Hamilton Co. to hold community information sessions on investing in tax-delinquent property.

Over 150 properties anticipated for purchase during four-day auction

The Hamilton County Trustee’s office along with CivicSource® will hold community information sessions on investing in tax-delinquent property. 

The two sessions are free and open to the public.  They will be Thursday, May 23, at 12:00 p.m in the McDaniel Building, located at 455 N. Highland Park Ave. in Chattanooga and at 6:30 p.m. in the Mountain City Club located at 729 Chestnut St. in Chattanooga. 

Comprehensive training on all aspects of purchasing tax-delinquent property will be covered.

If you are not able to attend the in-person sessions, online sessions will be held on Thursday, May 23, 2019, at 12:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. EST. 

Hamilton County will hold their tax sale auction online at www.CivicSource.com, beginning Monday, June 3 at 8:00 a.m. EST and ending Thursday, June 6 at 2:00 p.m. EST, subject to a sliding close. Over 150 residential, commercial and vacant properties in Hamilton County will be included in the June auction.

More information can be found at CivicSource.com.

Original article found here:
https://www.wrcbtv.com/story/40504779/hamilton-co-to-hold-community-information-sessions-on-investing-in-taxdelinquent-property

St. James going digital for delinquent property purchases

CONVENT – St. James Parish Government has updated its adjudicated property auction processes by implementing the technologies of CivicSource, a leading online auctioneer of tax-delinquent real estate.

At 6 p.m. Tuesday (May 21), CivicSource will hold a community information session on purchasing adjudicated property in St. James Parish.

The event is free and open to the public and will be held at the Convent Annex, located at 5800 LA Highway 44.

Organizers hope this helps the Parish restore significant, annually recurring revenues to St. James from taxes that had previously gone unpaid.

“The partnership between CivicSource and the Parish Council is a win-win situation for the Parish,” St. James Parish President Timothy Roussel said.

“The online auctions will return properties to the tax roll, eliminate blight in our communities and rural areas and make adjudicated real estate available to the public at a reasonable price.”

St. James’ new, technology-driven property auction will take place online at CivicSource.com, allowing bidders to conduct property research and participate in the auction from any internet-ready device whether at home, work or a public facility.

CivicSource.com offers numerous innovative purchaser tools including access to auction legal research, integrated Google and GIS parcel maps, a proxy bidding feature, customizable watch lists and a sliding close function preventing last-second, online bid sniping.

Visit CivicSource.com to view a complete listing of qualified, adjudicated properties or to nominate properties for auction through a deposit of $850.

The properties are listed for $0 plus closing costs. Commercial and residential properties are available. To RSVP for the upcoming information session on purchasing adjudicated properties, visit events.CivicSource.com.

Original article found here:
https://m.lobservateur.com/2019/05/18/st-james-going-digital-for-delinquent-property-purchases/

Free community info session scheduled on how to buy adjudicated property

EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, LA (WAFB) – CivicSource is holding a free informational session for the public about how to buy adjudicated property for sale in East Baton Rouge Parish.

The meeting will be held Thursday, May 9 at 6:30 p.m. at the Central Branch Library, located at 11260 Joor Rd.

Information will be provided on all aspects of buying adjudicated property, including how to get title insurance. All properties for sale at civicsource.com went unsold at a previous tax certificate sale. These tax delinquent properties are sold by taxing authorities across Louisiana at auctions hosted by CivicSource. At these auctions, blighted, abandoned, or foreclosed properties are sold, generating significant annual tax revenue for the parish.

Click here to view a full list of adjudicated properties for sale in EBR Parish. There are both commercial and residential properties for sale. To RSVP for the upcoming informational session, click here.

Original article found here:
https://www.wafb.com/2019/05/07/free-community-info-session-scheduled-how-buy-adjudicated-property/

City of Pineville tackling blighted property

April 24th, 2019

PINEVILLE (KALB) – The City of Pineville is tackling the issue of blighted property in the downtown area. It is an effort to restore the city’s oldest section and boost property value.

