The Bulloch County Tax Commissioner schedules tax sales on the commissioner's own calendar, not on a strict monthly cadence like some counties. That can be a relief — there is more time than a mortgage foreclosure usually allows — or it can be a problem, because the timeline is harder to predict without checking with the tax commissioner directly.
How Tax Liens / Tax Sale Works in Bulloch County
Bulloch County tax sales work differently from mortgage foreclosure. The Tax Commissioner issues a fi.fa. (fieri facias / tax execution) for unpaid property taxes. After the property is levied on and the legal advertising runs, it is sold at a tax sale held a few times per year at the Bulloch County Annex on N. Main Street, advertised four consecutive weeks in the Statesboro Herald.
Even after the sale, the original homeowner usually still has rights. Under OCGA § 48-4-40, the owner — or any interest holder — can redeem the property within 12 months of the tax sale by paying the redemption price. The redemption price (OCGA § 48-4-42) equals the tax-sale amount plus a 20% premium for the first year, with later subsequent taxes and costs added on.
After 12 months, the tax-sale purchaser can begin the barment process under OCGA § 48-4-45 — serving notice on the owner of record, occupant, and recorded interest holders, and publishing in the Statesboro Herald for four consecutive weeks. After the barment notice expires, the right to redeem ends and the tax-deed buyer's title ripens.
The Georgia Timeline — In Plain English
Here is what the Bulloch tax-lien clock often looks like:
Year 1 — Property taxes go unpaid. The Bulloch County Tax Commissioner sends notices. Penalties and interest start accruing under Georgia law.
Sometime later — A fi.fa. issues, the property is levied, and the tax sale gets advertised in the Statesboro Herald for four weeks before the scheduled sale date.
Tax sale day — The property sells at the Bulloch County Annex by public outcry. A tax deed issues to the buyer. This is not fee-simple title yet.
12 months after the sale — The owner's right to redeem under OCGA § 48-4-40 ends, unless extended by certain interest holders.
After 12 months — The tax-deed buyer can serve barment notice (OCGA § 48-4-45) and publish for four weeks. Once the barment notice deadline passes, the redemption right ends permanently and the buyer's title ripens.
A pre-tax-sale closing pays off the tax bill and ends the process. A redemption-period closing pays off the tax-deed buyer at the redemption price plus the mortgage payoff, leaving the homeowner with clear title.
Georgia Statutes Cited Here
- OCGA § 48-4-40 — The defendant in fi.fa. or any party with a right, title, interest, or lien may redeem the property within 12 months of the tax sale.
- OCGA § 48-4-42 — Redemption price equals the tax-sale amount plus a 20% premium for the first year and 10% for each year after, plus subsequent taxes and costs.
- OCGA § 48-4-45 — After 12 months, the tax-sale purchaser can foreclose the right of redemption ("barment") by serving notice on the owner of record, occupant, and lienholders, and publishing in the legal-organ newspaper for four consecutive weeks.
How VP Buys Homes Helps in This Situation
A Bulloch tax-lien situation has its own logistics. Here is what we do.
We figure out where you are in the process. Pre-tax-sale, post-sale within the 12-month redemption window, or post-barment is a different conversation each. The first call usually starts with reading whatever letter you received.
We get the actual numbers. The Bulloch County Tax Commissioner's office at 113 N. Main Street can confirm exactly how much is owed and when the next tax sale is. If a sale already happened, the tax-deed buyer's redemption price (sale price plus 20% first-year premium per § 48-4-42) is the number that matters.
We close clean. The taxes get paid, any tax-deed buyer gets paid the redemption price plus premium, and any mortgage gets paid off — all from the closing proceeds. The seller walks away with clear title and whatever equity remains.
We pay standard closing costs. No commissions, no listing fees. The Bulloch tax-related sale closes at a local closing attorney.
We refer to a real-estate attorney before contracting. Tax-deed redemption math has nuances that are worth a brief professional consultation. Many Bulloch attorneys offer flat-fee initial consultations.
- Pay the redemption price plus mortgage payoff at closing so the seller walks away with clear title
- Close well before the barment deadline ends the right of redemption
- Coordinate with the county tax commissioner and tax-sale purchaser directly
- Refer the seller to a Georgia real-estate attorney to confirm redemption rights are still alive
Local — Not a National Wholesaler
A real Bulloch operator knows the Tax Commissioner is at 113 N. Main Street, knows the Statesboro Herald is the legal organ, and knows that Bulloch tax sales happen a few times a year — not strictly monthly. They know the difference between a mortgage foreclosure (controlled by OCGA § 44-14-162) and a tax sale (controlled by OCGA § 48-4). Out-of-state buyers do not.
We have closed Bulloch tax-lien sales involving properties from the Averitt Arts District and Fair Road to Brooklet, Portal, Stilson, Register, and the smaller communities like Hopeulikit, Nevils, Leefield, and Adabelle. Some were pre-sale rescues, some were redemption-period buyouts. Each one had different math; we worked the actual numbers.
Local Court
Bulloch County Superior Court
20 Siebald Street, Statesboro, GA 30458
Probate Court
Bulloch County Probate Court
2 North Main Street, Statesboro, GA 30458
Legal Notices
Statesboro Herald
Foreclosure ads run here, four consecutive weeks before sale