Can I Sell My Lawrence House With Back Taxes or Liens?

When you sell to us, we can set it up so you don't have to prepay anything — it comes out at closing.

Yes. You can sell a Lawrence or Douglas County house with back taxes or liens. We buy houses in Lawrence and across Douglas County as-is, review the records you have, and give you a cash offer and written terms to consider.

We buy houses as-is, in any condition — no repairs, no cleaning, no cleanout required to sell to us.

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

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

We give written cash offers in 24 hours.

Share the address and whatever you have about the notice, lien, or payoff.

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How liens 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 payoff is a separate line from closing costs. Your mortgage balance, liens, back taxes, and share of current property taxes are not part of our closing-cost payment; the responsible creditor or county office provides its current figures for the sale.

Records to start with

Start with the Lawrence property address and the latest tax notice, payoff statement, lender or creditor letter, court case number, or recorded document you have. You can call before you have everything. The creditor or county office named on a tax notice can confirm its current balance and payment instructions; the title company checks the property records and uses written payoff information to prepare the closing figures.

For recorded real-estate documents, the Douglas County Register of Deeds is the county records office. A deed, mortgage record, or other document can help identify what needs to be checked, but an old record is not the current payoff amount.

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 and the notice
Tell us the address, what you know about the house, and which tax office, creditor, or court appears on the document. Start with what you have; you do not have to finish gathering records before calling.
2. Read the written offer and terms
We give written cash offers in 24 hours. Written offer and written terms before you commit; title-company closing. Review the price, responsibilities, payoff treatment, and closing terms before you decide.
3. Title and payoff information are checked
If you choose to move forward, the title company checks ownership and recorded claims for the transaction. The creditor or county office supplies the current payoff or tax information, and the closing figures show the sale proceeds and amounts due.
4. Review the closing figures
The title company prepares the final settlement figures for review at closing. When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs. Your mortgage, liens, back taxes, and share of current property taxes remain separate payoff or allocation items.

Lawrence and Kansas lien, tax, and office facts

Tax notices and mortgage foreclosure are separate

A property-tax notice and a lender's mortgage-foreclosure case are different matters. Kansas mortgage foreclosures go through district court; after judgment, the property is sold at a Sheriff's sale and the court confirms the sale. For a tax balance or tax-sale status, contact the county office named on your current tax notice. Do not assume the contact or status on a mortgage case applies to a tax notice.

The Douglas County Clerk of the District Court is the local court contact for a district-court case. Check the actual notice and current case record for the status that applies to the property.

Read K.S.A. 60-2410 on Kansas foreclosure sales →

Kansas transfer tax and recording fees

Kansas does not charge a real-estate transfer tax or deed tax. The state's mortgage registration tax ended January 1, 2019. County recording fees set by state law are $21 for the first page of a deed or mortgage and $17 for each additional page. The rates are the same in every county; the total depends on how many pages are recorded, and the title company or closing professional confirms the exact charges. When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs. That payment does not include your mortgage, liens, back taxes, or share of current property taxes.

Douglas County records office

The Douglas County Register of Deeds is the county office for real-estate records. Use its page for recorded property documents; for a current lien or tax payoff, use the creditor or county tax-office contact on the latest statement or notice.

Visit the Douglas County Register of Deeds →

Compare possible net proceeds

Compare a possible sale with your estimated mortgage payoff, lien or tax amount, repairs, and other costs. Use the editable Lawrence home-sale net-proceeds calculator and change the numbers to fit your situation.

Just an estimate — the actual number could be more or less depending on the home's condition.

Open the Lawrence home-sale net-proceeds calculator →

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Lawrence property liens and back-tax questions

Can I sell a Lawrence 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. Your liens are paid off from the sale at closing; the current payoff and settlement figures are checked for the specific sale.

What should I have ready when I call about a lien or tax balance?

Start with the property address and whatever you have: a tax notice, payoff statement, lender or creditor letter, court case number, or recorded document. You can call before you have everything; the creditor or county office named on a tax notice can confirm its current balance and instructions.

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

No. They are separate matters. Kansas mortgage foreclosures go through district court and can proceed to a Sheriff sale after judgment; for a tax notice, use the county contact printed on that notice to confirm the balance and current status.

Does Kansas charge a real-estate transfer tax when I sell?

Kansas does not charge a real-estate transfer tax or deed tax. The mortgage registration tax ended January 1, 2019. State-set recording fees are $21 for the first page of a deed or mortgage and $17 for each additional page; the title company or closing professional confirms the total. When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs. Mortgage balances, liens, back taxes, and your share of current property taxes are separate.

More Lawrence seller resources

Browse Lawrence seller resources →Read about Lawrence mortgage foreclosure →Review inherited-property questions →Return to Lawrence home-selling options →

Talk through the property

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