Behind on property taxes or worried that your home could be sold at a tax sale? We Are Home Buyers helps homeowners in Rome and Floyd County explore a cash sale, even when unpaid taxes or other liens complicate the process. Get a straightforward offer and learn how outstanding liens may be handled at closing, with no obligation to accept.
Behind on property taxes or facing a tax sale? You still have options. Call (706) 670-6886 or fill out the form below.
Selling a House With Tax Liens in Rome Is Possible
If you are behind on property taxes, you may feel stuck. Maybe the bills piled up after a job loss, an illness, or a death in the family. Maybe you inherited a house and found out the taxes hadn’t been paid in years. Either way, you are not the only one, and you still have choices.
Here is the most important thing to know. A tax lien does not stop you from selling your house. When a house with a lien sells, the closing attorney pays the lien from the sale money. The county gets paid, the lien comes off the title, and whatever is left goes to you.
We are a local, family-owned home buyer in Rome. Houses with back taxes are a normal part of our work. On this page, we explain how tax liens work in Floyd County and what happens at a Georgia tax sale. We also show how other liens, like IRS or judgment liens, get handled when you sell. If you’d rather just talk it over, the folks at We Are Home Buyers are here to help.
How Property Tax Liens Work in Floyd County
Every year, the Floyd County Tax Commissioner sends out property tax bills. The office is on Government Plaza in downtown Rome. If a bill goes unpaid past its due date, interest and penalties start to add up. Here is how it usually moves from there.
The tax becomes a lien on the house right away. That means the debt is tied to the property, not just to you.
The Tax Commissioner can issue a tax execution, often called a “fi. fa.” It gets recorded with the Clerk of Superior Court, which makes the debt part of the public record.
After notices are sent, the county can “levy” on the property. That is the first step toward a tax sale.
The tax sale is advertised in the county’s legal newspaper, the Rome News-Tribune.
Like foreclosure sales, tax sales are held on the first Tuesday of the month at the courthouse.
Some owners don’t realize how far along things are until they see their address in the newspaper. If you’ve gotten certified mail from the Tax Commissioner, open it today. Then call the office and ask for your total payoff and whether a levy or sale date has been set.
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What Happens After a Georgia Tax Sale
Many people think a tax sale means the house is gone for good that same day. In Georgia, that is not true. After a tax sale, the law gives the owner a “right of redemption.” Here is what that means in plain words.
For 12 months after the sale, you or anyone with an interest in the house can buy it back. This is called redeeming the property. To redeem, you pay the tax sale buyer what they paid at the sale. You also pay any taxes they paid after the sale, plus a premium. The premium is 20% for the first year, and 10% for each year after that.
After 12 months, the tax sale buyer can send a formal notice to cut off your right to redeem. Once that notice runs its course, the buyer can take full ownership. From then on, it becomes much harder to get the house back.
Here is something many people miss. If the house sold at the tax sale for more than the taxes owed, the extra money is called excess funds. Those funds may belong to you as the former owner. You can ask the Tax Commissioner’s office about them. And during the redemption year, selling the house is still possible. The sale can pay off the redemption amount and clear things up.
Other Liens We See on Houses in Rome
Property taxes are not the only kind of lien. When our closing attorney runs a title search, these are the other liens that come up most often on houses in Floyd County.
IRS tax liens
If you owe federal income taxes, the IRS can file a lien that attaches to your house. The IRS has a process to release its lien from one property so a sale can close.
Georgia Department of Revenue liens
Unpaid state income taxes can also turn into a lien on your home.
Judgment liens
If someone wins a court case against you, like a credit card company or a medical bill collector, the judgment can attach to property you own in the county.
Mechanic’s and materialman’s liens
A contractor or supplier who wasn’t paid for work on the house can file a lien against it.
City code and demolition liens
If the City of Rome or Floyd County fixed up, cleaned, or tore down part of a property, the cost can become a lien.
Child support liens
Past-due child support can also attach to real estate in Georgia.
Each lien has its own payoff process. The closing attorney gets a payoff letter for each one, so you know exactly what’s owed before you sign anything.
Behind on Taxes? Let’s Look at Your Numbers.
We’ll show you what’s owed, what your house could bring, and what you’d walk away with.
