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.
A lien is a claim that can affect a property's title or the money due at closing. A payoff is the current amount and instructions from a lender, creditor, or tax office to satisfy an obligation. The responsible lender, creditor, or Merced County tax office confirms its current amount and release instructions; the title company checks ownership and recorded claims and works with the confirmed figures for closing.
Closing costs are separate from the seller's mortgage balance, liens, back taxes, and share of current property taxes. Those amounts are confirmed for the specific sale.
Records that help — and who checks them
Start with the property address. If they are handy, gather the latest property-tax bill or notice, mortgage or lien statement, creditor name or case number, parcel information, recorded document, and any tax-sale or foreclosure notice. You can call before you have everything.
The lender, creditor, or county office named on a notice confirms its current balance and instructions. The title company reviews ownership and recorded claims for the transaction and coordinates the payoff information needed for closing. An assessment record can help identify the parcel, but it is not the current lien or tax payoff.
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
Start with a conversation, not a complete file. Written offer and written terms before you commit; title-company closing.
1. Talk through the property
Tell us the Merced address, what is going on, and what you know about the lien or tax notice. You do not have to resolve the records before calling.
2. Review the house and written terms
We review the house as-is and put the offer and sale terms in writing before you decide whether to proceed.
3. Check title and payoff details
If you choose to move forward, a title company checks ownership and recorded claims. The lender, creditor, or county office confirms current payoff and release instructions for the closing work.
4. Review the closing figures and close
Review the sale price, confirmed payoffs, applicable taxes and costs, and amount remaining in the closing figures before closing through the title company.
Merced County records and tax-sale questions
The City of Merced is a municipality within Merced County. The Assessor, Clerk-Recorder, and Treasurer-Tax Collector handle different county records and account questions; an address and the notice or record help identify the right office.
Merced County Assessor ↗
Use the Assessor for assessment and parcel-record questions. The County lists the office at 2222 M Street, Merced, CA 95340, phone (209) 385-7631. An assessment is not a current payoff balance.
Merced County Clerk-Recorder ↗
The Clerk-Recorder is the County contact for recorded public records. The County lists the office at 2222 M Street, Merced, CA 95340, phone (209) 385-7627. A recorded document can help identify a claim; ask the lender or creditor for a current payoff and release instructions.
Merced County Treasurer-Tax Collector ↗
Use the Tax Collector for property-tax account questions. The County lists 2222 M Street, Merced, CA 95340, and phone (209) 385-7592 for the Tax Collector and (209) 385-7307 for the Treasurer.
The County provides defaulted-tax information and tax-sale information through this office. Follow the current notice and confirm the parcel's balance, status, and any sale information with the County.
County tax sale and mortgage foreclosure are separate
A county tax sale for delinquent property taxes is not a lender's mortgage foreclosure. They have different notices, offices, and dates. Use the contact on a property-tax notice for that tax matter. For a lender or trustee notice, see the separate Merced mortgage-foreclosure page and confirm the date with the trustee or lender named on the notice.
California documentary transfer tax
California counties charge documentary transfer tax of $0.55 for each $500 of value, or fraction of $500 — $1.10 per $1,000. It applies when taxable consideration is over $100, excluding a lien or loan that remains on the property after the sale. A city may receive a credited share of the county tax, and some cities add their own tax. The recorder collects the tax when the deed is recorded. Have title or escrow confirm whether a city tax applies, the taxable amount, any exemption, and the transaction's allocation.
When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including the county documentary transfer tax and any city transfer tax.
That closing-cost promise does not pay the seller's mortgage, liens, back taxes, or share of current property taxes; those remain separate amounts in the closing figures.
California Revenue and Taxation Code §11911, documentary transfer tax rate · §11912, persons responsible for the tax · §11931, city tax credit and allocation
Compare possible net proceeds
Use the Merced home-sale net-proceeds calculator with your estimates for the house, mortgage, lien or tax amount, and other costs. Just an estimate — the actual number could be more or less depending on the home's condition.
What sellers say about USA Home Buyers
Questions and contact
Merced property-lien and back-tax questions
Can I sell my Merced 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. USA Home Buyers buys houses as-is in the City of Merced and across Merced County, including houses with back taxes or liens. The responsible lender, creditor, or county office and the title company confirm the current figures and closing details.
Who confirms the current lien or property-tax payoff?
The lender, creditor, or county office holding the account confirms the current balance and payoff or release instructions. The title company checks ownership and recorded claims for the sale and uses confirmed information in the closing work. An assessment or older recorded document is not a current payoff quote.
What records should I have when I call?
Start with the Merced property address. If you have them, keep the parcel number, latest property-tax bill or notice, mortgage or lien statement, creditor or case number, recorded document, and any tax-sale or mortgage-foreclosure notice nearby. You can call before you have every record.
Is a Merced County tax sale the same as a mortgage foreclosure?
No. A county tax-sale matter over delinquent property taxes is separate from a lender or trustee mortgage foreclosure. The notices, offices, and dates are different. Follow the notice you received and confirm its current status with the office or trustee handling that process.
What if the payoff is more than my Merced 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 USA Home Buyers?
We talk through the house and the information you have, review the house as-is, and give you the offer and written terms before you decide. If you choose to proceed, a title company checks ownership and recorded claims, coordinates confirmed payoff details, and prepares the closing figures.
What closing costs do you pay?
When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including the county documentary transfer tax and any city transfer tax. Mortgage balances, liens, back taxes, and your share of current property taxes are separate amounts.
Call 888-274-5006 or return to the form. Start with the Merced property address and what you know about the lien or tax notice.