How liens and back taxes are paid
When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs. Your liens are paid off from the sale at closing.
Your mortgage payoff, liens, back taxes, and share of current property taxes are separate from the closing costs we pay. The settlement figures show the sale price and the amounts applied to recorded claims, tax balances, and other transaction items so you can see what remains.
Records and the next step
You can call before you have everything. Start with the property address and whatever is handy: a tax notice, lender or creditor statement, court paper, parcel information, or a deed. The lender, creditor, or tax office provides current balances and payoff or payment instructions; the title company reviews ownership and recorded claims for the sale.
For a county property-tax bill or collection question, the Cocke County Trustee is the office that bills and collects property taxes. The Property Assessor handles assessment and property-tax record questions. If a notice identifies a Chancery Court or Probate Court case, the County lists the Clerk & Master for case information and filing questions about those cases.
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
- We talk through the Newport house, its condition, and what you know about the lien or tax notice.
- We discuss the house as it stands and put the proposed sale terms in writing for you to review.
- You get a written offer and written terms before you commit, and we close through a title company.
- The title company works with the lender, creditor, or responsible tax office to confirm the current payoff details used in the closing.
- At closing, the settlement figures show the payoffs and other transaction items, and the title company completes the sale.
Cocke County records and Tennessee tax facts
A property-tax matter and a lender's mortgage foreclosure are separate processes. The County Trustee handles tax billing and collection questions; a case filed in Chancery Court or Probate Court has a different case-information and filing contact. Follow the notice or court record for the current status and dates. A lender's trustee-sale notice is covered on our Newport foreclosure page.
Cocke County Trustee
For county property-tax billing and collection questions. The County says the Trustee bills and collects property taxes but does not set the tax rate or amount.
Cocke County Property Assessor
For property assessment and property-tax record questions.
Cocke County Clerk & Master
For case-information and filing questions about matters filed in Chancery Court or Probate Court.
Cocke County Register of Deeds
The County recording office for deeds and other instruments. It does not prepare documents or perform title searches; the title company reviews title for the sale.
Tennessee realty transfer tax
For a taxable deed, Tennessee charges a realty transfer tax when it is recorded: 37 cents for each $100 of the price paid or the property's value, whichever is greater. State law makes the buyer responsible, and the Cocke County Register of Deeds collects the tax for the state. Some transfers are exempt.
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.
Compare possible net proceeds
Compare your own estimates for a sale, mortgage payoff, liens or taxes, repairs, and other costs with the Newport home-sale net-proceeds calculator. Its result is a planning estimate, not a payoff quote or a property-specific offer.
Open the Newport home-sale net-proceeds calculator →
Reviews
Questions about Newport property liens and back taxes
Can I sell my Newport 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 you can call before you have every notice or payoff figure.
What do I need before calling about a payoff?
You can start with the property address and whatever you have, such as a tax notice, lender or creditor statement, court paper, or parcel information. The creditor or responsible office provides the current amount and instructions; you do not need to assemble every record before calling.
Who checks the current lien or property-tax balance?
The lender, creditor, or tax office provides its current balance and payoff or payment instructions. The title company reviews ownership and recorded claims and works with those parties on the figures used for closing.
Are a property-tax case and a mortgage foreclosure the same thing?
No. A property-tax matter and a lender’s deed-of-trust foreclosure are separate processes. The Cocke County Trustee handles county property-tax billing and collection questions; use the notice to identify any court case or lender sale date that applies to the property.
What if the lender payoff is more than the house is worth?
Think the payoff is more than the house is worth? Ask us — we've gotten lenders to come down before. The lender provides the current payoff and instructions for the property.
What is Tennessee’s realty transfer tax?
For a taxable deed, Tennessee charges 37 cents for each $100 of the price paid or the property’s value, whichever is greater, when the deed is recorded. State law makes the buyer responsible, and the county Register of Deeds collects the tax for the state. Some transfers are exempt. 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.
Talk through the property
Call 888-274-5006 or use the form above. Start with the Newport address and whatever you know about the notice or payoff.