Central Valley REI, Bakersfield CA
Sell Your House With Back Taxes or Liens in Bakersfield
Owing back property taxes or carrying a lien does not mean you are stuck. We buy houses for cash, pay off liens at closing from your proceeds, and charge zero fees or commissions.
- No commissions or fees
- Fair cash offer in 24 hours
- We buy liens and all
Get Your Fair Cash Offer
No fees, no pressure, no obligation.
- No commissions or fees
- Fair cash offer in 24 hours
- We buy in any condition
- No Commissions or Fees
- Cash Offer in 24 Hours
- Any Condition
- Local Bakersfield Team
We Understand
This Is More Common Than You Think
A lot of Kern County homeowners fall behind on property taxes after a job loss, a health issue, or just the slow creep of bills adding up. Others inherited a house that already had a lien or two on it. Some bought at the peak of an oil boom and then life changed.
Whatever got you here, the house can still be sold. The process is straightforward when you understand what a lien actually is and how closing works. We will lay it out honestly so you know what you are dealing with.
Simple Process
How It Works
Selling to us with liens in place takes four simple steps.
Talk to Us
Spend about 15 minutes telling us about the house, the taxes or liens, and where things stand.
Get a Fair Cash Offer
We base our offer on real Bakersfield comps, the home's condition, and the liens we know about, and we explain every number.
Pick Your Closing Date
Close in as little as 7 days, or later if that works better for your move.
We Handle the Rest
The title company sorts out the lien payoffs and sends you whatever is left after they are cleared.
In Depth
How Liens and Back Taxes Work at Closing
A lien is a legal claim against your property, usually because money is owed to a creditor. The most common ones Bakersfield homeowners deal with are back property taxes, second mortgages or home equity lines, mechanic's liens from contractors who were not paid, and judgment liens from a court ruling. When you sell, all liens must be paid off at or before closing. The title company calculates what is owed, pulls that amount from the sale proceeds, pays each lienholder in priority order, and sends you the difference.
Property taxes in California are due in two installments each year. Miss enough and Kern County marks the property as tax-defaulted. California law then gives you a 5-year right of redemption to pay the past-due taxes and get current again. If 5 years pass unpaid, the county can sell the property at a tax-defaulted land auction and you likely walk away with nothing. A cash sale can pay off your back taxes at closing before you ever reach that auction. Acting sooner protects more of your equity.
- All liens are paid from sale proceeds at closing, not out of pocket before you sell.
- California's 5-year tax-default clock means waiting can cost you all of your equity.
- If total liens exceed the home's value, we will tell you on the call, not at the title company.
Weigh Your Choices
Your Options
A cash sale is one path. Here are all of them.
Compare
See How We Compare
See how your three choices compare side by side.
| Our Cash Offer | Listing With an Agent | The Tax Auction | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timeline | As little as 7 days | 33 to 47 days on market, then escrow | Set by the county after the 5-year clock |
| Repairs | None, sold as-is | Often expected before listing | None, but you lose the property |
| Commissions or Fees | Zero, we cover closing costs | About 5 to 6 percent | Not applicable |
| Liens Paid at Closing | Yes, from your proceeds | Yes, from your proceeds | County claims the property; you likely get nothing |
| Certainty | Firm cash offer, set closing date | Depends on a buyer and their financing | County controls the outcome |
Where We Buy
Serving Bakersfield & Kern County
We buy houses across Bakersfield and throughout Kern County, from established neighborhoods in the city to outlying communities. We buy houses in Bakersfield in any condition. See how our process works or contact us to get started.
Real Sellers
What Our Neighbors Say
Brandon and Gary made a difficult time in my life a better experience. They made sure I felt like family.
Melissa T.Gary and his team helped us sell our first home, buy our forever home, and sell our grandma's home. Fast, patient, and on point every step.
Aaron W.My seller needed a fast, as-is close. Central Valley REI gave him a number he was happy with and closed within two weeks. We were all very happy.
Kym P.Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Back property taxes are a lien on the property and get paid off at closing out of the sale proceeds. You do not need to pay them before you sell, as long as the home has enough equity to cover what is owed. Contact the Kern County Treasurer-Tax Collector's office to get a current payoff figure.
When property taxes go unpaid, the county marks the property as tax-defaulted. The owner generally has 5 years from that point to pay the taxes, penalties, and costs and get current again. If those 5 years pass without payment, the county can sell the property at a tax-defaulted land auction. Selling before that deadline protects any equity you have built.
Most liens that attach to the property title can be cleared at closing, including back property taxes, a second mortgage or home equity line, mechanic's liens from unpaid contractors, and judgment liens from court rulings. The title company identifies all of them and pays each one from the sale proceeds before sending you the remainder.
A cash sale may not fully cover what you owe. You would need to negotiate with some lienholders to accept less than the full balance, which is sometimes possible. A real estate attorney or HUD-approved housing counselor can help you evaluate that option. We will tell you this clearly on the call.
If there is enough equity to cover the liens, you should owe nothing on them after closing. The title company confirms each payoff before closing and sends the funds directly to the lienholders. Confirm specifics with the title company and a qualified professional.
It can affect the timeline but it does not stop the sale. The title company has to confirm the lien amount and payoff terms before closing, which can take a few extra days. We deal with these regularly and can work through them with the title company.
We start with the property's value based on real Bakersfield comps and its condition, and we explain every line of the offer. The lien payoffs come out of the proceeds at closing, not out of our offer number. You see the full picture before you decide anything.
You are not legally required to hire an attorney, but it can be worth getting one if you have multiple large liens, a disputed lien, or a lien amount that may exceed the home's value. A title company handles the mechanics of the payoffs in a standard cash sale. For more complicated situations, an attorney's advice protects you.
Sources: Kern County Treasurer-Tax Collector, Kern County, Redfin
Get Your Free Cash Offer Today
Call or text (661) 699-5512 or fill out the form and we will walk you through exactly what the liens mean for your net proceeds, with no pressure and no fees.