New Castle County Recorder of Deeds
The Recorder handles county land records such as deeds, mortgages, releases, and other recorded documents. The title company checks which records and releases apply to your sale.
Wilmington, Delaware · New Castle County
Can I Sell My Wilmington 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 with back taxes and liens in Wilmington and New Castle County. You can call before you have every payoff document; the creditor or tax office confirms its amount, and the title company checks the recorded claims for the closing.
We buy houses as-is, in any condition — no repairs, no cleaning, no cleanout required to sell to us.
Call 888-274-5006 to talk through the property.
Talk through a lien or tax question
Share the address and whatever you know about the notice, creditor, tax account, or payoff. 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.
Redfin August 2026 and Zillow August 2026 market data
- Redfin median sale price
- $245,000
- Year over year
- +11.36%
- Median days on market
- 39 median days on market
- Homes sold
- 241 homes sold
- Zillow ZHVI
- $329,558 ZHVI
Zillow source label: Zillow ZHVI · Wilmington, DE (exact-place) · As of August 2026. Redfin scope: Redfin Wilmington, DE (exact-place), Three months ending August 2026.
We'll give you a written cash offer within 24 hours.
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.
A lien is a legal claim that can affect the property or the money due at closing. A payoff is the current amount and instructions from the creditor or tax office to satisfy an account. The title company checks the recorded claims and settlement figures; the office or creditor holding the account confirms its current balance and release or payoff instructions. Mortgage balances, liens, back taxes, and your share of current property taxes are separate from the closing costs we pay.
Records that help—and who checks them
If you have them, bring the property-tax notice, lien or mortgage statement, creditor or court case number, parcel information, and any tax-sale or foreclosure notice. The address is enough to start a conversation; call even if the paperwork is incomplete.
The creditor or county or city office named on a notice confirms its current amount, dates, and payoff instructions. New Castle County's Recorder of Deeds keeps recorded land documents. The title company checks ownership and recorded claims for this sale and works with the relevant parties on the payoff and release documents.
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 property and the notice
Tell us the Wilmington address, what the house needs, and which lien, tax account, or notice is causing concern. Start with what you know; you do not have to solve the payoff before calling.
2. Review the house and written terms
We review the house as-is and put the offer and proposed sale terms in writing before you commit. Read the price, responsibilities, payoff treatment, and closing terms before deciding.
3. Confirm title and payoff details
The title company checks ownership and recorded claims for this transaction. The creditor or county or city office supplies current payoff or release information, and the title company confirms the figures and documents needed for settlement.
4. Review the settlement and close
The title company reviews the settlement figures with you, including the sale price, payoffs, taxes, and other transaction costs. You close through the title company under the written terms you accepted.
Wilmington and New Castle County records and offices
A recorded lien, a current tax balance, and a lender's mortgage payoff are different items. Use the record or notice that matches the question, and ask the office or creditor holding it for current information.
County tax account and Sheriff sale records
Use the county tax-payment page for county tax-account and payment routes. If a notice names a court or Sheriff action, check that notice and the live case and sale records as well; a payment page does not establish a case deadline or sale status.
City of Wilmington property-transfer settlements
For a property inside Wilmington city limits, ask the City's settlement office about current city charges that may appear in a property transfer, including taxes, utility charges, and License and Inspections fees. The City and county records are separate; the property address determines which applies.
A property-tax case is different from mortgage foreclosure
Delaware property-tax liens can follow a separate court-supervised tax-sale process called a monition. It is not a lender's mortgage foreclosure. The current lien, court case, sale, court approval, and redemption records determine the stage and next step; do not use a mortgage-foreclosure timeline to work out a tax-sale date. For mortgage foreclosure, see the separate Wilmington foreclosure information.
Delaware and Wilmington transfer tax
For a taxable deed in the City of Wilmington, the total realty transfer tax is 4% of value: 2.5% is the Delaware state tax and 1.5% is the City tax. The state portion is divided equally between seller and buyer. Wilmington's 1.5% is assigned to the seller unless the parties agree otherwise. The title or closing professional can confirm the taxable value, any exemption, and the amounts shown in your settlement.
When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including Delaware's state realty transfer tax and Wilmington's real property transfer tax.
The closing-cost promise covers those transfer taxes. Your mortgage, liens, back taxes, and share of current property taxes are separate.
Compare possible net proceeds
Use the Wilmington home-sale net proceeds calculator with your own estimated value, mortgage payoff, lien or tax amount, 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 in Wilmington have said about working with us.
“After losing my job at ChristianaCare, I fell three months behind on my mortgage. The lender filed a complaint in NCC Superior Court — I had no idea Delaware foreclosure moved that fast. USA Home Buyers explained the judicial timeline, made a written offer the next morning, and we closed before the case progressed. I walked away with $38,000 instead of nothing.”
“The row home on Lancaster Avenue had foundation cracks that had been moving. We called an engineer and they said the back wall had shifted two inches and needed shoring — $48,000 estimate. No bank would finance a buyer with a structural issue like that. USA Home Buyers came out, made an offer two days later. Closed in thirteen days.”
“Seventy-one years old and my husband is in a nursing facility on Foulk Road. I needed to sell the house to cover his care costs. The whole situation is hard enough without adding a six-month listing process. USA Home Buyers were understanding and quick. Offer in twenty-four hours, closed in eight days.”
Wilmington property liens and back taxes questions
Can I sell a Wilmington house with back taxes or liens before paying them?
Yes. When you sell to us, we can set it up so you don't have to prepay anything — it comes out at closing. The creditor or tax office confirms the current balance and instructions, and the title company checks the records and settlement figures for the sale.
Who checks the current lien, mortgage, or property-tax amount?
The creditor or county or city office named on the notice confirms its current balance and payoff instructions. The New Castle County Recorder of Deeds handles recorded land documents; the title company checks which recorded claims and payoff documents apply to this closing.
What records should I have before I call?
Start with the property address and any tax notice, lien or mortgage statement, creditor or court case number, parcel information, or Sheriff sale notice you have. You can call before you have every document.
Is a Delaware property-tax sale the same as a mortgage foreclosure?
No. A property-tax lien and monition proceeding follows a different path from a lender mortgage foreclosure. The tax case depends on the actual lien, court, sale, approval, and redemption records. Delaware mortgage foreclosures go through Superior Court; check the notice and live records for the case that applies to your property.
What if the payoff is more than my Wilmington 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 USA Home Buyers?
We talk through the property and the records you have, review the house as-is, and put the offer and terms in writing before you decide. The title company and the creditor or tax office confirm the property-specific title, payoff, and settlement details before closing.
Talk through the property
Call 888-274-5006 or use the form above. Start with the Wilmington address and whatever lien or tax notice you have.