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Investors are buying Ohioans’ unpaid property tax debts, with 18% interest
Investors bought tens of millions in delinquent tax debts as counties used the sales to collect revenue and limit foreclosures, officials said.
In June, Cuyahoga County sold $18 million in delinquent property tax debt, the highest on record, as several Ohio counties including Hamilton and Warren sold record levels to investors in 2025 and 2026.
County treasurers defend lien sales as a necessary last resort to collect delinquent taxes efficiently. Warren County Treasurer Randy Kuvin noted the sales effectively double the county's foreclosure capacity, allowing staff to pursue scofflaws.
Investors including PVOne Capital and Tax Ease charge interest rates up to 18% on acquired liens. People's Bank Co. CEO Daniel Broering warned lawmakers that such sales can trap borrowers in debt cycles far exceeding original bills.
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton recently proposed cracking down on lien sales, while bipartisan lawmakers introduced legislation to prohibit these sales on residential and agricultural properties citing predatory concerns.
More than 320,000 Ohioans signed a petition to constitutionally abolish property taxes after home assessment spikes triggered tax bill increases. The issue may play a central role in the unexpectedly close gubernatorial race.