Story County, Iowa

Tax Lien102,498 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-lien certificate county. Story County Treasurer administers the Annual Tax Sale under Iowa Code Ch. 446 on the third Monday in June (2026 details published May 2026 on storycountyiowa.gov/487/Tax-Sale). Most Iowa counties including peers use GovEase online pre-bid format — confirm Story’s current platform when May materials post. Buyer receives a certificate (bid-down percentage interest), not fee title; redemption then tax deed path. Ames / ISU market with Nevada as county seat.

Auction logistics

Format

Online (typically GovEase — confirm when 2026 packet posts)

Frequency

Annually third Monday in June

Platform

Story County Treasurer — Annual Tax Sale (GovEase common for IA) ↗

Deposit rules

Register on the announced platform during the May–June registration window; pre-bid/funding rules per Treasurer terms for the sale year. Contact treasurer@storycountyiowa.gov for current packet.

Title risk

Liens that survive the sale

Certificate/percentage interest does not convey clear title until deed issues after redemption. Federal liens can survive a tax deed.

Quiet title

Often advisable after tax deed issuance for marketable title.

Offices and records

Tax collector

Story County Treasurer — Property Tax / Tax Sale ↗

515-382-7330

Clerk of court

Story County Clerk of Court / Recorder ↗

Property appraiser

Story County Assessor ↗

GIS / parcel map

Story County Assessor / GIS parcel resources ↗

Areas trending up

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

Ames / ISU campus edge

University-driven rental demand and constrained near-campus inventory

North Ames / North Grand retail

Primary commercial employment spine with workforce SF absorption

Nevada / county-seat fringe

More attainable inventory with local government and industrial adjacency