How lien and back-tax payoffs work
When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs. Your liens are paid off from the sale at closing.
The lender, creditor, or Henrico County Treasury confirms its current balance and payoff instructions. The title company checks ownership and recorded claims and works with those offices on the closing figures.
Records that help — and when to call
Start with the property address and any tax bill or notice, mortgage statement, lien or court paper, payoff letter, parcel number, or creditor name you already have. Those details can help identify the right account and current balance. Call us before you have everything if that is what works for you.
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
Tell us the property address and what you know about the tax or lien notice. We can start with the information you have.
2. Review the house and written terms
We review the house as it stands. You get a written offer and written terms before you commit, and we close through a title company.
3. Work through title and payoffs
If you choose to sell, we work with the title company, lender, creditor, or county tax office on ownership, recorded claims, current balances, and payoff instructions.
4. Review the closing and settle
Close as fast as 7 days when title and closing details allow.
Henrico County tax and property-record offices
Henrico County Treasury handles real-estate tax-bill and payment questions. The Circuit Court Clerk records deeds and other land documents. Call us with the property address, and we’ll sort out the right office for your question.
Henrico County Treasury Division
Contact Treasury about real-estate tax bills, payments, due dates, and an account balance or notice.
Henrico County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office
Contact the Clerk’s Office with questions about deeds, mortgages, and other recorded land documents.
A tax sale is separate from mortgage foreclosure
A Virginia mortgage foreclosure is usually a trustee’s sale under a deed of trust. A real-estate tax sale follows a separate county process, with its own notice and timing. Henrico County Treasury handles real-estate tax-bill and payment questions. Call us with the notice and date, and we’ll talk through the house and next step with you.
Virginia grantor and recordation taxes
Virginia charges grantor tax when the deed is recorded. State law generally places the tax on the seller: 50 cents for each $500 of the greater of the sale price or value. The sale contract can shift who pays. State recordation tax is separate, and local recordation tax may apply where adopted. Exemptions and transfers with little or no consideration can change the amount; the settlement agent confirms the figures. Read Virginia’s grantor-tax law → Read Virginia’s state recordation-tax law →
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
Compare possible sale proceeds with your mortgage payoff, liens or back taxes, and other selling costs using the Short Pump home-sale net-proceeds calculator.
Open the Short Pump home-sale net-proceeds calculator →
Questions and contact
Short Pump property-liens and back-tax questions
Can I sell my Short Pump house with back taxes or liens before paying them?
Yes. You don't need to pay off your back taxes before we settle. We buy houses with back taxes and liens — payoffs get handled through the closing, not by you upfront.
Who confirms the current lien or tax payoff?
The lender, creditor, or Henrico County Treasury confirms its current balance and payoff instructions. The title company checks ownership and recorded claims and works with those offices on the closing figures.
Can I call before I have all the paperwork?
Yes. Start with the Short Pump property address and whatever tax notice, creditor letter, or payoff information you have. You can call before you have every record.
Is a Henrico County tax sale the same as a mortgage foreclosure?
No. A Virginia mortgage foreclosure is usually a trustee’s sale under a deed of trust. A real-estate tax sale follows a separate county process, with its own notice and timing. Henrico County Treasury handles real-estate tax-bill and payment questions.
What taxes and fees apply when a Virginia house sells?
Virginia charges grantor tax when the deed is recorded. State law generally places that tax on the seller, though the sale contract can shift who pays. State and local recordation taxes are separate, and exemptions or transfers with little or no consideration can change the amount. 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.
What if the payoff is more than my Short Pump house is worth?
Think the payoff is more than the house is worth? Ask us — we've gotten lenders to come down before.
Call 888-274-5006 or use the form above. Start with the Short Pump address and whatever notice or payoff information you have.