Property Tax Bulletin #183

Foreclosure is the process of enforcing a lien on real property by selling the property to the highest bidder. All local governments that levy property taxes automatically obtain liens on all taxable real property in their jurisdictions every year as of the listing date, January 1. As a result, foreclosure is available as a collection remedy to all local governments after their property taxes become delinquent.

This bulletin is not intended to provide readers with detailed instructions about how to complete a foreclosure. Other School of Government publications fill that role. Instead, this bulletin provides an overview of the foreclosure process and answer questions that often arise when local governments employ this remedy.