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Lehigh County, Pennsylvania Tax Delinquent Properties for Sale List

Lehigh County, PA has 0 tax-delinquent properties on record. Get the official list from the County Tax Claim Bureau, plus the tax sale and redemption rules.

Austin Beveridge

Tennessee

, Goliath Teammate

Lehigh County, Pennsylvania currently has 0 tax-delinquent properties on record, along with active foreclosures, liens, and probate filings compiled from public records. If you are searching for the Lehigh County tax delinquent properties for sale list, this page gives you the live count, how to pull the official list from the County Tax Claim Bureau, how Pennsylvania's tax sale and redemption process works, and the due diligence to run before you bid.

TL;DR

  • 0 tax-delinquent properties are currently on record in Lehigh County, PA, refreshed weekly from public records.

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

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

GoliathData tracks the following distressed-property signals across Lehigh County, PA, data current as of July 13, 2026, refreshed weekly from public records:

Signal

Properties

As of

Sheriff Sale

559

Jul 13

Foreclosure

448

Jun 29

Trustee Sale

66

Jun 29

Permit Filing

6

Apr 6

Code Violation

4

May 25

Property Judgment

4

May 11

Final Judgment

3

Jun 15

Preforeclosure

3

Jun 22

Preprobate

3

Jul 13

Marriage

2

Jul 13

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

What these numbers mean for buyers and investors

Lehigh County's real estate market is showing substantial distress signals. The week of July 13, 2026 recorded 559 sheriff sales alone, a volume that signals significant tax delinquency and forced sales in the county. Paired with 448 foreclosure filings from late June and 66 trustee sales, the picture is one of a market experiencing genuine financial pressure across multiple property categories and ownership situations.

What makes these numbers particularly important for tax-delinquent property buyers is the broader context. Beyond the 559 sheriff sales, Lehigh County also shows active judicial liens (property judgments, judgment liens, and final judgments totaling 6 cases), utility and federal liens (2 cases), and early-stage distress signals including 3 preforeclosures and 2 notices of default. This mix reveals that many properties are caught in overlapping layers of debt: unpaid property taxes are often accompanied by HOA liens, utility arrears, judgment liens from creditors, or even federal tax liens.

For investors, this volume indicates two things: opportunity and competition. A higher volume of distressed properties means more listings to research and more potential deals. However, it also means more professional investors, flippers, and institutional buyers will be competing at auctions. Properties in Lehigh County are moving through the system at a pace that suggests steady turnover, meaning if one property does not suit your criteria, others will likely emerge soon.

The presence of 3 probate-related filings and 1 active probate case adds another layer. These properties often sell faster than typical tax-delinquent listings because estates need to settle quickly, but they may also carry title complications or multiple heirs whose interests must be resolved before you can take full ownership.

How to get the official Lehigh County tax-delinquent list

The authoritative source for Lehigh County tax-delinquent properties is the County Tax Claim Bureau. This office is responsible for collecting unpaid property taxes and managing the tax sale process in Pennsylvania. It is separate from the County Assessor, which only values property; the Tax Claim Bureau is where delinquent accounts are tracked and sales are conducted.

To access the official list, contact the Lehigh County Tax Claim Bureau directly. Ask for the current list of tax-delinquent properties or the published tax sale list. The bureau maintains records of all properties with unpaid taxes and publishes notice of upcoming sales according to Pennsylvania state law. You can request this list in writing, by phone, or by visiting the office in person.

The Tax Claim Bureau publishes its sales schedule regularly. Exact dates, sale times, and property addresses are distributed through official notices posted at the county courthouse and, in most cases, on the county website or through a designated legal publication. Confirm the publication method and next sale date directly with the bureau, as schedules can change based on judicial calendars and state administrative procedures.

Once you have the official list, cross-check it against public deed records at the Lehigh County Register of Wills and Deeds office. This verification step ensures that property ownership and prior liens are accurately documented before you commit to bidding.

How Pennsylvania's tax sale and redemption process works

Pennsylvania's tax sale system is designed to recover unpaid property taxes while protecting property owners' rights through a redemption period. Understanding the statutory flow is essential before bidding on any Lehigh County property.

The process begins with notice. The county tax collector sends written notice to the property owner and any lienholders at least 30 days before the tax sale. This notice informs them of the delinquency amount, interest accrued, and the date and time of the public sale. The notice requirement protects owners by ensuring they know precisely what they owe and when the sale will occur.

