St. Johns County Tax Collector — Real Estate Taxes ↗
Use this office’s real-estate-tax page for county tax-bill and account information. Ask about the current account shown on your notice. A property-tax balance is not the same as a mortgage payoff.
St. Augustine, FL · St. Johns County
Can I Sell My St. Augustine House With Back Taxes or Liens?
When you sell to us, we can set it up so you don't have to prepay anything — it comes out at closing.
Yes. USA Home Buyers buys houses in St. Augustine and St. Johns County, including homes with back taxes or liens. We buy houses as-is, in any condition — no repairs, no cleaning, no cleanout required to sell to us. You can call before you have every notice or payoff record; start with the property address and what you know.
We'll give you a written cash offer within 24 hours.
Call 888-274-5006 to talk through the property or ask for an offer.
Talk through your lien or tax question
Share the St. Augustine property address and whatever you have about a tax notice, payoff, creditor, or recorded claim. You do not need to assemble every record first.
We give written cash offers in 24 hours.
Tell us the address and what you know about the notice, payoff, creditor, or tax account.
Prefer to call? 888-274-5006.
How payoffs work
When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs. Your liens are paid off from the sale at closing.
Your mortgage balance, back taxes, liens, and share of current property taxes are separate from the closing costs we pay. Those amounts affect what remains from the sale. The lender, creditor, or tax office confirms its current figures; the title company checks the recorded claims and coordinates the sale’s payoff details.
Start with the records you have
A recent real-estate tax bill or notice, a lien or court paper, a mortgage statement, a written payoff, and the property address or parcel number are useful starting points. The creditor or lender named on a notice can confirm its payoff amount and instructions. The St. Johns County Tax Collector handles county real-estate tax information. The title company reviews ownership and recorded claims for the sale. You can call before you have all the paperwork.
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
Tell us the address, what you know about the house, the notice or payoff, and any timing that concerns you. You do not have to resolve the balance before calling.
2. Review written terms
We look at the house as it stands and give you a written cash offer within 24 hours. Read the written price, payoff treatment, and closing terms before you decide.
3. Check title and payoff details
If you choose to move forward, the title company checks ownership and recorded claims for the sale. The lender, creditor, or tax office confirms its current payoff or tax information, and the closing professionals work through the figures that apply.
4. Review the settlement and close
The settlement statement shows the sale price, payoffs, taxes, costs, and the amount left after those items. Your sale closes through a title company, with written terms in place before you commit.
St. Augustine and St. Johns County records
The City of St. Augustine and St. Johns County are separate local governments. For a City question, use the City map; county tax bills and property records are handled by the County offices below.
Check City of St. Augustine maps and GIS →
St. Johns County Property Appraiser ↗
Search St. Johns County property and assessment records by parcel or address. For real-estate tax bills and account questions, contact the County Tax Collector.
St. Johns County Clerk Recording Division ↗
The Clerk’s Recording Division handles the County’s Official Records, including deeds, mortgages, and other recorded documents. When we move forward, the title company checks recorded claims and works through the payoff details for the sale.
St. Johns County Clerk foreclosure sales ↗
Use the Clerk’s foreclosure-sales information for a mortgage-foreclosure case or sale. That is separate from a property-tax account or notice. Check the live case and current sale information with the Clerk and use the creditor or office named on a tax notice for that tax account.
Florida deed documentary stamp tax
Florida’s deed documentary stamp tax is generally 70 cents per $100 or fraction of consideration in most counties. State law makes all parties to a deed liable even if a contract allocates payment to one party. When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including Florida documentary stamp tax and, where applicable, the Miami-Dade deed surtax. Mortgage balances, liens, back taxes, and your share of current property taxes are separate from the closing costs we pay.
Read Florida Department of Revenue documentary stamp tax information →
Compare what may remain after costs
Use your own estimates for the sale, payoff, taxes, and other costs to compare possible net proceeds. Just an estimate — the actual number could be more or less depending on the home's condition.
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.”
“Facing foreclosure ... Very stressful time... They handled it professionally and got me out of the debt...”
“no open houses. no realtors tracking dirt in. just a straight cash sale for our house so we could move. Glad it's over.”
St. Augustine property liens and back taxes questions
Can I sell my St. Augustine 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. Call with the property address and whatever notice or payoff information you have; you can start before every record is assembled.
Who checks the current tax or lien balance?
The creditor or lender named on a notice confirms its current payoff and instructions. For a real-estate tax bill or account, use the St. Johns County Tax Collector. The title company checks ownership and recorded claims for the sale and works through the payoff details with the relevant parties.
What records should I have when I call?
Start with the property address and any parcel number, current tax bill or notice, lien or court paper, mortgage statement, or written payoff you have. You can call before you have every document.
Are a property-tax notice or sale and mortgage foreclosure the same process?
No. A property-tax account or notice and a lender’s mortgage-foreclosure case involve different balances and offices. Use the Tax Collector for real-estate tax information. The St. Johns County Clerk’s foreclosure-sales page is for mortgage-foreclosure sale information; check the live case and the notice in front of you.
What Florida deed tax applies when I sell?
Florida documentary stamp tax on a deed is generally 70 cents per $100 or fraction of consideration in most counties. When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including Florida documentary stamp tax and, where applicable, the Miami-Dade deed surtax. Mortgage balances, liens, back taxes, and your share of current property taxes are separate.
What if the payoff is more than my St. Augustine 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 house and the information you have, then give you written terms before you decide. If you choose to move forward, the title company checks the ownership and recorded claims, the relevant creditor or tax office confirms its figures, and the settlement papers show the sale price, payoffs, costs, and amount left before closing.
Talk through the property
We answer 24/7 at 888-274-5006. Call with the address and notice or payoff information you have, or use the form above to ask about a written cash offer.