Month: January 2026

Many investors spend more time planning their vacations than planning their tax lien strategy. Then they wonder why they keep making the same mistakes at every auction.

January isn't just another month. It's your chance to stop winging it and start winning it.

Step 1: Run Your Honest Performance Review

Pull out every lien you bought last year. All of them.

Ask yourself:

• Which liens redeemed fastest? (These counties are your sweet spots.)
• Which ones are still sitting unredeemed past 18 months?
• Did you overpay at any auction because you got caught up in bidding wars?

Step 2: Set Goals That Actually Mean Something

Forget vague wishes like “make more money.”

Get specific:

• Target return: “I want 12-15% annualized return.”
• Volume goal: “I'll deploy $50k into 15-20 quality liens.”
• Time commitment: “Two auctions per month, max 10 hours of research per week.”

Write these down. Put them where you'll see them every week.

Step 3: Pick Your Strategy and Stick to It

If you can't chase redemptions AND deed plays at the same time. Pick your primary path:

Path A: High-Redemption Interest Player
Target 80%+ redemption counties, collect steady 10-16% returns, reinvest quarterly.

Path B: Selective Deed Hunter
Focus on 40-60% redemption areas where you can acquire undervalued property.

Many successful investors do 80/20. Eighty percent in high-redemption liens for cash flow, twenty percent in strategic deed plays for home runs.

Step 4: Build Your Pre-Auction Checklist

Create a one-page checklist you run through every single time:

✓ Does this county fit my target redemption rate?
✓ Is the lien-to-value ratio under 50%?
✓ Have I verified the property type and condition?
✓ Am I bidding based on data or emotion?

The moment you skip it is the moment you overpay for junk.

Your 10-Minute Exercise Right Now

Answer these three questions:

1. What was my biggest tax lien win last year, and why did it work?
2. What was my biggest mistake, and how do I avoid repeating it?
3. If I could only invest in three counties this year, which three and why?

That's your game plan. Everything else is noise.

New Year's resolutions fade by February. Investors who set clear strategies and track what works? They're the ones compounding wealth while everyone else keeps guessing.

New year, smarter tax lien strategy. Time to review and reset.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This blog is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as financial or investment advice. Real estate investing carries risks, and individual results will vary. Always consult with your team of professionals before making investment decisions. The authors and distributors of this material are not liable for any losses or damages that may occur as a result of relying on this information.

Generational wealth isn’t about leaving a single big check; it’s about leaving a system that keeps producing income long after you’re gone. Tax liens can be one of the cleanest, simplest systems for exactly that.

Why Liens Work So Well Across Generations

• The rules are set by state statute – your kids don’t have to renegotiate rates.
• No tenants, no repairs, no 3 a.m. calls.
• Interest compounds through consistent reinvestment.
• The portfolio can live inside a trust or LLC with clear instructions.

The Simple Framework

1. Build the Engine – Reinvest 100 % of redemptions for the first 10–15 years.
2. Document Everything – Keep a one-page “family playbook” that explains your favorite counties, bidding rules, and redemption strategy.
3. Structure Properly – Place the portfolio in a revocable living trust or family LLC while you’re still in control.
4. Teach Early – Bring one child or grandchild into the process each year. Show them how to read a county list and why you bid the way you do.
5. Shift Gears Later – Once the portfolio is large enough, switch from 100 % reinvestment to taking a sustainable income stream while principal keeps growing.

A modest $50k portfolio reinvested at an average 12–14 % blended return can grow quietly into seven figures over two decades—without ever touching the principal.

You don’t need to be a genius. You just need consistency, clear documentation, and a structure that outlives you. That’s how ordinary investors create extraordinary legacies with tax liens.

Build wealth that outlives you. Teach the next generation tax liens.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This blog is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as financial or investment advice. Real estate investing carries risks, and individual results will vary. Always consult with your team of professionals before making investment decisions. The authors and distributors of this material are not liable for any losses or damages that may occur as a result of relying on this information.