Next comes the sale itself. The County Tax Claim Bureau conducts a public tax sale, typically held at the county courthouse. Properties are sold to the highest bidder. Unlike some states, Pennsylvania does not require a minimum bid equal to the full tax debt; the bureau may sell a property for whatever the market will bear on auction day. This can mean a property with thousands in back taxes sells for significantly less.

After the sale, the redemption period begins. This is Pennsylvania's most important protection for former owners: they retain the right to reclaim their property after the tax sale if they pay off the buyer's purchase price plus costs and interest within the statutory redemption window. For Lehigh County tax sales, confirm the exact redemption period with the County Tax Claim Bureau, as Pennsylvania law allows variation by county and circumstance. Typically, redemption periods range from months to years, meaning you may not take full legal ownership immediately after purchasing at auction.

Once the redemption period expires without the former owner redeeming, the Tax Claim Bureau issues a deed to the purchaser, and title transfers to you free of the original tax lien. However, other liens and mortgages may survive the sale, and you must research those carefully before bidding.

Due diligence and risks

Purchasing a tax-delinquent property in Lehigh County carries specific risks that due diligence must address before you submit a bid.

Title and liens are your first concern. A property sold for tax delinquency does not automatically clear all debts. Federal tax liens, judgment liens, utility liens, and HOA assessments may survive the sale and attach to your ownership. Review the title search and all public records at the Register of Wills and Deeds before bidding. If you see a federal lien notation or a judgment lien, understand that those creditors may pursue collection against you as the new owner.

Redemption risk is second. Even after you win the auction, the former owner has the legal right to redeem the property within the period set by Pennsylvania law and Lehigh County procedure. Until that period expires, you do not have a deed, and the original owner could reclaim the property by paying your purchase price plus costs. During redemption, you typically cannot occupy the property, make improvements, or refinance it.

Occupancy and condition are third. Many tax-delinquent properties are vacant and deteriorating. Visit the property in person and assess its structural condition, roof, foundation, and systems. Estimate repair costs honestly, because banks and title companies will require major defects to be corrected before they will finance or insure the property. Some properties may be uninhabitable, and local code enforcement may demand costly repairs as a condition of occupancy.

Finally, verify current tax status. Confirm with the County Tax Claim Bureau that the property you are bidding on is not under a new tax sale notice or subject to multiple years of delinquency beyond what the upcoming sale will address. Some properties are chronically delinquent and will return to tax sale status within months of the current sale if the underlying financial or occupancy issues remain unresolved.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get the Lehigh County tax-delinquent property list?

Contact the Lehigh County Tax Claim Bureau directly. This office maintains and publishes the official list of properties with unpaid taxes. Ask for the current tax-delinquent list or the next scheduled tax sale list. The bureau will tell you how it publishes sales notices, whether online, by mail, or in a legal newspaper. Verify property details and liens by pulling deed records from the Register of Wills and Deeds afterward.

When is the next Lehigh County tax sale?

The County Tax Claim Bureau publishes its sale schedule according to Pennsylvania law. The week of July 13, 2026 recorded 559 sheriff sales, indicating active sales in the county. Confirm the exact date, time, and location of the next sale by calling the Tax Claim Bureau or visiting the county courthouse. Sale dates can shift based on judicial calendars and state procedures, so always verify directly with the bureau rather than relying on estimated timelines.

How long is the redemption period in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania law provides a redemption period after a tax sale, allowing the former owner to reclaim the property by paying the buyer's purchase price plus interest and costs. The exact length of the redemption window varies by county and circumstance. Ask the County Tax Claim Bureau for the specific redemption period applicable to Lehigh County and the property you are considering. Until redemption expires, you will not hold a recorded deed.

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

It depends on your financial position, patience, and ability to manage risk. The potential reward is acquiring property at a discount below market value. The risks include redemption rights that delay full ownership, surviving liens that you must pay or negotiate away, possible major repairs needed to satisfy code enforcement, and title complications from probate, divorce, or judgment situations. Research each property thoroughly, budget conservatively for repairs and carrying costs during the redemption period, and only bid what you can afford to lose if the former owner redeems or unexpected title problems surface. For disciplined investors with cash and experience, Lehigh County's volume of distressed sales offers genuine opportunities.

More Pennsylvania Tax Delinquent Property Lists

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

Sources