Lien & Tax Specialists — Bay Area CA

Sell Your Bay Area Home With Liens or Back Taxes — We Handle It All Through Escrow

Tax liens, mechanic's liens, judgment liens, HOA liens, code violations, or unpaid property taxes don't have to stop your sale. We buy houses with liens in place across San Jose, Oakland, Fremont, Gilroy and all Bay Area cities — liens are resolved at closing, not before.

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AllLien types handled

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The Key Fact

A Lien on Your Home Does Not Prevent a Sale — It Gets Resolved at Closing

Many Bay Area homeowners believe that a tax lien, mechanic's lien, or judgment lien makes their property unsellable. This is not true. In California, liens attached to a property are typically resolved at closing through the escrow process — meaning the lien amount is paid out of the sale proceeds before you receive your share. You don't have to pay the lien out of pocket before selling. The experienced title companies and escrow officers we work with across Santa Clara, Alameda, and San Benito counties handle these situations regularly.

Types of Liens We Handle

We Buy Homes With Any Type of Lien Across the Bay Area

🏛️ Tax liens & back taxes

Federal or state tax liens, unpaid property taxes, and delinquent tax assessments — all resolved through escrow at closing using sale proceeds.

🔨 Mechanic's liens

Unpaid contractor, subcontractor, or material supplier liens against your property. Common after renovation projects with payment disputes.

⚖️ Judgment liens

Court judgments that have been recorded against your property — from lawsuits, unpaid debts, or other legal proceedings in California courts.

🏘️ HOA liens

Delinquent HOA dues, fines, and assessments recorded as liens against your property by a homeowners association in any Bay Area community.

🏗️ Code violation liens

City or county code enforcement liens for unpermitted work, habitability violations, or unresolved citations in San Jose, Oakland, or any Bay Area municipality.

💊 Medi-Cal / estate liens

California Medi-Cal recovery liens and estate-related encumbrances that are recorded against inherited or probate properties across the Bay Area.

How It Works

How Liens Are Resolved When You Sell to Us

The Lien Resolution Process at Closing

We make a cash offer based on the property's as-is value

We know about the lien upfront — it doesn't disqualify your home. Our offer reflects the property's market value. Tell us what you know about any liens when you contact us.

A licensed title company performs a full title search

The escrow and title company identifies all recorded liens against the property. This is standard in every California real estate transaction and ensures nothing is missed.

Liens are paid at closing from sale proceeds

At closing, the escrow company pays off all recorded liens from the sale proceeds before distributing the remaining balance to you. You receive whatever equity remains after payoff.

Title transfers free and clear — you receive your proceeds

The property transfers with a clean title. All liens are satisfied. Your remaining equity is wired to your bank account. Done.

What You Get

Everything We Handle So You Don't Have To

We buy with liens in place — no need to pay them off before selling
We buy as-is in any physical condition — no repairs needed
Zero agent commissions — nothing deducted from your proceeds
We pay all standard closing costs
Written cash offer within 24 hours
Close in as little as 7 days or on your timeline
Licensed California escrow and title company handles all lien resolution
No surprise offer reductions — our offer is what you receive at closing after liens
Serving all Bay Area cities across Santa Clara, Alameda, and San Benito counties
Your information is never shared with agents or third parties

Common Questions

FAQ — Selling a Bay Area Home With Liens

Can I really sell a home with a tax lien on it?

Yes. A tax lien does not prevent a sale — it gets paid off at closing from the sale proceeds. The IRS and California FTB have established procedures for lien releases through real estate closings. The escrow officer and title company coordinate the payoff and lien release as part of the closing process. You do not need to pay the lien yourself before selling.

What if the liens total more than the home is worth?

If the total of all liens plus the mortgage exceeds the property's market value, you are in a negative equity position. In this case, satisfying all liens through a standard sale may not be possible without lender or creditor approval (similar to a short sale situation). We can discuss your specific numbers and help you understand your options — including whether a short sale or other arrangement might be possible.

Do I need to know the exact lien amounts before contacting you?

No. Tell us what you know and we'll work from there. A title search as part of the escrow process will identify all recorded liens against the property. You don't need to have exact figures — just let us know what you're aware of so we can structure our offer appropriately.

What about code violations — can you still buy the home?

Yes. We buy homes with open code violations across all Bay Area cities — San Jose, Oakland, Fremont, Hayward, Berkeley and throughout Santa Clara and Alameda counties. Code violations recorded as liens against the property are resolved through the closing process. We buy the home as-is without requiring you to bring it into compliance first.

How long does closing take when there are liens?

Closing timelines with liens are typically similar to standard closings — 7–21 days in most cases. Some liens (particularly IRS liens) require a formal subordination or discharge request that may add a week or two, but we've navigated this process many times and build that into our timeline. We'll give you a realistic estimate upfront based on your specific situation.