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Essex County, Massachusetts Tax Delinquent Properties for Sale List

Essex County, MA has 1 tax-delinquent property on record. Get the official list, tax-sale schedule, and redemption rules.

Austin Beveridge

Tennessee

, Goliath Teammate

Essex County, Massachusetts currently has 1 tax-delinquent property on record, along with active foreclosures, liens, and probate filings compiled from public records. If you are searching for the Essex County tax delinquent properties for sale list, this page gives you the live count, how to pull the official list from the Town or City Collector-Treasurer, how Massachusetts's tax sale and redemption process works, and the due diligence to run before you bid.

TL;DR

  • 1 tax-delinquent property are currently on record in Essex County, MA, refreshed weekly from public records.

  • Plus additional distressed properties (foreclosures, liens, probate) shown in the live breakdown below.

  • How to pull the official Essex County tax-delinquent list, and how Massachusetts's tax-sale + redemption process works, so you act on real, current numbers, not a generic explainer.

GoliathData currently tracks 1 tax-delinquent property in Essex County, MA, alongside the wider distressed-property picture below, data current as of July 13, 2026, refreshed weekly from public records:

Signal

Properties

As of

Probate

12

Jul 13

Preprobate

12

Jul 13

Divorce

5

Jul 13

Lien

3

Jun 22

Permit Filing

3

May 11

State Lien

2

May 11

Marriage

1

Feb 23

Mechanic Lien

1

Mar 16

Notice Of Default

1

Apr 27

Preforeclosure

1

May 11

Source: GoliathData real-time county records. Refreshed weekly.

What these numbers mean for buyers and investors

Essex County, Massachusetts is showing a tax delinquency count of 1 property as of the week of May 11, 2026. While this is a modest number in isolation, it exists within a broader context of distressed property activity that signals real opportunity for informed buyers.

The county's distressed landscape includes 12 probate cases and 12 preprobate filings, 5 divorce proceedings, 3 liens, 2 state liens, 1 federal lien, and 1 judgment lien. These numbers paint a picture of estates in transition, marital dissolutions, and title encumbrances that often precede or accompany tax delinquency. Additionally, there is 1 active foreclosure, 1 preforeclosure notice, 1 sheriff sale, and 1 trustee sale in the county during the same window, indicating that the traditional distressed-property pipeline remains active.

What matters most to a buyer or investor: a single tax-delinquent property may seem limited, but Essex County's probate and preprobate volume, combined with ongoing foreclosure and lien activity, suggests sustained churn in the property market. Competition for tax delinquencies will be lighter than in counties with dozens or hundreds of delinquent parcels, but the surrounding distressed inventory means that if you are ready to move quickly with due diligence and capital, opportunities exist. The presence of 3 mechanic liens, 1 HOA lien, property judgments, and state liens underscores that buyers must perform thorough title and encumbrance searches before bidding.

How to get the official Essex County tax-delinquent list

In Massachusetts, property taxes and delinquent collections are handled at the municipal level, not the county. This means you must contact the Town or City Collector-Treasurer in the specific municipality within Essex County where you wish to search for tax-delinquent properties.

Essex County includes municipalities such as Salem, Lynn, Lawrence, Haverhill, Peabody, Marblehead, Saugus, Nahant, Swampscott, Essex, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Gloucester, Rockport, Amesbury, Newburyport, Salisbury, West Newbury, Groveland, Boxford, Topsfield, Wenham, Hamilton, Danvers, Middleton, North Andover, Andover, Methuen, Lynnfield, Wakefield, and Reading.

To obtain the tax-delinquent list, follow these steps:

  • Contact the Town or City Collector-Treasurer in your target municipality. You can find contact information through the town or city website, typically under the Tax Collector or Treasurer department.

  • Request the list of properties that are tax-delinquent or in danger of tax sale. Specify whether you want current-year or multi-year delinquencies.

  • Ask when the municipality publishes its tax sale list and what notice period is given before the sale takes place.

  • Inquire how the list is maintained and updated, whether it is posted online, and if a subscription or notification service is available.

  • Confirm the specific terms of any upcoming tax sale in that municipality, including the sale date, redemption period, and method of sale (sealed bid, auction, etc.).

Because the tax sale process is municipal, timing, procedures, and redemption rights vary significantly between towns within Essex County. Do not assume one municipality's process applies to another.

How Massachusetts' tax sale and redemption process works

Massachusetts uses a state-specific tax sale framework that differs meaningfully from many other states, particularly in the length and power of the redemption right.

