Tax Lien Update

I posted previously about my attempt to invest in tax liens, which are the first lien on real estate. Well, the auction ended, and to my surprise, I won three out of the four lines I’d bid on. I’m absurdly excited, probably because I love auctions. It’s also good to be getting my feet wet with investing. So, now I just wait. If the owners of the real estate do pay their taxes, the treasurer will send the principal plus interest.

In the event the owners don’t pay within 3 years from the date I purchased the lien, I can begin foreclosure proceedings. If I’m understanding this right, this is a relatively safe investment because of the guaranteed income from the county. The biggest dangers are the lack of liquidity (my money could be locked in for 3+ years) and the risk of losing my entire investment if my research was insufficient and it turns out that someone else holds a first lien on the property.