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.
You don't need to pay off your back taxes before we settle. We buy houses with back taxes and liens — payoffs get handled through the closing, not by you upfront.
The lender, creditor, or tax office confirms its current payoff amount and payment or release instructions. The title company checks ownership and recorded claims for the sale and coordinates the confirmed payoff information for closing. The closing figures show the sale and the amounts due.
When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs. That does not pay your mortgage, liens, back taxes, or your share of current property taxes; those are separate amounts handled in the sale figures.
Records that help—and when to call
Start with the property address. If you have them, a parcel number, current tax bill or notice, lender statement, creditor letter, lien or court paper, and payoff statement can help. The lender or creditor confirms its balance; the Adams County tax office can answer questions about its tax account. The title company checks ownership and recorded claims for the sale. You can call before you have everything.
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.
Ask the lender or other creditor for a current statement. We can look at it with you alongside the house and the written sale terms.
What happens next
- Talk through the house and the notice. Share the Decatur address and what you know about the lien, tax bill, creditor, or notice. You can start with the records you have.
- Review the house and written terms. We discuss the house as it stands and give you the offer and written terms before you commit. We give you the written offer and terms before you commit. If you decide to proceed, a title company handles the closing.
- Check title and payoff details. If you choose to proceed, the title company checks ownership and recorded claims and coordinates current payoff and release information with the creditor or tax office.
- Review the figures and close. Review the closing figures, including the sale price and confirmed payoffs. The title company coordinates the closing.
Decatur and Adams County tax, lien, and court contacts
Adams County lists the Treasurer for real-estate property-tax collection and payment questions and the Auditor for tax information. For a tax-sale notice, call the office listed on the notice to confirm the parcel, status, and dates. A mortgage foreclosure is a separate court process, not the county property-tax process. Check that the office matches the property address.
Adams County Treasurer — property-tax collection
For real-estate property-tax collection and payment questions, call 260-724-5353.
Adams County Auditor — tax information
For tax-information questions, call 260-724-5303.
Adams County Assessor — assessment and property records
For assessment and property-record inquiries, call 260-724-5301.
Adams County Recorder — recorded documents
For recorded-document and recording-process questions, call 260-724-5343.
Adams County Circuit Court
If your mortgage-foreclosure papers name Adams County, the Circuit Court can direct you to information about the case. Indiana mortgage foreclosures go through court; see the Indiana statute on mortgage foreclosure proceedings.
Call 260-724-5307 with the case number for help finding the right case information.
Adams County Clerk’s Office
For questions about county case records or probate forms, call the Clerk’s Office at 260-724-5309.
Compare possible net proceeds
Use the Decatur home-sale net-proceeds calculator with your own estimates for the sale price, mortgage payoff, liens or back taxes, repairs, and other costs. Just an estimate — the actual number could be more or less depending on the home's condition.
Questions and contact
Call 888-274-5006 or use the form above. Start with the Decatur address and whatever tax, lien, or payoff information you have.
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.”
“Facing foreclosure ... Very stressful time... They handled it professionally and got me out of the debt...”
“no open houses. no realtors tracking dirt in. just a straight cash sale for our house so we could move. Glad it's over.”
Decatur property-liens and back-tax questions
Can I sell my Decatur house with back taxes or liens before paying them?
When you sell to us, we can set it up so you don't have to prepay anything — it comes out at closing. You don't need to pay off your back taxes before we settle. We buy houses with back taxes and liens — payoffs get handled through the closing, not by you upfront. 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 amounts?
The lender, creditor, or tax office confirms its current balance and payment or release instructions. The title company checks ownership and recorded claims for the sale and works with the parties on the payoff information needed for closing.
What should I have ready before I call?
Start with the Decatur property address and whatever you have: a parcel number, tax bill or notice, lender statement, creditor letter, lien or court paper, or payoff statement. You can call before you have everything.
Is a property-tax sale the same as mortgage foreclosure?
No. A property-tax or tax-sale notice is separate from a mortgage foreclosure, which is a court process in Indiana. For a tax-sale notice, use the contact on the notice; for a mortgage foreclosure, use the court or case contacts on the court papers. Confirm the status and dates with the office or court handling it.
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. A current payoff statement helps show the amount alongside the written sale terms and closing figures.
What happens after I contact USA Home Buyers?
We talk through the house and the records you have. You receive written offer and written terms before you commit; if you choose to proceed, a title company checks title and payoff details and coordinates the closing.