Tax Lien Sales are held for unpaid taxes on Real Property and Minerals.

Business Personal property is subject to distraint, seizure and public sale, if taxes are not paid.
 
Tax liens take a superior position to all other encumbrances on real property, which are prioritized by the recorded filing date. Judgment liens, mechanic liens and other liens that have been placed on the property may have redemption rights, which can be exercised to protect their interest.
Understanding Tax Lien Sale Investment
 
Investing in tax liens through purchase at tax lien sale can be thought of in terms of a potentially long-term C.D: redemption of the certificate has a set rate of return that remains until a Treasurer's Deed is issued, or 7 years from the date of sale - whichever is first.

When you purchase a tax lien sale certificate on property, you become a lien holder on the property. In essence, you loan funds to the owner to pay taxes. You purchase the tax lien, not the property!
 

The Rio Blanco County Tax Lien Sale is held in mid-November each year; typically the week before Thanksgiving.

The in-person sale is a bidding auction conducted in the County Courthouse.

  • Minimum bidding starts with published amounts which include the taxes due, interest, advertising, special assessments, and certificate of purchase fees.
  • Bids are taken in $1 increments over and above the published amount due.
  • Overbid monies are not refundable.
  • All purchases must be covered by cash, certified funds, or personal check with the Treasurer's approval.
  • Certificate of Purchase issued as result of tax sale is extinguished and becomes void by the issuance of a Treasurer's Deed on a subsequent sale.
     

    Rio Blanco County makes every effort to remove property with bankruptcies,
    FDIC or RTC connections, but properties are not guaranteed to be desirable or suitable for building.

Rates of Return
Each year the Colorado Banking Commission determines the rate of return. The annual percentage rate is set at nine points above the federal discount rate as of September 1 of that year. The interest rate at the time of tax sale is set for the life of the certificate.

All tax sales in Colorado are conducted as per CRS 39-11-101 through 39-12-113.