Avoid Tax Foreclosure: How to protect your home—and your equity—when you’re behind on property taxes
Tax foreclosure is one of the most devastating, yet preventable, ways to lose a home.
I know because I lived it.
My grandparents lost the home they worked for their whole lives when my father—battling mental illness—signed away ownership during a tax crisis.
There was equity in that home. But no one was there to help provide expert guidance in our best interest. Our family lost it all. All of the inheritance that my grandparents worked so hard for.
Here’s some helpful tips to help you along your way:
1. Understand the Foreclosure Timeline
In most counties, you don’t lose your home the moment you fall behind on taxes.
Foreclosure usually takes 12–24 months from the first missed payment. But by the time you’re getting certified letters, you’re already in the danger zone.
Don’t ignore notices. Open the mail. Make the call.
The sooner you respond, the more options you have.
2. Set Up a Payment Plan
Many tax departments offer monthly installment agreements or hardship extensions.
This can stop the foreclosure process entirely and give you time to get back on your feet.
You don’t have to pay everything at once—but you do have to act. I remember riding the city bus downtown to the office; sometimes I was making only $5 payments. The effort was all they needed to continue to work with us.
3. Tap Into Your Home’s Equity
If your home has increased in value (and in this market, it probably has), you may have more options than you realize.
You might be able to refinance, use a home equity line, or sell—on your terms—before the county takes it.
Selling may not have been in your original plan. But selling with dignity is always better than losing everything you’ve built.
If you’re behind on property taxes, let’s talk. I can walk you through your home’s value, your remaining timeline, and your best options.
The sooner you act, the more there is to save.