Dozens of Chattooga County properties with delinquent taxes are scheduled to be auctioned during the county’s annual tax sale on Tuesday, Aug. 4.
According to a notice issued by Chattooga County Tax Commissioner Joy Cooper Hampton, the sale will begin on the courthouse steps in downtown Summerville and run between the legal hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The auction is being conducted to satisfy unpaid state and county property taxes.
The tax sale includes residential homes, vacant lots and acreage located throughout Chattooga County, including properties in Summerville, Trion, Lyerly, Cloudland and other communities. Most of the properties are being sold for unpaid 2024 property taxes, although some parcels include delinquent taxes dating back to 2021, 2022 or 2023.
County officials said the properties will be sold to the highest bidder for cash or certified funds. Purchasers should be aware that tax sales are conducted on a “buyer beware” basis.
The Tax Commissioner’s Office makes no warranty regarding property titles, and all parcels remain subject to recorded easements, covenants and rights-of-way. Properties are sold through a tax deed process that includes statutory redemption rights for property owners. Buyers are also responsible for title work, transfer costs, recording fees, advertising costs and any applicable taxes. Payment may be required within two hours after the completion of the sale.
The published tax sale notice identifies each parcel by map and parcel number, lists the current property owner, the years of delinquent taxes owed and provides a legal description of each property scheduled for auction.