Expert: Dick Dennis - 8/4/2010

Question
my sister wants to get her ex-husband off the title of the house she owns that he is living in. she is remarried and living with new husband. ex has not paid taxes from last year or this year. if this goes to delinquent tax list, can she have a trusted friend bid on the house and then have the title transferred over to her friend, then have her buy the house back from friend to get ex off title?

Answer
This is a precarious thing to do, DW. You don't say in what state the property is located. Each state has its own tax-delinquent foreclosure rules. You will have to talk with a good local REAL ESTATE attorney. That person will know the property's laws.

Some states are "deed" states in which bidders go against each other and in some cases may even bid the price over what is owed in property taxes. Some states are "tax lien" states in which they do not bid on the property, but on a lien that county puts on the property. So you can see what you propose might be able to work . . . and might not.

Go talk to that attorney. I do wish you well.

Dick Dennis
CA Real Estate Broker
Lic # 00349415
dixiedee13@aol.xcom