Legend Definitions

• Active Foreclosure – The attorney has begun work to foreclose the tax lien. During this stage, attorney fees and costs are accruing.
• County Owns – Properties that were auctioned and purchased by Guilford County due to the lack of a 3rd party bid. These properties are available for purchase
• SOLD – Foreclosed properties once owned by Guilford County and subsequently sold.
• Pending Foreclosures – Tax lien foreclosures that are pending assignment to an attorney.
• Notice of Sale – The public auction sale date has been posted as required by law. These postings are on the bulletin board located in the Guilford County Courthouse, Upper Ground Level, near the Clerk of Courts’ office, 201 S. Eugene St., Greensboro, North Carolina. A copy of the sale notice is also posted on a bulletin board in the cashier lobby of the Tax Collections Division located at 400 W. Market Street, Independence Center, Greensboro, North Carolina.
• Upset Period – Property that remains within the 10-day upset bid period of the auction/sale date.
• Under Appeal – Property undergoing the foreclosure process which has been interrupted by a valid appeal to the local Board of Equalization and Review or the State Property Tax Commission. The foreclosure process may continue once the appeal process has been completed and adjudicated.

Additional Information

The listing owner may redeem the property from either attorney’s office by paying the delinquent taxes plus costs and attorney fees at anytime up to and including the day of sale. If a non-owner pays the taxes prior to the foreclosure auction, it does not convey rights to the property to that person.

If you have any questions regarding the information on this web page or any of its contents, please call 336-641-3363, Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and ask to speak with a real property revenue collector. Please have the parcel number and property address available if you are inquiring about a specific property. You may also e-mail us at tax_foreclosure@guilfordcountync.gov.

FAQ

May I purchase the tax lien if I pay the delinquent property tax? In North Carolina, tax liens cannot be purchased. If a non-owner pays the taxes, in no way does it convey rights to the property to that person.

How many years do property taxes have to be in arrears before the County begins the foreclosure process? In accordance with State law, property taxes become delinquent on January 6 for the current fiscal year, which runs from July 1 through June 30. Past due taxes are subject to enforcement measures including, but not limited to, garnishment of wages and bank accounts, levy on personal property, foreclosure of real estate, attachment of current and future state income tax refunds and attachment of lottery winnings. Foreclosure of the tax lien is the last resort, but is seriously considered after all other remedies are exhausted even when only one (1) year is in arrears.

How does the foreclosure process work? Our attorney advertises the sale of the property in local newspapers, schedules the sale and the property is sold at public auction to the highest bidder. Public sales of these properties are staggered throughout the year. The listing owner may redeem the property from the attorney's office by paying the delinquent taxes plus costs and attorney fees at any time up to and including the day of sale.

Are the foreclosure sales open to the public? Yes.

Where may I find the notice of sale date? Notices of pending sales and their corresponding dates are posted at the Upper Ground level of the new courthouse located at 201 S. Eugene Street, Greensboro, NC. They are also posted at our main office of the Tax Collection Division located at 400 W. Market Street, Greensboro. As stated earlier, the notice of sale is published in local newspapers; News & Record or the Jametown News.

Where do the foreclosure sales take place? The sales take place on the Upper Ground level of the new courthouse near the Clerk of Court’s office located at 201 S. Eugene St., Greensboro, NC.

How are opening bids established at the foreclosure sale? The opening bid is usually the sum of the delinquent taxes plus any attorney costs and fees.

Foreclosure Contacts

   Information on properties that are coded as:

• Active foreclosure parcels - contact Collections 641-3363
• County Owned parcels (property has been foreclosed & is for sale by the county) - contact Property Management 641-3778