in full the amount bid at the auction. Payment must be in the form of cash, certified check, or cashier’s check. Normally, the purchaser to sign a statement attesting to the fact that certain property was purchased for a certain price. After all payments are processed, the count will provide a Tax Deed and the Real Estate Transfer Tax form.

According to O.C.G.A. § 9-13-170, any person who becomes the purchaser of any real or personal property at any sale made at public outcry who fails or refuses to comply with the terms of the sale when requested to do so, shall be liable for the amount of the purchase money. It shall be the county’s option either to proceed against the purchaser for the full amount of the purchase money or to resell the real or personal property and then proceed against the first purchaser for any deficiency arising from the sale.

Investa Services of GA, LLC: Tax Sale Case

Anyone who deals with excess tax sale funds or tax deeds in Georgia knows that Investa and/or affiliated entities play a significant role with regard to tax sales. Plaintiffs filed a class action against, among others, Investa. In this lawsuit, Investa was accused of improperly levying on tax executions for delinquent property taxes. The initial tax assessments were later reduced via a property tax appeal.

The trial court dismissed the lawsuit and Investa appealed. See B.C. Grand, LLC v. Investa Services of GA, LLC, A19A1297 (GA Ct of App, October 29, 2019). On appeal, the court ruled in favor of Investa et al., finding that B.C. Grand “failed to allege that the [Tax] Commissioner cancelled the tax executions or that they are void as a matter of law based on the post-issuance reduction in the tax assessment.” Because B.C. Grand failed to pay the taxes at issue while pursuing its appeal of the assessment. Instead, it waited to receive a refund (which it did receive), the full amounts owed remained valid. B.C. Grand also failed to plead the executions were void as a matter of law. So Investa was authorized to levy the executions at the full purchase price amount. Chalk one up for Investa.

TAX DEED LEGAL SERVICES: Helping You Secure Clear Ownership

If you’ve acquired property through a tax deed in Georgia, we offer two essential legal services designed to help you protect and perfect your ownership: (1) Foreclosure of the Right to Redeem and a (2) Quiet Title Action.

1. Foreclosure of the Right to Redeem

Overview

In Georgia, you are eligible to begin the process of foreclosing or barring the right to redeem the property one year after the tax sale. This legal step permanently terminates the rights of the prior owner and other interested parties to reclaim the property.

Notification Process

You must notify the individual who owned the property at the time of the tax sale, along with any other parties holding a legal interest. A full title search is required to identify these parties. Notice must be given both directly and through legal publication. After these steps, an affidavit of barment is filed with the court to finalize the process.

Our Fixed Fee

We typically charge a fixed fee of $3,250, which includes most standard out-of-pocket expenses. This covers the title search (approximately $350), publication (around $250), sheriff’s service (about $50 per service), and certified mailings (approximately $6.80 per envelope).

In cases where the prior owner is deceased, we must identify and locate all heirs, which may require additional time and cost. If this applies to your case, we will consult with you to assess the additional work required.

2. Quiet Title Action

Overview

After foreclosing the right to redeem, a quiet title action is often necessary to obtain full, marketable title. This process eliminates any remaining claims and allows you to sell, develop, or finance the property confidently.

Legal Procedure

A quiet title action is filed in the Superior Court of the county where the property is located. The court appoints a special master—an independent attorney—who reviews the case and submits a recommendation to the judge regarding the legitimacy of the title.

Fees and Estimated Costs

Our attorney’s fees for quiet title actions are billed at $400 per hour. In most cases, the legal work required amounts to approximately $2,500. The fee for the court-appointed special master is typically $2,500, and court costs—such as filing fees and service of process—are usually around $1,000.

Altogether, the total average cost of a quiet title action is approximately $6,000, depending on the complexity of the case.

Ready to Move Forward?

We’re here to help you through every step of the process—from initial notice to full title clearance. For a consultation or to begin service, please contact our office directly at 404-382-9994.

