Nick Perry shows how to buy tax-lien certificates through county websites when property owners fall behind on taxes. You collect the unpaid amount plus interest, and if they don't pay within the redemption period, you can own the property outright. He covers using a living trust and stepped-up basis to minimize taxes for heirs.
What's a piece of information that feels almost illegal to know? County records? Hide the door. Open your county tax site. Search tax liens. Rows of properties appear where the tax bill sat unpaid. You can buy the lien certificate by paying that tax bill. When the owner pays, the county routes back your money plus interest. If the deadline passes, that lien can become a path toward the deed. Hundreds can control thousands. A $35,000 house might begin with a few hundred dollars in unpaid taxes. Same roof, same lot, different door into the deal. Well, after the deed lands in your name, the next paper matters. A living trust can hold the property, so your family avoids courthouse chaos later. Basis can reset at inheritance. If the property climbs over the years, heirs may receive a stepped-up basis when they inherit, which can shrink future capital gains. Save this, then verify the rules in your county with a tax attorney.
