Auction Process

The Tax Title Auction may be held annually in Spring, as necessary, in the Lowell City Hall. 

Liens included in the auction are being sold pursuant to M.C.L. c. 60, $52

Interested parties can contact the Tax Title Division to be put on a prospective buyer’s list. Interested buyers have time to review the Tax Title List in advance of the auction and provide comment before finalizing the list for public notice. 

The liens can be sold individually or in bundles, however the City of Lowell prefers to divide tax liens into groups called "bundles". These “bundles” then can get sold together to the highest bidder.

The City may open the auction with the offer of single bundle including all outstanding properties. If no offer is made, the City may reserve the right to offer the 3 sub-bundles.

The Tax Title auction may begin at 10 a.m.

The Tax Title Custodian sets the minimum bid. The right is reserved to reject any and all bids. The minimum bid is the amount due for redemption on day of the auction.

Anyone may participate in the tax title auction; however bidders must register and place a deposit at the time of the auction. Any materials or documents concerning this auction prepared or furnished by the City or its employees are solely for informational purposes, No warranty or representation is made as to the accuracy or completeness of the information. Prospective purchasers should make their own investigations and draw their own conclusions. Any error, misstatement or omission in the description of the property shall not annul the sale, or be grounds for any abatement or compensation.

The materials for the next anticipated auction are still being reviewed. 

Please review materials from the 2019 Tax Title Auction below:


How do I participate?

Registration: The materials for the next anticipated auction are still being reviewed. 

The 2019 Tax Title Auction Registration Form.  The Auction Registration Form gets mailed to:

City Hall, Tax/Title Division, 

375 Merrimack St., 3rd Floor, Lowell, MA 01852, 

Telephone (978) 674-1505  Facsimile (978) 453-1510

along with an accepted form of payment made payable to the City of Lowell in the amount of $2,500.

Checks for the registration fee will be returned in full to the registered bidders that are not awarded sale or will be applied to the 10% deposit for those that are awarded sale.

YOU WILL BE ASSIGNED A BIDDER NUMBER ON THE DAY OF THE AUCTION


How do I pay for my deposit?

Accepted payment methods include one or more of the following options:

  1. Cash 
  2. Check

It is the bidder’s responsibility to make all deposits and payments in the time specified using the payment method(s) permitted. There will be NO exceptions.

See 2019 Tax Title Auction - Regulations for Auction Sale

Please review 2019 Tax Title Auction - Bidder Reimbursement Form


After the Sale

After the tax title sale and after full payment is received, the Treasurer will issue an Instrument of Assignment and Purchaser's Statement for each lien assigned to the winning bidder. Full payment must be received within 30 days of the date of the auction. If full payment is not received within such time, the lien will be offered to the next highest bidder, and the City of Lowell reserves the right to keep the deposit from the initial bidder. 

Please review 2019 Tax Title Auction - Regulations for Auction Sale