Another Georgia Excess Tax Sale Funds Case

Republic Title Co. v. Freeport Title & Guar., Inc., A19A0274 (May. 29, 2019) concerns entitlement to excess funds remaining following a tax sale pursuant to OCGA § 48-3-3. We’ve discussed this in previous blogs. There isn’t much new here but the case does reinforce some tax deed principles of interest. In this case, the property owner at the time of the tax sale sought to collect excess tax sale proceeds following the tax sale. Also following the tax sale, a security deed holder on the property similarly sought the excess tax funds.

The owner filed a lawsuit seeking the excess tax funds, and, in the same lawsuit, sought to quiet the security deed holder’s lien as a cloud on title. The argument was the loan had matured for more than seven years and therefore wasn’t enforceable at the time of the tax sale. In Georgia, under O.C.G.A. § 44-14-80, title to real property conveyed to secure a debt or debts revert to the grantor the expiration of seven years from the maturity of the debt or debts or the maturity of the last installment thereof as stated or fixed in the record of the conveyance (this is the general rule).

Following the recommendation issued by a special master appointed in the case, the trial court ruled in favor of the owner; awarding the owner the excess tax funds and quieting title against the security deed holder. The Georgia Court of Appeals agreed. The Georgia Court of Appeals rejected the security deed holder’s argument that the special master didn’t have authority to issue a ruling on excess funds. And the security deed holder’s argument that the property owner lacked standing to bring a quiet title was likewise disregarded. Although the quiet title was filed by the owner after the tax sale, it was filed within the time period in which the owner had a right to redeem the property. Thus, the owner’s right to redeem was enough to give the owner standing to quiet title against the security deed holder.

If you have any questions regarding tax deeds, please call us at 404-382-9994.

Does a Foreclosure Sale Determine Fair Market Value in Georgia?

The answer is a resounding yes according to an interesting case that came out recently. SeeDekalb County Board Of Tax Assessors v. Astor Atl, LLC, A19A0516 (April 1, 2019). In that case, the Georgia Court of Appeals rejected DeKalb County’s argument that it could assess property taxes in an amount higher than the price paid for the same property at a foreclosure sale.

Dekalb County argued that a foreclosure sale does not qualify under as an arm’s length, bona fide sale, and that it had appraised the property in conformity with its rules using the sales comparison approach.

In deciding the case, the Georgia Court of Appeals referenced O.C.G.A. § 48-5-2(3), which provides a limitation on the maximum allowable fair market value. Under that statute, “the transaction amount of the most recent arm’s length, bona fide sale in any year shall be the maximum allowable fair market value for the next taxable year.”

The decision concluded by holding that foreclosure sales can be arm’s length, bona fide sales. Moreover, the fact that the sale may not bring in the true market value of the property does not require a different rule; the fact that the sale results in a financial loss is not relevant.

The court noted that foreclosure sales are distinct from tax sales. While foreclosures are considered arm’s length, bona fide sales, tax sales are considered “forced sales” because owner retains a right of redemption, so the tax deed purchaser does not obtain proper title until the redemption period has run.

While this isn’t super helpful in the current market with surging property values, it would definitely help investors should the real estate market turn south down the road. Something to keep in mind.

Please call us at 404-382-9994 for real estate related questions.

Tax Deed Titles in Georgia

If you’ve purchased a tax deed in Georgia, how do you obtain a clear tax deed title, i.e., marketable title? That’s a question we get frequently. First and foremost, following a tax sale, you need to bar the right of redemption of the owner who didn’t pay taxes and any party who holds an interest in the property. We have covered this topic in other blogs on this website. But what about after you’ve barred the right to redeem? Are you able to put up a for sale sign and sell the property?

Generally, the answer is no if there’s a non-judicial tax sale on the property within the past 20 years. In other words, most title insurance companies won’t title insure such properties. So what do you do? There are generally three ways to obtain full title or what is known as “marketable title.”

The first way is to adversely possess the property for more than four years. Adversely possessing means taking full possession of the property in a manner that is (i) hostile (against the right of the true owner and without permission); (ii) actual (exercising control over the property); (iii) exclusive; (iv) open and notorious (using the property as the real owner would, without hiding occupancy); and (v) continuous.

