Nashville, Tennessee / Davidson County

Can I Sell My Nashville 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. USA Home Buyers buys houses as-is in Nashville and Davidson County, including houses with liens or back taxes. You can call us now with the address and whatever notice or payoff information you have; you do not need every record first.

We buy houses as-is, in any condition — no repairs, no cleaning, no cleanout required to sell to us. Your lien and tax payoffs are handled through the closing, not by you upfront.

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

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

We give written cash offers in 24 hours.

Share the property address and what you know about the lien or tax notice.

By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. You consent to receive calls and texts from USA Home Buyers. We never share your information.

How liens and 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 tied to a property or an amount due that can affect its title or the money due at closing. The creditor or tax office supplies the current payoff amount and payment instructions. The title company checks the recorded claims for the sale and works with the relevant office or creditor on the payoff details.

A mortgage balance, lien, back-tax balance, and your share of current property taxes are separate from the closing costs we pay. The amounts that apply to your property are confirmed for the closing; you do not have to pay them off before calling us.

Records that help—and you can call before you have them all

Start with the property address. If you have them, bring a parcel number, tax bill or delinquency notice, mortgage statement, creditor payoff letter, court notice or case number, and any deed or lien record. The Metropolitan Trustee can check the current property-tax account; the lender or other creditor gives its payoff figure. The title company reviews the property records as the sale moves forward. It is fine to call with only what you have now.

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. 1. Talk through the property

    Tell us the Nashville address, what notice or payoff information you have, and what questions you want answered. You can start before you have every balance or record.

  2. 2. Review the written offer and terms

    We discuss the house as it stands and give you a written cash offer. Read the written terms, including the price and payoff treatment, before you decide whether to proceed.

  3. 3. Let the title company check the records

    If you choose to move forward, the title company reviews ownership and recorded claims, requests current payoff information from the relevant creditor or tax office, and prepares the settlement figures for the transaction.

  4. 4. Review the figures and close

    The title company shows the sale price, payoffs, taxes, and other settlement amounts in writing. Your liens are paid from the sale at closing, and the title company handles the closing documents and funds.

Davidson County records, tax-sale information, and offices

Nashville's local government is Metro Nashville & Davidson County. These offices handle local property-tax bills, assessment information, recorded property documents, and court records. If an address is near a jurisdiction edge, confirm the correct office for that property.

Office of the Metropolitan Trustee ↗

This office handles Davidson County real-property-tax collection and bill/payment routing. Ask about the current tax account, bill, payment, or notice. Its office is in the Howard Office Building, 700 President Ronald Reagan Way, Suite 220, Nashville, TN 37210. Call 615-862-6330.

Davidson County Assessor of Property ↗

Use the Assessor for appraisal and assessment information and the real-property search. An assessment record is not the current payoff amount for a tax bill or lien.

Property-tax sale and mortgage foreclosure are separate

A Davidson County property-tax sale concerns delinquent property taxes; a lender mortgage foreclosure is a different process. For a property-tax notice or sale information, check with the Metropolitan Trustee and Chancery Court Clerk and Master. For a mortgage-foreclosure notice, check the notice and ask the lender or servicer about its current status. Do not treat one notice or process as the other.

Tennessee realty transfer tax

Tennessee charges a realty transfer tax when a deed is recorded. The rate is 37 cents for each $100 of the price paid or the property's value, whichever is greater. State law assigns the tax to the buyer, and the county Register of Deeds collects it for the state.

When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including Tennessee's realty transfer tax. Your mortgage, liens, back taxes, and share of current property taxes are separate from that closing-cost promise.

Tennessee Department of Revenue: Recordation Taxes →

Compare possible net proceeds

Use the Nashville home-sale net proceeds calculator with your own estimates for value, mortgage, lien or tax payoff, repairs, carrying costs, and other costs. Just an estimate — the actual number could be more or less depending on the home's condition.

Open the Nashville home-sale net proceeds calculator →

What sellers say about USA Home Buyers

Nashville property lien and back-tax questions

Can I sell my Nashville 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 from the sale at closing, and the current payoff figures are checked for the sale.

Do I need the payoff amount or every document before I call?

No. Call with the property address and whatever tax notice, mortgage statement, lien or court record you have. The Metropolitan Trustee can check the current Davidson County property-tax account; a creditor supplies its current payoff, and the title company reviews recorded claims for the sale.

What if the payoff is more than my Nashville house is worth?

Think the payoff is more than the house is worth? Ask us — we've gotten lenders to come down before.

Is a property-tax sale the same as a mortgage foreclosure?

No. Davidson County property-tax-sale information is handled through the Trustee and Chancery Court Clerk and Master. A lender mortgage foreclosure is a separate process; check its notice and the lender or servicer for current status.

Who pays Tennessee's realty transfer tax when I sell?

Tennessee charges a realty transfer tax when a deed is recorded. State law assigns it to the buyer, and the county Register of Deeds collects it for the state. When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including Tennessee's realty transfer tax. Your mortgage, liens, back taxes, and share of current property taxes are separate.

What happens after I contact USA Home Buyers?

We discuss the house and the records you have, then provide written offer terms before you decide. If you choose to proceed, the title company reviews ownership and recorded claims, works with the relevant creditor or tax office on current payoff information, and prepares for closing.

More Nashville seller information

Talk through the property

Call 888-274-5006 or ask for a Nashville cash offer using the form above. Start with the address and the notice or payoff information you have.

Call Now 888-274-5006