Short answer
Often yes, if the sale closes and the delinquent taxes are paid before the tax sale. The law lets an owner pay in full before the sale and keeps the property from being sold. A closing needs time, so the earlier you find a buyer, the better.
The deadline is the sale date
Under Pennsylvania's Real Estate Tax Sale Law, if payment is made before the actual sale, the property will not be sold, though it may be listed in the advertisements. The practical point is that a sale of your house has to produce the money in time. Ask the county Tax Claim Bureau for the sale date and for the payoff amount, including costs and interest.
What the payoff includes
The upset price includes delinquent taxes, interest, other tax claims or judgments, accrued taxes and municipal claims. Check for these items on a title search. A buyer or title company will want to see them paid from the closing proceeds. The upset price is not just the original tax bill. It adds interest, costs and other claims that attach to the property, so the number you need is often higher than you expect. Ask the bureau for a written figure and for the date it is good through. If the sale will pay the full amount, the title company can wire the payoff at closing. Do not rely on a verbal amount, because the final figure can shift by the closing date.
Time is tight
A normal listing can take weeks to find a buyer and weeks more to close. A cash buyer who does not depend on a bank loan can be faster. Whichever route you pick, ask for a closing date in writing and make sure it falls before the tax sale date. Also ask whether a payment plan is available.
Working backward from the sale date
Start with the date of the upset sale. Subtract the days you need to close. A cash sale may close faster than a retail sale that depends on a buyer's loan. In the first week, get the payoff from the bureau and collect offers. In the second week, sign a contract and order the title work. In the remaining time, schedule the closing and make sure the payment reaches the bureau before the sale. Ask the buyer to confirm that the payoff will be wired from the closing. If the date is too tight, ask the bureau about a payment plan or a short extension, and get any agreement in writing.
A cash option
Kaizen Home Buyers buys houses as-is for cash. We can make an offer within 24 hours, with no repairs and no agent commission, and close in 14 to 30 days or on your date. Call 267-329-0084. If your sale date is close, tell us up front so we can see whether the schedule works. An attorney can confirm the payoff and your rights.