St. Mary's County, Maryland

Tax Lien116,469 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

6 months minimum before foreclosure action can start; up to 1 year+

Investor returnstate default

6–24% per annum, varies by county

Governing statutestate default

Maryland Tax-Property Code Title 14

Notes

Maryland tax LIEN certificate county. St. Mary’s County Treasurer holds the annual tax sale online (RealAuction / stmarys.marylandtaxsale.com) on the first Friday of March for the preceding tax year (2026 sale: March 6, 2026 at 10:00 a.m.). Delinquent list advertised four consecutive weeks. Successful bidders receive a Certificate of Sale only — not title; foreclosure of the right of redemption in Circuit Court is required to obtain deed. Redeemer interest historically 6% per annum on taxes paid. Properties may also be sold for MetCom or Leonardtown water/sewer delinquencies.

Auction logistics

Format

Online

Frequency

Annually first Friday of March (2026: March 6)

Platform

RealAuction — St. Mary’s County Maryland Tax Sale ↗

Deposit rules

$100 refundable registration fee via ACH at registration (opens ~month prior; closes noon one week before sale). Winning bid: full taxes/charges due withdrawn day of sale via ACH; residue of premium remains on credit until foreclosure decree. Entity bidders need good-standing docs. Late registrations not accepted.

Title risk

Liens that survive the sale

Certificate holder must foreclose the right of redemption in court. Federal tax liens and some governmental liens can survive the tax sale process. Certificate may later be invalidated with limited refund only.

Quiet title

Foreclosure of the right of redemption in Circuit Court is the mandatory title-clearing path; additional quiet title is uncommon but possible if defects remain.

Offices and records

Tax collector

St. Mary’s County Treasurer — Annual Tax Sale ↗

301-475-4200

Clerk of court

St. Mary’s County Circuit Court Clerk (foreclosure of redemption / land records) ↗

Property appraiser

St. Mary’s County Assessments / SDAT parcel data ↗

GIS / parcel map

St. Mary’s County GIS / mapping ↗

Areas trending up

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

Lexington Park / NAS Patuxent River edge

Military and contractor employment driving the county’s primary rental and workforce SF demand

California / Great Mills corridor

Retail and housing absorption along the MD-235 spine

Leonardtown / county-seat

Government and small-business node with relatively liquid starter inventory