Tax lien certificate question

[Gene Walker]

I have a price quote from the land commissioner for two adjoining undeveloped land parcels totaling 18 acres  in Jefferson county Alabama showing a sale to the state date of 5/24/2016. I would like to know if I can legally possess the land with a tax lien certificate and at what date would I be issued a tax deed? 3 years from the last time taxes were paid or 3 years from the date of the sale to the state of Alabama? Thanks in advance!

[Denise Evans]

@Gene WalkerIn Alabama, you are entitled to possession as soon as you have your tax certificate.  You can surrender your certificate three years after the auction, and receive a deed.  The taxpayer has redemption rights during the first three years after the auction. They can be exercised through the county official where the land is located. The taxpayer also has additional redemption rights starting when the investor/purchaser takes adverse possession of the property until three years after continuous possession.  I have a blog article on this subject at https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/70/topics/181968-alabama-tax-sale-redemption-rights

@Trenton Thomas you can buy directly from the Alabama Department of Revenue. They have all properties that did not sell at auction.  Go to www.ador.alabama.gov  Click on Divisions on the menu bar, then Property Tax from the menu that pops.  Then click on Tax Delinquent Property for sale.  Send me a PM with your email address, and I'll send you the instructions for how to decipher the lists.