Tom Comstock was under water in his house, with a mortgage of $320,000 and a property value of $200,000. He walked away from the property. When taxes became due, the mortgage company did not pay them as usual because the mortgage company had gone into bankruptcy. The assessor tried to send a notice to Tom, but he was not at the address. The assessor sold the property at a tax sale. Tom is trying to set aside the sale because he was not notified. Which of the following is correct?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The assessor is typically required to take reasonable steps beyond just mailing a notice to the last known address, especially in situations where it is known or should be known that the property owner is not residing at the property address. This could include searching public records or making other efforts to locate the owner to ensure they are properly notified of the tax sale.

Tom Comstock Was Under Water in His House, with a Mortgage