What are the conditions of payment for property at the Tax Sale?

Payment in full by wire transfer or ACH will be required within 24 hours of the close of the auction. No business checks, personal checks or credit cards will be accepted. A 3% Buyers Premium will be included during the live bidding and will reflect in the final purchase price.

Purchasers of property at the tax sale must also pay a Documentary Transfer Tax on the amount of the bid. The tax is based on the rate of $.55 for each $500 or fractional part of each $500 when the bid exceeds $100.

Purchasers of property within the city of Richmond must also pay a City Transfer Tax in addition to the Documentary Transfer Tax. The rate for this city tax is $7 per $1,000 of the purchase price.

Purchasers of property within the city of El Cerrito must also pay a city Transfer Tax in addition to the Documentary Transfer Tax. The rate for this city tax is $12 per $1,000 or fraction thereof.

Show All Answers

1. How can I obtain a list of properties to be offered at the tax sale?
2. How do I find or see a property I'd like to bid on at the tax sale?
3. Is a tax sale publicly advertised?
4. How do I enroll in a tax sale?
5. Can I mail in or submit a sealed bid for a property in the public auction sale?
6. Can I obtain a property available at the public auction tax sale by paying the delinquent taxes thereon prior to the tentative tax sale date?
7. What guarantees do I have that the property is in good condition and can be used for my purposes?
8. Do all properties with an address have a home on them?
9. How soon can I take possession of a property after my purchase at the tax sale?
10. How is the minimum bid on a tax sale property determined?
11. When does the right of redemption on a tax-defaulted parcel subject to the power to sell cease?
12. How soon may I begin improvement of the property after my purchase?
13. What happens to the properties that do not sell at the auction? Can tax sale properties be purchased directly from the County?
14. What are the conditions of payment for property at the Tax Sale?
15. Do liens or encumbrances on Tax Sale properties transfer to the new owner through a Tax sale property purchase?
16. How can I determine what use I can make of a Tax Sale property before I purchase it?
17. How do I obtain information on Tax Lien Certificate Sales?
18. How can I get parcel maps of the properties?
19. How will the title in the deed to the purchaser be vested?
20. Are properties sold at auction on an "AS IS" basis?