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NYC Tax Lien Sale Tracker
Browse properties with delinquent NYC taxes heading to lien sale. Filter by borough, notice stage, and property type. Check the building before you bid.
How the NYC Tax Lien Sale Works
What is a tax lien sale?
When a NYC property owner fails to pay property taxes or water/sewer bills, the city places a tax lienon the property. If the debt remains unpaid, the city sells that lien to private investors at auction. The investor doesn't buy the property — they buy the right to collect the debt plus interest.
The notice timeline
Before a lien is sold, the city issues a series of notices to the property owner:
After the 10-day notice, the lien enters the Final Sale stage. Properties can be removed from the sale at any point if the owner pays the debt.
What happens after the sale?
The lien buyer can charge up to 18% annual interest(5% surcharge + up to 18% interest) on the debt. Properties valued at $250K or less have a reduced 6% rate. If the owner still doesn't pay after one year, the lien holder can begin foreclosure proceedings to take ownership of the property.
Why check the building before bidding?
A tax lien is only as good as the property behind it. Before investing, you should know the building's violation history, complaint record, structural issues, and active permits. A building with serious DOB violations or HPD Class C hazards may be a liability, not an opportunity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Am I buying the property at a tax lien sale?
No. You're buying the debt (the lien), not the property. You become the creditor and can collect the owed amount plus interest from the property owner. Only if the owner fails to pay after one year can you begin foreclosure to potentially take ownership.
What's the minimum investment?
Tax liens can range from a few hundred dollars (water debt only) to tens of thousands. The city sets no minimum bid — the lien amount is the delinquent balance owed.
What does 'water debt only' mean?
Some properties are on the lien sale list only for unpaid water/sewer bills, not property taxes. These tend to be smaller amounts. The 'Water Debt Only' flag indicates this.
Can the owner pay off the lien after I buy it?
Yes. The property owner can redeem (pay off) the lien at any time within the first year. You receive your investment back plus the accrued interest. This is actually the most common outcome.
How often does NYC hold tax lien sales?
NYC typically holds one major tax lien sale per year, usually in the spring. Properties go through the 90/60/30/10 day notice cycle in the months before the sale.
Where does this data come from?
All data is sourced from the NYC Department of Finance Tax Lien Sale Lists, published on NYC Open Data and updated as new notice cycles are issued.
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