Selling a House With Back Taxes in Pennsylvania: Robin’s Story
Robin wanted to move to Florida to be near her daughter, but years of unpaid property taxes put her Susquehanna duplex at risk of a county tax sale. Here’s how we got it sold, cleared the title problems, and kept her plan on track.
Talk to Alex: (888) 828-3586The Situation: Back Taxes, a Tired Duplex, and a Move to Florida
Robin reached out to Clear Path House Buyer in August 2026 after finding us online. She owned a duplex in Susquehanna, Pennsylvania outright, with no mortgage, but she was a few years behind on property taxes. In Pennsylvania, when real estate taxes go unpaid long enough, the county can put the property up at a tax sale, and that clock was running.
The house itself was two different stories. One side was in good shape; Robin had renovated it a bit when her mother moved in. The other side was very rough: it needed a roof and a lot more, and it was heated by a wood stove. Robin wanted to move to Florida to be with her daughter within a few months, and she didn’t have the time or money to fix the rough side first.
Duplex in Susquehanna, PA
- Type
- Side-by-side duplex, two addresses on one lot
- Condition
- One side updated, one side needing a roof and major repairs; wood stove heat
- Seller’s goal
- Avoid the tax sale and move to Florida to be near family
- How it sold
- Retail Buyer Program, listed by a licensed local agent, as-is
- Closed
- October 20, 2026, at a local title attorney’s office
How We Helped Robin Sell Her Pennsylvania House With Back Taxes
A quick cash offer on a house like Robin’s would have been low, because a cash buyer prices in the roof, the rough side, and the risk. So we put her house in our Retail Buyer Program instead. We signed our agreement in August, and within a week a licensed local agent had it listed for sale as-is. Robin didn’t fix, clean, or stage anything. We coordinated the sale; the agent handled the listing and showings.
A buyer signed a purchase agreement in mid-September. That’s when the real work started.
Clearing the title
The title search came back with three items that had to be cleared before anyone could close, including an old claim recorded by another home buying company. We tracked down each party, got the payoffs or written releases title needed, and kept pushing until the last one, a signed and notarized release from that other company, was recorded.
Handling the back taxes
The delinquent taxes were paid at closing out of the sale. A few days before closing, more back taxes for 2024 turned up on both parcels. Instead of letting that shrink what Robin walked away with, we adjusted our side so her number stayed where we had promised it.
Time to move
Robin needed a little time after closing to pack and move south, so we worked out a short post-closing stay with the buyer, with part of her proceeds paid at closing and the rest released when she moved out.
Robin’s Timeline
August 13: First call
Robin explains the back taxes, the duplex, and her plan to move to Florida.
August 20: Agreement signed
We pick the Retail Buyer Program over a low cash offer.
August 26: Listed as-is
A licensed local agent lists the duplex. No repairs, no cleaning.
Mid-September: Buyer under contract
A purchase agreement is signed and title work begins.
Late September to mid-October: Title cleared
Three title items paid off or released, including a recorded release from another company.
October 20: Closed
Back taxes paid at closing, Robin’s number protected, and time to move out afterward.
Why It Worked
No repairs
The rough side sold exactly as it was.
We chased the paperwork
Payoffs, releases, and title questions were on us, not Robin.
A promise kept
When new taxes showed up at the end, we absorbed it so her number didn’t change.
Steady updates
Robin heard from us through every delay, by call and text.
Selling a House With Back Taxes: Common Questions
Can I sell my house if I’m behind on property taxes in Pennsylvania?
Yes. You can sell a house with delinquent property taxes, and the back taxes are usually paid out of the sale at closing. The key is moving before the county’s tax sale date. Robin’s back taxes were paid at closing on October 20, 2026.
Can I sell a duplex when one side needs major repairs?
Yes. Robin’s duplex had one updated side and one side that needed a roof and major work. It sold as-is through our Retail Buyer Program, with no repairs or cleaning by Robin.
What happens if liens or title problems show up after I accept an offer?
They have to be cleared before closing. On Robin’s house, three title items came up, and we tracked down each party for a payoff or a written release until title could close.
Can I stay in the house for a short time after closing?
Sometimes. It depends on the buyer. Robin needed time to move to Florida, so we arranged a short post-closing stay, with part of her proceeds paid at closing and the rest when she moved out.
Is Clear Path House Buyer the real estate agent?
No. In our Retail Buyer Program, a licensed local agent lists the home and we coordinate the sale. If we buy for cash, there is no agent involved.
How long does it take to sell a house with back taxes?
It depends on the house and the title. Robin’s sale took 61 days from our agreement to closing, including the time it took to clear three title issues.
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Behind on Taxes and Need to Sell?
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