Yes vacant homes usually redeem but generally at a lower rate than occupied homes. In Baltimore city you can start foreclosure after two months if you get a “Certificate of Substantial repairs” This will cost $100, the charge is for the inspection and it’s $100 even if they decide not to give the certificate to you.

Also this comes at the very time when most certificates start to redeem so you could be out $100 because of the timing of the redemption. Off hand I can’t tell you where to get one. Because it has been a hassle I haven’t bothered that last couple of years.

Big investors get the most liens but they don’t necessarily get the best deals. If you had $5million a 5% return would give you $250K a year. You could probably live on that, right? Conversely It is exactly because they have $5 million they have to accept mediocre returns. It is hard to find $5M worth of killer deals in tax sale.

Smaller investors can do well in tax sale by being smarter with their money and their bids. If you only have $3-5,000 you only need 1 or 2 winning bids. Make sure they are good bids (i.e. low).