Alameda County will auction 256 tax-defaulted properties this month through online marketplace Bid4Assets. Minimum bids start at just $455, with parcels ranging from vacant land to residential homes. The auction, scheduled for March 20-23, represents an opportunity for investors to acquire property below market value while helping the county recover unpaid taxes and clear its inventory.

Participants must submit a $5,000 refundable deposit plus $35 processing fee by March 17. Winning bidders face a March 25 payment deadline with no exceptions. Properties have been in tax-default status for years, with auction prices reflecting tax owed rather than assessed value. Final sales include additional fees including county recording and transfer taxes.

This auction marks one of 15 California tax-defaulted sales managed by Bid4Assets this spring. The program creates a streamlined process for government foreclosure sales while offering below-market opportunities for buyers. Alameda County has partnered with Bid4Assets since at least 2009 to facilitate these auctions across the region, with minimum bids ranging up to $1.5 million.