How do I start tax sale investing in Minnesota?

Learn the system first: Minnesota sells tax deeds under Minnesota Statutes chs. 279-282, esp. 281.17 (redemption period), 282.01 and 282.005 (sale of tax-forfeited land). Register with the county or its auction platform before the sale, post any required deposit, research each parcel in the property appraiser and clerk records, and set your max number before bidding.

Minnesota Tax Sale Investing Guide — Buy the property itself at the county sale

Investing guides / Minnesota

Minnesota tax sale investing: buy the property itself at the county sale

Quick answerMinnesota sells tax deeds for unpaid property taxes. Redemption: Generally 3 years from the tax judgment sale (at which the county bids in the parcel for the State on the second Monday in May); 1 year for certain targeted-community and other specified properties, and 5 weeks for judicially abandoned / vacant properties (Minn. Stat. 281.17). Once the period expires the property forfeits absolutely to the State; there is no redemption after the public tax-forfeited land sale, though a former owner may apply to repurchase before that sale (Minn. Stat. 282.241). Sales: County public auctions of newly forfeited land are typically held within about six months after forfeiture and recur year-round by county; parcels are first offered at an initial price based on estimated market value, and unsold parcels are re-offered at a minimum-bid price based on the taxes, penalties, interest and costs. Governing law: Minnesota Statutes chs. 279-282, esp. 281.17 (redemption period), 282.01 and 282.005 (sale of tax-forfeited land).

How it works in Minnesota

In Minnesota the county sells the property itself at a tax deed auction. Win the bid and the deed is yours — along with the due diligence burden, because sales are as-is and buyer beware.

Interest / penalty: n/a - Minnesota sells no lien certificates to private investors; delinquent parcels are bid in for the State and later sold as tax-forfeited land. Interest and penalties on delinquent taxes accrue to the State/county, not to a buyer.

Redemption: Generally 3 years from the tax judgment sale (at which the county bids in the parcel for the State on the second Monday in May); 1 year for certain targeted-community and other specified properties, and 5 weeks for judicially abandoned / vacant properties (Minn. Stat. 281.17). Once the period expires the property forfeits absolutely to the State; there is no redemption after the public tax-forfeited land sale, though a former owner may apply to repurchase before that sale (Minn. Stat. 282.241).

When sales happen: County public auctions of newly forfeited land are typically held within about six months after forfeiture and recur year-round by county; parcels are first offered at an initial price based on estimated market value, and unsold parcels are re-offered at a minimum-bid price based on the taxes, penalties, interest and costs.

Where sales run: Public Surplus is used by many counties for online tax-forfeited land sales; other counties (e.g., Washington County) hold in-person auditor-treasurer auctions or sealed-bid sales. County-specific, no statewide platform.

Governing law: Minnesota Statutes chs. 279-282, esp. 281.17 (redemption period), 282.01 and 282.005 (sale of tax-forfeited land)

The investor's edge

Your edge is the max bid: value the property from county records and recent sales, subtract title-clearing and repair reality, and write the number down before the auction opens.

Title vests in the State in trust for the taxing districts and the county sells by state deed; mineral interests are severed and retained by the State. Following Tyler v. Hennepin County, former owners and interested parties may claim surplus proceeds from the initial public sale of tax-forfeited land.

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Full legal reference: Minnesota tax sale laws. Verified 2026-10-30 against the sources on that page. Educational only, not investment advice.