DeedPilot

James City County, Virginia

Tax Deed82,797 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

Right to redeem up until the court confirms the sale, not after

Investor returnstate default

N/A — outright deed transfer once confirmed

Governing statutestate default

Code of Virginia Title 58.1, Ch. 39

Notes

Virginia judicial tax-sale (special commissioner) county. James City County Treasurer uses Taxing Authority Consulting Services (TACS) for special commissioner’s sales of tax-delinquent real estate under Va. Code Title 58.1. Recent cycle: online-only auction with bidding beginning to close May 5, 2026, 11:00 A.M. via For Sale At Auction / TACS. Bidders generally must not owe delinquent taxes to the County. Williamsburg / Historic Triangle growth market with tourism, Colonial Williamsburg, and military-adjacent demand. Confirm current decree, deposit, and platform on taxva.com and County real-estate auction page before funding.

Auction logistics

Format

Online (special commissioner / TACS)

Frequency

As scheduled by special commissioner decrees (2026 online sale began closing May 5, 2026; confirm next posting on taxva.com)

Deposit rules

Online registration free on TACS/auctioneer platform; high bidders follow wire/deposit instructions in decree and auction terms. Must not owe delinquent taxes to James City County. Court confirmation required — do not treat high bid as final title until confirmed.

Title risk

Liens that survive the sale
Proper judicial tax sale after court confirmation generally cuts off most junior liens named in the suit; federal tax liens can survive. Always read the decree and title report for exceptions.
Quiet title
Court confirmation is the primary clearing step; quiet title may still be used if defects appear in the chain or possession is disputed.

Deal maths for Virginia

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

Va. Const. art. X, § 2: "All assessments of real estate and tangible personal property shall be at their fair market value, to be ascertained as prescribed by law." There is no classification and no ratio below full value, except the agricultural, horticultural, forest and open-space use-value deferral the same section authorises.

Offices and records

Areas trending up

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

New Town / Monticello Avenue corridor

Mixed-use retail and professional employment with strong SF and townhome absorption

Ford’s Colony / west residential belt

Higher-end demand and school-driven resale liquidity in the Historic Triangle

Toano / light industrial north fringe

Logistics and relative entry pricing versus Williamsburg core

Sources