Black Hawk County, Iowa

Tax Lien132,348 residents

County research last verified 2026-07. Office holders, platforms, and deposit rules change — re-confirm anything time-sensitive.

Sale typestate default

Tax Lien

Redemption periodstate default

1 year, 9 months from sale

Investor returnstate default

2% per month (24%/yr) statutory

Governing statutestate default

Iowa Code Ch. 446–448

Notes

Iowa tax sale certificate county (Iowa Code Ch. 446). Black Hawk County Treasurer holds the annual in-person tax sale on the third Monday in June (2026: June 15, 2026) in IT Conference Room 204, 316 East 5th Street, Waterloo, 8:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. daily until all delinquencies offered. Unsold Regular Tax Sale items go to Adjourned Tax Sale in Treasurer Room 140 beginning the 3rd Monday of each subsequent month. Competitive bidding for certificates (percentage interest class under IA practice). Waterloo–Cedar Falls metro / University of Northern Iowa influence.

Auction logistics

Format

In-person

Frequency

Annually third Monday in June (2026: June 15); adjourned sales 3rd Monday monthly thereafter for unsolds

Platform

Black Hawk County Treasurer — Annual Tax Sale (courthouse) ↗

Deposit rules

Fully completed bidder registration, IRS W-9, EFT agreement, and authorized-agent forms (if any) with original signatures due to Treasurer by deadline (2026: 4:00 p.m. Friday May 29) plus $40 registration fee per bidder. Only one agent may represent a group. Payment of awarded certificates per Terms packet (EFT authorization used). Redeem with guaranteed funds only. Review annual Tax Sale Terms and Conditions PDF before registering.

Title risk

Liens that survive the sale

Certificate/percentage interest does not convey clear title until tax sale deed issues after statutory redemption (~1 year 9 months class). Federal liens can survive a tax deed. Mortgages remain until deed path completes.

Quiet title

Often advisable after Iowa tax sale deed for marketable/insurable title.

Offices and records

Tax collector

Black Hawk County Treasurer — Tax Sale ↗

319-833-3013

Clerk of court

Black Hawk County Recorder / Clerk of Court ↗

Property appraiser

Black Hawk County Assessor ↗

GIS / parcel map

Black Hawk County GIS / Assessor map ↗

Areas trending up

Directional read from dated market analysis — not a guarantee, and not a substitute for your own comps.

Cedar Falls / UNI campus belt

University employment and student rental demand with stronger pricing than soft Waterloo pockets

Waterloo / downtown–medical corridor

Selective urban rehab and hospital employment; higher vacancy risk on fringe blocks

Evansdale–Elk Run Heights edge

Entry workforce housing with I-380 access toward metro jobs