How To Buy Land At Tax Sales (Paperback)

by Pattie Edson (Author), Jim Criswell (Editor), Lin Stone (Illustrator) "Pennies-on-the-dollar land bargains at the tax sales are your best ticket for winning a real estate empire of your own..." (more)
Key Phrases: tax lien certificates, parcel number, bid sheet, United States, State Land, Secretary of State (more...)

Product Details

• Paperback: 189 pages
• Publisher: Truman Publishing Company; 1 edition (June 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0966339304
• ISBN-13: 978-0966339307
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #838,780 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

105 of 105 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Informative & Easy to Read, Rare Tax Sales Tome, November 16, 1999

By	David Krulac (USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I just read Lin Stone's delightful and wonderful book on the subject of tax sales. It was very interesting, though somewhat light reading that was also informative. It left me wanting more, but unfortunately that more does not exist. The subject of Tax Sales is given only minimal coverage by most real estate authors. And for good reason, it is a difficult subject where 50 different states have 50 different tax sale laws. Additionally most authors know little or nothing about the subject. Do the liens transfer with the property? What is the period of owner redemption? Tax Sales are probably the most treacherous form of real estate investment. Seller disclosures, consumer protection and other statutory safeguards for the real estate buyer just plain do NOT exist in the tax sale arena. You could end up buying a toxic waste dump, a cliff, a wetland, a tiny sliver of land, a flood plain, a landlocked parcel or even underwater property at tax sales. I've seen all of the above at tax sale. Nobody will tell you about the property shortcomings, only your own research can overcome those obstacles. Most of the tax sale properties are junk; many are worthless or have expensive problems like bad title; you have to distinguish the gems or at least the diamond in the rough. There are only two other books, by Hendricks and Moskowitz, on tax sales that are even worth reading. If you're serious read all three. Lin Stone tells a tale that is easy to read, but is somewhat lacking in depth. Big print and lots of white space make the book seem bigger than it really is. Stone does have chapters on internet and adverse possession that are unique, fun and very interesting. But chapters on Fannie Mae, Hud, VA, etc. are out of place, unnecessary, and filler. The chapters on finding the properties was enlightening. The chapter on buying a house was much to short as Stone concentrates on land. In the back of the book the list of states does not include all 50, obviously a conscious omission by the author. All and all the book was informative, offered insight that only an experience tax sale buyer/author can offer. It would be an excellent choice for beginners, but would probably be too shallow for the experienced tax sale buyer. Also some of the points made are not universal to different state tax sales. As I said earlier it is a difficult subject because of the vast difference of state law. This book is a beginning but by no means assume expertise after reading. Lin Stone's book will help, but be careful out there!

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars 90% Useless, December 10, 2004

By	L. Milligan (Fort Lauderdale, FL United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book should be titled "How to Fill a 189 Page Book with 3 Pages of Information". Double spaced large type, lots of white space and irrelevant and useless filler occupy the vast bulk of this tounge-in-cheek, story tellin', vague collection of obsolete, incomplete, good ole' boy jaw-jackin' generalities. The few scattered facts in this book can easily be found by anyone with 3 minutes to spend on Google. On the other hand, it's encouraging to know that your competition in this business includes those who actually thought they learned something from this paperback.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not so easy for the average person., February 2, 2002

By	Bruce E. Munck (Gaston, SC United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book goes into great detail in describing ways to buy land. Unfortunately, this is no book for the novice. If you are looking for entry-level information on how to buy land cheaply you would do well to bypass this one and find something else. On the other hand, if you have some real estate savy this book will give you some real strategies to help you in your search.