What tax liens really mean in Colorado

Variances in the law from state to state cause confusion regarding tax liens and how they work as a mechanism to ensure that tax authorities are fully funded while protecting the private property rights of individuals.
In Colorado, tax liens provide a viable solution to residents who are struggling financially with potentially losing their home. Investors purchase a tax lien, not the property. Investors loan the money to pay the taxes. The property owner, the investor and the community all benefit. Taxing authorities are fully funded, ensuring services such as fire, police, roads and schools.
In Colorado, one is more likely to be struck by lightning than lose one's home to a tax lien investor.
Douglas County sells approximately 1,275 tax liens annually, yet has has issued only four treasurer's deeds involving a structure over 14 years. Two may have been occupied, one was a carport, and the fourth was a cabin on public land.
Arapahoe County sold 20,000 tax liens over the past 11 years, yet has issued only 11 treasurer's deeds (condition and occupancy unknown).
Jefferson County sells about 2,087 tax liens annually, and has issued only five treasurer's deeds involving a structure. Those were: an uninhabited, boarded-up, four-unit multifamily dwelling; a home that had to be gutted due to excessive animal waste; a mountain property crushed by a tree; a dwelling scheduled for demolition by the city, once the wild animals were removed; and one which housed an occupant whose family was unwilling to help her maintain her residence.
Weld County sells an average of about 4,000 tax liens a year. In the past 30 years, it has issued only four treasurer's deeds on improved property (condition unknown).
Pueblo County has issued only 17 treasurer's deeds with improvements over the past 19 years. All were uninhabitable or the owners were uninterested in keeping the property.
Broomfield County has never issued any treasurer's deeds on property with structures.
Rio Blanco County issued one deed in 12 years which contained a structure and was condemned for health reasons.
Rio Grande County has no record of a treasurer's deed being issued.
Ouray County has issued one on a property unoccupied since 1985.
Lincoln County transferred six properties with structures on them in the past 11 years. Most did not contain any humans, doors or windows.
Phillips County transferred five properties by treasurer's deeds with improvements over the past 10 years. They were uninhabitable (unless you count the 125 cats), and the others were already condemned.
Colorado Revised State Statute 39-11-120 protects owners by allowing a treasurer's deed to be issued only after a minimum of three years has elapsed since the purchase of the lien certificate. Less than a quarter of 1 percent of all properties have their liens sold at a tax lien sale. Of that number, less than one in 1,000 are transferred by a treasurer's deed. Of that remaining number, only a small fraction are for properties with houses on them — and most of those are not habitable.
Seniors and active-duty military are able to take advantage of a property tax deferral program, which provides funds to qualified applicants to pay their property taxes. Seniors also get tax exemption during years when the legislature can fund it. County treasurers act as a dispassionate third-party mediator between the taxpayer and taxing authorities — to serve citizens, not evict them.
Tax lien investors are typically our neighbors who care about our communities and are looking for a reasonable return on their investments.

Read more: http://findapropertytaxlawyer.com/