“We’ve talked about activity breading activity all along,” said Doug Gann, Director of Downtown Development. “People are going to come in and say you know there’s things going on in this town then we want to put our business here and relocate our business here and main streets I guess are falling victim to that lack of interest.”

Dilapidated homes are a problem in many cities across the country. It in part due to to a lengthy process to solve the issue. Local governments are not allowed to immediately eradicate an eyesore. “If it’s a hazard, if it’s been burned, something like that they can go in for safety wise but if it’s just a home that’s deteriorating falling apart there’s a process for that,” said Gann.

First, officials must identify the property’s code violations; next, they search tax records to find the land’s owner; then the process can take two different routes.

“Somebody may own the home and they may not have any heirs or anybody that’s involved in that property, and so it’s just an abandoned house with nobody to take care of it,” said Gann. That house then becomes adjudicated property for the city to care for, demolish, or sell.

If the property does have an owner, they contact the proprietor and serve a “Just Cause.” That document states that the city believes the home should be condemned, but they would like the resident to provide a reason why it should not be demolished. That person then appears before the city council. “And the citizens are starting to do that and say you know what I want to put this back in because I don’t want to see it torn down and so they’re making steps and plans of action to go ahead and fix that up,” said Gann.

To report an eyesore in your neighborhood click here: https://www.pineville.net/department/index.php?structureid=6

Original article found here:
https://www.kalb.com/content/news/City-of-Pineville-tackling-blighted-property-508994481.html

City officials in New Iberia working to clear 30 blighted properties

NEW IBERIA, La (KLFY) – The City of New Iberia is working to clean blighted properties. 

“It’s time to be a little bit more aggressive. We’ve been fortunate to sell properties through civic source which came to about $50,000. All of those funds were generated from adjudicated property so we are putting it right back into the system,” says Mayor Freddie DeCourt. 

The Mayor has put together a two part plan to tackle almost 30 properties in the city.

“We are tearing down about 12 immediately. This is the first time we bring that many at once and then in phase 2 in the fall, Public Works crews will begin boarding houses that could be saved.” he said. 

Phase 2 will involve 18 other properties throughout the city.

“We don’t want to represent empty lots, we want people. By cleaning these properties up, hopefully the ones that are boarded, we will be able to put back on the market and the ones that we tear down now makes a vacant piece of property that could be developed,” Decourt said.  

Original article found here: https://www.klfy.com/news/local/city-officials-in-new-iberia-working-to-clear-30-blighted-properties/1841010784

Councilwoman to host sessions about acquiring adjudicated property

Metro Councilwoman Chauna Banks is hosting information sessions on how to acquire property in East Baton Rouge Parish. The event is free and open to the public. The meeting will include details on getting title insurance and paying the outstanding taxes.

The second session will be at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 28, at Louisiana Leadership Institute, 5763 Hooper Road, Baton Rouge.

The goal is to help bring new life to blighted, abandoned or tax-foreclosed properties, according to a news release. Agency representatives will present five unconventional pathways to acquire these properties. Both residential and commercial investors will learn how to purchase tax-delinquent assets by attending these informational.

A list of invited agencies and programs:

  • East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office sale, a public auction of property repossessed to satisfy an unpaid obligation.
  • Parish Attorney’s Office, which handles the sale of adjudicated properties through public bids and donations.
  • CivicSource, a company partnered with the city-parish to offer an online process for the sale of adjudicated property in excess of five years.
  • Mow to Own Program, which allows certain parties to avoid the public bidding and receive a preference in making an offer to purchase adjudicated properties in excess of three years.
  • East Baton Rouge Redevelopment Authority, which has the ability to acquire and quickly clear title to tax sale and adjudicated properties.

For information, contact the District 2 office at (225) 389-8331 or email cbanks@brla.gov.​​

Original article found here: https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/communities/zachary/article_8efef842-24c8-11e9-aadd-1353b9410e2c.html

RPSO partners with CIVICSOURCE for Tax Certification

ALEXANDRIA, La. (RPSO) – The Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office is updating its Tax Certificate auction processes by implementing the assistance of CivicSource, an online auctioneer of tax-distressed real estate.

