DeedPilot

Carteret County, North Carolina

Tax Deed70,259 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

10 days upset-bid period after each high bid, not a traditional redemption

Investor returnstate default

N/A — outright deed transfer, subject to upset bids

Governing statutestate default

North Carolina General Statutes Ch. 105, Art. 26

Notes

North Carolina judicial tax-deed foreclosure (N.C.G.S. 105-374). Carteret County (Beaufort / Morehead City / Crystal Coast) tax foreclosure sales conducted by outside counsel Mewborn & DeSelms on the Carteret County Courthouse steps (unless notice says otherwise). Notice advertised in two newspapers and posted at courthouse at least 20 days prior. 20% cash or certified funds deposit required; bidder must be present. 10-day upset bid period (minimum 5% of original bid) filed with Clerk of Superior Court, 2nd Floor — status not given by phone. Sold AS IS; subject to outstanding taxes/assessments not included in judgment. Coastal flood, CAMA, and windstorm DD is critical before bidding.

Auction logistics

Format

In-person (courthouse steps — commissioner sale)

Frequency

Periodically as cases reach sale; county page updated roughly monthly when counsel provides dates

Deposit rules

Successful bidder: 20% cash or certified funds deposit at sale; must be present to bid. Upset bids: 10-day window, minimum 5% of original bid, filed with Clerk of Superior Court (2nd floor courthouse). Defaulting high bidder forfeits deposit. Confirm current notice terms with Mewborn & DeSelms (910-455-9755) and Tax Department (252-728-8485).

Title risk

Liens that survive the sale
Judicial tax foreclosure with proper parties generally cuts off junior liens; federal liens and omitted parties create residual risk. Coastal assessments, HOA, and flood-zone obligations need separate review. Commissioner's deed AS IS.
Quiet title
Completed judicial foreclosure often supports marketable title; quiet title still used when notice defects or coastal chain issues exist.

Deal maths for North Carolina

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

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 105-283 requires all property to be appraised at its true value in money, which the statute defines as market value. There is no classification ratio and no county variation in the ratio itself — only in how recently it was measured.

Offices and records

Areas trending up

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

Morehead City / waterfront–port edge

Port, medical, and tourism employment with stronger SF liquidity than barrier-island extremes

Beaufort / historic downtown fringe

Tourism and marine trades supporting rental and second-home demand

Newport / Havelock western corridor

Military-adjacent (Cherry Point) workforce housing with more attainable pricing than beach towns

Sources