Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Author: TLS Team
Reviewed by: Josh Blanchard
Fact Checked by: Jack Aldous

St. Croix County sells land and homes it takes over when owners stop paying property taxes. The county calls this a tax deed sale. Bids go to the County Clerk’s office, and some properties later move to Wisconsin Surplus for online auction. This guide breaks down how the whole thing works, step by step, in plain words.

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.

What Happens Before a Property Reaches Sale in St. Croix County

Property taxes pay for schools, roads, and county services. When an owner falls behind for too long, St. Croix County starts a legal process to take the property. Once the county owns it, the law lets the county resell it to recover the unpaid tax money.

Wisconsin does not do tax lien sales like some other states. No outside investor buys the debt. The county takes full ownership first, then sells the property itself. That is why this is called a tax deed sale, not a lien sale.

How the Process Moves, Step by Step

Stage	What Happens
1. Taxes go unpaid	Owner stops paying real estate taxes for multiple years
2. County starts foreclosure	Legal steps begin to move the property into county ownership
3. Sheriff’s sale (if applicable)	Some foreclosed properties sell through Sheriff’s Office public sales
4. First and second offers	County first tries to sell at or above appraised value
5. Third offer, best price	Unsold parcels go up for sale at whatever price is best for the county, even below appraised value
6. Bids submitted	Buyers send bids to the County Clerk’s office
7. Deed issued	County transfers a Quit Claim Deed once payment clears

St. Croix County runs sales in two ways. Foreclosure sales on defaulted mortgages happen at the Sheriff’s Office. Tax deed sales for county-owned land happen through the Clerk’s office, and sometimes through Wisconsin Surplus online auctions. Knowing which type you are looking at matters, since the rules differ.

Sheriff’s Sales: Where and When

The St. Croix County Sheriff’s Office posts and runs foreclosure sales. Sales happen on Tuesdays, unless it lands on a holiday, at 10 a.m. at the entrance of the Sheriff’s Office, Lower Level, 1101 Carmichael Road, Hudson, Wisconsin. Anyone can bid as long as they meet the sale terms, and every sale gets posted inside the Sheriff’s Office entrance. Before you can bid, you must file an Eligible Third-Party Bidder Affidavit with the Clerk of Court for each property, then bring a stamped copy to the Sheriff’s Office when the sale starts.

St. Croix County Tax Deed Sales: How Bidding Works

Under state law, St. Croix County can sell parcels that did not sell in an earlier round at or above the appraised value. These leftover properties may then sell at whatever price works best for the county, even under the appraised value. The county still will not accept a bid below the set minimum, though. 

Bids for these parcels must properly identify the property, including the parcel number and legal description, and go to the St. Croix County Clerk’s office at 1101 Carmichael Road, Hudson, WI 54016. Every property sells as is, through a Quit Claim Deed, with no written or spoken promises about its condition. 

How to Bid on a Property in St. Croix County

Watch Out for These Risks

The county does not offer title insurance or an abstract, so buyers must check for and accept any title problems on their own. There is no promise about water or sewer systems on any parcel. Property lines might not have corner stakes, and surveying costs fall on the buyer. Always confirm zoning with the local town or city before you plan any use for the land.

Quick Facts

Item	Detail
County agency	St. Croix County Treasurer and Clerk
Sale types	Sheriff’s foreclosure sale and tax deed sale
Sheriff’s sale time	Tuesdays at 10 a.m.
Sheriff’s sale place	1101 Carmichael Road, Lower Level, Hudson, WI
Deed type	Quitclaim Deed
Governing law	Wisconsin Statute 75.69
Property condition	Sold as is, buyer does own research
Payment deadline	30 days after bid award

FAQ

Sources:

• St. Croix Foreclosure Sale Notices
• St. Croix Tax Deed Information
• St. Croix County Treasurer
• St. Croix County Website

Related Links:

• Medina County
• Medina County OH – Tax Deed Auction
• St. Clair County IL – Tax Lien Auction

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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!”

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