The Parish’s new partnership will be an asset to improve existing protections for homeowners and provide tremendous benefits to Rapides real estate purchasers. On Wednesday, June 12, 2019, the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office will host its annual Tax Certificate sale at the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office, located at 701 Murray St. in Alexandria.

A tax certificate is an interest-bearing lien on a tax-delinquent property that can be converted into a deed after a 3-year redemptive period.

Certificates are sold by a taxing authority at a public auction for the amount of the delinquent taxes due, plus any accrued interest, penalties, costs and other statutory impositions. In Louisiana, tax certificate purchasers receive a 5% penalty and an interest rate of 1% per month for the duration of the 3-year redemptive period. Tax certificate sales are a “low-bid wins” style auctions, in which the property is sold to the purchaser willing to bid on the least percent ownership interest in the property. If the property is not redeemed by the delinquent owner within the 3-year redemptive period, the investor can file to acquire ownership in the property based on his or her bid amount.

Winning bidders of the tax sale are expected to pay for their purchases by the close of business the day of the auction. Payment must be made in one installment and all sales are final.

To avoid a Tax Certificate auction is to pay the tax liability before the delinquent date. Each month the tax liability is not paid, the amount owed will go up. A schedule of the fees from CIVICSOURCE is below.

Date Total Costs

2/1/2019 10% of the tax liability + $15.00

3/1/2019 $40.00

4/1/2019 $55.00

4/15/2019 $5.00

5/15/2019 $5.00

6/1/2019 10% + $120 Final Tax Sale

The Sheriff’s Office Tax Department will be OPEN on December 31, until noon to accept payments. The Tax Office will be closed on January 1st, New Year’s Day and will re-open at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, January 2, 2019.

TAX PAYMENTS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED DELINQUENT UNTIL JANUARY 7, 2019. Interest will be assessed at that time.

For more information on the Louisiana Tax Certificate sale process or to view upcoming auctions, visit CivicSource.com.

Original article found here: https://www.kalb.com/content/news/RPSO-partners-with-CIVICSOURCE-for-Tax-Certification-503631751.html

Want to buy a property seized for back taxes? Firm to show you how at meeting in Donaldsonville

DONALDSONVILLE — City officials are launching an online system to auction properties in the city’s hands because of unpaid back taxes.

CivicSource, the contractor running the online auction system, is set to explain the process during a meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday inside the City Council Chambers, 609 Railroad Ave.

CivicSource officials will offer training on buying adjudicated properties, including how to acquire title insurance, according a statement by the firm.

CivicSource, which is based in New Orleans, has operated the same online auction for Ascension Parish government since 2017.

The company said its services help restore revenue to local governments by bringing properties back to the tax rolls.

CivicSource’s statement said all adjudicated properties for sale on its website had previously gone unsold at a tax sale and have not had back taxes redeemed.

The company said it specializes in “digitized due diligence, ensuring all homeowners, heirs, and persons of interest affiliated with a tax-delinquent property have been adequately notified” before the property is sold.

Those planning to attend can RSVP at events.civicsource.com.

Original article found here: https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/communities/ascension/article_975d7ebc-fe5a-11e8-94ba-2335c4a04e98.html4ba-2335c4a04e98.html

Learn How to Buy Property from the City or Parish

Every year, governments auction off properties with outstanding tax bills. For some folks this is a complicated process. But others make lots of money doing this.

You can get all the details about how to do this during a community information session on Tuesday, September 25th at 6:30pm at Shreve Memorial Library downtown.

Civic Source is hosting the information session on how to buy adjudicated property in Caddo Parish. The event is free and open to the public. The meeting will include details on getting title insurance and paying the outstanding taxes.  During the last tax sale, all adjudicated properties went unsold.

