Behind on property taxes? Protect your equity before the county forecloses
We buy Southern Oregon houses with back taxes and tax liens — as-is. The taxes are paid off from the sale at closing, and the rest of your equity goes to you, not the county.
Nothing out of pocket. No obligation. Locally owned — not affiliated with any county or government agency.
How selling solves a back-tax problem
You don't need to come up with the money first. The house pays its own tax bill when it sells — here's how it works with us.
We get the real payoff
We look up exactly what's owed — taxes, interest, penalties, and any other liens — so there are no surprises later.
Your offer shows the math
Offer price, minus what goes to the county and any lienholders, equals the cash you walk away with. Line by line, in writing.
Title pays the county at closing
A local title company pays the tax collector directly. The lien is released, and the rest is yours — in as little as 14 days.
How property tax foreclosure works in Oregon
Oregon gives homeowners more time than most states — but interest runs at 16% a year the whole way, and options narrow at each step.
| Stage | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Delinquent (after May 15) | Interest of 1⅓% a month starts. Partial payments are accepted. Every option is open. |
| 3 years delinquent | The county mails foreclosure notices, adds a 5% penalty, publishes the list, and asks the court for a judgment. |
| Foreclosure judgment | The 2-year redemption period starts. You still own the house, but the county generally wants the full amount at once. |
| Redemption period ends | The house is deeded to the county. Any money back comes through a slower surplus-claim process, after the county's costs. |
Why homeowners with equity sell before the deadline
If you've owned your home for a while, it's probably worth far more than the taxes owed. That equity is what's at stake.
Pay the county only what's owed
At closing, the county gets the payoff and not a dollar more. Everything above that is yours on closing day.
Stop the 16% interest clock
Every month you wait, the balance grows and your equity shrinks. See how fast it adds up.
Don't leave it to a county sale
Oregon's surplus process returns what's left after the county's costs, from a sale you don't control. Here's how that works.
Selling isn't your only option — and we'll tell you that
If you can realistically keep the house, you should know how. Before the foreclosure judgment, Jackson County accepts partial payments. Homeowners 62 or older, or with a qualifying disability, may qualify for Oregon's property tax deferral program, which pays the taxes and charges 6% simple interest instead of 16%. A refinance or help from family may also work. If one of those fits, we'll point you there.
Selling makes the most sense when keeping the house isn't sustainable, it's a rental or inherited property you don't want, or it needs repairs you can't take on. Compare every option side by side ›
This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rogue Valley Cash Buyers is a private company and is not affiliated with Jackson County, Josephine County, or any government agency. Your county tax collector can confirm exactly what you owe.
Answers for your exact situation
Every tax situation is a little different. Start with the one closest to yours, or browse all property tax questions.
Can you sell a house with back taxes?
Yes — the delinquent taxes are paid off from the sale at closing. Here's how it works.
Read more →Can you sell during the redemption period?
After the foreclosure judgment you still own the house for two years. Here's what that means.
Read more →Inherited a house with back taxes?
The county clock doesn't stop for probate. What heirs and personal representatives can do.
Read more →Selling with an IRS or state tax lien
How federal and Oregon tax liens get paid or discharged when a house is sold.
Read more →What happens to your equity?
Oregon's surplus-proceeds law, and why it usually leaves less than a sale would.
Read more →How to stop a tax foreclosure
Every realistic option — paying, deferral, refinancing, and selling — compared honestly.
Read more →Questions about selling with back taxes
No. The back taxes, interest and any penalties are paid from the sale proceeds at closing. The title company pays the county directly and you receive the rest.
The tax lien doesn't lower what the house is worth — it's simply paid out of the proceeds. We base our offer on the home's value and condition, then show you line by line what goes to the county and what goes to you.
Not if the two-year redemption period is still running. You still own the house and can sell it; the full payoff is made at closing. The sooner you call, the easier it is to close in time.
No. Rogue Valley Cash Buyers is a private, locally owned company. We are not affiliated with Jackson County, Josephine County, or any government agency.
Then we'll point you toward the options that might let you: partial payments before judgment, Oregon's senior and disabled deferral program, or a refinance. There's never any obligation to sell to us.
Usually, yes. Federal and state tax liens are paid from proceeds at closing, or the IRS can issue a certificate of discharge if the proceeds won't cover the full debt. We'll set the closing date around that process.
Get your no-obligation cash offer
Tell us a little about the property. If you know roughly how much is owed in back taxes, add it below — we'll follow up within one business day.
Prefer to talk it through first?
Call or text us directly — no scripts, no pressure, just straight answers.
Call (541) 415-8477 Text Us