As you may know, real estate sold in a tax auction is not sold with a clear title. It’s often sold out from under the previous owner, and in most states it is possible for the previous owner to get their property back. I still don’t know all the steps involved, but I now know that first step is when the local authority sends the former owner a “Notice to Redeem”.

I was out at the Clendenin House on Tuesday the 13th when I spotted said Notice on the front door. It was apparently posted by the county sheriff, and it said that if the previous owner paid the county $4,101.83 by the end of March 2023, they could get the house back.

Given that I am pretty sure the previous owner is dead, I don’t see that happening, but it’s not impossible that one of her heirs may pop up, or that the estate might fight the sale.

P.S. I won’t share the Notice I got, but I do have a boilerplate draft copy.