Clay County, Minnesota

Tax Deed66,848 residents

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

Sale typestate default

Tax Deed

Redemption periodstate default

3 years from judgment (5 years for homestead/ag land)

Investor returnstate default

N/A — outright deed transfer

Governing statutestate default

Minnesota Statutes Ch. 280–282

Notes

Minnesota tax-forfeited land county. Clay County (Moorhead / Fargo ND metro) Auditor sells forfeited parcels online via Public Surplus (org registration required). Official page: claycountymn.gov/290/Forfeiture-Property-for-Sale. At research time the 2025 tax forfeit sale showed no parcels for sale — inventory is episodic. Cash-style payment rules, 3% Tax Forfeited Assurance Account surcharge, state deed fee, recording fee, and deed tax apply; 5% buyer premium on the platform. County does not guarantee clear title; City of Moorhead certificate of occupancy required to occupy city properties. Special assessments may recertify to the new owner.

Auction logistics

Format

Online (Public Surplus) when inventory posts; unsold may go over-the-counter at Auditor

Frequency

Periodic online auctions when forfeited inventory is classified; confirm current list (may show zero parcels between cycles)

Platform

Public Surplus — Clay County MN forfeiture sales ↗

Deposit rules

Register on Public Surplus. Payment by cashier’s/certified/personal check or money order to Clay County Auditor per published rules; prior NSF buyers may be restricted to certified funds. Buyer premium 5%; plus 3% assurance surcharge, state deed fee, recording, and deed tax. Complete Buyer/Deed Registration form within 5 days of auction close.

Title risk

Liens that survive the sale

Forfeiture then public sale generally cuts off most junior private liens; federal liens and recertified special assessments can survive. County disclaims clear title. Full title search mandatory.

Quiet title

State deed helps; quiet title or attorney opinion still common for improved Moorhead residential when insurers want comfort.

Deal maths for Minnesota

Assessment ratio: 1× of market value
Typical quiet title: $1,800–$5,000 · 5 mo
Recording and transfer: $250

Minn. Stat. § 273.11 subd. 1: "all property shall be valued at its market value." Class rates under § 273.13 are applied afterwards to compute tax capacity and do not reduce the assessed value. The estimated market value is also what § 282.005 uses to set the opening price at a tax-forfeited sale.

Offices and records

Tax collector

Clay County Auditor — Forfeiture Property for Sale ↗

Clerk of court

Clay County Recorder (land records) ↗

Property appraiser

Clay County Assessor / property search ↗

GIS / parcel map

Clay County GIS / parcel mapping resources ↗

Areas trending up

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

Moorhead downtown / MSUM–Concordia edge

College and county-seat employment with Fargo metro liquid SF demand

South Moorhead / I-94 corridor

Retail and logistics jobs along the interstate with suburban absorption

Dilworth / east fringe

Growth-edge residential demand between Moorhead and rural townships