Are Iowa tax sales a good opportunity?

Iowa sells tax lien certificates under Iowa Code chs. 446 (tax sale), 447 (redemption) and 448 (tax deeds), esp. 446.16, 447.1 and 447.9. Whether a specific sale is a good opportunity depends on the parcels listed, the competition at that county's sale, and your max number — which is why investors research the list, not the headline.

Iowa Tax Sales: What Investors Need to Know This Season

Q: How do I get notified about Iowa tax sales?

Counties publish sale lists on their own schedules — Annual tax sale on the third Monday in June in every county (Iowa Code ch. 446), with adjourned sales for unsold parcels thereafter. LienToDeed watches those publications and alerts members when new Iowa properties are listed.

Blog / State spotlights

Iowa tax sales: the season preview

Quick answerIowa sells tax lien certificates for unpaid property taxes. Lien buyers can earn 2% per month / 24% per year, fixed by statute (Iowa Code 447.1); the rate is not bid down - bidders compete by bidding down the undivided interest percentage in the parcel they would take on a deed, and many counties assign contested parcels by random / rotational selection among registered bidders.. Redemption: The holder may serve a notice of expiration of the right of redemption after 1 year and 9 months from the sale; redemption ends 90 days after completed service of that notice (Iowa Code 447.9, 447.12), so the effective minimum hold is about 2 years. Sales: Annual tax sale on the third Monday in June in every county (Iowa Code ch. 446), with adjourned sales for unsold parcels thereafter. Governing law: Iowa Code chs. 446 (tax sale), 447 (redemption) and 448 (tax deeds), esp. 446.16, 447.1 and 447.9.

What's actually for sale

Iowa sells tax lien certificates. Because the 24% rate is fixed and parcels are often assigned rotationally, Iowa offers the full statutory rate without rate compression, but deed acquisition is rare given very high redemption rates. A parcel advertised twice and unsold must be offered at a public bidder sale, and the county is required to purchase delinquencies no private bidder takes.

The rate that decides your return

2% per month / 24% per year, fixed by statute (Iowa Code 447.1); the rate is not bid down - bidders compete by bidding down the undivided interest percentage in the parcel they would take on a deed, and many counties assign contested parcels by random / rotational selection among registered bidders.

The clock you're investing against

Sale schedule: Annual tax sale on the third Monday in June in every county (Iowa Code ch. 446), with adjourned sales for unsold parcels thereafter.

Redemption: The holder may serve a notice of expiration of the right of redemption after 1 year and 9 months from the sale; redemption ends 90 days after completed service of that notice (Iowa Code 447.9, 447.12), so the effective minimum hold is about 2 years.

Where the sales happen

GovEase hosts the online sale for many counties; other counties use Iowa Tax Auction (iowataxauction.com, SRI / Zeus / RealAuction). All bidding is online even where the treasurer hosts bidders at the courthouse.. Lists post on the county's schedule, change as owners redeem, and registration typically closes before sale day — the investors who see the list first set the market.

Watch Iowa lists for me

LienToDeed scans the published lists and texts you when new Iowa properties post — scored, with a max bid or max rate.

Get Iowa alerts

Deep dives: Iowa laws · Iowa investing guide · Iowa sale calendar. Law verified 2026-10-30.