Here is what a sale looks like when your house has tax liens or other liens on it. This is the same process we follow on every house we buy in Rome.
First, we see the house and give you a written cash offer. You don’t need to fix anything first. Next, we sign a purchase contract and send it to a local Georgia closing attorney. The attorney runs a full title search. That search turns up the mortgage, the unpaid property taxes, and any other liens.
Then the attorney asks each lien holder for a written payoff amount. That includes the Tax Commissioner, the mortgage company, the IRS, and anyone else on the list. Before closing, you get a settlement statement that shows each payoff and the amount you’ll receive.
On closing day, the attorney pays every lien from the sale money. The liens are released, and the rest is yours. Natalie, our co-owner, keeps an eye on every payoff so nothing gets missed. If the liens add up to more than the house is worth, there may still be a path. Some lien holders will agree to take less so the sale can close. We’ll be upfront with you about whether that’s likely.
Steps to Take This Week if You’re Behind on Taxes
You don’t have to fix everything today. But a few small steps now can save you a lot of trouble later. Here is the list we give homeowners in Floyd County who call us about back taxes.
Find your most recent tax bill or look up your parcel online through the Floyd County Tax Commissioner.
Call the Tax Commissioner’s office and ask for your full payoff. Ask whether a fi. fa. has been recorded and whether a sale date is set.
Open every piece of certified mail. Notices about levies and tax sales come that way.
Ask whether a payment plan is possible. Some offices will work with owners who are trying to catch up.
Check your mortgage statement. Some lenders pay the taxes from an escrow account, and a missed tax payment can trigger problems with the loan too.
Write down any other debts that might be tied to the house, like an IRS balance or a court judgment.
Once you have these answers, you’ll know how much time you have and how much is owed. That makes every choice clearer, whether you pay it off, set up a plan, or sell.
When Tax Problems Come With Other Problems
In our experience, back taxes are rarely the only thing going on. Here are the most common ways we see tax liens show up next to something else around Rome.
An inherited house is the biggest one. Older owners sometimes fall behind on taxes in their last few years. The family may not know until after the funeral. The estate can still sell the house and pay the taxes at closing. If this sounds like your situation, We Are Home Buyers has a guide to selling an inherited house in Rome.
A mortgage in default is another. If you’re behind on both taxes and the mortgage, you could face a tax sale and a bank foreclosure at the same time. Both can be paid at a closing. We Are Home Buyers explains the foreclosure timeline on our foreclosure help page.
Rental houses come up a lot too. A landlord with problem tenants or a vacant rental may stop paying taxes on it. We buy rentals with or without tenants in place. If that’s you, We Are Home Buyers has a guide to selling a rental with tenants still in place. And if the house needs major repairs, We Are Home Buyers buys it as-is, so you never have to fix a thing.
Written by Grant Garab, Founder of We Are Home Buyers
Grant Garab is a Marine Corps veteran, a licensed REALTOR® with Prestige Home Brokers, and the founder of We Are Home Buyers in Rome. He buys houses across Floyd County, including houses with back taxes and other liens on the title. This page was reviewed by Natalie Garab, our co-owner and CFO, who manages our closings and lien payoffs with local attorneys.
Get a Cash Offer That Pays Off Your Tax Liens
If unpaid property taxes or other liens are putting your home at risk, understanding your options is an important first step. We Are Home Buyers will review your property and provide a written cash offer so you can compare its potential sale proceeds with the amounts owed. When a sale moves forward, a local closing attorney can coordinate lien payoffs and explain how much may remain after outstanding debts and closing costs are paid.
Even if you’ve received tax sale notices or have other financial concerns tied to the property, you can reach out to discuss your situation. Fill out the form below or call (706) 670-6886 to get started and explore whether a cash sale makes sense for you.
Tell us about the house and what’s owed. We’ll call you back, usually the same day.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I sell my house in Rome, GA if I owe back property taxes?
Yes, you can sell your house in Rome if you owe back property taxes. The unpaid taxes become a lien on the property, and liens get paid at closing. The closing attorney gets a payoff amount from the Floyd County Tax Commissioner. They pay it from the sale money, and the rest goes to you. You don’t have to pay the taxes yourself before you sell. This works whether you sell to a cash buyer or list with an agent. The main thing is to start before a tax sale happens, so you keep more choices.
