Chatham County redeemable tax deed sales investing guide. 20% flat redemption premium, 12-month redemption. Auction details and due diligence checklist.
Chatham County, GA sells redeemable tax deeds via county-run online portal, with a 12 months redemption window and a statutory redemption premium of 20% flat (+10% each additional year) (a flat premium, not annualized interest). Auction cadence: Periodic — see the Tax Commissioner's published sale list.
Sheriff tax sales first Tuesday monthly (Courthouse 10am), excess funds lists available.
Aggregated from live Chatham County listings on LienScout Pro. Snapshot refreshes weekly.
Tax-sale data on this page is sourced from and reconciled against Chatham County Tax Commissioner publications for Chatham County, Georgia.
Each statement below is tied to the source it came from and the date that source was last read. Statutory rules are verified against Georgia law; auction logistics are verified against the county office that runs the sale.
| Fact | What applies | Source | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sale type | Redeemable tax deed The purchaser takes a defeasible deed subject to the owner's right of redemption. | O.C.G.A. § 48-4-1 / § 48-4-40 State statute | September 4, 2026 |
| Investor return | Flat 20% redemption premium in year one, plus 10% for each additional year A flat statutory premium on the redemption amount — not annualized interest and not prorated. | O.C.G.A. § 48-4-42 State statute | September 4, 2026 |
| Redemption | 12 months from the sale, and thereafter until the right is barred by notice After 12 months the holder may serve a barment notice to foreclose the right of redemption. | O.C.G.A. § 48-4-40 / § 48-4-45 State statute | September 4, 2026 |
| Auction authority | Chatham County Tax Commissioner | Chatham County Tax Commissioner County office | September 4, 2026 |
| Where it happens | In person — Chatham County Courthouse steps | Chatham County Tax Commissioner County office | September 4, 2026 |
| Sale cadence | Periodic — see the Tax Commissioner's published sale list | Chatham County Tax Commissioner County office | September 4, 2026 |
Tax-sale rules last verified September 4, 2026. Rule verification is separate from auction data freshness — always confirm bidding terms with the county before the sale.
Chatham County's tax sales are run by the Sheriff on the first Tuesday of each month at the Chatham County Courthouse in downtown Savannah. Unlike the metro Atlanta counties, Chatham's parcel mix is dominated by coastal-Georgia housing stock — historic downtown Savannah lots, mid-century neighborhoods on the west and southside, and a growing share of small parcels on the barrier islands. That mix creates unusual redemption behavior: high-value Historic District parcels almost always redeem, while smaller inland and rural lots frequently do not.
Chatham publishes its levy list through the Tax Commissioner's office roughly two weeks before sale and maintains a public excess-funds ledger for post-sale claims. Bidding is in-person, cash or certified check, and the sale is not conducted through Bid4Assets or any third-party platform. Pull the levy list the week of sale (Chatham cancellations are frequent for last-minute payment), verify any Historic District overlay restrictions, and check for open municipal liens through the City of Savannah before bidding on any in-town parcel.
Georgia tax sales in Chatham County are redeemable deed sales held on the first Tuesday of the month at the county courthouse (or the courthouse steps) — some counties run monthly, others quarterly, and Fulton uses in-person sheriff/marshal sales. Bidders register the morning of the sale, show proof of funds, and bid premium-only above an opening bid equal to taxes, penalties, and costs. Winners pay by cashier's check or wire same-day; the Sheriff or Tax Commissioner issues a tax deed within 30–60 days. The property owner (and any interested party) then has 12 months to redeem at flat 20% statutory redemption premium on the first year, plus an additional 10% for each year thereafter — one of the highest statutory returns in the country.
For a Chatham County parcel, start at the Tax Commissioner's search for the current tax balance and the delinquency notice. Pull the Tax Assessor's parcel viewer for owner of record, land + improvement value, zoning class, and last sale date. Run the Superior Court Clerk's Real Estate Index for the last warranty deed, active mortgages, and any liens (Georgia counties expose this via GSCCCA's state-wide search — one search covers all 159 counties). Finish with the county GIS for setbacks and flood overlays and Google Street View for a visual read. If the parcel is inside the City of Atlanta, also check the DeKalb or Fulton code-enforcement portal — municipal liens survive Georgia tax sale.
After you win a Chatham County tax deed, the Sheriff records the deed and delivers a certified copy. You now hold defeasible title — you own it, but the former owner can redeem within 12 months by paying you 120% of your investment (plus 10% for each additional year if they wait). To cut off that redemption right after 12 months, you must send a statutory Notice to Foreclose Right to Redeem via sheriff service to every interested party (owner, lienholders, tenants); the notice is expensive to serve but converts your defeasible deed into indefeasible fee simple 30 days later. Most Georgia deeds redeem inside year one at 20% — the tail that doesn't redeem produces the outsized long-term returns the state is known for.
Chatham County (Savannah) holds monthly redeemable-deed sales on the first Tuesday at the county courthouse steps. Crowds are smaller than metro Atlanta counties, but downtown Savannah and Ardsley Park residential parcels are competitive and typically overbid meaningfully. Realistic entry points are westside Savannah, Garden City, and rural west-Chatham vacant parcels. Georgia's 20% first-year statutory redemption premium (plus 10% for each subsequent year) applies, and the one-year statutory redemption must run before you can start barment.
In Chatham County, tax lien properties are sold as "Redeemable Tax Deeds." This means the winning bidder receives a deed to the property, but the previous owner has a 12-month period to redeem it by paying the amount due plus 20% flat redemption premium. If the property is not redeemed within this period, the deed becomes absolute, and the investor gains full ownership.
Investors can expect a flat 20% statutory redemption premium on the amount due if the property is redeemed. This serves as the primary return for successful bidders aiming for early redemption. Ownership of the property is only gained if the defaulting owner fails to redeem the property within the stipulated 12-month period.
The main risk is the property not being redeemed, leading to ownership of a potentially difficult-to-manage property. Additionally, there's a risk that the property's value might decline or the cost of repairs could exceed its market value. Legal complexities and challenges to the title can also arise.
To get started, research Chatham County's specific tax sale laws and procedures. Identify upcoming auctions and understand the bidding process. It is advisable to consult with a legal professional experienced in tax sales before participating to ensure all legal requirements are met.