D.C. Tax Sale Has One Special Aspect: Tax Sales have been conducted for the past few years under the new Tax Clarity Act (Title 47, Chapter 13A). This year's tax sale was advertised in the Post and in the Times and will begin on July 12. Click here for Listing of Properties Being Sold at Regular Tax Sale beginning July 12, 2004

Last year, D.C. published a set of instructions for interested persons. Click here for D.C.'s "Tax Sale Workbook"

But, there is a separate "special" or "Bid-Off" sale that will take place at the end of the regular sale.

At the conclusion of a court case, when the court determines that a tax sale purchaser is entitled to a deed, the tax sale purchaser must first clear ALL back taxes on the property.

Buyers who do not conduct their due diligence are sometimes surprised at the dollar amount of the back taxes. Indeed, sometimes the back taxes dwarf the value of the property and the buyer throws in the towel. They determine it is not worth pursuing and they are "out" their entire investment.

The "Special Sale", is a sale of properties that, because of large amounts of back taxes or because they are "junk" properties, are "special". These properties will be sold FREE of all taxes that precede March 11, 2004. In every other aspect the Special Sale is identical to the regular sale, i.e., the buyer still has to go to court to foreclose redemption rights. The listing of the properties appears in the June 15 edition of the Washington Times. Click here for Listing of Bid-Off Properties Being Sold at Special Tax Sale beginning July 12, 2004

Note that the rules about deposits are different between the "Bid-Off Sale" and the regular tax sale. The Bid-Off sale requires a 100% deposit before you can bid.

Extra caution should be taken to make sure that the property is not "special" because it is in the middle of a swamp! You will note that the descriptions of the properties are much more sketchy than those provided in the regular tax sale.

Baltimore is considering revising taxes. Click here for Text Baltimore Council Bill 04-1658

Changing Faces at DC Recorder of Deeds: We are sorry to learn of the departure of John Mowery as Deputy Recorder of Deeds. All who have worked with him welcomed his spirit, enthusiasm and knowledge and we wish him the best in his future endeavors.

The Board of Directors of the DCLTA invites all of you to attend its next general membership meeting on Wednesday, July 14, at 8:30 a.m. in the Chesapeake Room at the "old" City Club at 555 13th St NW, Washington, D.C. The cost per person will be $15. Please send your checks made payable to the DC Land Title Association to the attention of Ms. Pauline Haynes at Jackson & Campbell, P.C. South Tower 1120 20th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036. We will be short presentation from either OTR or ROD on matters of interest and we'll be delivering reports on the progress of our Task Forces and the status of pending legislation of note.

Please feel free to circulate this newsletter to others in the industry, both within and outside your office.

Sincerely,

Roy L. Kaufmann of the Real Property and Asset Management Group
Jackson & Campbell P.C.