(This information can be found on the City of Globe website where it was also shared on Facebook)
GLOBE, Ariz. — Oct. 26, 2026 — One buyer has been linked to a large share of tax lien and property acquisitions in Gila County, including a single 2023 transfer that covered more than 100 parcels at once. With those liens now reaching the point where foreclosure lawsuits can be filed, the City of Globe is warning residents to verify their property taxes before they are pressured into paying, or signing, anything.
Gila County records show the buyer associated with a significant number of parcels, among them one recorded transfer of more than 100 parcels in 2023 (Recording No. 2023-006643). The affected properties range from vacant lots and blighted buildings to family homes that have been passed down through generations without the deed ever being updated.
Tax liens sold in 2023 have now hit the three-year mark, when Arizona law allows a lien holder to file a foreclosure lawsuit. The City says it has received reports of residents being contacted directly and asked to make private payments to keep their property.
City officials stress that the three-year mark does not mean an owner has lost anything. Under Arizona law, a property owner can redeem a tax lien — pay off the back taxes, interest and fees through the County Treasurer — at any time until a court enters a foreclosure judgment. That right continues after the three-year mark, after a notice of intent to foreclose arrives, and even while a foreclosure lawsuit is pending.
When property taxes go unpaid, Gila County sells a tax lien certificate at its annual February sale. The buyer pays the overdue taxes and earns interest on them, but does not own the property.
Gila County describes tax lien holders as "silent lien holders": they may not contact property owners or go onto the property. If a lien is not redeemed within three years of when it was first offered for sale, the holder may send a notice of intent to foreclose and then file suit in Gila County Superior Court.
Until a judgment is entered, the owner can clear the lien by paying the Treasurer the back taxes plus interest and fees. That amount grows over time, and once a lawsuit is filed it may also include court costs. Only after a court judgment does the right to redeem end, at which point the Treasurer issues a deed to the lien holder.
The City recommends three steps:
Owners who find a lien should act right away, even if three years have already passed. Those who have received a foreclosure notice or been served with a lawsuit should redeem immediately and contact an attorney.
Payments should go only to the Gila County Treasurer. Owners can request a payoff amount from the Treasurer's Office and pay the county directly; the Treasurer calculates what is owed, pays the lien holder and clears the lien.
The City warns residents never to sign paperwork handed to them by an outside buyer. Signing a quitclaim deed or settlement agreement can mean voluntarily giving up ownership of the property.
Residents living in a family home where the deed was never transferred into their name after a relative died may need extra help. The City recommends contacting legal aid or an estate attorney to get the deed updated.
Anyone contacted directly about a tax lien on their property should document the interaction — names, dates, phone numbers, and any messages or paperwork received — and report it to the Gila County Treasurer's Office. Residents should not sign anything, enter private agreements, or send money to anyone claiming rights to their property.
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