How lien and back-tax payoffs work
When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs. Your liens are paid off from the sale at closing.
The lender, creditor, or County office confirms its current balance and payoff instructions. The title company checks ownership and recorded claims and works with those offices on the sale. The payoff comes from the sale proceeds and affects what remains for you.
Records and your next step
Start with the property address and what you know about the bill, lien, or notice. A recent tax bill, lender statement, creditor letter, payoff statement, or tax-sale notice can help us understand the situation. You can call before you have everything; we can talk through the papers with you.
Call 888-274-5006 or send the property address using the form.
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. Talk through the house. Share the address and what you know about the lien, tax bill, creditor, or timing. You can start before you have every paper.
- 2. Review the written offer and terms. You get a written offer and written terms before you commit, and we close through a title company.
- 3. Work through title and payoff details. If you choose to proceed, the title company works with the lender, creditor, or County office on current payoff instructions and the closing paperwork.
- 4. Close. Close as fast as 7 days when title and closing details allow.
No agent commissions when you sell to us. No fees.
Howard County tax sales and property records
A Howard County tax sale is separate from a mortgage foreclosure. If you have a County tax-sale notice, use the County tax-sale information below and tell us about its date. For a mortgage foreclosure, see our Columbia foreclosure page.
Howard County Finance handles real-property-tax account questions and county recordation-tax questions. The Circuit Court for Howard County Clerk records deeds, mortgages, plats, conveyances, and other documents.
Howard County Real Property Tax
For County real-property-tax account questions · 410-313-2062.
Howard County Tax Sale
Read County tax-sale information and check a tax-sale notice.
Howard County Recordation Tax
For County recordation-tax and county transfer-tax questions · 410-313-2389.
Circuit Court for Howard County — Clerk’s Office
For land records and deed-recording questions · 9250 Judicial Way, Ellicott City, MD 21043 · 410-313-2111.
Maryland transfer and recordation taxes
Maryland’s state transfer tax is 0.5% of the sale price. Howard County sets its recordation-tax rate, and a county transfer tax may also apply. The taxes are generally presumed split equally between buyer and seller unless the contract says otherwise.
When the buyer is a first-time Maryland home buyer who will live in the house, the state transfer-tax rate is 0.25%, and the seller pays the state, recordation, and local transfer taxes unless the parties expressly agree otherwise. Some transfers are exempt.
When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including Maryland's state transfer tax, recordation tax and any applicable county transfer tax.
Read the laws: Maryland state transfer-tax rate · Howard County recordation-tax rules · who may pay recordation tax · county transfer-tax rules · how Maryland allocates transfer taxes · Maryland transfer-tax exemptions.
Compare what you may keep
Compare a possible sale using your own mortgage payoff, lien or tax amount, and other costs.
What our sellers say
“LISTEN, PROPERTY TAXES GOT TOO HIGH FOR MY FIXED INCOME. SOLD IT TO THEM. WALKED AWAY WITH CASH. GLAD IT'S OVER.”
“Just wanted to say, taxes were 3 years behind on my house... county was going to auction it... they bought it, paid the taxes at closing, gave me the rest... Thanks...”
Columbia property liens and back taxes questions
Can I sell my Columbia house with back taxes or liens before paying them?
Yes. When you sell to us, we can set it up so you don't have to prepay anything — it comes out at closing. When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs. Your liens are paid off from the sale at closing.
Who confirms the current payoff amount?
The lender, creditor, or County office confirms its current balance and payoff instructions. The title company checks ownership and recorded claims and works with those offices on the sale.
Can I call before I have all the paperwork?
Yes. Start with the property address and whatever bill, letter, or notice you have. You can call before you have every balance or record.
Is a Howard County tax sale the same as a mortgage foreclosure?
No. A Howard County tax sale is separate from a mortgage foreclosure. The notices and dates relate to different processes.
How do Maryland transfer and recordation taxes work?
Maryland's state transfer tax is 0.5% of the sale price. Howard County sets its recordation-tax rate, and a county transfer tax may also apply. The taxes are generally presumed split equally unless the contract says otherwise. For a first-time Maryland home buyer who will live in the home, the state rate is 0.25%, and the seller pays the state, recordation, and local transfer taxes unless the parties expressly agree otherwise. Some transfers are exempt.
What if the lender 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.
What happens after I contact you?
We talk through the house and what you know about the lien or tax balance. You get a written offer and written terms before you commit, and we close through a title company. Close as fast as 7 days when title and closing details allow.
Talk through the property
Call 888-274-5006 or use the form above. Start with the Columbia address and whatever notice or payoff information you have.