Sacramento.mytaxsale.com - Frequently Asked Questions

What is a tax-defaulted auction?
How is an online tax-defaulted auction different from a "live" tax-defaulted auction?
What equipment or software do I need to be able to participate?
Will it cost me anything to participate?
Who do I contact if I have a question about how to use the website?
If I have questions about a specific tax-defaulted property, who do I contact?
When is the tax deed issued and how will it be sent to me?
Does a tax-defaulted auction eliminate all other liens on a property?
How do I get started?
When can I place my bids?
What is proxy bidding?
What is the "Two Minute Rule"?
How do I submit my deposit?
What happens if I win a property?
When do bidders have to pay the amount due for their purchases?
What happens if I fail to pay the balance within the period indicated?
Where can I find information on tax-defaulted auctions procedures?
When are the tax-defaulted auctions conducted?
Where can I get a list of tax-defaulted properties scheduled for upcoming tax-defaulted auctions?
What does "Removed" mean on the bid page?

What is a tax-defaulted auction?

Property that has tax bill(s) remaining unpaid for a period of greater than five years becomes subject to a tax sale. The property(s) will be offered for sale at a public auction for a minimum bid. The minimum bid is typically the amount of taxes owed plus all penalties and costs that have been applied to the property(s).

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How is an online tax-defaulted auction different from a "live" tax-defaulted auction?

Prior to online tax-defaulted auctions, bidders congregated in a large crowded room in the courthouse and called out their bids to an auctioneer. Online sales allow this process to be handled electronically. Each bidder will use a personal ID and password to log on to the website and enter bids for individual properties.

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What equipment or software do I need to be able to participate?
A bidder must have internet access and a web browser with the following versions:
- Mozilla Firefox - latest version
- Google Chrome - latest version
- Microsoft Edge - latest version
The auction site will not support older browsers.
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Will it cost me anything to participate?
Registration on the web site is free. However, you will need to comply with the deposit and final payment requirements if you intend to bid:
- Submit an advance deposit of $5,000 and a non-refundable $40 bid deposit processing fee. Any unused deposit amounts will be refunded within 10 days of the auction closing.
- If you are the winning bidder, a California documentary transfer tax will be added to, and collected with, the final sales price. This tax is calculated at the rate of $0.55 (fifty-five cents) for each $500.00 or fractional part thereof, if the purchase price exceeds $100.00.
- If a City charges transfer tax, that additional tax is paid by the winning bidder directly to the City in which the property is located.
- A final payment processing fee of $40.00 per item will be added to amount due of each item won.
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Who do I contact if I have a question about how to use the website?

Representatives of Grant Street Group are available via email (DeedAuction@GrantStreet.com) or via phone at (877) 274-9320 between 5:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. PT on business days to provide instruction and answer questions regarding use of the website.

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If I have questions about a specific tax-defaulted property, who do I contact?
Please contact the County’s Tax-Defaulted Land unit at (916) 874-6621 between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. PT on business days.
- County staff cannot answer questions as to the condition of the property/buildings, how many rooms there are, and if anyone is residing there at the time of sale.
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When is the tax deed issued and how will it be sent to me?

Upon receipt of final payment, deeds will be recorded approximately 30-60 days after the close of the auction. The original tax deed will be mailed via first class mail, U.S. Postal Service to the successful bidder at his/her address as shown in the Tax Deed.

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Does a tax-defaulted auction eliminate all other liens on a property?

Some liens may be dischargeable and others may not. Tax and property laws are complicated and bidders should thoroughly research outstanding or potential liens, mortgages, encumbrances or title defects prior to placing a bid on a property in a tax-defaulted auction. It is best to seek legal advice of an attorney who can provide you with information about liens on a given property. Be advised that you are solely responsible for researching tax deed properties and you assume sole responsibility for making any bid at the online tax-defaulted auction. The Tax Collector's Office does not make any representations or warranties as to the status of the title or liens on property auctioned at a tax-defaulted auction. A Notice of Pending Enforcement Action (NOPEA) is not discharged by the sale and becomes the responsibility of the winning bidder.

PLEASE NOTE: You have no property rights until the deed is recorded.

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How do I get started?
- Register on the web site
- Add Affiliates for the name(s) you want to have the deed issued to
- Read the Tax Deed Instructions documents
- Thoroughly research any properties you may be interested in
- Make sure you have funds available to pay for any properties you may win
- Submit the required deposit on the website before the deadline
- Enter your bids
- Enter vesting information as you want it to appear on the Tax Deed
- Pay for your purchases
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When can I place my bids?

All bidders may begin placing bids at 10: 00 am PT on May 20.

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What is proxy bidding?

