Nova Scotia - Halifax

[Dave2]

Those people looking for a city place a little cheaper maybe interested in this

http://www.halifax.ca/revenue/tax/taxsale.html

certainly beats some of the Ontario pricesl  

Number 4 looks interesting if the ownership is correct.  Imagine owning your own country.   

[Frank]

Thanks for sharing that Dave;

I'm sure that you would change the name to 'Sovereign Nation of Dave' pretty quick. 

What I found interesting in this add, was that a number of the properties are noted as being 'not redeemable', and others were noted as being 'redeemable'.  I'd like to know how their system works out there, and see if they have wording that we should push to be included in our tax sale legislation, this might overcome the problem we have with our system of redemptions. 

[Dave2]

What I found interesting in this add, was that a number of the properties are noted as being 'not redeemable', and others were noted as being 'redeemable'.  I'd like to know how their system works out there, and see if they have wording that we should push to be included in our tax sale legislation, this might overcome the problem we have with our system of redemptions.    

Frank:  

this may help: Comes from Cape Breton Municipality (Direct Quote)

I will comment on it in a separate post. 

Dave
How to Acquire a Property At Tax Sale

What procedure do I follow to bid on a tax sale property?
Pre Tax Sale steps:
1. Steps to follow prior to Tax Sale
Note: The Municipality does not guarantee clear title through its tax deeds.
a. Speak with the Tax Collector at least two (2) weeks prior to sale date.
b. View (only no permission to enter) property and ensure account is the property you wish to bid at Tax Sale.
2. Match account number with Map, Area and Location.
Contact: Land Information Management Services (LIMS)
500 George Street, Sydney, Nova Scotia, B1P 1K6
Telephone: (902) 563-2280
3. Ensure the account on Tax Sale meets all requirements necessary for building purposes and services.
Contact: CBRM Building Services
2nd Floor
Civic Centre, Sydney, Nova Scotia, B1P 7B9
Telephone: (902) 563-5091
Tax Sale Day
Persons interested in a tax sale property should be at the sale location 30 minutes prior to the start of the sale.
Listings will be distributed immediately. You should have already gathered information regarding the property
you are interested in by speaking to the appropriate Tax Collector and advising him/her that you wish to speak at
the sale. Each property put up for sale will be read indicating the Lien #, Assessment #, Assessed Owners Name,
the Starting Bid (amount owing) and the redemption status.
At this time it will be asked if anyone who has an interest (legal, family, etc) in the property wishes to state his or
her interest before bidding begins. This will be followed by three calls for bids. At the conclusion of the third
call, the property will be declared either sold or not sold.
The Tax Sale updated list should be reviewed. Tax accounts can be removed for payment or satisfactory
arrangement immediately before the tax sale.
Bidding at a Tax Sale
Many people arrive at a Tax Sale unaware of tax sale procedures. This is not a time or place to ask for information
regarding a property. It is suggested that a person contemplating the purchase of property tax sale should attend a
sale for viewing purposes and insight into how a tax sale is conducted.
The rules governing Tax Sales are included in the Provincial Municipal Government Act. These rules can be
viewed at www.gov.ns.ca .
Redemption of Tax Sale Property
1) Land sold for non-payment of taxes may be redeemed by the owner, a person with a mortgage, lien or
other charge on the land or a person having an interest in the land within six months after the date of the sale, but
where, at the time of sale, taxes on the land are in arrears for more than six years, no right of redemption exists.
2) To redeem the land the person redeeming shall pay
a) The sum paid by the purchaser.
b) Interest at the rate of ten percent per annum on the total sum paid by the purchaser from the date of the sale to the date of redemption.
c) Taxes levied on the land after the sale and any interest.
d) The fee to record the certificate of discharge.
e) All sums paid by the purchaser for fire insurance premiums to insure buildings on the land
f) All amounts paid by the purchaser for necessary repairs made, with the written approval of the treasurer, to buildings on the land.
g) Less any balance remaining in the tax sale surplus account with respect to the property and any rent or other income earned by the purchaser from the land.
3) Where the municipality buys the land, the taxes payable by a person redeeming are the amount that would be payable if the municipality did not own the land.
4) Where redemption takes place before the tax rate is set, the taxes payable by a person redeeming are those payable for the preceding year and after the tax rate is set, any surplus shall be refunded to the person redeeming and the land is liable for any deficiency.
5) Where property has been redeemed, a certificate of discharge in Form D in Schedule A, or to like effect, shall be prepared and registered in the registry.
6) The registrar of deeds shall make a marginal note referring to the registry of the certificate of discharge on the recorded copy of the certificate of sale.

[Dave2]

Key differences from Ontario as I believe they exist:  

a) You buying the owners right so other claims like a mortgage are not necessarily extinguished.

b) It is an auction process so you have to be there in person.  (I have not been able to find if they accept phone in bids.)

c) See redemption rights post sale.  Same rights exists in other provinces and somewhat like the tax lien process in the US.  See less then 6 years in arears and more then 6 years in arrears.  

see court case on redemption payment rules and process

http://www.courts.ns.ca/decisions_recent/documents/2013nssc355_mtd.pdf

[Frank]

I'd rather wait six years, and bid on something that has no right of redemption, rather than always be losing due to our current situation.