From Bid to Battle: How Upset Tax Sale Buyers Can Get Answers In The Midst of Uncertainty

As in most Pennsylvania counties, the upset tax sale for York County is scheduled to occur in September of 2025. For those of you that are interested in participating in this sale, you are no doubt preparing for what is to come – identifying properties of interest, conducting lien searches, registering as a bidder for these sales, etc. But as you know, purchasing real estate at upset tax sales has become an increasingly popular real estate investment strategy, and with this increased popularity comes an increase in competition, risk, and overall uncertainty.

Purchasing real estate at upset tax sales is inherently unpredictable, due to the involvement of other interested parties. As a tax sale purchaser, you will undoubtedly be confronted by a host of questions that you may not immediately have the answers to, such as:

• What properties should I bid on (or avoid)?
• What do I do if the prior owner files objections to the sale?
• Was proper notice provided by the bureau?
• How do I expedite the deed recording process?
• What do I do if the prior owners will not leave the property?
• How do I get insurable title?
• How do I ensure that excess proceeds are distributed to lienholders first?

All of these questions and more will confront tax sale purchasers throughout the Commonwealth in the coming months. So whether you have pre-sale questions or need post-sale representation, Attorney John R. Wilson of the CGA Law Firm is prepared to come alongside of you and help navigate this process. Attorney Wilson has handled tax sale proceedings throughout South Central Pennsylvania, including York, Adams, Lancaster, Cumberland, Dauphin, Perry, Lebanon, and Berks County. Attorney Wilson also has years of experience representing tax sale purchasers in tax sale appeals to Pennsylvania’s appellate courts. Above all else, his goal is to provide clear and cost-effective legal solutions to his clients in this inherently unpredictable process.

If you have recently purchased real estate at tax sale and have legal questions, contact Attorney Wilson today at 717-864-8969 or at [email protected], or fill out our Contact Us form to schedule a consultation with our office.

John R. Wilson

Attorney

John R. Wilson provides legal services to Litigation, Bankruptcy, Government, and Education Law clients. Prior to joining CGA Law Firm, John served as an Advisor for the Mason Veterans and Service Members Legal Clinic, where he represented clients in military proceedings, veterans’ appeals, and civil matters. John focused his legal studies on national security law and policy, serving as a research assistant to the National Security Institute and the Articles Selection Editor of the National Security Law Journal.

Read John’s Bio Page in full here.