Can your home be taken if you don't pay property taxes after a certain time?

[Brenden]

I don't know if this is true, but if you fail to pay property taxes for a certain amount of time, like a few years give or take, can the state take your home away to recoup that money? I heard a while back from someone, that the state can take away your home if you fail to pay property taxes in a 3 year period. Is this true? I live in Michigan. I'm more curious than anything, as I pay my property taxes & fees on time, I just am curious to know how long it would be for the state to take the home, if they even do. 

[Damon]

I believe there is a chance of that happening after a certain amount of time not paying it. I think there's more to it than that. I think the state you're in, will warn you multiple times first, and give you chances to pay it off. But, I think they would instead just take property until it's paid off. But I am not 100% certain on that. It may also differ by state and city. 

[James]

If you do not pay your property taxes the county has a right to put a lien against the property to make sure they will be able to collect the past due taxes. If the problem gets bad enough they are able to auction off your home "tax lien sale" to the highest bidder on court house steps. These auctions typically take place once a week in our local area. 

It is a pretty long process but it does happen. It provides decent opportunity to investors that want to learn about tax lien sales and buying homes for cash on the court steps. I have not put in to much reading on the topic and have only really scratched the surface. The process seems a little intimidating from the buy side so from the perspective of losing your house this way you must have really messed up for awhile for it to be happening.