National reference

Tax deed states

In a tax deed state, the county sells the property itself at auction to recover unpaid taxes, and you can walk away owning real estate. A redeemable deed state adds a redemption window with a penalty before the sale becomes final. Either way, a tax deed does not convey marketable title on its own, so most buyers budget for a quiet title action. It is the property play, as opposed to the yield play of a tax lien state.