Property Tax Foreclosures

A May 25, 2023, Supreme Court decision highlights the unique issues surrounding property tax foreclosures. This aggregated resource page includes homeowner tactics to avoid or respond to a tax foreclosure--which involve different approaches and procedures than for a mortgage foreclosure.  

For resources related to policy and advocacy, please visit nclc.org.

Housing Toolbox Home

Treatise Content

Home Foreclosures 

Chapter 16, Property Tax and Tax Foreclosures

Surviving Debt 

Chapter 19, Property Taxes and Tax Sales

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Conference Materials

Property Tax Foreclosures, Part 1: Overview and Constitutional Law Issues (Mortgage Conference 2022)

Property Tax Foreclosures, Part 2: Racial Justice Issues, Policy Solutions, Legal Defenses, and Bankruptcy Strategies (Mortgage Conference 2022)

Using the FHA and ECOA to Combat Housing and Credit Discrimination (CRLC 2021)

Conference Videos

Property Tax Foreclosures, Part 1: Overview and Constitutional Law Issues (Mortgage Conference 2022)

Property Tax Foreclosures, Part 2: Racial Justice Issues, Policy Solutions, Legal Defenses, and Bankruptcy Strategies (Mortgage Conference 2022)

Articles & Reports

2023 Supreme Court Ruling on Surplus After Tax Sale

Key Links

Training Session

Many states will be re-writing their property tax foreclosure laws in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision in Tyler v.  Hennepin County. This opens up a window of opportunity to broadly improve property tax systems. One of the most important ways to prevent tax foreclosure is to ensure that low-income and older homeowners have access to all available exemptions and discounts. Yet many older adults who are at risk of tax foreclosure have not taken advantage of all the existing tax relief options available to them. Heirs who have inherited a family home are even less likely to get access to these benefits.

This session will dive into the most impactful policy solutions to reduce the tax burdens on older adults, low-income people, and people of color, leaving you with actionable steps to work for change in your community. 

Speakers:

The recording of this training session is being remediated for WCAG Accessibility compliance. To request a link to this video training, please email [email protected].