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Former Owners Seeking to Re-Acquire Tax Foreclosed Properties

If your property was acquired by the City via tax foreclosure within the last 90 days, you can contact the Department of City Development’s Real Estate Division to determine whether you are eligible to buy your property back for taxes, fees, interests, and costs owed.

Instructions:

Note that former owners can request to repurchase their property up to 90 days from the date that the City acquired it. The City can ONLY return properties to the owner of record at the time of foreclosure.

In general, sales back to former owners will follow the following steps:

  • STEP 1: Contact DCD Real Estate by emailing [email protected] with your name, the address of the property, along with your interest in the property, and a request for the total amount that is owed in taxes, interest, and other expenses.    
  • STEP 2: Once the total amount owed is given to you, provide Proof of Funds (POF) in an account in your name, showing adequate funds to pay the amount required.
  • STEP 3: For former owners of single-family, owner-occupied properties, provide documentation of owner-occupancy for at least six months up to the current date.
    • For former owners of non-single-family, owner-occupied properties, a background check must be completed with no violations to the buyer’s policies found (or violations must be remedied prior to requesting aldermanic approval). See buyer’s policies listed below.
  • STEP 4: For non-single-family, owner-occupied properties, approval of the local Alderperson must be acquired. Upon aldermanic approval in writing, a resolution authorizing the sale back will be introduced to the Common Council.
  • STEP 5: Once all steps above are complete, a closing will be scheduled.

Buyer’s Policies state that no buyer:

  • Is delinquent in the payment of any property tax, special assessment, special charge or special tax to the City of Milwaukee.
  • Has outstanding judgments from the City or if the City acquired a property tax-foreclosure judgment.
  • Has outstanding health or building code violations or orders from the City’s Health Department or Department of Neighborhood Services that are not actively being abated.
  • Has been convicted of violating an order of the Health Department or Department of Neighborhood Services within the past year.
  • Owned property in the city that, at any time within the past 5 years, the city acquired by means of property-tax foreclosure. Applies to any ownership group or LLC of which any prospective buyer has been a member.