Tax-forfeited land is the result of unpaid property taxes. The process from delinquent taxes to forfeiture is:
1. Taxes become delinquent in January the year following when the taxes were due.
2. Notification to the taxpayer of record is given.
3. District Court enters judgment against the property. (Unpaid taxes are a lien against the property, not a personal debt of the owner.)
4. Judgment is entered as of April in the delinquent year.
5. “Period of redemption” begins:
Depending on ownership, use and location of the property, the period of redemption is one, three or five years from judgment. Based on 2013 Legislation eliminating the five-year redemption period, new tax judgment sales in 2014 and subsequent years will have either a one or three year period of redemption. (During this period, the owner, or anyone else having interests in the property, can pay the delinquent taxes and forfeiture will not occur.)
6. If the property taxes remain unpaid after the statutory “expiration of redemption period”, the land forfeits to the State of Minnesota. The county is then responsible for management of the Tax-Forfeited Land Program.
What happens to tax-forfeited property
After land is forfeited all taxes and special assessments prior to the forfeiture date are canceled.
- For a period of time a previous owner can go through the repurchase process. (see Repurchase process section.)
- A classification process takes place to determine whether the land will remain in public ownership and be managed for public benefit, or if it will be returned to private ownership via a public auction. (See Classification process section.)
Once decided, lands are offered for sale by a following method:
- Sale to a government entity (i.e., Housing and Redevelopment Authority, Public Works, a city, etc.)
- Public auction (See Public auctions section.)
- Adjacent owner auction
- Over the counter – some properties not sold at auction may become available for purchase in our office
- Traditional real estate sale process (i.e., realtor.com, zillow.com, trulia.com)
Repurchase process
It is possible for home owners to repurchase tax-forfeited land. For a limited amount of time after the date of forfeiture, Minnesota statute (MS 282.241) allows home owners or others with title rights to repurchase the land. The person seeking to repurchase will have to pay all taxes, assessments, and maintenance costs incurred by the county during the time the land was forfeited.
Private parties are not allowed to purchase property through the repurchase process unless they were listed on the title.
Parties wanting to repurchase may qualify to do so via contract for deed. Homestead properties can have a 10 year contract, non-homestead properties only qualify for a 4 year contract.
Applying for repurchase
1. Begin application:
- Call our office to speak with a property manager
- Arrange an appointment or to have items mailed to you
2. Complete application process (at appointment or by mail) – you need to:
- Pay required down payment fee by cashier's check, money order or certified check - amount is calculated by the property manager and will include a non-refundable application fee
- Demonstrate proof of ownership or assigned interest in the property
- Discuss required inspection of property and impact on the owner (if any)
- Review additional requirements for purchases being made by Contract for deed
- Complete an application and sign already-prepared documents
3. Prepare for the hearing:
- Receive legal notices and the hearing date
- Contract for deed purchasers also need to:
- Get insurance for any structure(s). Send proof to the property manager or bring it to the hearing.
- Complete financial counseling provided free by Hennepin County. Submit proof of completion to property manager.
4. Attend the hearing – during the hearing you will:
- Find out if you will be approved for repurchase
- Pay any additional expenses
- Sign the contract for deed, if applicable
Upcoming hearings on notices of application of repurchase
February 18, 2020
Classification process
The purpose of this statutory meeting is to classify or reclassify state-owned tax-forfeited lands as conservation or non-conservation, as outlined in Minnesota Statute 282.01. Classification also includes current and potential use of the land.
How to participate in the classification process
At the classification meeting or in writing prior to it, any person, governmental entity (or representative) or agency possessing pertinent information concerning a tax-forfeited land on the current list may:
- Make or submit comments and recommendations about the pending classification or reclassification
- Describe plans, ideas, or projects that may involve use or acquisition of the lands on the list, by that or another governmental entity
- Provide information about relevant components of current municipal or metropolitan comprehensive land use plans that incorporate the area in which the lands are located
Current classification notices
December 10, 2019
The difference between tax-forfeited land and mortgage foreclosure
Mortgage foreclosure occurs when a property owner fails to make their mortgage payments to their bank or lender. It is a process between the owner and the lender.
People often confuse the two processes. Tax-forfeiture occurs when an owner can’t pay their property taxes. It is a process between the owner and the county. Tax forfeiture usually lags behind foreclosure by several years – in part, because the tax-forfeiture process takes much longer.
The reasons for foreclosure and tax-forfeiture are often the same – owners fall into financial trouble because of job loss, a sudden and expensive medical crisis, unexpected property expenses, and other reasons. Sometimes these two processes are occurring at the same time.
Voting rights – Per the Minnesota Secretary of State, as long as you still reside in your house you can still vote even if it is in foreclosure.
Maps and statistics
Download or purchase detailed foreclosure maps.