How to Buy Tax Deed Properties in Allegheny County

What Is a Tax Deed Sale?

In Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, when a property owner fails to pay their real estate taxes for a sustained period, the county can initiate a legal process that eventually leads to a Sheriff Sale — a public auction where the property is sold to the highest bidder to satisfy the outstanding tax debt.

Unlike a tax lien state (where you purchase the lien and wait for redemption), Pennsylvania is a tax deed state. When you win at the sheriff sale, you receive a deed to the property — not just a certificate.

Step 1: Get the Sheriff Sale List

The Allegheny County Sheriff publishes a list of properties scheduled for each monthly sale. This list is available on the official Allegheny County website and through platforms like AlleghenySheriffSales.com, which reformats the data into a searchable, filterable interface.

The raw PDF can be hard to parse — addresses, lien amounts, case numbers, and legal jargon fill hundreds of pages. Using a dedicated tool saves hours of manual research.

Step 2: Filter for Opportunity

Not every property on the list is worth pursuing. Use these filters to narrow your search:

Status: Look for "Free & Clear" (Sci Fa Sur Tax Lien) properties — these may have no prior mortgage.
Minimum Bid: The opening bid covers taxes owed + court fees. Low minimum bids = more upside.
Municipality: Focus on areas you know. Different townships have different redemption risks.
Flags: Avoid properties with bankruptcy or service issue flags — they're almost always postponed.

Step 3: Run Due Diligence

Before bidding, research each target property:

County Assessment: Pull the assessed value, year built, bedrooms/baths via the Allegheny County Real Estate Portal.
Parcel ID Search: Verify ownership history, prior transfers, and any additional liens.
Title Search: Hire a local title company to check for federal tax liens (IRS liens survive the sale).
Drive the Property: Never bid on a property you haven't seen in person or via current photos.
Estimate Rehab: Use the ROI calculator to model your maximum bid based on ARV minus rehab and profit targets.

Step 4: Register and Attend the Sale

Allegheny County Sheriff Sales are held at the City-County Building in downtown Pittsburgh. To bid, you must:

Register as a bidder (bring valid ID)
Have funds available — typically a deposit is required on the day of sale
Be prepared to pay the balance within 30 days

Sales are announced in the Pittsburgh Legal Journal. Check the Allegheny County Sheriff's website for the current schedule.

Step 5: After You Win

After winning, you'll receive a Sheriff's Deed. This is a valid deed but comes with limited title warranties. Most investors immediately pursue a quiet title action to clean up the title and make the property mortgageable or insurable.

Expected timeline from winning bid to clear title: 3–6 months, depending on the complexity of the prior ownership chain.

Key Takeaways

Pennsylvania is a tax deed state — you get the property, not just a lien.
Focus on Free & Clear (Sci Fa) properties for the cleanest title situations.
Always pull the county assessment and drive the property before bidding.
Budget for quiet title action post-purchase.
Use AlleghenySheriffSales.com to research properties before the auction.