Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Illinois

Re: Real Estate Tax Lien

If you bought the properties at a recent tax sale, they are probably not yours yet. Typically the county will allow the property owner to redeem the taxes within a fixed period of time. If the property owner does not redeem the property in that time, and if you have paid all unpaid taxes that accrue during that time, then you will eventually own the property. In many situations, however, either the property owner or his lender does pay the taxes and redeem the property. In that case, you will get your money back, with the agreed-upon interest.

Re: Real Estate Tax Lien

Having tax certificates merely means that you have begun the process of attempting to get tax "deeds" to the subject property(ies). The process is very difficult and requires knowledge of the process which begins by serving requisite notice on the taxpayer of record and any other entities associated with the property (lien holders, mortgage lenders, joint owners, etc.) with very statute-specific "Notices". I HIGHLY recommend that you contact an attorney familiar with the process. Local Bar Associations have lawyer-referral services to find you local counsel who are familiar in particular areas of law.