What Should You Know About Garland County Arkansas Tax Deed Sales?

While the State Commissioner of State Lands oversees tax‑delinquent property sales across Arkansas, each county’s rules and timelines can vary. Garland County sits in the Ouachita Mountains and includes Hot Springs. Its tax deed auction is typically held in late July at the Hot Springs Convention Center. By focusing in on Garland County, readers will understand local procedures, deadlines and market conditions without assuming the same rules apply statewide.

Brief overview of Garland County’s tax deed investing

Garland County follows Arkansas’s tax deed system but has its own schedule and local customs. The county auctions tax‑delinquent property only once a year, typically at the end of July in Hot Springs. Like the rest of Arkansas, Garland County sells tax deeds rather than liens: the winning bidder receives a limited warranty deed conveying the state’s interest. Owners must redeem by 4 p.m. on the last business day before the sale; there is no redemption period after the auction. A 90‑day litigation period follows, during which interested parties may challenge the sale. Bidders must register on‑site, provide photo identification and obtain a bid card 30 minutes before the auction. The minimum bid equals the sum of delinquent taxes, penalties and costs, and full payment is due immediately after winning the parcel.

Important details – Garland County

Detail	Garland County Auction
Tax sale type	Tax deed sale
Typical sale date	Live auctions occur once a year between July and October. Garland County’s sale is usually in late July
Registration	In‑person registration is required. Registration opens 30 minutes before the auction and there is no fee. Bring a valid driver’s license to receive a numbered bid card.
Registration period	Starts: 9:30 AM on auction day (30 minutes before the 10 AM sale).
Auction location	Varies every year; can be at Hot Springs Convention Center based on past auctions.
Bidding procedure	Parcels are offered in sale‑number order with the minimum bid equal to the taxes, penalties and costs  Bidding is open outcry, and the highest bid is accepted. Full payment is due at the sale; no time‑payment plans are allowed.
Deposit & payment	At live auctions cash is no longer accepted. Buyers may pay with personal/business check, cashier’s check, money order or credit/debit card. Payment in full is required immediately after winning the bid
Terms of sale	The sale is final. The state issues a limited warranty deed after payment. It is the buyer’s responsibility to quiet title and investigate liens. COSL does not guarantee access, usability or clear title.
Contact for more information	Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands – Real Estate Division

How do Garland County tax sales work?

In Arkansas, buying tax deed properties is easy. Before the auction, you get a list of land for sale 30 days in advance. On auction day, you sign up and get a number card. The auctioneer announces the land and starting price. If you want to bid, just raise your card. The highest bid that is over the starting price wins.

You can sign up to bid 30 minutes before the auction starts. If you win, you must pay right away using a credit card, debit card, or check (not cash). If you buy online after the auction, you pay at least $100 up front.

After payment, you receive a summary and a special document called a limited warranty deed a few weeks later. It’s best to wait 90 days before fixing the property. If you want title insurance, you may need legal help to do a quiet-title action, so save some money for that.

What makes Garland County attractive for tax deed investors?

Garland County is in the Ouachita Mountains and is known for Hot Springs, where people visit to enjoy warm waters and old bathhouses. Hot Springs National Park and nearby lakes attract many tourists each year, which helps Arkansas earn money. In Garland County, there are many fun places to visit, including places that might have tax sales for property: 

• Arkansas Alligator Farm and Petting Zoo – This fun place started in 1902. It has about 200 alligators and a petting zoo where you can see and touch goats, emus, and other animals.
  
• Bathhouse Row in Hot Springs National Park – This area has eight old bathhouses that have been fixed up. One of them, the Fordyce Bathhouse, is now the visitor center where you can learn about the park. The Buckstaff Bathhouse has been open for customers since 1912!
  
• Central Avenue Historic District – This is a part of downtown with many old buildings. You can see the Arlington Hotel, which was built in 1924, and the Medical Arts Building.
  
• Garvan Woodland Gardens – This is a beautiful 210-acre garden by Lake Hamilton. It has lots of plants from the Ouachita Mountains and a special Japanese garden to explore.
  

These attractions keep people interested in buying or renting homes, which makes purchasing tax deed properties in the county appealing for investors who want to fix them up and sell or rent them out.

High returns with manageable risk

In Arkansas, when people buy properties at tax auctions, they buy the property itself, not just a debt. This means they can sell it later for a profit, sometimes paying only the unpaid tax amount, which is cheaper than the property’s real value. Good places to invest are near Hot Springs or Lake Hamilton, where people want vacation homes or short-term rentals. However, there are risks. After the sale, previous owners can try to get their property back within 90 days. Buyers should do “quiet title” to make sure they own the property clearly. It’s also important to check if the land is accessible, clean, and clear of any city debts. Research is essential before buying!

Understanding the Arkansas tax deed sale process

Pre‑auction research and due diligence

The COSL encourages buyers to research properties at the county level. Investors should:

1. Verify parcel location and access. The list in the catalog might not have a street address. To find out where the piece of land is, you can look at maps that show where the land is located and its borders..
   
2. Check for liens and encumbrances. Sometimes when someone sells a house, there can be money problems that come with it, like unpaid bills or taxes. These problems can stay even after the house is sold. It’s smart to ask the people who keep records about this or to get help from a company that understands these things.
   
3. Inspect property condition. Some properties that have unpaid taxes might be empty or not taken care of. You might not always be able to look at them from the inside, so you can drive by the place or look at pictures from above using satellite images.
   
