How to Win Big at Faulkner County Tax Deed Auction

Located in Central Arkansas and anchored by the growing city of Conway, Faulkner County offers more than scenic landscapes and a vibrant college-town feel—it’s also a hotspot for tax deed investing. Each year, the Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands auctions off tax-delinquent properties in Faulkner County. For investors who come prepared, it’s a chance to acquire real estate well below market value.

What Is a Tax Deed?

A tax deed is a piece of paper that makes you the owner of a property after buying it at a tax sale. A tax sale happens when someone does not pay their property taxes and an attempt to recoup the owed money, the county sells the property. Once purchased at auction, the county then gives you a tax deed, officially making you the legal owner of the property, usually at a significantly reduced cost from market value.

What Is Tax Deed Investing in Faulkner County?

Tax deed investing in Faulkner County occurs according to Arkansas law, which makes it a tax deed state. This means that if you purchase a property at auction, you are purchasing ownership rights—in that sense—as opposed to a lien on the property. Properties that are tax-delinquent in Faulkner County are auctioned off by the Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands. Any Parcels sold through this commissioner are non-redeemable.

Faulkner County Tax Sale Details

Detail	Information
Tax Sale Type	Tax Deeds
Typical Sale Date	Varies yearly; From July – October
Location	Varies yearly; Conway Expo & Event Center, Conway, Arkansas for the 2025 Auction
Redemption Period	Parcels sold through the Commissioner of State Lands office are not redeemable. All sales are final, whether conducted at live auctions or through the online auction for unsold properties.
Interest Rate	N/A – Arkansas uses a deed system
Bid Procedure	Open bidding starting at the amount of delinquent taxes owed
Deposit	$100 in cash at auction; balance due next business day via certified funds

What Makes Faulkner County Unique for Investors

Faulkner County has more people buying and selling items at auctions than usual. This is mostly because Conway is getting bigger and has three colleges. Conway is also great for technology, which makes the homes and properties sold at auctions very valuable. Because of the schools and more people moving in, there are a lot of exciting auctions happening in the area.

High Returns with Manageable Risk

Faulkner County has many houses and land that are close to schools, parks, and busy downtown areas. This makes them easy to sell later. If you do a little homework and check things carefully, you can find good deals on homes and land, often at prices that are a lot lower than usual, sometimes 30% to 60% off! This is a great chance for people who want to buy real estate in this nice place.

How Faulkner County Tax Deed Auctions Work

• Properties are approved by the person in charge of land in Arkansas
• An auction happens in person at a special place.
• Bidders must register on-site and provide $100 in cash to participate
• Winning bidders pay the remaining balance with certified funds the next business day
• If no one bids, the property goes into over-the-counter (OTC) status and can be purchased by mail

Who Can Participate?

Anyone can join the auction! It doesn’t matter if you live nearby, in another state, or in a different country. You just have to be there in person or have someone local who can help you.

Expected Returns in Faulkner County

You can find homes that cost much less than what they are usually worth, sometimes 30% to 70% cheaper. How much money you can make when you sell these homes later depends on your plan. But because many people want to rent in this area and the homes don’t cost a lot to buy, you could make a good amount of money

Why Checking Things is Important

What to Look Into Before You Make an Offer:

• Go See the Place: Visit the property to see if someone is living there.

• Check the Rules: Look into the laws about what you can do with the land.

• Look at Ownership History: Find out if there are any debts or problems with the land’s ownership.

• Be Aware of Risks: Think about any issues that could harm the land or make it hard to get to.

What Can Go Wrong Without Due Diligence?

1. Surprise problems with ownership or money you owe.
2. Trouble with getting people to leave a house.
3. Rules that limit how you can use the property or build on it.
4. Places that don’t have roads to reach them or water and electricity.

How to Buy Over-the-Counter (OTC) Properties

If there are houses or land that didn’t sell at auction, you can find them on the Commissioner of State Lands website. Here’s what you can do:

1. Look Online: You can see what properties are available on the internet.
2. Apply by Mail: If you find something you like, you can send in your application and money by mail.
3. Wait for Your Papers: After you apply, you just need to wait until they process everything and send you the official papers for the property.

