Salem City Treasurer
Contact the Treasurer about Salem City real-estate-tax balances, delinquent accounts, and tax-sale questions.
Salem, Virginia / Liens and back taxes
Can I Sell My Salem, VA House With Liens or Back Taxes?
When you sell to us, we can set it up so you don't have to prepay anything — it comes out at closing.
Yes. We buy houses in Salem with liens or back taxes. Your payoff comes from the sale at closing. Call with the property address and what you know about the notice; you can start before you have every record.
Call 888-274-5006 to talk through the property.
We give written cash offers in 24 hours.
Share the address and what you know about the tax notice, lien, creditor, or payoff.
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.
The lender, lienholder, or tax office provides its current payoff amount and instructions. The title company works with those offices to confirm the figures for closing.
What to bring — and who checks the balance
A recent mortgage or lien payoff statement, creditor letter, Salem City tax bill, or tax-sale notice can help us get started. The lender or lienholder gives its payoff; the Salem City Treasurer handles Salem City real-estate tax accounts. The title company checks property records and coordinates the payoff details. Call us with the address and what you have, even if you are still waiting for other papers.
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 notice
We talk through the Salem property, the lien or tax notice, and the payoff information you have. You can call before you have every statement.
2. Review the written terms
You get a written offer and written terms before you commit, and we close through a title company.
3. Confirm title and payoffs
The title company checks the property records and works with creditors and the City on current payoff amounts and closing figures.
4. Close through the title company
Close as fast as 7 days when title and closing details allow.
Salem City tax sales and Virginia mortgage foreclosure
Salem City handles its real-estate tax collection and shares information about delinquent-tax judicial sales. That process is separate from a mortgage foreclosure, which in Virginia usually proceeds through a trustee sale under a deed of trust. If you have a sale notice, tell us the date on it so we can talk through the timing.
Salem City judicial sales
Read the City's information about judicial sales for delinquent real-estate taxes.
Virginia transfer taxes and closing costs
Virginia charges grantor tax when the deed is recorded. By law, the seller pays 50 cents for each $500 of the greater of the sale price or value, about 0.1%; the sales contract can shift who pays. State recordation tax and any local recordation tax are separate. Exemptions and transfers with little or no consideration can change the amount, so the settlement agent confirms the figures for the sale.
When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including Virginia state and local recordation taxes, grantor tax and any applicable regional WMATA capital fee, regional congestion relief fee or regional transportation improvement fee.
Compare possible net proceeds
Use the Salem home-sale net proceeds calculator to compare your estimate with your payoff amounts and other selling costs.
Open the Salem 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...”
Salem questions about liens and back taxes
Can I sell my Salem house with liens or back taxes?
Yes. We buy houses in Salem with liens or back taxes. Call with the property address and whatever notice or payoff information you have; you don't need every record first.
Who checks the current payoff amount?
The lender, lienholder, or Salem City Treasurer confirms its current balance and payoff instructions. The title company checks property records and works with them on the closing figures.
Is a Salem City tax sale the same as a mortgage foreclosure sale?
No. A Salem City sale for delinquent real-estate taxes is a judicial sale. A Virginia mortgage foreclosure usually follows a separate trustee sale under a deed of trust. The notices have different dates and go through different processes.
What if the 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.
Talk through a lien or tax notice
Call 888-274-5006 or use the form above. You can call before you have every payoff statement or tax record.