Sell Your House with Tax Liens in Chicagoland
Falling behind on property taxes happens. Maybe you’ve been dealing with financial hardship, medical bills, or a property you can’t afford to maintain. Whatever the reason, unpaid property taxes in Cook County and throughout Chicagoland can escalate quickly — from penalties and interest to tax sale and eventual loss of the property.
3rd Shift Homes buys houses with tax liens. We handle the delinquent taxes at closing, pay off what’s owed, and put cash in your pocket for the remaining equity. No need to come up with thousands of dollars to clear the taxes before selling.
What Happens If You Don’t Pay Property Taxes in Illinois?
In Cook County, the annual tax sale typically occurs about 13-14 months after taxes were originally due. A tax buyer purchases the delinquent taxes, and you then have a redemption period (typically 2-3 years for residential property) to pay back the amount plus penalties. If you don’t redeem, the tax buyer can petition for a tax deed — and you lose the property entirely.
The collar counties follow a similar process. The bottom line: unpaid property taxes don’t go away, and the penalties only grow.
Why Sell to 3rd Shift Homes?
Rather than losing your property to a tax sale for pennies on the dollar, sell to us for a fair cash price. We pay off the tax liens at closing and give you the remaining equity. You walk away with cash instead of nothing.
We buy properties with tax liens across Cook, DuPage, Will, Lake, Kane, McHenry, and Kendall counties in Illinois, and Lake and Porter counties in Indiana.
Related Resources
Learn more about property taxes and your options:
- What Happens If You Don’t Pay Property Taxes in Cook County? — The full timeline from penalties to tax deed.
- Understanding the Cook County Tax Sale Process — How the annual tax sale works and your redemption period.
- Behind on Payments? — Options when you’re falling behind on taxes or mortgage.
Areas We Buy Tax-Delinquent Properties
We buy houses with tax liens throughout Cook County and the surrounding area, including Cicero, Berwyn, Evanston, Joliet, Gary, Hammond, Aurora, and Waukegan. Get your cash offer today →
Additional Situations We Handle
Tax problems rarely happen in isolation. If you’re dealing with any of these alongside your tax liens, we can still buy your property:
- Facing foreclosure in addition to delinquent property taxes
- Inherited a house with back taxes and don’t want the financial burden
- Vacant property racking up tax debt while sitting empty
Don’t let tax debt take your property. Contact 3rd Shift Homes today for a cash offer — we handle the lien payoff at closing so you walk away clean.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sell my house if I owe back taxes?
Yes. We buy houses with delinquent property taxes regularly across Chicagoland. We handle the outstanding taxes at closing and pay them off as part of the transaction. You receive the remaining equity in cash.
What happens if I do not pay my property taxes in Illinois?
In Cook County, the annual tax sale typically occurs about 13-14 months after taxes were originally due. A tax buyer purchases the delinquent taxes, and you have a redemption period of 2-3 years for residential property. If you do not redeem, you can lose the property entirely.
Will you buy my house if it already went to tax sale?
In most cases, yes, as long as you are still within the redemption period and still have ownership of the property. Contact us to discuss your specific situation and timeline.
How much will I get if I owe a lot in back taxes?
Your cash offer is based on the property value minus the outstanding taxes, liens, and closing costs. We are transparent about how we calculate our offers and will walk you through the numbers.
Ready to Talk About Your Options?
No pressure, no obligation. Just a real conversation about what makes sense for your situation.