Benefits of OTC deals:

No Bidding War: You don’t have to compete with other buyers.
Set Prices: You know the price upfront.
Good Deals: You can find some great discounts! still available

Fun Facts About Faulkner County

• Faulkner County’s population sits around 128,000, with Conway accounting for over half that number.
• The county was named after Arkansas’s first Secretary of State, Sanford C. Faulkner.
• It’s home to the “Toad Suck Daze,” a popular festival attracting tens of thousands every spring.
• Faulkner has some of the lowest property tax rates in the state, making it ideal for real estate holding.

Attractions and Economic Highlights

Popular Attractions

• Cadron Settlement Park offers trails and river access
• Faulkner County Museum and the Baum Gallery showcase local history and art
• Historic downtown Conway features boutiques, cafes, and nightlife

Real Estate Trends

• Median home prices in Conway are up 6.4% year-over-year
• Strong rental market, especially for student and workforce housing
• Ideal market for flipping entry-level homes or holding cash-flow rentals

Transportation Infrastructure

Faulkner County is served by I-40 and U.S. Highways 64 and 65, making it well-connected to Little Rock and Fort Smith. Conway has a municipal airport, and public transit is available through Rock Region Metro.

Economic Development

Conway is called the “City of Colleges” because it has a lot of schools for higher learning. But it’s also becoming important for jobs in technology, health care, and making things. Some big companies, like Nabholz Construction and Acxiom, have their main offices or big parts of their business in Conway.

Community Appeal

Faulkner County has fun places to ride bikes on trails, two pretty lakes, and a nice downtown you can walk around in. It’s a great mix of outdoor activities and the friendly feel of a small town. This makes it a great place for people looking to buy or rent homes!

Business Growth

• Some important jobs are in healthcare, technology, construction, and education.
• Big companies that help the area include Acxiom, Nabholz Construction, and Conway Regional Health System.

Conclusion

Faulkner County is a great place for people who want to buy houses to rent out or fix up to sell for more money. The area has low taxes, a healthy economy, and many people buy and sell houses there. Since it’s close to Little Rock and has colleges nearby, lots of people need places to live.

Pro Tips for First-Time Investors

Here are some helpful tips to do well at Faulkner County auctions:

1. Look for houses close to colleges or downtown Conway.
2. Try to stay away from big empty pieces of land unless you know a lot about building on them.
3. Get to the auction early and check the property details with the people in charge.
4. Always check if the property has a clear title before you bid on it

FAQs: Faulkner County Tax Deed Sales

These common questions are based on direct participation and observations from past Faulkner County auctions:

Q: Do I need to register in advance?
A: No. Registration is done on-site the morning of the auction.

Q: Can properties have liens?
A: Yes. Code violations, special assessments, or IRS liens may survive. Always do a title search.

Q: Can I bid remotely?
A: No. As of now, all Faulkner County tax sales are in-person only.

Q: What form of payment is required at the auction?
A: You must bring $100 in cash to register, and pay the balance with certified funds the next business day if you win.

Q: Can I bid by proxy (send someone in my place)?
A: Yes. You can appoint a local representative to bid on your behalf, regardless of your residency.

Resources and Useful Links

• Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands
• Faulkner County Collector’s Office
• Faulkner County Website
• Arkansas offers a wealth of opportunities with Tax Deed Investing
• Let’s talk about Tax Deeds and how you can profit from them!
• Discover Tax Deeds and how you can find property for as little as $50!

Ready to Learn More?

Interested in Faulkner County investing? Check out our Auction Calendar to find your next property. Book a free call or access our free resources to start building your tax deed strategy today.

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About Dustin Hahn

Dustin Hahn is a Tax Lien & Deed investor with over 22 years of experience and hundreds of deals under his belt. He created Tax Lien School.com to help you buy Tax Deeds up to 90% off mortgage free and earn up to 36% ROI with Tax Liens. This site was voted the “Most Useful Resource” for new investors. Dustin’s YouTube Channel is the #1 Channel on Tax Liens & Deeds with over 98,000 Subscribers and 3600 videos to help you start. “The Best Time To Start Real Estate Investing Was 20 Years Ago, The Second Best Time Is TODAY!”

20+yrs

5–10deals/mo

2009TLS founded