OfflineHi,
I am interested in purchasing tax liens but I am absolutely new to this. I have spent hours upon hours of researching but still have so many doubts and questions as to how I get started. I live in Maine and purchasing tax certificates in this state isn't even an option. So...I have to look outside of our area, which is mind-boggling to me. I've been to an auction before many years ago, but was quickly disappointed. Purchasing low was not happening since banks and very knowledgeable people were there. So...to get my feet wet in the least intrusive way, I'm sooo interested in OTC certificates. How do I find out how and where to get information so far away? How do I find lists to look over? How can I do due diligence and research? Basically, I know nothing and don't know where to begin! 
Hoping someone can enlighten me and answer some questions for a very naive individual or point me in the right direction!
Thank you!!
Lori
http://www.skwcentral.com/index.php?id=public/map
Here is a place we belong. Lots of information here. You will have to sign up and pay to use the program fully. Hope this helps some.
" Not Having a goal is more feared than not reaching one"
Christa Niven
www.taxsalelists.com works exclusively with these and there are lists that you can buy.
Good luck!
I just wanted to say thank you for the help. I will look at these websites and want so much to get started...somewhere!
Lori
Not yet just got started with it ourselves. But i do know of some people who have made mony and do you due diligance on the search of properties. Use all information from the county and all maps you can find. Google maps and citydata.com to find out about crime in the areas you are looking. Does anyone want to pool their money with us. We are about to put in some requests with some properties we are looking at. The more the marier as we say. We can buy any where you are intrested in.
Christa & Tim
" Not Having a goal is more feared than not reaching one"
Christa Niven
The wonderful (at least to me) thing about tax sales is that one has plenty of ways to get into them. Some people use pre-auction strategies, others use various strategies while participating in the auction, others use various post-auction strategies (including OTC purchases), and others (myself included) use a combination of all of them. The key is to know when to use (or not use) a particular strategy.
A lot of people complain that investors with deeper pockets tend to rule the roost during every auction, but that's not necessarily the case. Investors with deep pockets have no advantage over the other bidders in FL (which features interest rate bid-down) or IA (which features rotational bidding). Plus, the bigger players tend to avoid the auctions in smaller cities, and they tend to avoid investing in the smaller liens (typically because the resulting income won't cover their overhead).
A lot of amateurs/newbies get less then optimal results, because they'll go to an auction without a clue or game plan. At least with a game plan, they could at least fake it until they make it.