The second way is to get a quitclaim deed from the owner who didn’t pay taxes and any party with an interest in the property.

The third way is to file a quiet title action in the Superior Court where the property is located. In such a lawsuit, the owner who didn’t pay taxes and any party with an interest in the property are named and allowed to object. A special master is appointed and ultimately the cour will issue an order clearing title. The order is recorded on the public record and the process is complete.

Please call us with any questions regarding tax deeds or the above methods of obtaining marketable title.

Can a tax commissioner apply excess funds to post-tax sale property taxes?

Iglesia Del Dios Vivo Columna Y Apoyo De La Verdad La Luz Del Mundo, Inc. v. Downing, 321 Ga. App. 778 (2013) addressed this issue, and the answer, quite simply, is NO. (Bonus points for being able to say the plaintiff’s name in that case three times fast.)

The guiding statute is O.C.G.A. § 48-4-5, which provides that any excess funds existing “after paying taxes, costs, and all expenses of a sale made by the tax commissioner” shall be distributed “to the owner or owners as their interests appear in the order of priority in which their interests exist.”

So, while a tax commissioner is authorized to apply excess funds to satisfy outstanding property taxes owed by the delinquent taxpayer that accrued before the tax sale, it can’t do so after the tax sale. This reasoning for this is that the tax deed purchaser, not the delinquent taxpayer, is liable for post-tax sale property taxes.

What about a situation in which post-tax sale property taxes accrue before the tax deed purchaser has barred the right of redemption? In this situation, the delinquent taxpayer still has possession and the tax deed purchaser doesn’t have full title. Is the delinquent taxpayer jointly liable with the tax deed purchaser? According to the Downing case, the answer is no.  Only the tax deed purchaser is liable for post-tax sale property taxes; this is regardless of whether the right to redeem has been barred.

Who Gets Excess Tax Sale Funds in Georgia?

Revisiting a previous post, under Georgia law, a tax commissioner holds excess funds generated by a tax sale in a fiduciary capacity, and the disbursement of those funds is governed by OCGA § 48-4-5. But, after a tax sale, if there are excess funds after paying taxes, costs, and all expenses of a sale, who gets these funds? The answer, generally, is distribution of excess tax funds is based on the right to the funds at the time of the tax sale.

When there are excess tax funds, the officer selling the property shall give written notice of the excess funds to the record owner of the property at the time of the tax sale and to the record owner of each security deed affecting the property and to all other parties having any recorded equity interest or claim in such property at the time of the tax sale. Such notice shall be sent by first-class mail within 30 days after the tax sale, and shall contain a description of the land sold, the date sold, the name and address of the tax sale purchaser, the total sale price, and the amount of excess funds collected and held by the tax commissioner, tax collector, sheriff, or other officer. The notice shall state that the excess funds are available for distribution to the owner or owners as their interests appear in the order of priority in which their interests exist.

If there is a dispute regarding who is entitled to the excess tax funds, an interpleader is filed and the excess funds are distributed by the superior court to the intended parties, including the owner, as their interests appear and in the order of priority in which their interests exist.

Some issues that come up in regard to distribution of excess tax funds is whether a “super-lien” obtained via a redemption gives the redeeming party a right to claim the excess funds. The answer is no because a super-lien places a lien on the real property but not on the excess tax sale funds.

Another issue is when additional taxes come due after the tax sale—is the tax commissioner allowed to use the excess funds for taxes due after the tax sale? The answer is no because the tax deed purchaser is the party responsible for paying property taxes after the tax sale. The remedy for the tax purchaser is to add taxes paid to the redemption price.

And, finally, what happens if the owner of the property sells the property after the tax sale? Is the new owner entitled to the excess tax sale funds? The answer is no. Georgia law considers excess tax sale funds to be personal property; thus, these funds do not attach to the real estate. One exception is if the sales agreement contains language assigning the excess tax sale funds, then the person who sold the property loses their right to the excess funds.  Georgia Lien Services, Inc. v. Barrett, 272 Ga. App. 656 (2005).