Waukesha County, Wisconsin

Tax Deed417,029 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

None once the county forecloses (roughly 2 years of delinquency before that)

Investor returnstate default

N/A — outright deed transfer

Governing statutestate default

Wisconsin Statutes Ch. 75

Notes

Wisconsin tax-deed (in rem foreclosure) then county disposition county. After statutory foreclosure, Waukesha County Treasurer lists county-owned tax-deeded parcels for sale (quitclaim) subject to Tax Deed Committee approval — primarily over-the-counter / written-offer process rather than a fixed monthly auction. Separate Sheriff mortgage foreclosure sales run 2nd and 4th Wednesdays (not tax-deed sales). Properties AS IS; no buildability warranty. Offers >$10,000 typically need 10% earnest money.

Auction logistics

Format

OTC / written offer (occasional special auction); not a regular retail tax-deed auction calendar

Frequency

Ongoing as parcels are foreclosed and listed; confirm current inventory PDF with Treasurer (262-548-7029)

Platform

Waukesha County Treasurer — County-owned / tax deed property for sale ↗

Deposit rules

Submit written offer with tax key # and proposed buyer name. Offers over $10,000 must include at least 10% earnest money; offers under $10,000 generally require full payment. All sales subject to Tax Deed Committee approval. Recording fee (~$30 historically) and buyer-paid title/soil/permit costs. Quitclaim deed; AS IS.

Title risk

Liens that survive the sale

Tax deed process aims to clear pre-foreclosure tax and many junior interests, but federal liens, environmental issues, access, and post-deed special assessments can remain. County disclaims warranties and buildability. Run full title search before closing an offer.

Quiet title

Title companies frequently require quiet title or extended seasoning on Wisconsin tax-deed quitclaims before insuring free-and-clear marketable title.

Deal maths for Wisconsin

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

Wis. Stat. § 70.32(1) requires real property to be valued at the full value which could ordinarily be obtained at private sale, and § 70.05(5)(b) requires each taxation district to assess at full value at least once in every 5-year period. The Department of Revenue computes the actual assessed-to-full-value ratio for every district annually under § 70.05(5)(c) and notifies districts that drift more than 10% off over four years.

Offices and records

Tax collector

Waukesha County Treasurer ↗

262-548-7029

Clerk of court

Waukesha County Register of Deeds / Clerk of Courts ↗

Property appraiser

Waukesha County tax records / GIS parcel search ↗

GIS / parcel map

Waukesha County tax / GIS parcel viewer ↗

Areas trending up

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

Pewaukee / Brookfield edge

Milwaukee west-suburban employment and retail corridor with strong SF demand

Waukesha city / I-94 corridor

County seat job base and relative affordability versus inner Milwaukee suburbs

Oconomowoc / lake country west

Lifestyle and school-driven demand with limited inventory supporting resale liquidity