Investing guides / New Hampshire

New Hampshire tax sale investing: buy the property itself at the county sale

Quick answerNew Hampshire sells tax deeds for unpaid property taxes. Redemption: 2 years from execution of the real estate tax lien — redemption is available at any time before the tax collector gives a tax deed (RSA 80:69, 80:76); if the municipality refuses the deed, redemption can continue indefinitely with interest accruing Sales: No statewide investor sale date; towns/cities sell tax-deeded property after deeding, as authorized, as needed year-round. The older tax-sale procedure (RSA 80:19–80:42) is still on the books in some municipalities Governing law: N.H. RSA Title V, Chapter 80 (esp. §§ 80:58–80:89 for the tax lien procedure; §§ 80:19–80:42 for the older tax sale procedure).

How it works in New Hampshire

In New Hampshire the county sells the property itself at a tax deed auction. Win the bid and the deed is yours — along with the due diligence burden, because sales are as-is and buyer beware.

Interest / penalty: n/a — New Hampshire does not sell tax lien certificates to investors as its standard procedure, so no investor rate applies; redemption of the municipal lien is at 14% per year owed to the municipality (RSA 80:69, as amended eff. Apr. 1, 2019)

Redemption: 2 years from execution of the real estate tax lien — redemption is available at any time before the tax collector gives a tax deed (RSA 80:69, 80:76); if the municipality refuses the deed, redemption can continue indefinitely with interest accruing

When sales happen: No statewide investor sale date; towns/cities sell tax-deeded property after deeding, as authorized, as needed year-round. The older tax-sale procedure (RSA 80:19–80:42) is still on the books in some municipalities

Where sales run: mostly in-person — town/city public auction, advertised sealed bids, or broker listing under RSA 80:80, municipality-specific, no statewide online platform

Governing law: N.H. RSA Title V, Chapter 80 (esp. §§ 80:58–80:89 for the tax lien procedure; §§ 80:19–80:42 for the older tax sale procedure)

The investor's edge

Your edge is the max bid: value the property from county records and recent sales, subtract title-clearing and repair reality, and write the number down before the auction opens.

Unless a town votes otherwise, no investor buys anything when taxes go delinquent — the lien is executed to the municipality itself and, if unredeemed in 2 years, the collector deeds the property to the town, which may then sell it. A town may vote to auction its liens under RSA 80:80 II-a, but that is uncommon; outdated sources still quoting 18% predate the 2019 cut to 14%.

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Full legal reference: New Hampshire tax sale laws. Verified 2026-10-30 against the sources on that page. Educational only, not investment advice.