Author: Jessa May Bautista
Reviewed by: Josh Blanchard
Fact Checked by: Jack Aldous

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Ever driven past an empty house and wondered why the county owns it? In Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, that usually means the property went through tax foreclosure. Here is how that happens, how the county resells it, and what you need to check before you send in a bid.

What Is a Tax Deed?

When a property owner does not pay real estate taxes, the debt becomes delinquent. If the taxes stay unpaid long enough, the county can take legal title to the property. This is called a tax deed. The county then sells these properties to the public to recover the unpaid taxes.

Why Would a County Own a House?

Property taxes fund schools, roads, and local services. When an owner stops paying and the debt sits unpaid long enough, Manitowoc County has the legal right to take the property through a court process called In Rem foreclosure. Once a judge signs off, the county holds full title. Only then does it turn around and offer the property to the public.

Wisconsin does not do tax lien investing. Nobody buys a certificate and waits around collecting interest. The county becomes the owner first, then sells the property itself, which is why people call this a tax deed sale rather than a lien sale.

Two Offices, One Process

Manitowoc County splits this work between two departments. The Public Works Department posts the actual Foreclosed Property For Sale listings and the bid forms buyers need to fill out. The Treasurer’s Office, led by Melissa McCulley, handles delinquent tax collection and keeps its own foreclosed properties page as well. If you are hunting for listings, check both.

Right now, there is nothing to bid on. The county’s listing page notes there are no tax deed foreclosed properties available at this time, with that status last updated in March 2026. Sales open only when the county actually has parcels ready, so there is no fixed calendar to plan around.

From Missed Tax Bill to Sold Property

When	What Happens
Taxes go unpaid	Owner falls behind on real estate taxes for several years
County files In Rem action	Manitowoc County starts the court process to claim title
Judgment granted	The county becomes the legal owner of the parcel
Listing posted	Property and land show up on the Foreclosed Property For Sale page
Bid form released	County publishes a blank bid form and a filled-out sample
Sealed bids collected	Buyers submit written offers, no public bidding room involved
Winner selected	County reviews all bids and picks one, or rejects everyone
Deed recorded	Winning buyer pays, then records the deed at the Register of Deeds

Getting Ready Before a Listing Even Appears

Once a Property Is Listed

1. Pull the parcel number and read every detail in the listing.
2. Run the parcel through the county’s Real Estate Search tool for tax and ownership history.
3. Contact the Register of Deeds to check for liens or claims still attached to the land.
4. Call the local town, village, or city office to confirm allowed use and zoning.
5. Fill out the official bid form completely, matching it against the sample form.
6. Submit your sealed bid before the stated deadline.
7. If you win, pay according to the terms, then record your deed.

Tax Deed Property vs. a Regular Home Listing

Factor	Tax Deed Property	Typical MLS Listing
Interior viewing	Rarely allowed	Usually included
Seller disclosures	None, sold “as is”	Required by law
Bidding style	Sealed, one shot	Open offers, negotiable
Financing help	Buyer arranges own funds	Seller may accept contingencies
Title guarantee	Buyer researches liens	Title company handles it

Risks Worth Weighing

These sales skip a lot of the safety nets a normal home purchase has. Before you bid, budget for the unexpected:

• Set aside cash for repairs, since nothing gets fixed before the sale.
• Expect to clear out old belongings or debris yourself.
• Confirm the legal description matches the parcel you think you are buying.
• Ask the zoning office directly rather than guessing what the land allows.

At a Glance

Detail	Info
Departments involved	Public Works and Treasurer’s Office
Legal process	In Rem foreclosure
Bid format	Sealed bid with official form
Current listings	None as of March 2026
Condition	Sold “as is”
Treasurer phone	920-683-4021
Treasurer address	1010 S 8th Street, Room 116, Manitowoc, WI 54220

FAQ

Sources:
Manitowoc County Wisconsin Foreclosed Properties
Manitowoc County Wisconsin Treasurer
Manitowoc County Wisconsin Website

Related Links:

• Page County
• Monroe County
• Top 5 Tax Lien Mistakes You Need to Avoid
• Portage County
• Top 10 Tax Deed Counties

Sign up or log in to view the full content.

Free help available

Get a Tax Deed in the next 30 days

Need a hand on your first deal at up to 90% off? Book a free call and we’ll guide you step by step.

Auction
Calendar Book a free
call Free
resources

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