PLEASE HELP!!!!!URGENT

[Angeleen]

Hi, I am very new at this and just recently purchased a tax sale building.  I have already paid the down payment but I have no access to the buliding.  Unfortunately the previous owner is still living in the building and although I have gone there he refuses to talk to me.  I am very scared that he will destroy the building, (smash walls, take everything, or even set the place on fire.....) and when I went there today he had a hose leading into a hole in the roof and it looked like he was flooding the building.  I would like to know what my rights are and if I can stop him or what I can do, if anything.

I am only a young student and am very unfamiliar with this process.  Please help me, I dont know what else to do!

Thank you

[Asindero]

Call the treasurer first thing in the morning and tell him or her that you are backing out.
Go and pick up your envelop as soon as you can.
It will cost you arm and leg if you don't act quickly.

[Frank]

Never, approach the current owner, until after you have the deed.  It is still theirs to do whatever they want with it.  One of the reasons for buying a tax sale property at significantly below market, is that until you have the deed, and have evicted the current owner your investment is in jeopardy. 

You should contact your insurance company immediately when you are a successful bidder.  I don't believe that they will insure it until you have the deed, but you never know.  Once you have the deed, and it is insured, problems with the current owner doing damage can be covered provided you can get some proof of its prior condition - as well, you can involve the authorities in mitigating future damage.  You do run a risk of having a vindictive prior owner who lost his shirt on the deal, his wife probably left him, and his kids hate him - he has nothing to lose and you are now on his dart board.  Good luck.

I doubt that the Municipality will return the deposit since it is a situation which is out of their control and not legally part of the sale process.  You might come across a compassionate Treasurer who opts to side with you - but not likely, that is not their job.