This county is stating that the starting auction amount can only include the principal amount of the certificates which we have paid over the last 4 years, but cannot include the accrued interest or the auction fee the County charges investors to start the process (which total ~$4,000 in this case). 

Keeping the loc ready has a small annual fee, but it doesn't accrue interest until it is used.

Quote from @Kevin Mohr: I spoke with them about their VIP program out of curiosity. 

I’ve worked with another private lender for years with no issues,Out of curiosity, I looked them up and saw that their Google reviews were all 5-star — so I decided to give them a shot.The founder offered me an appealing term: 10% down / 90% LTV, with low points — much better than the 20/80 terms I usually get.

Love the curiosity.

If you're an agent or investor who values ambition, reliability, hard work, and curiosity, I'd love to connect!

That’s the mindset that opens doors.Keep leading with service and curiosity — the right opportunities will line up faster than you expect.

I’ve had a few clients who’ve mirrored your move — shifting a portion of their capital from private syndications into REITs for that transparency, liquidity, and steady yield.Out of curiosity, are you also incorporating any tax strategies like REIT-specific ETFs in a Roth or self-directed IRA to maximize after-tax yield?

People forget that appreciation (and peace of mind) often outweighs the short-term “cash flow on paper.”The Section 8 portion part is spot on too — many new investors think it’s all guaranteed rent when really, the tenant portion can still cause headaches.Out of curiosity, what markets or property classes have given you the best mix of appreciation and stability so far?

The absentee owner also accrued over $15,000 in nuisance liens, water usage and property tax liens.