How lien payoffs work
When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs. Your liens are paid off from the sale at closing.
Your lender or other creditor confirms the current payoff and instructions. The Lake County Treasurer handles property-tax balances. The title company works with those figures and instructions as closing is prepared, so you can see how the payoffs affect what remains from the sale.
Records and your next step
Start with the East Chicago address and tell us what you know about the tax bill, notice, lien, or payoff. A recent tax statement, creditor letter, or mortgage statement can help, but you can call before you have everything. We’ll talk through the house and the papers with you.
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
- Talk through the house. We’ll discuss the property and what you know about its tax bill, lien, or payoff.
- Review the written terms. You get a written offer and written terms before you commit, and we close through a title company.
- Work through title and payoffs. We work with the title company to review property records and gather current payoff details from creditors and county offices.
- Close. Close as fast as 7 days when title and closing details allow.
No fees. No agent commissions when you sell to us. When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs.
Lake County tax, court, and property records
A mortgage foreclosure is a court case about a home loan and may lead to a sheriff’s sale. A property-tax sale follows a separate Lake County process for unpaid taxes, with its own notice and date. For a tax notice, contact the Treasurer. For court filings, contact the Clerk; Lake County also publishes sheriff-sale listings. You can read our East Chicago foreclosure page.
Lake County Treasurer
Ask about property-tax statements, balances, and tax-sale information.
Lake County Recorder
Find recorded deeds, mortgages, liens, releases, leases, and other land documents.
Lake County Clerk — Circuit and Superior Courts
Contact the Clerk about court records and filings in a mortgage-foreclosure case.
Lake County Sheriff Sale Listings
See the county’s published sheriff-sale listings.
Lake County Auditor — Real Estate
Contact the Auditor about property-tax records and property-transfer filings.
Indiana property-transfer filing fee
Indiana requires a property-transfer filing with the county Auditor for property-tax records. The filing fee is usually $20, and some transfers are exempt. Deed recording and other closing charges are separate. See Indiana Code chapter 6-1.1-5.5, sections 3 and 4.
When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs. No agent commissions when you sell to us. No fees.
Compare what may remain from a sale
A mortgage payoff, tax balance, or lien affects what may remain. Use the East Chicago home-sale net-proceeds calculator to compare your own numbers.
Open the East Chicago home-sale net-proceeds calculator →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...”
Questions about East Chicago property liens and back taxes
Can I sell my East Chicago 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?
Your lender or other creditor confirms its current payoff and instructions. The Lake County Treasurer handles property-tax balances, and the title company works with the payoff details for closing.
Can I call before I have every tax or lien record?
Yes. Start with the East Chicago address and whatever notice, tax bill, creditor letter, or payoff information you have. You can call before you have everything.
Are a property-tax sale and a mortgage foreclosure the same?
No. A property-tax sale is a separate county process for unpaid property taxes. A mortgage foreclosure is a court case about a home loan and may lead to a sheriff’s sale. They have separate notices and dates.
What if my mortgage payoff is more than my East Chicago house is worth?
Think the payoff is more than the house is worth? Ask us — we've gotten lenders to come down before.
What is the Indiana property-transfer filing fee?
The filing fee is usually $20, and some transfers are exempt. Recording and other closing charges are separate. When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs.
Do you charge fees or agent commissions?
No fees. No agent commissions when you sell to us.
More East Chicago seller information
Talk through the property
Call 888-274-5006 or use the form above. Start with the East Chicago address and whatever notice or payoff information you have.