Released by the Washington County Clerk of Courts …
Have you ever heard of property being auctioned off on the courthouse steps? Many believe that if there is an auction at the courthouse then someone’s property is being foreclosed due to non-payment. While that could very well be true, it might also be a tax deed auction. Although there are some similarities between the two types of actions/auctions, they are, in fact, very different.
Foreclosure is the legal process by which a lender takes control of real property after the homeowner abandons the property (or after evicting the homeowner), and then files a lawsuit to have the property sold at auction because the homeowner is unable to make full payments on his/her mortgage, as stipulated in the mortgage contract.
A tax deed is a legal document that grants ownership of real property to a government body when the property owner does not pay the annual ad valorem taxes due on the property. It gives the government the authority to sell the property in order to collect the delinquent taxes and transfer the property to the purchaser. Prior to July 2019, tax deed auctions were held either on the courthouse steps or in the lobby of the Clerk of Court’s Office. However, with ever-evolving and advancing technology, tax deed auctions are now held online, in accordance with Florida Statute 197.542, on designated Tuesdays. Bidders must be registered prior to participating in an auction and can do so by visiting https://washington.realtaxdeed.com/. This website allows the viewer to review frequently asked questions, register as a bidder, and see the most recent auction calendar. For more information regarding tax deeds or tax deed auctions, please contact the Washington County Clerk of Court’s Office at 850-638-6285, or, for assistance with online registration, please contact Realauction Customer Service at customerservice@realauction.com.