Are Virginia tax sales a good opportunity?

Virginia sells tax deeds under Code of Virginia § 58.1-3965 et seq. (judicial sales); § 58.1-3975 (nonjudicial sales of low-value parcels). Whether a specific sale is a good opportunity depends on the parcels listed, the competition at that county's sale, and your max number — which is why investors research the list, not the headline.

Virginia Tax Sales: What Investors Need to Know This Season

Q: How do I get notified about Virginia tax sales?

Counties publish sale lists on their own schedules — No fixed statewide annual date; judicial and nonjudicial sales are scheduled as needed, year-round, by locality / special commissioner LienToDeed watches those publications and alerts members when new Virginia properties are listed.

Blog / State spotlights

Virginia tax sales: the season preview

Quick answerVirginia sells tax deeds for unpaid property taxes. Redemption: No post-sale redemption after court confirmation and issuance of the deed. Owner may redeem by paying all taxes, penalties, interest and costs at any time before the sale (judicial sales, § 58.1-3965; nonjudicial sales, § 58.1-3975 — redeemable at any time prior to the date of sale). Land generally becomes sale-eligible when taxes are delinquent on December 31 following the 2nd anniversary of the due date (1 year for condemned/nuisance/derelict/blighted property) Sales: No fixed statewide annual date; judicial and nonjudicial sales are scheduled as needed, year-round, by locality / special commissioner Governing law: Code of Virginia § 58.1-3965 et seq. (judicial sales); § 58.1-3975 (nonjudicial sales of low-value parcels).

What's actually for sale

Virginia sells tax deeds. Two tracks: court-supervised judicial sales (special commissioner, sale confirmed by the court, typically a special warranty / commissioner's deed) and treasurer-run nonjudicial sales for lower-value parcels. Judicial sales commonly require a 25% or $1,000 deposit and a buyer's premium in many localities.

The rate that decides your return

n/a — pure tax deed state; no lien certificate is sold. Delinquent taxes themselves bear locality penalty/interest owed to the locality, not a return to the deed buyer

The clock you're investing against

Sale schedule: No fixed statewide annual date; judicial and nonjudicial sales are scheduled as needed, year-round, by locality / special commissioner

Redemption: No post-sale redemption after court confirmation and issuance of the deed. Owner may redeem by paying all taxes, penalties, interest and costs at any time before the sale (judicial sales, § 58.1-3965; nonjudicial sales, § 58.1-3975 — redeemable at any time prior to the date of sale). Land generally becomes sale-eligible when taxes are delinquent on December 31 following the 2nd anniversary of the due date (1 year for condemned/nuisance/derelict/blighted property)

Where the sales happen

Bid4Assets, For Sale At Auction, county-specific / Taxing Authority Consulting Services (TACS), in-person commissioner sales. Lists post on the county's schedule, change as owners redeem, and registration typically closes before sale day — the investors who see the list first set the market.

Watch Virginia lists for me

LienToDeed scans the published lists and texts you when new Virginia properties post — scored, with a max bid or max rate.

Get Virginia alerts

Deep dives: Virginia laws · Virginia investing guide · Virginia sale calendar. Law verified 2026-10-30.