I purchased a tax lien on a property and found out today that the name on the tax assessor's website is the name of a person who bought a tax certificate in 2020. This person failed to pay the taxes for 2023, so I bought the tax lien. Their first and last name appear on the tax assessor followed by the abbreviation "R/S". Does anyone knows what it means?
I am trying to find out if they could redeem, in case they have not filed a quiet title.
JD, CCIM , Real Estate Broker · Tuscaloosa, AL · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
2y
R/S on the tax assessor's records usually means Right of Survivorship. As, title is held in husband and wife's name with right of survivorship, but only the husband's name is on the tax assessor's record. The R/S indicates another person's name is also on the title.
Investor · Greer, SC · Member since 2014 · 13k+ posts · 17k+ votes
2y
So if someone bought it at the tax sale and then didn't want it and didn't pay the tax on it, that is a big red flag that they may have found something wrong with the property and decided to let it go.
So if someone bought it at the tax sale and then didn't want it and didn't pay the tax on it, that is a big red flag that they may have found something wrong with the property and decided to let it go.
I would do some research on what you bought.
Not always. Sometimes, life happens. Different scenarios possible. The property itself is clear.
So if someone bought it at the tax sale and then didn't want it and didn't pay the tax on it, that is a big red flag that they may have found something wrong with the property and decided to let it go.
I would do some research on what you bought.
Not always. Sometimes, life happens. Different scenarios possible. The property itself is clear.
So if someone bought it at the tax sale and then didn't want it and didn't pay the tax on it, that is a big red flag that they may have found something wrong with the property and decided to let it go.
I would do some research on what you bought.
Not always. Sometimes, life happens. Different scenarios possible. The property itself is clear.
You already had an attorney do a title search?
No issues with zoning?
Oh yeah, it was done before I purchased the lien. I am still trying to find out what the (R/S) abbreviation means though!
UPDATE: Someone from the County contacted me and let me know that (R/S) stands for "Re-Assignment". The property was in tax sale, someone bought the certificate years ago and after 3 years, the County issued a "Reassignment". Good to know.
Attorney · AL · Member since 2018 · 54 posts · 36 votes
2y
So that's not actually correct. Alabama counties don't all designate it the same, but in the largest county, Jefferson, R/S means that no one bid on the property at the tax sale so the property was bid in by the state and then it was ReSold to an investor. This designation is becoming less common because nothing goes to the state after tax sales.
JD, CCIM , Real Estate Broker · Tuscaloosa, AL · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
2y
R/S on the tax assessor's records usually means Right of Survivorship. As, title is held in husband and wife's name with right of survivorship, but only the husband's name is on the tax assessor's record. The R/S indicates another person's name is also on the title.