Guide to St. Johns County Tax Deed Sales

• •Tax deed sales are held at the Richard O. Watson Judicial Center on Wednesdays at 12:00 PM EST.
• •Bidders must arrive at the courthouse 15 minutes before the auction begins; no prior registration is required.
• •Successful bidders must pay the full amount within 24 hours of the sale using cash or certified funds.
• •A deposit of $200 or 5% of the winning bid (whichever is greater) is required after the sale.
• •Failure to pay within 24 hours results in forfeiture of the deposit and potential barring from future sales.
• •Properties are sold 'as is' and may not be buildable or inhabitable; buyers are responsible for all title and lien research.
• •Winning a tax deed does not guarantee a clear title; the new owner may be responsible for additional taxes or liens.
• •Lands Available for Taxes are properties that did not sell at auction and can be purchased after 90 days for the opening bid plus omitted taxes.
• •Owners can 'redeem' a property by paying all delinquent taxes to the Tax Collector’s Office before the sale date.
• •Surplus funds occur when a property sells for more than the opening bid amount.
• •Sales are advertised in the St. Augustine Record.

Residents and investors participating in tax deed sales are responsible for conducting their own title research, as properties are sold 'as is' and may carry existing liens or be uninhabitable.

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.