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Everything you need to research, assess and invest in tax-sale properties across Australia — from first-time buyers to seasoned investors.
Tax-sale properties are homes and land sold at public auction by a council to recover overdue rates and charges. The reserve price is set to cover the unpaid rates and the costs of the sale — not the market value. Each state and territory runs the process under its own legislation — for example the NSW Local Government Act 1993 (s713), the Victorian Local Government Act 1989 (s181), and the SA Local Government Act 1999 (s184). The owner can usually pay the overdue rates and costs to stop the sale up until the auction — always do your due diligence before bidding.
A complete overview of the rate-sale process: what triggers it, how the reserve is set, how to take part, and what you end up with.
Read GuideWhat to check before you bid: title search, contaminated-land risk, encumbrances, access, zoning, and contacting the council in charge.
Read GuideDefinitions of key terms: reserve price, rateable and land value, redemption, public auction, deposit, and more.
Read GuideA side-by-side comparison of the rules, processes, redemption and risks across NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA, TAS, ACT and NT.
Read GuideA 7-step guide for beginners: what to expect, how to research, how to bid, common mistakes, and a budget checklist.
Read Guide27 questions answered: What is a rate sale? What is a repossessed home? Can I inspect properties? What happens with encumbrances?
Read GuideCouncil rate sales, court-ordered auctions and insolvency sales each follow a different process. In-depth guides for each.
A mortgagee auction is run for a lender — usually a bank — enforcing a mortgage after the borrower defaults. Once the borrower falls far eno…
Read GuideAn insolvency sale happens when a company or individual becomes insolvent and an external practitioner — a liquidator or voluntary administr…
Read GuideCouncil rate sales happen when a landowner leaves their council rates and charges unpaid for the statutory period — around three years in mo…
Read GuideCrown land sales are not debt recovery — they are public sales through which a state or territory disposes of government-owned (Crown) land …
Read GuideCouncil property sales happen when a council disposes of property it owns — surplus land, buildings, or plant and goods — or sells assets to…
Read GuideCouncils across every state and territory of Australia hold rate sales. Click to explore.