Getting Your Home Back After a Tax Sale in New Jersey
How long you have to redeem a home after a property tax sale or tax lien sale in New Jersey, and how to do it.
Short answer: When property taxes go unpaid, the municipality sells a tax sale certificate (a lien), and the owner can redeem by paying the amount due. R.S.54:5-86, 54:5-87 (as amended by P.L.2024, c.39)
| Property tax sales | When property taxes go unpaid, the municipality sells a tax sale certificate (a lien), and the owner can redeem by paying the amount due. A private certificate holder may file a court action to end (foreclose) the right of redemption only after two years from the date of the certificate sale; a municipality that holds the certificate may file after six months. Abandoned property can be foreclosed sooner. Once an action is filed, the right to redeem continues until the Superior Court's judgment bars it. Under a 2024 law, the owner (or heirs) may ask the court, before final judgment, to require a sheriff's sale or online auction instead of a transfer of title, so that any surplus equity can be claimed from the court. |
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More New Jersey foreclosure & homeowner law
- How Foreclosure Works in New Jersey
- Redemption and Deficiency Judgments in New Jersey
- HOA Liens and Foreclosure in New Jersey
- All New Jersey foreclosure & homeowner law rules
FAQ
How do you get your home back after a tax sale in New Jersey?
When property taxes go unpaid, the municipality sells a tax sale certificate (a lien), and the owner can redeem by paying the amount due. A private certificate holder may file a court action to end (foreclose) the right of redemption only after two years from the date of the certificate sale; a municipality that holds the certificate may file after six months. Abandoned property can be foreclosed sooner. Once an action is filed, the right to redeem continues until the Superior Court's judgment bars it. Under a 2024 law, the owner (or heirs) may ask the court, before final judgment, to require a sheriff's sale or online auction instead of a transfer of title, so that any surplus equity can be claimed from the court.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.