Auditor • Controller • Treasurer • Tax Collector

Terms and Conditions

Caution to Bidders

As a bidder, you agree to the instructions, terms and conditions of this auction as stated herein. The highest bidder is legally obligated to complete the purchase. Failure to complete a purchase constitutes a breach of contract and may result in a bar from future sales.

NOTE: San Luis Obispo County will not be conducting an Internet Public Auction in 2024. 

The information below pertains to the most recent auction. 

Date and Time of Sale

The San Luis Obispo County Tax Collector's Public Auction will commence on the Internet on Friday, May 12, 2023, at approximately 8:00 a.m. PDT, and will conclude at approximately 9:00 a.m. PDT on Monday, May 15, 2023, when the auctions close in staggered groups. If active bidding is continuing at the time of the scheduled closing, the time to close will be automatically extended five (5) minutes from the time the latest bid is received and the auction will remain open until an entire overtime increment has passed without any bidding. PLEASE NOTE: These times are approximate only. The "Overtime Period" for each property auction will control the exact time the auction will close.

 

Important - No Warranty! 

Investigate prior to bidding! All properties are sold "as is". There are no guarantees pertaining to the condition of the properties for sale, including but not limited to access, water, soil, zoning, or permit availability. It is the bidder's responsibility to research the properties in which they are interested. Lack of adequate research may result in the purchase of unusable property, with no entitlement to a refund.

 

Disclosures

If the Tax Collector receives information regarding a property that must be disclosed by law, the information will be disclosed. (Examples of disclosures include possible contamination, a 1915 Act Bond, or an IRS Lien.) The Tax Collector does not investigate each parcel for other conditions.

 

Finality of Sale

All sales are final, with the exception that the Tax Collector reserves the right to rescind the sale in the event that an error is discovered that may have affected the due process rights of the former owner. By participating in the Internet Auction, the bidder agrees to cooperate in the rescission of the sale if such an event occurs within one year of the sale of the property.

 

Tax Deeds

The Tax Deeds will be recorded within approximately one week after the sale. Once a Tax Deed is recorded, the deed will be mailed directly to the purchaser.

 

Liability

Neither the State of California, nor the County of San Luis Obispo, nor their elected or appointed officials, officers, employees and agents, are liable for loss or damages of any kind sustained by the property purchased at public auction from the time of the sale until the recordation of the Tax Deed transferring the property to the purchaser.

 

Lien Cancellation

Title to a tax deeded property cancels all private liens (e.g., Deeds of Trust, Mechanic's Liens, Judgments, etc.) as well as all prior delinquent taxes. Public liens (e.g., Improvement Bonds, Demolition Liens, etc.) may not be discharged through a tax sale. Specifically, the Tax Deed to Purchaser conveys title as described in California Revenue and Taxation Code Section 3712.

 

Title Insurance

The Tax Collector does not provide the purchaser with a title insurance policy. Prospective purchasers are advised to contact title insurance companies prior to the auction to obtain information regarding availability of title insurance for tax deeded properties.

 

Prior Redemption

Properties that are redeemed on or before 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 11, 2023, will NOT be offered for sale. Also, the property may be redeemed during the auction if no bids have been placed on the property. Properties may be removed from the sale due to a valid bankruptcy or other reasons covered by statute prior to the commencement of bidding.

NOTE: Redemption of a parcel prior to the auction by a party other than the owner will not cause the transfer of ownership. The owner of record maintains title to the property.

 

Redemption Right Reinstatement

If a parcel is not sold during the internet public auction, the owner's right of redemption reinstates by law. The property cannot be purchased through the Tax Collector after the sale. It will be offered at the next scheduled tax sale if the taxes remain unpaid.

 

Assessment Numbers

The parcel's nine digit assessment number, when used to describe property in the public auction list, refers to the Assessor's map book, the map page, the block on the map (if applicable) and the individual parcel number on the map page or in the block. To determine the approximate location of a sale parcel, please refer to Property Location by Assessment Number informational page.

NOTE: Assessment numbers on the sale list that begin with "902" are timeshare intervals. All timeshare intervals listed are located at San Luis Bay Inn, Avila Beach, California. Regarding the parcel's nine digit assessment number, when used to describe a timeshare, the first three digits refer to the timeshare category (902) and the next six digits refer to the unit number. If a timeshare interval is for alternating years, it will have a designation in its legal description of "odd" or "even". Further explanation of the assessment numbering system is available through the County Assessor's Office.