4. Understand use restrictions. Zoning laws, easements, and subdivision rules can restrict how land can be developed. Some pieces of land may only have buildings on them, or they might have mineral rights that are not part of the sale..
   

Auction day

• Register Early: Sign up ahead of time. Get to the auction at least 30 minutes early and bring your driver’s license to get a bid card.
• Bid Smart: The smallest amount you can bid is the total of unpaid taxes and extra fees. Think about the most you want to spend before you start bidding. Remember, you might need to fix up the property and pay current taxes too.
• Pay Right Away: You need to pay as soon as you win. You can use personal checks, cashier’s checks, money orders, or credit/debit cards. Cash isn’t accepted. For purchases after the auction, the first $100 for each piece of land will be charged to your card.
• Get Your Deed: Once you pay, a special document called a limited warranty deed will be created. Wait for 90 days before making any big changes or improvements to the property.ments.
  

Post‑auction and over‑the‑counter purchases

If parcels don’t sell at the live auction, they will be available online 30 days later. To buy them, you need to register and show your ID with a U.S. address. When you want to buy a parcel, you have to pay $100 first, called earnest money. Then, you have to pay the rest of the money within ten business days. If a property doesn’t sell, it stays online until someone buys it or takes it back.

Buying properties online after the auction can be good because you don’t have to compete with others. But it’s still really important to check everything about the property. You should make sure it’s easy to get to and that there are no extra problems with it. Also, remember to include money for fixing any title issues..

Why invest in Garland County?

1. Growing tourism economy. Hot Springs National Park, Oaklawn Racing & Gaming, and the nearby lakes attract many visitors every year. This creates a need for vacation homes and places to stay. Tourism, which means people visiting for fun, helps Arkansas’ economy a lot. The state has 52 parks that people can enjoy.
   
2. Diverse state economy. Arkansas is a state that earned $176.24 billion in 2023. It is home to six big companies that are on the Fortune 500 list, which means they are some of the largest and most successful businesses in the country. Arkansas grows a lot of food, and it is the biggest state that produces rice, chickens, and turkeys. The state has many different kinds of jobs, including making food and moving things from one place to another
   
3. Affordable properties. When someone doesn’t pay their property taxes, the government can sell that property for a low price, usually just enough to cover the missing taxes and some extra costs. This means people can buy houses or land for significantly less than their actual value. If someone buys one of these places, they can make it nice again or sell it for more money later on!
   
4. Accessible auctions. Live auctions are events where people can buy things by bidding money. Anyone who lives in the U.S. can join if they sign up. Everyone can see what happens during the auction, and the results are shown online for everyone to look at.

Pro tips for bidding at Garland County’s tax deed sale

• Arrive early and bring identification. Make sure to arrive early and have a form of identification, like a driver’s license. You can sign up for the auction 30 minutes before it starts.
  
• Set a maximum bid in advance. Decide how much money you are willing to spend ahead of time. Look at what similar properties have sold for and how much it might cost to fix them up, so you don’t spend too much.
  
• Bring multiple payment methods. It’s smart to have more than one way to pay. Bring checks and a debit or credit card just in case one method doesn’t work
  
• Investigate liens and title issues. Before you bid, make sure to look for any debts or claims on the property. You can get help from a title company or check with the county clerk’s office to find out if there are any problems.
  
• Wait before improving the property. After you buy the property, wait 90 days before you start making big repairs. This allows time for any legal issues to settle down.
  
• Budget for quiet‑title actions. Sometimes, you might need to pay for legal fees or court costs, especially if you want to sell the house or get insurance for it. Make sure to save some money for this too. insurance.
  

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

When are Garland County tax sales held?

Live tax deed auctions are held once a year. Typically between July to October

What time does the auction start and how long does registration last?

The auction begins promptly at 10:00 AM. Registration opens 30 minutes before (around 9:30 AM) and ends when the auctioneer starts calling bids.

Is there a deposit requirement?

For live auctions, no deposit is needed, but the full purchase price is due immediately after the sale. For post‑auction online purchases, the system charges $100 per parcel as earnest money.

How long is the redemption period?

There is no redemption after the auction. Owners must redeem by 4 p.m. on the last business day before the sale or lose the property. Purchasers should wait out the 90‑day litigation period before making major improvements.

Can anyone bid on Garland County tax deeds?

Any U.S. resident may bid; however, former owners, persons with unpaid auction debts and non‑U.S. residents are barred. Bidders must provide valid identification.

What kinds of properties are offered?

Parcels include single‑family homes, vacant lots, commercial property and occasionally “improvements only” (structures without land rights). Each listing in the COSL catalog includes the legal description, parcel number and minimum bid.

Useful links

• Garland County Website 
• State of Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands
• 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! 
  

Conclusion

Garland County has a special sale where people can buy houses and land at lower prices than usual. This area, known for places like Hot Springs National Park, attracts many visitors, so there is a need for places to live or rent. When someone buys property at this sale, they actually get ownership of it after waiting 90 days.

This means they can fix it up or sell it for a profit. However, before buying anything, it’s important to do some homework. Buyers should check where the property is located, see if there are any debts on it, understand the rules about how the property can be used, and plan for costs to clear the title, which shows they own it. With the right information and tools, you can feel confident to join in on the tax deed auction in Garland County!

Need A Hand?

Garland County might be your next smart move. Check our Auction Calendar for available tax-sale properties. Use our free resources to learn how to approach it the right way, and when you’re ready to talk strategy or get clarity, Book a free call with our support team.

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