Falling behind on property taxes is scary. The county can put a lien on your home. If it gets bad enough, they can even take your house. But you have more options than you think. Let me walk you through them.
What Is a Tax Lien?
A tax lien is a legal claim on your home. It happens when you do not pay your property taxes on time. The county files it to make sure they get paid. Until that lien is paid, you cannot easily sell or refinance your home.
In Maryland, your county can also auction your tax lien to private investors. If you do not pay them back with interest, they can take your home. This happens in PG County, Montgomery County, and across the DMV every year.
How Did I Get Here?
You are not alone. Most people fall behind for reasons outside their control. A lost job. A divorce. Sickness or medical bills. A death in the family. A jump in your property tax bill after a reassessment. An inherited home you did not plan for. It happens. The question is what to do next.
Your 5 Options
Option 1: Pay it off. If you have savings or family help, pay the back taxes and any late fees. Done. But if you had the money, you probably would have paid by now.
Option 2: Set up a payment plan. Most Maryland counties let you pay back what you owe over a few months. Call your county tax office. Be honest. Ask what plans they offer.
Option 3: Refinance or get a loan. You can take a loan against your home or use a credit line to pay off the back taxes. This works if you have equity and good credit. It can be hard to get approved if you are already behind.
Option 4: Apply for hardship programs. Maryland has the Homeowner Property Tax Credit and other programs. Seniors, disabled people, and low-income homeowners may qualify. Call your county to ask.
Option 5: Sell the house. This is where we come in at NexGen Home Solutions. We buy houses with liens, back taxes, and other issues. We pay off your tax debt at closing and put cash in your pocket. You walk away with money, not stress.
Selling works best when the taxes are way more than you can pay, a tax sale is coming and you do not have time, the home needs repairs you cannot afford, you do not want the house anymore, or you inherited it and do not want to deal with it.
What Happens If You Do Nothing?
The Maryland tax sale process moves fast. You get a tax delinquent notice. Then the lien is sold to an investor (usually by May or June). The investor can charge you 12 to 18 percent interest per year. After 6 months, the investor can start to foreclose. You can lose your home.
Once the auction happens, your options shrink fast. Acting early gives you more choices and keeps more money in your pocket.
What to Do Next
If you are behind on taxes in PG County, Montgomery County, or anywhere in the DMV, call us today. Or fill out the form on our Sell Your House page. You will get a fair cash offer in 24 to 48 hours. We pay your back taxes at closing. You keep the rest. Most deals close in 7 to 14 days.
Call 301-982-1002 or get a free offer online. You have more options than you think. The worst thing you can do is nothing.