How does a tax sale work in Floyd County, Georgia?
A tax sale in Floyd County is an auction of a property to pay unpaid property taxes. First, the Tax Commissioner issues a tax execution, called a fi. fa., and sends notices to the owner. Next, the county levies on the property and advertises the sale in the Rome News-Tribune. Then the property is auctioned at the courthouse, usually on the first Tuesday of the month. The highest bidder pays the taxes and costs. After the sale, the owner still has a 12-month window to buy the property back by paying the redemption amount.
How long do I have to get my house back after a Georgia tax sale?
After a Georgia tax sale, you usually have at least 12 months to get your house back. This is called the right of redemption. To redeem, you pay the tax sale buyer the amount they bid, plus any taxes they paid after the sale. You also pay a premium of 20% for the first year and 10% for each year after. After 12 months, the buyer can send a formal notice to end your right to redeem. Once that happens, getting the house back becomes very hard. So act inside that first year.
What is a fi. fa. on my property in Georgia?
A fi. fa. is a tax execution, which is a legal paper the county uses to collect unpaid taxes. The name comes from the Latin words “fieri facias.” In Floyd County, the Tax Commissioner can issue one when property taxes go unpaid. It gets recorded with the Clerk of Superior Court, so it shows up in public records and on a title search. A fi. fa. lets the county move toward a levy and a tax sale. It also gets paid off at closing if you sell. Ask the Tax Commissioner’s office for the full payoff amount.
Can I sell my house if the IRS has a lien on it?
Yes, you can usually sell a house with an IRS lien on it. The IRS lien gets paid from the sale money at closing, just like other liens. If the sale money isn’t enough to pay the IRS in full, you can ask the IRS for a certificate of discharge. That form releases the lien from the house so the sale can close. The IRS has its own forms and timelines for this, so start early. A tax professional or the closing attorney can help you file the request and talk with the IRS for you.
What happens if my liens add up to more than my house is worth?
If your liens add up to more than your house is worth, a sale can still happen, but some lien holders must agree to take less. This is similar to a short sale with a mortgage. Some creditors, like judgment holders, will often settle for less to get paid now. Property tax liens usually have to be paid in full. The IRS has a process to release its lien from a house when the sale money is not enough. We can look at your numbers and tell you honestly whether a sale makes sense in your case.
Will a property tax lien hurt my credit?
A property tax lien usually does not show up on your credit report the way it once did. The major credit bureaus stopped listing most tax liens a few years ago. But that doesn’t mean the lien is harmless. It still shows up in public records and on a title search. It still grows with interest and penalties. And it can still lead to a tax sale that costs you your house. Lenders also check public records when you apply for a loan. Dealing with the lien now is much better than letting it grow.
Can I sell a rental property in Rome that has back taxes?
Yes, you can sell a rental property in Rome that has back taxes. The taxes get paid from the sale money at closing, just like on any other house. We buy rentals with tenants still living in them, so you don’t have to empty the house first. Bring a copy of the lease and any rent records you have. If a tenant has stopped paying, that’s fine too. We work with all kinds of tenant situations. For many landlords, selling ends two problems at once: the tax bills and the tenant stress.
Does a tax lien stay with the house when it is sold?
Yes, a property tax lien stays with the house, not just the person, until it is paid. That’s why a closing attorney won’t let a sale finish until the lien is paid off or cleared. When you sell, the attorney pays the lien at closing and records the release. The buyer then gets a clean title. If someone tried to sell without paying the lien, the new owner would still owe the taxes. That’s one reason why using a real Georgia closing attorney is so important. They protect both the buyer and the seller.
Who do I call about back property taxes in Floyd County?
For back property taxes in Floyd County, call the Floyd County Tax Commissioner’s office on Government Plaza in downtown Rome. Ask for your full payoff amount, whether a fi. fa. has been recorded, and whether a levy or tax sale date has been set. You can also ask about payment plans and any excess funds from a past sale. If you’re thinking about selling, call us at (706) 670-6886. We’ll look at what’s owed and what your house could bring. Then you can make a decision with real numbers in front of you.
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