How lien and tax payoffs work
A payoff is the current amount a lender, creditor, or tax office requires to settle a balance. That lender, creditor, or office confirms the amount and payment instructions. The title company checks ownership and recorded claims for the sale and coordinates the current payoff information used at closing.
When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs. Your liens are paid off from the sale at closing.
Mortgage balances, liens, and back taxes are paid from the sale at closing. You do not have to pay them off before you call us.
Records that can help
Start with the property address and what you know about the amount or notice. A current tax bill or delinquency notice, mortgage or creditor statement, court or lien paper, or tax-sale notice can help if you have it. Call us before you collect everything.
Harford County Treasury handles County property-tax bills, account balances, and tax-sale information. The Harford County Circuit Court Clerk's Land Records Department handles recorded deeds, mortgages, and other land documents. For a court case or judgment, start with the court named on the paper.
If the payoff is the problem
Think the payoff is more than the house is worth? Ask us — we've gotten lenders to come down before.
What happens next
- We talk about the house, the amount or notice, and what you want to do. You can start with the address.
- You get a written offer and written terms before you commit, and we close through a title company.
- If you choose to sell, the title company checks ownership and recorded claims and coordinates current payoff instructions with the lender, creditor, or tax office.
- The settlement figures show the sale price, payoffs, taxes, closing costs, and the amount left after those items. Close as fast as 7 days when title and closing details allow.
Bel Air South and Harford County lien offices
Harford County Treasury — real-property tax ↗
Ask about a County property-tax bill, account balance, payment, or tax-sale question.
Harford County Circuit Court Clerk — Land Records ↗
Find information about recorded deeds, mortgages, and other Harford County land documents.
Maryland Courts — Harford County directory ↗
For a court case or judgment, use the court named on your paper; the directory lists Harford County court contacts.
Tax sale or mortgage foreclosure?
Harford County has a separate tax-sale process for unpaid real-property taxes. Mortgage foreclosure concerns the home loan. Each has its own notices and dates. If a notice lists a date, tell us what it says and we'll go through it with you. Read our Bel Air South mortgage-foreclosure information.
Harford County tax-sale informationHarford County real-property tax information
Maryland transfer and recordation taxes
Maryland's state transfer tax is generally 0.5% of the sale price. Each county sets its own recordation tax, and a county transfer tax may also apply. Maryland law generally presumes the buyer and seller split these taxes unless the contract says otherwise. If the buyer is a first-time Maryland home buyer who will live in the house, the state rate is 0.25%, and the seller pays the state transfer, recordation, and local transfer taxes unless both sides expressly agree otherwise. Some transfers are exempt.
Harford County publishes its current transfer and recordation tax information. When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including Maryland's state transfer tax, recordation tax and any applicable county transfer tax.
No agent commissions when you sell to us. No fees.
Harford County transfer and recordation taxes · Maryland state transfer-tax law · Maryland county recordation-tax law · Maryland tax-allocation law · Maryland transfer-tax exemptions
Compare possible net proceeds
Compare the sale price with what may remain after a mortgage, liens, back taxes, and other costs.
Open the Bel Air South home-sale net proceeds calculator →
Questions and contact
Questions about Bel Air South property liens and back taxes
Can I sell my Bel Air South house with back taxes or liens?
Yes. When you sell to us, we can set it up so you don't have to prepay anything — it comes out at closing. We buy houses with back taxes and liens — payoffs get handled through the closing, not by you upfront.
Who checks the current lien or tax payoff?
Your lender, creditor, or Harford County Treasury confirms its current balance and payment instructions. The title company checks ownership and recorded claims for the sale and uses the current payoff information at closing.
What should I have when I call?
Start with the property address and whatever you know about the bill or notice. A tax bill, mortgage or creditor statement, court or lien paper, or tax-sale notice can help. You can call before you have everything.
Is a Harford County tax sale the same as mortgage foreclosure?
No. A Harford County tax sale concerns unpaid real-property taxes. Mortgage foreclosure concerns the home loan. They have different notices and dates. Read our Bel Air South foreclosure information for mortgage-foreclosure details.
What if the payoff is more than my house is worth?
Think the payoff is more than the house is worth? Ask us — we've gotten lenders to come down before.
Call 888-274-5006 or use the form above. Not sure what the notice means? Call us — we'll sort it out with you.