Let's talk about some of the steps an investor should take before buying at the tax deed sale.  Investing at tax deed sales can be one of the most financially rewarding steps an investor can take, but there are risks.  Those risks can be easily avoided if you know what to look out for.  The most important is to be prepared for the sale.  Here are some broad steps to take before your attendance: Research County Pick a county and start to research it.  What are the rules and regulations for the tax deed sale?  Is a deposit required to register for the sale?  What time period is given to the winning bidder to pay the pull bid amount?  What is the bidding process? Research Properties The next thing you will want to do is acquire the list of properties to be auctioned at the tax deed sale.  The first thing you will do is narrow the properties according to your available funds.  Understand that the bidding at the tax auction will bring that price up.  That amount is dependent on the perceived value of the property.  Find properties that meet your criteria; price, property type, property location, property condition, etc.  Don't force a property to meet your criteria.  If it doesn't work, then it doesn't work. Set Bids The biggest mistakes are made when investors get caught up in the excitement of the tax lien auction.  They get caught in a bidding war and bid higher than they should have.  The only way to overcome this problem is to figure out your numbers, set a maximum bid, and stick to it.  Figure out how high you can bid and still make a sufficient profit after all costs are included. No Risk Investor is the ultimate resource and tool for tax lien, deed, and real estate investors all over the world.  No Risk Investor takes incredible pride in its ability to help students take action, get into properties, and begin the journey to financial freedom.  No Risk Investor provides county lists, property lists, online auction lists, comprehensive training and education, an auction calendar, and online auction center, an investor community and much more for its members.