USA Home Buyers

Birmingham, Alabama · Jefferson, Shelby, Walker Counties

Can I Sell My Birmingham 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 as-is, in any condition — no repairs, no cleaning, no cleanout required to sell to us. The incorporated Birmingham boundary intersects Jefferson, Shelby, and Walker Counties, so a Birmingham mailing address alone does not tell you which county holds a property. We can talk through the house and the records you have before every balance is assembled.

Call 888-274-5006 to talk through the property.

Talk through your Birmingham lien or tax question

Start with the property address and the notice, payoff, creditor, judgment, or tax account information you have. You can call before you have everything.

We'll give you a written cash offer within 24 hours.

We give written cash offers in 24 hours.

Tell us the address and what you know about the notice, payoff, creditor, or tax account.

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Prefer to call? 888-274-5006.

How liens and payoffs work

When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs. Your liens are paid off from the sale at closing.

A payoff is the current amount and instructions from the creditor or tax office to satisfy an obligation. The title company checks ownership and recorded claims and works with the creditor or county office on payoff and release information. The settlement statement shows mortgage balances, other liens, back taxes, your share of current property taxes, and closing costs as separate items. Our closing-cost payment does not pay your mortgage, liens, back taxes, or current property-tax share.

Records that help—and who checks the balances

The creditor or county tax office confirms its current balance, deadline, and payoff instructions. The title company checks recorded property records and coordinates the title and payoff work for the sale. Bring the property address, parcel number if you have it, recent tax bill, lien or judgment notice, mortgage statement, payoff letter, or sale notice. Call us with what you have; you do not have to collect every record first.

Birmingham's incorporated boundary intersects Jefferson, Shelby, and Walker Counties. Use the parcel record or tax notice to identify the county before contacting an office; the mailing city is not enough to route a property.

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

  1. 1. Talk through the property

    Tell us the Birmingham address, what you know about the lien or tax notice, and any timing that concerns you. Start with what you have; you can call before all records or balances are in hand.

  2. 2. Review the house and written terms

    We buy houses as-is. We give written cash offers in 24 hours. If you want to move forward, read the written offer and terms before you commit; the closing is through a title company.

  3. 3. Confirm records and payoffs

    The title company checks the property's ownership and recorded claims. The creditor and the county tax office confirm current payoff figures and instructions for the specific account. Those records and the agreed terms determine the settlement figures.

  4. 4. Review the settlement and close

    The settlement statement lists the sale price, payoffs, taxes, and closing costs. When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including Alabama's deed tax. Your mortgage, liens, back taxes, and share of current property taxes are separate from our closing-cost payment.

Written offer and written terms before you commit; title-company closing. It's real estate. Sometimes there are bumps in the road. We won't disappear when that happens, and we'll be fighting to get this to the closing table.

Birmingham-area county tax and recording offices

The city boundary intersects three counties. Use the parcel's county for tax-account and recording questions, and confirm the right desk with the office before relying on a record or payoff figure.

Jefferson County tax and recording offices

The Alabama Department of Revenue directory lists the Jefferson County Tax Assessor at the County Courthouse, 716 Richard Arrington Blvd. N., Birmingham, AL 35263, and lists the Tax Collector separately. Confirm which desk handles the parcel and whether a tax balance or sale notice is current. The county Probate Court lists Birmingham and Bessemer recording divisions; confirm the division for the property.

Alabama DOR county assessor and tax office directory · Jefferson County Probate Court recording

Shelby County property tax and probate offices

The State directory lists the Shelby County Property Tax Office at 102 Depot St., Columbiana, AL 35051. Shelby County Probate Office publishes separate Recording and Judicial contacts at its Columbiana office. Ask the tax office about the current account and the Probate Office about recorded land documents.

Alabama DOR county property-tax office directory · Shelby County Probate Court

Walker County revenue and probate offices

Walker County Revenue Commissioner's Courthouse office is at 1803 Third Avenue, Suite 102, Jasper, AL 35501, with separate assessing and collecting contacts. The Probate Office lists Courthouse Annex II, 1900 Third Avenue South, Jasper, AL 35501, with separate Recording and Judicial phone lines. Confirm the right contact for the parcel and the record you need.

