Essex County Tax Foreclosure Real Estate Auction slated for Jan. 21

TICONDEROGA | Essex County will host its highly anticipated annual Tax Foreclosure Real Estate Auction on Jan. 21, 2026, offering 140-plus tax-foreclosed properties to the highest bidders. This hybrid event will be held both in person at the Best Western Plus in Ticonderoga and online via Absolute Auctions & Realty (AAR). The live auction will begin at 10 a.m., with on-site registration opening at 8 a.m. Online bidders must register in advance to participate remotely. This year's auction includes residential homes, vacant land, and investment properties across Essex County. To help bidders prepare, Essex County will also host a Bidder's Seminar on Jan. 19 at 6 p.m., also at the Best Western Plus. For years, New York towns retained surplus funds from the sale of foreclosed homes at public auctions. However, in May 2023, the United States Supreme Court held the practice unconstitutional in Tyler v. Hennepin County, arguing that it violates the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment. Following that decision, most New York municipalities suspended all tax foreclosures to allow the state time to amend its property tax law. "That's why we didn't begin the process until April 2025," said Essex County Treasurer Michael Diskin, giving property owners who owed taxes dating back to 2020, 2021, and/or 2022 a six-month span to pay up before having their property foreclosed on. They were notified by certified and first-class mail and had until Oct. 10 to satisfy the tax delinquency. "There's no requirement to give property owners additional time after the six-month period is over, but in Essex County, we allow them to do that up until two weeks before the auction." Property owners will have the opportunity to reclaim their properties until Jan. 6, 2026, by paying the taxes owed, plus an additional 10% penalty and fees, to have their deeds recorded. However, if the property owner doesn't reclaim it, it will be auctioned and sold to the highest bidder. Afterwards, all the auction information will be presented to the Board of Supervisors for approval. "The board does not necessarily have to approve all of them. If they feel that there's a bid that they don't want to accept, they have the right to reject that bid," Diskin said. "Once that's done, they'll approve the rest of the bids, and then it's sent up to the buyer." After placing a 25% deposit during the auction, the buyer is given a firm deadline to pay the remaining balance. Those who can't pay the balance by the deadline will forfeit their down payment, and the second-highest bidder will be contacted. Essex County aims to host at least one tax-foreclosure real estate auction each year. The foreclosure process for properties with tax obligations dating back to 2023 should begin by mid-January, potentially leading to a later auction in fall 2026. To view the complete list of available properties, download auction materials, or register for online bidding, visit aarauctions.com.

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Essex County Tax Foreclosure Real Estate Auction slated for Jan. 21

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