The process begins with the Town or City Collector-Treasurer notifying the property owner in writing that property taxes are delinquent. After a period of non-payment (the exact timeline varies by municipality; you must confirm this with the specific Collector-Treasurer), the municipality may hold a tax sale. Massachusetts law typically requires public notice of the sale, and sales are often conducted by sealed bid or auction.

The critical feature of Massachusetts tax sales is the redemption right. Massachusetts allows the property owner, or a party with an interest in the property (such as a lienholder or mortgagee), to redeem the property by paying the taxes, interest, costs, and expenses accrued during the tax sale process. This redemption period is a statutory right under Massachusetts law, and the exact length must be confirmed with the Collector-Treasurer in your municipality, as practice can vary.

If the property is not redeemed within the statutory period, the purchaser at the tax sale receives a tax deed and clear title to the property, free of prior liens and mortgages (with narrow exceptions for federal tax liens in some cases). However, the redemption right is a double-edged sword for the buyer: you may win the auction, but the property may be redeemed before you take title.

It is critical that you contact the specific Town or City Collector-Treasurer for the municipality where the property is located to learn the exact notice period, sale date, redemption timeline, sale procedure, and any local requirements that may apply.

Due diligence and risks

Tax-delinquent properties in Essex County often carry multiple risks that a buyer must investigate thoroughly before bidding or purchasing.

Title encumbrances are the first concern. Essex County's current data shows 3 liens, 2 state liens, 1 federal lien, 1 judgment lien, 1 mechanic lien, and 1 HOA lien active in the same period as the tax delinquency. While a valid tax deed may extinguish some prior liens, federal tax liens, judgment liens, and certain other claims may survive the sale or be owed by the new owner. Always conduct a title search and lien search at the Essex County Registry of Deeds before bidding.

Property condition is another critical risk. Tax-delinquent properties are often vacant, abandoned, or deferred-maintenance cases. You may not be able to inspect the property thoroughly before purchase, and costs to remediate, repair, or demolish can quickly exceed the purchase price. Request as much information as possible from the Collector-Treasurer about the property's occupancy and condition.

Occupancy rights matter legally and practically. Some tax-delinquent properties have tenants or adverse possessors with legal claims to occupy them. Eviction proceedings can be costly and protracted. Confirm who, if anyone, is living in or using the property before you bid.

Probate and divorce complications are present in Essex County (12 probate, 12 preprobate, 5 divorce cases noted). If a tax-delinquent property is part of an estate or divorce settlement, the Collector-Treasurer may be constrained in timing or authority to sell until those proceedings close. Ask the Collector-Treasurer whether the delinquent property is involved in any such proceeding.

Redemption risk remains critical. Even if you win the tax sale, the prior owner or a lienholder may redeem the property during the redemption period. Only after that period expires do you have secure title. Confirm the redemption period with the Collector-Treasurer and plan your capital and timeline accordingly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I find the official list of tax-delinquent properties in Essex County?

Contact the Town or City Collector-Treasurer in the specific municipality where you are searching. Massachusetts handles tax delinquency at the municipal level, not the county level. The Collector-Treasurer will provide you with the delinquent tax list, notice of any upcoming tax sale, and the redemption timeline. A list of Essex County municipalities is available from the Essex County government website.

When is the next tax sale in Essex County?

The timing of tax sales varies by municipality within Essex County. Each town or city sets its own sale schedule based on state law and local policy. You must contact the Town or City Collector-Treasurer for your target municipality to learn the date of the next tax sale, the notice period, and the list of properties to be sold. Some municipalities hold sales annually, while others may sell less frequently.

How long is the redemption period after a tax sale in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts grants the property owner and other parties a statutory right to redeem the property after a tax sale by paying the taxes, interest, and costs owed. The exact length of this redemption period is set by state statute and municipal practice, and it varies. You must confirm the specific redemption period with the Town or City Collector-Treasurer in the municipality where the property is located. Do not assume the period is the same across all of Essex County.

Is buying a tax-delinquent property in Essex County worth the risk?

It depends on your capital, timeline, and risk tolerance. The current count of 1 tax-delinquent property in Essex County is modest, so competition is likely lower than in counties with dozens of delinquent parcels. However, you must account for the redemption period, the cost of title and lien searches, potential title defects, property condition, occupancy complications, and the possibility that the owner redeems before you take title. Many successful investors profit from tax sales, but only after thorough due diligence and a realistic budget for repairs, holding costs, and legal fees. Always consult with a local real estate attorney and title company before bidding.

More Massachusetts Tax Delinquent Property Lists

Browse the full Massachusetts tax delinquent properties for sale list for every county, or jump straight to a nearby list:

Sources