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 lender, tax office, or other creditor confirms its current balance and payoff instructions. If you choose to move ahead, the title company checks recorded claims and works with those offices on the closing figures.
No agent commissions when you sell to us. No fees.
Records and a next step
A current tax bill or sale notice, lender or creditor letter, payoff statement, lien paper, or court notice can help us understand the balance. Call with the Normal address and whatever you have; you do not need to gather every record first.
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 what you know
Tell us the address, what is happening with the house, and what the tax or lien notice says. We can start with the information you have.
2. Review the written offer and terms
You get a written offer and written terms before you commit, and we close through a title company.
3. Work through title and payoff details
If you choose to proceed, the title company checks the recorded claims and works with the lender, tax office, or other creditor on payoff instructions for closing.
4. Review the closing figures and close
The title company brings the sale terms, taxes, and confirmed payoff amounts together in the closing figures.
McLean County tax and property records
Unpaid property taxes can enter a county tax-sale process. That is separate from mortgage foreclosure, which is a court case over the home loan. If you have either notice, call with it and we can look through the dates and paperwork with you. For mortgage-foreclosure information, see our Normal foreclosure page.
McLean County Treasurer & Tax Collector
Ask about current property-tax bills, account balances, and tax-collection questions.
McLean County property-tax information
Find county information about property taxes and delinquent-tax questions.
McLean County Clerk — Recording Division
Ask about recorded deeds, mortgages, liens, and releases.
McLean County Circuit Clerk — Civil/Probate
Find Circuit Clerk contact information for questions about court papers and case records.
Illinois real estate transfer taxes
For a taxable transfer, Illinois charges 50 cents for each $500 of taxable value, or part of $500. A county can add 25 cents for each $500, and some cities impose their own transfer taxes. Exemptions and taxable value can change the amount.
When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including the Illinois state, county and city transfer taxes.
Illinois Department of Revenue transfer-tax information → · 35 ILCS 200/31-10 →
Compare possible sale proceeds
Use your own payoff information to compare possible sale proceeds in the Normal home-sale calculator.
Open the Normal 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 Normal liens and back taxes
Can I sell my Normal house with back taxes or liens without paying upfront?
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. You can call with the property address and whatever notice or payoff information you have.
Who confirms the current property-tax or lien payoff?
The McLean County Treasurer & Tax Collector handles current property-tax account questions. Your lender or another creditor confirms its own balance and payoff instructions. If you move ahead, the title company checks recorded claims and works with those offices on the closing figures.
Is a property-tax sale the same as mortgage foreclosure?
No. A property-tax sale concerns unpaid property taxes. Mortgage foreclosure is a separate court case over the home loan, with its own papers and dates. Call us with either notice and we can look through it with you.
What records should I have before I call?
Start with the Normal property address and whatever you have, such as a tax bill or sale notice, lender or creditor letter, payoff statement, lien paper, or court notice. You can call before you have every record or balance.
What if the payoff is more than my house is worth?
Think the payoff is more than the house is worth? Ask us — we've gotten lenders to come down before.
What transfer taxes apply when an Illinois house sells?
For a taxable transfer, Illinois charges 50 cents for each $500 of taxable value, or part of $500. A county can add 25 cents for each $500, and some cities impose their own transfer taxes. Exemptions and taxable value can change the amount. When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including the Illinois state, county and city transfer taxes.
What happens after I contact USA Home Buyers?
We talk through the house and the information you have. You get a written offer and written terms before you commit, and we close through a title company. If you choose to move forward, the title company works with the lender, tax office, or other creditor on current payoff details for closing.
Talk through the property
Call 888-274-5006 or use the form above. Start with the Normal address and whatever lien or tax information you have.