Right of Redemption After a Tax or Sheriff Sale (PA)
When a former owner can buy the property back after a sale — and what it means for buyers.
What is the right of redemption?
A right of redemption is a former owner's legal right to reclaim property after it has been sold at a tax or sheriff sale — typically by paying the sale price plus costs within a set period. It exists to give owners a last chance to recover their property, and it directly affects the certainty of what a buyer acquires.
How it works in Pennsylvania
Whether a right of redemption exists, and for how long, depends heavily on the type of sale and the circumstances — for certain tax sales, redemption can turn on whether the property was owner-occupied. Because the rules vary, both former owners and buyers need to know exactly which apply to a given sale.
What it means for investors
For a buyer at a sheriff or tax sale, an outstanding redemption right is a cloud on the deal: the former owner may be able to take the property back. Understanding and, where appropriate, clearing that risk is a key part of investing in distressed property.
How Nochumson P.C. helps
Nochumson P.C. represents owners asserting redemption rights and investors defending their tax- and sheriff-sale purchases. Contact us about a redemption issue.
Related articles:
- Philadelphia Sheriff Sales: How They Work
- Right of First Refusal in Real Estate (PA Angle)
- 1031 Like-Kind Exchanges: Rules, Timelines & Pitfalls
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