How lien and tax payoffs work
A lien is a claim that can affect a property’s title or the money due when it sells. A payoff is the current amount and instructions from the creditor or tax office to settle an obligation. An older bill or recorded document can help identify the issue, but it may not show the current amount needed for closing.
The title company checks ownership and records that affect the sale. The creditor or tax office confirms its current balance and payment or release instructions. When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs. Your liens are paid off from the sale at closing. Those payoffs come from the sale proceeds; they are separate from the closing costs we pay.
We buy houses as-is, in any condition — no repairs, no cleaning, no cleanout required to sell to us.
Records that can help—and what to do next
If you have them, start with the Pontiac address and parcel number, the latest tax bill or notice, a mortgage or creditor payoff statement, lien or court papers, and any case number or sale notice. The title company checks records that affect the sale; the creditor or tax office named on a notice confirms its current balance and instructions. You can call before you have everything gathered.
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 Pontiac property
Tell us the address, what you know about the house, and the lien, tax, or payoff question. You do not need to work out the balance before you call.
2. Review the written offer and terms
We review the house as-is and give you the offer and terms in writing before you decide. Read the proposed price, payoff treatment, responsibilities, and closing terms before you commit.
3. Check title and payoff details
If you choose to proceed, the title company checks ownership and the records needed for the transaction. The creditor or tax office confirms its current payoff and release instructions for closing.
4. Review the closing figures and close
Review the written closing figures, including the sale price and agreed payoffs, with the title company before closing. The sale closes through a title company under the written terms.
Livingston County records, tax-sale notices, and Illinois transfer taxes
A property-tax matter and a lender’s mortgage-foreclosure case are separate matters with separate records and notices. Illinois mortgage foreclosures go through court; a property-tax notice does not tell you the status or deadline in a lender’s case. Follow the current notice and contact the office or court named there. For the separate lender process, see the Pontiac mortgage-foreclosure information.
Livingston County Clerk & Recorder ↗
This is the county land-records office. Use its official contact page for questions about county land records, such as where to look for recorded property documents. A recorded claim does not by itself give you the creditor’s current payoff; ask the creditor or office named on the notice for current figures and instructions.
Livingston County Supervisor of Assessments ↗
This is the county real-property assessment office. Use its contact page for parcel-assessment record questions. An assessment record is separate from a current tax payoff, lien balance, sale price, and closing amount.
Livingston County Treasurer ↗
This is the county treasury office. For a property-tax balance or tax-sale notice, follow the office identified on the notice; if it is unclear, contact the Treasurer’s office to ask where to confirm the parcel’s current account and status. Have the parcel number or notice available if you have it.
Illinois real-estate transfer taxes
For a taxable transfer, Illinois charges 50 cents for each $500 of taxable value, or part of $500. The state tax alone is $100 on $100,000 of taxable value. A county can add 25 cents for each $500, and some cities impose their own transfer taxes; exemptions and the transaction’s taxable value can change the amount. The property’s actual city and county determine which local taxes apply.
When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including the Illinois state, county and city transfer taxes. This closing-cost promise does not pay the seller’s mortgage, liens, back taxes, or share of current property taxes; those are separate settlement items.
Read the Illinois Department of Revenue transfer-tax overview, 35 ILCS 200/31-10, and the Illinois transfer-declaration instructions.
Questions and contact
Compare possible net proceeds
Use the Pontiac home-sale net proceeds calculator to compare your own estimates for sale value, mortgage payoff, liens or taxes, repairs, 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
Here's what sellers have said about working with us.
“I owned a rental on Willow Street in Normal for eight years, mostly ISU students. The last tenant left in April and took the back door handle. I'm not exaggerating — they took the handle. Also left the stove on and melted the backsplash. USA Home Buyers bought it as-is in ten days. Done being a landlord.”
“The judge ordered the house sold as part of the McLean County dissolution. We couldn't agree on a listing price, couldn't agree on an agent, couldn't agree on repairs. Our attorneys finally said get a cash offer and split it. USA Home Buyers came in, we got a number both of us could accept, and closed in sixteen days. That was the last thing we had to agree on.”
“After Rivian cut production shifts and my hours dropped, I fell behind on the mortgage. Four months behind, and the lender filed in McLean County Circuit Court. I didn't know I still had $47,000 in equity and could sell out from under the foreclosure. USA Home Buyers explained the options, had a written offer the next day, and we closed in fourteen days. The foreclosure was dismissed.”
Pontiac property liens and back taxes questions
Can I sell my Pontiac house with back taxes or liens before paying them?
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 Pontiac and Livingston County, Illinois, including houses with back taxes or liens. The current amounts and instructions are checked for the sale; you can call before you have every notice or payoff figure.
How are lien and tax payoffs handled at closing?
When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs. Your liens are paid off from the sale at closing. The creditor or tax office confirms the current amount and instructions, and the title company checks the records and closing figures for the transaction.
What records should I have when I call about a lien or back taxes?
Start with the Pontiac property address and any parcel number, tax bill or notice, lien or court paper, mortgage or creditor payoff statement, case number, or sale notice you have. You can call before you have everything gathered.
Are an Illinois property-tax sale and a mortgage foreclosure the same process?
No. A property-tax matter and a lender’s mortgage-foreclosure case are different matters with separate records and notices. Use the current notice and the office or court named on it to confirm status and dates. For a lender foreclosure, see the Pontiac foreclosure page.
Which Livingston County office can help me find property records?
The Livingston County Clerk & Recorder is the county land-records office. The Supervisor of Assessments is the county real-property assessment office. For a tax account or tax-sale notice, follow the office named on the notice; the County Treasurer page is the county treasury contact to ask where to confirm the current account or status.
What Illinois transfer taxes apply when a Pontiac 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. The actual amount depends on the property’s taxable value, location, and any applicable exemption. When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including the Illinois state, county and city transfer taxes.
What if the payoff is more than my Pontiac 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 you?
We talk through the property and the records you have, review the house as-is, and provide written offer terms before you decide. If you choose to proceed, the title company checks ownership and the records for the transaction while the creditor or tax office confirms current payoff and release instructions for closing.
Talk through the property
Call 888-274-5006 or use the form to share the Pontiac address and what you know about the lien or tax account.
We'll give you a written cash offer within 24 hours.
We give written cash offers in 24 hours.
Share the address and what you know about the notice, payoff, creditor, or tax account.