Last Updated on August 27, 2025
Table of contents
Four ways counties dispose of unsold tax‑sale properties
After a tax sale is over, not every piece of property gets sold. Different counties have their own ways of dealing with these unsold properties. Some places might sell the leftover tax liens or deeds in a special way. Knowing how each county handles this can help investors find good chances to make money.
1. Over‑the‑counter tax liens and deeds
Many counties keep lists of tax liens and tax-deed properties that didn’t sell at auctions. These lists are like a catalog. You can buy a lien or deed at a set price. There’s no stress from bidding against others. Buyers pay the price set by the county along with any extra interest and fees. Most of the time, you complete the sale at the county office. For beginners, OTC lists are an easy way to learn and get started. For instance, in Washington, D.C., the Office of Tax and Revenue has an Over-the-Counter Tax Lien Sale. This lets people buy tax liens on properties that were not sold in the annual sale. When you buy, you must pay with a certified or cashier’s check. You also have to finish the deal the same day
2. Rollovers to a future auction
Some counties simply roll unsold properties into the next auction. If there is no OTC catalogue, the county may not publicise a list of leftovers; instead, those parcels reappear at the next scheduled sale. The video notes that frustrated callers often ask, “Why is there no catalogue?” The answer is that each county sets its own procedures. In these counties, patience is required. You’ll need to monitor future auction rosters to snag leftover parcels.
For example, Washington County in Maryland can sell unsold properties again later. But once the tax sale is over, those unsold properties won’t be available until they are auctioned off again.
3. Forfeited Land Commission online auctions
In South Carolina’s Sumter County, unsold properties are not sold over the counter. Instead, the county holds them for one year and then transfers them to the Forfeited Land Commission (FLC). The FLC posts these parcels on a website and conducts an online auction resembling an eBay sale. Bidding is open for about two weeks, and participants monitor the current high bid until the window closes. At the end of the two‑week period, the highest bidder secures the property.
4. Sealed‑bid or “still‑bid” sales
There’s a special process for selling unsold properties in Richland County, South Carolina. After the tax sale, any properties that don’t get sold are listed at the county office. Then, people who want to buy can take part in a sealed-bid sale, which is sometimes called a “still-bid” sale
Here’s how it works:
- You review the unsold properties list and select the parcels you want.
- You write your bid amount on a form, seal it in an envelope and drop it in a box at the county office.
- After about 30 days, county officials open all envelopes and award each property to the highest bidder.
Unlike an online auction, you cannot see competing bids—so you get one chance to make your best offer. This silent process helps counties avoid drawn‑out bidding wars.
Frequently Ask Questions(FAQs)
Over‑the‑counter sales let you buy unsold tax liens or deeds at a fixed price—no bidding involved. Sealed bids require you to submit one confidential bid; the highest bid wins, as seen in Richland County’s still‑bid sale.
To find opportunities in your area, check your county’s tax collector or clerk of court website. Look for terms like “over-the-counter tax lien sale,” “lands available list,” “forfeited land commission,” “repository sale,” or “sealed bid sale.” The rules can be different in each county. Some counties may sell unsold land again, while others keep it for the county.
Doing your homework is really important. Counties say that land that hasn’t sold might have problems. It could be hard to reach, it might flood, it could be dirty, or it might have hidden debts. Always check the rules about the land, how to get there, and any issues before you buy
