Understanding the Difference Between a Tax Deed and Title

Dr. Trenice J. Brinkley
3 min readApr 7, 2024

Photo by Tierra Mallorca on Unsplash

Are you thinking about buying a property? Perhaps you’ve heard the terms “tax deed” and “title” thrown around, but what exactly do they mean? Are they the same thing? Let’s unravel this mystery and understand why a tax deed is not the same as a title.

Imagine you’re buying a new car. You wouldn’t just hand over your hard-earned cash without receiving the car’s title, right? Well, the same principle applies to real estate transactions.

Firstly, let’s define what each term means:

Tax Deed:

A tax deed is a legal document that gives the government the authority to sell a property to recover unpaid property taxes. In simpler terms, if a property owner fails to pay their property taxes for a certain period, the government may auction off the property to recoup those unpaid taxes. When you purchase a property through a tax deed auction, you’re essentially buying the right to claim ownership of the property, subject to any outstanding liens or encumbrances.

Title:

A title, on the other hand, is a legal document that serves as proof of ownership of a property. When you buy a property, you receive a title that shows you are the rightful owner. It’s like the deed to…

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Dr. Trenice J. Brinkley
Dr. Trenice J. Brinkley

Written by Dr. Trenice J. Brinkley

Dr. TJ Brinkley is the founder of Two Queens Media and The National President of Eta Rho Sigma Sorority,Inc., author, wife and mother. www.trenicejbrinkley.com

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