Walker County Revenue contact · Walker County Probate Office contact

Property-tax notices, mortgage foreclosure, and Alabama deed tax

Check the actual county notice and property record. A county property-tax matter and a lender's mortgage foreclosure are separate processes, with different offices and records.

Back taxes and tax-sale status

For delinquent property taxes, call the tax office in the county where the parcel is recorded. Ask for the current account balance, any tax-sale notice, and the property's current status. The county tax office handles those questions; a lender's mortgage foreclosure is not the same proceeding. The county contacts above are a starting point, but the parcel record determines which one applies.

Mortgage foreclosure is separate

A mortgage with a power-of-sale clause can let a lender foreclose without first filing a court case. Alabama law generally requires the foreclosure sale notice to be published once a week for three successive weeks in a newspaper in the county, or in an adjoining county if no newspaper is published there. If you receive a lender's notice, check the actual sale date and status with the lender and an Alabama foreclosure attorney; the publication rule alone does not tell you how much time remains.

Alabama power-of-sale foreclosure law · Alabama foreclosure-sale notice law · Alabama post-sale redemption law

Alabama deed tax

Alabama charges deed tax when the deed is recorded with the county probate judge: 50 cents for each $500 of taxable value, or any part of $500. A mortgage or vendor's lien on which Alabama mortgage tax has been paid can reduce taxable value; the closing attorney confirms the amount. The deed must include proof of the actual price or value. Without it, the probate office uses the latest tax assessment, and penalties can apply. Deed tax and recording fees must be paid before recording.

When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including Alabama's deed tax. Your mortgage, liens, back taxes, and share of current property taxes are separate.

Read Alabama Code § 40-22-1

Compare possible net proceeds

Use the editable Birmingham home-sale net proceeds calculator to compare your own estimates for value, mortgage payoff, liens or taxes, repairs, and closing costs. Just an estimate — the actual number could be more or less depending on the home's condition.

Open the Birmingham home-sale net proceeds calculator →

What sellers say about USA Home Buyers

5.0 out of 5 on Google

Birmingham property liens and back taxes questions

Can I sell my Birmingham house with back taxes or liens before paying them?

Yes. We buy houses with back taxes and liens, and when you sell to us, payoffs can be handled through closing instead of paid by you upfront. The county tax office or creditor confirms current balances, and the title company checks the records and closing figures.

Which county office should I contact about my Birmingham property?

Birmingham's incorporated boundary intersects Jefferson, Shelby, and Walker Counties. Check the parcel or tax record to identify the county, then use that county's tax and probate recording contacts in the local offices section. A mailing address alone does not identify the parcel's county.

Who checks lien and tax payoff amounts?

The creditor or county tax office provides the current balance and payoff instructions. The title company checks property records and coordinates the payoff and release information needed for the settlement. You can call us before you have every document.

What if the payoff is more than the house is worth?

Think the payoff is more than the house is worth? Ask us — we've gotten lenders to come down before.

Are a property-tax sale and a mortgage foreclosure the same process?

No. County property-tax account and tax-sale questions belong with the county tax office. A mortgage foreclosure is a separate lender process under Alabama law; check the lender notice and sale status with the lender and an Alabama foreclosure attorney.

How is Alabama's deed tax calculated?

Alabama charges 50 cents for each $500 of taxable value, or any part of $500, when the deed is recorded with the county probate judge. A mortgage or vendor's lien on which Alabama mortgage tax has been paid may reduce taxable value; the closing attorney confirms the amount. When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including Alabama's deed tax. Your mortgage, liens, back taxes, and share of current property taxes are separate.

More Birmingham seller resources

Browse Birmingham seller resources →Read about selling during mortgage foreclosure →Review inherited-property questions →Read Birmingham home-selling questions →

Talk through the property

Call 888-274-5006 or use the form above. Start with the Birmingham address and the notice or payoff information you have.

Call Now 888-274-5006