Tax delinquent
Selling a House With Delinquent Property Taxes
Unpaid property tax does not sit quietly. In Arkansas, delinquent property is certified to the Commissioner of State Lands, and after that there is a redemption window and then a public auction.
Unpaid property tax does not sit quietly. In Arkansas, delinquent property is certified to the Commissioner of State Lands, and after that there is a redemption window and then a public auction.
The good news is that back taxes are paid out of the sale proceeds at closing. If there is equity in the house, you do not need money up front to clear them.
Find out which stage you are at
Call the county collector and ask two questions: how much is owed in total including penalties, and whether the parcel has been certified to the state yet.
Those two answers decide what is possible. Before certification you have room. After it, the redemption clock is running and the deadline is real.
How a sale clears it
The closing agent obtains the payoff, pays the county out of the proceeds, and you receive what is left. Nothing comes out of your pocket beforehand.
If the taxes plus any mortgage exceed what the house is worth, that is a different conversation and we will tell you so rather than let you find out at closing.
What Decides the Number
Four things, and we go through all of them with you.
The total owed
Every year outstanding, with penalties and interest. Get the figure from the county, not from an estimate.
Certification status
Whether the parcel has gone to the Commissioner of State Lands, and if so, the redemption deadline.
Anything else recorded
A mortgage, a judgment or a contractor lien all get paid from the same proceeds.
Whether you can redeem it
Sometimes paying the taxes and keeping the house is the better outcome. If it is, we will say so.
How It Works
1
Tell us about the house
Address, rough condition, and why you are thinking about selling. Five minutes on the phone or the form.
2
We look at it properly
We check comparable sales, estimate the repair cost and check what is recorded against the title.
3
You get the number and the reasoning
In writing, with the repair estimate and the comparables behind it, so you can check the arithmetic yourself.
4
You decide
Accept it, negotiate it, or walk away. If listing would serve you better, we will tell you that instead.
Tell us about the property
You do not need answers to everything. Rough is fine, and so is "I am not sure".
If you would rather talk than type, call (501) 831‑6919.
Common questions
Do I need to pay the taxes before selling?
No. They are paid out of the proceeds at closing.
Can I still sell after certification?
Usually yes, during the redemption period. It gets harder the closer you are to the auction date, so call sooner rather than later.
Will the county talk to me if I am behind?
Yes. Collectors deal with this daily and are generally straightforward about the numbers.
Other Ways We Help
Sell My House Fast
No repairs, no showings, no listing. Tell us about the house and we will tell you what we can do.
Learn more →Cash Offer
No lender, no appraisal, no underwriting. The kind of offer that cannot fall apart six weeks in.
Learn more →Inherited House
Probate, siblings who disagree, a house full of belongings and a tax bill. We deal with all three.
Learn more →Stop Foreclosure
A sale date is a real deadline. Find out how much time you have and what your options are.
Learn more →Divorce
One decision made once, instead of months of agreeing on an agent, a price and every counter-offer.
Learn more →House Needs Repairs
Foundation, roof, fire, water, or a house nobody can get financed. We buy it as it stands.
Learn more →Fire Damaged House
Smoke, water from the hoses, and an insurance claim that will not cover the rest. We buy it as it stands.
Learn more →Tired of Being a Landlord
Non-paying tenants, turnover, repair calls at 11pm. Sell the rental with the tenant still in it.
Learn more →Vacant House
An empty house costs money every month and quietly falls apart. Insurance may already have lapsed.
Learn more →Relocating
A start date is a fixed date. A listing is not. Sell before you go instead of managing it from another state.
Learn more →Hoarder House
You do not have to clear it, clean it, or let anyone judge it. Take what matters and leave the rest.
Learn more →Listing Expired
Six months on the market, price cuts, and no sale. Usually it is the condition, not the agent.
Learn more →Water Damage or Mold
A leak nobody found, a flood, or mold behind a wall. It is the repair no buyer will finance.
Learn more →Talk to the person who makes the decision
No fee, no obligation, and a straight answer.