Proxy bidding is a form of competitive sale in which bidders input the maximum bid they are willing to pay for a property they would like to purchase. The system will then automatically enter bids on their behalf, as necessary, up to their maximum bid.

For example, if the opening bid for a parcel is $17,100 and a bidder enters a Maximum Bid of $30,000, the system will enter an opening bid on behalf of that bidder in the amount of $17,100. If a new bidder then enters a bid of $25,000 the system will proxy bid for the first bidder and they will maintain the lead at $25,100. If the second bidder then increases their max bid to $35,000 the system will proxy that bid and they will become the new leader at $30,100.

If you enter a maximum bid that is the same as another lead bid, the first bidder to submit that amount would be deemed the leader. The trailing bidder would be notified with a message on the screen that your bid was submitted successfully, but you trail an earlier bidder at the same price. The non-leader would have to increase his/her maximum bid to become the leader.

All bids submitted on this site are submitted as proxy bids. The bid you enter after you click the Enter Max Bid link will be executed using the proxy bid system.

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What is the "Two Minute Rule"?

If a bidder becomes a leading bidder (as displayed by "Leader" in the bid status column) in the last two (2) minutes of the sale, the Auction Clock will change to reflect a new Auction Close Time and the sale will be extended two (2) minutes to allow additional bidding. This will continue until a bidder remains the leader for two (2) minutes (at which time the auction closes and the leading bid becomes the Winning Bid). Be aware that submitting a bid higher than the "best bid" may not trigger overtime due to the automatic proxy bid. The bid you submit must make you the "Leader" in order to trigger overtime. When you submit your bid you will get a message on your screen that indicates your bid has been accepted and your status is now leading or you are now trailing.

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How do I submit my deposit?

The deposit payment required to participate in the sale must be made via ACH prior to the deposit deadline. An ACH debit is an electronic funds transfer from your bank account, initiated by the Grant Street Group with your prior authorization.

Funds must be drawn from a US financial institution. Some types of money market, brokerage, and/or trust accounts cannot accept ACH debits. Please check with your financial institution prior to initiating payment on the website.

For more information on ACH, please visit NACHA, the Electronic Payments Association, at www.nacha.org.

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What happens if I win a property?
On the "Bidding Summary" page you will see a summary of all the items you have won including your winning bid and total amount due as well as a checklist to finalize settlement of the auctions.

You must complete the following steps:
1. Enter Vesting Information - The "ENTER VESTING INFORMATION" link takes you to a page displaying the list of properties that you have won. You can check off the property you would like to provide the Vesting Information for, or you can click on multiple properties that you would like to submit the same vesting information for. The names you have previously entered as affiliates will appear as choices in the "Name" dropdown, but you can also select "Other" to provide a new name to add to your list. Please note that all vesting information needs to be submitted within five (5) days of the close of the auction.
2. Make Final Payment - Click on "FINAL PAYMENT" to view a screen with instructions on how you can make your final payment. As the winning bidder, you must pay the following costs; your winning bid amount plus documentary transfer tax of $0.55 (fifty-five cents) per $500.00, or a fractional portion thereof, of the final sale price. A final payment processing fee of $40.00 per item is included in the amount due. Final payments must be made via wire transfer. Please follow all instructions contained in these Wire Transfer instructions to be sure your funds are received prior to the final payment deadline.
The properties offered at each auction of this tax sale are sold to the highest bidder. The highest bidder for each property auction of this tax sale shall pay in full within five (5) business days from the close of the auction.
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When do bidders have to pay the amount due for their purchases?

Winning bidders are required to make final payment in full within five (5) business days from the close of each auction.

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What happens if I fail to pay the balance within the period indicated?

The properties offered at each auction shall be sold to the highest bidder. The highest bidder shall pay in full within five (5) business days from the close of each auction. In the event the highest bidder on an auction fails to comply with these Settlement Requirements, then that bidder's deposit shall be forfeited to the County. Winning bidders who do not submit timely payment on any auction item won will forfeit their deposit to the County and will be banned from future sales for five (5) years.

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Where can I find information on tax-defaulted auctions procedures?

Refer to the Tax Deed Instructions for procedures.

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When are the tax-defaulted auctions conducted?

Upcoming sales are noted in the site banner message once a sale date is established. See the Auctions tab for the exact dates of published sales.

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Where can I get a list of tax-defaulted properties scheduled for upcoming tax-defaulted auctions?

You can obtain a list of tax deed numbers for a particular sale on the online auction site. You can also view the list of items for sale by visiting the following website.

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What does "Removed" mean on the bid page?

This means that a property has been removed from the sale and is not available for bidding. Properties may be removed from the sale from time to time and the auction site will be updated daily to reflect any such changes. Items marked as postponed will be scheduled for the re-offer sale in May.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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