These properties are sold during online auctions at CivicSource.com. By hosting the sale online, bidders who would normally be unable to attend the auction in person are able to participate from their homes or places of business. The goal is to help bring new life to these blighted, abandoned or tax-foreclosed properties.

“One of the Parish’s highest priorities is to ensure our citizens’ confidence in their communities to provide a stable environment to work and raise a family,” said Dr. Woodrow Wilson, Jr., Parish of Caddo Administrator. “Our partnership with entities such as CivicSource makes it easier for these properties to be responsibly purchased and helps to stabilize our neighborhoods and our property values,” said Wilson. “We encourage all Parish residents interested in investing in the future of our communities to attend this important informational session.”

Check out CivicSource.com to take a look at the list of properties. You might be surprised at the low cost. You will need a deposit of $850 and then you’ll pay the auction price which can range from as low as $10 dollars, plus closing costs.

Please RSVP for the information session at events.CivicSource.com

Original article found here:
http://710keel.com/learn-how-to-buy-property-from-the-city-or-parish/

 

Going once, going twice, sold — Only one month to tax sale

Some landowners haven’t settled up last year’s tax bills, and Lincoln County is about to collect.

The annual tax sale begins at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 27, and over the course of six hours of digital bidding in an online auction, the Lincoln County Tax Collector’s Office will recover $1,581,173 in back taxes owed on 2,362 parcels. Tax collector Blake Pickering said the average unpaid bill is between $1,300 and $1,500, and he expects several of the open tabs to be closed out before sale day.

Otherwise, those in arrears will be paying a new lien-holder 1.5 percent interest per month.

“Ninety percent of the people who bid on parcels in the tax sale are after the interest income, and from my understanding, the guys who do it make a pretty good bit of money,” he said.

Anyone interested in bidding on the delinquent parcels must create an account with CivicSource.com and send a completed Form W-9 to Pickering’s office. Once registered with the bidding site and tax office, registered users will receive an email approving their participation in the sale.

Once the sale launches, logged-in bidders will have access to all of the parcels and can immediately enter bids. CivicSource allows “proxy bidding,” in which users can set a maximum bid amount and walk away — the site will automatically increase the bid by the minimum to stay on top of competitors until the maximum is topped.

CivicSource uses a rolling 5-minute clock that extends bid times to prevent last-second “sniping” during the final seconds of the bid process. Pickering said a bidding war over a particular parcel extended 10 times for an additional 51 minutes during last year’s sale.

Successful bidders will have 24 hours to pay the full owed amount to CivicSource. The site turns a profit only off a percentage of over-bids and sends Lincoln County a check for the full amount of taxes collected.

Successful bidders will be entitled to 1.5 percent interest per month and will be paid in full once the landowners settle their bill. If the landowner doesn’t pay up in two years — three years from the date of the original tax lien — successful bidders can sue in chancery court for a quiet title giving them ownership of the parcel, though Pickering said such actions are rare.

Anyone owing taxes who wishes to avoid having their bill auctioned off can settle up with the tax collector’s office by Aug. 24. The office will stop accepting checks after Aug. 10.

Pickering said his office will publish a list of delinquent parcels in The Daily Leader on Aug. 9 and Aug. 21.

If a parcel is auctioned off in the upcoming tax sale, landowners should pay their bill as soon as possible in the Lincoln County Chancery Clerk’s Office.

This will be the second year the annual tax sale has been conducted online. Previously, tax sales were carried out in all-day sessions in the circuit courtroom, but moving the sale online allows more participants and ensures more collections, Pickering said.

“It opens it up for working people who want to participate but can’t get off work all day,” he said.

For years in the courtroom and now online, Lincoln County’s Johnny Gunnel dominates the land sale. Pickering said the next three top buyers behind Gunnel are out-of-town companies built on tax lien interest profits.

Gunnel could not be reached for comment.

Pickering’s office will host an info session with CivicSource to teach participants how to use the online system. The two sessions are scheduled for noon and 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 9.

Original article found here: https://www.dailyleader.com/2018/07/19/going-once-going-twice-sold-only-one-month-to-tax-sale/