12 Best Books on Tax Lien and Tax Deed Investing (2026)

When you're getting started in tax lien and tax deed investing, the right book can save you thousands of dollars in mistakes. The wrong book wastes your time with outdated information or steers you toward an expensive guru course. We've read them all so you don't have to.

Here are the 12 books that are genuinely worth reading, ranked by how useful they are for someone who wants to actually make money — not just learn theory.

Quick Comparison

Book	Author	Best For	Focus	Rating
Profit by Investing in Real Estate Tax Liens	Larry Loftis	Beginners	Tax liens	5/5
The 16% Solution	Joel Moskowitz	Beginners	Tax liens	4/5
Tax Lien and Tax Deed Investing	Ted Thomas	All levels	Both	4/5
The Complete Guide to Investing in Real Estate Tax Liens & Deeds	Alan Northcott	Beginners	Both	4/5
Make Money in Real Estate Tax Liens	Cheri Hill	Intermediate	Tax liens	4/5
Real Estate Tax Deed Investing	Matt Andrews	Beginners	Tax deeds	3/5
The Tax Lien Lady's Guide	Joanne Musa	Beginners	Tax liens	4/5
Tax Sale Investing From Home	Phil Kline	Online investors	Both	3/5
The Art of Tax Lien Investing	Alex Goldstein	Intermediate	Tax liens	3/5
Rich Dad's Advisors: Tax Lien Certificates	Tom Wheelwright	Beginners	Tax liens	3/5
The Intelligent Real Estate Investor	Richard Nickerson	All levels	General + tax sales	4/5
Real Estate Investing for Dummies	Eric Tyson & Robert Griswold	Complete beginners	General RE	3/5

1. Profit by Investing in Real Estate Tax Liens — Larry Loftis

Our top pick for beginners.

Larry Loftis was a practicing attorney before he became a full-time tax lien investor, and that legal background makes this book stand out. Unlike many tax lien books that skim over the details, Loftis explains the statutory framework in plain English. You'll understand not just what to do, but why the system works the way it does.

What makes it great:

• State-by-state breakdown of tax lien and tax deed laws
• Detailed due diligence checklists
• Real math on expected returns (not inflated guru numbers)
• Coverage of common pitfalls like environmental liens and IRS priority liens

What's missing: The book focuses primarily on tax lien certificates. If you're interested in tax deed states like Texas, you'll need to supplement with state-specific resources.

Best for: Complete beginners who want a thorough, legally grounded introduction.

2. The 16% Solution — Joel Moskowitz

The classic that started it all.

Originally published in 1994 and updated multiple times, "The 16% Solution" is the book that introduced millions of people to tax lien certificate investing. The title refers to the maximum interest rate available in many states at the time of writing.

Moskowitz's approach is straightforward and practical. He explains how to evaluate certificates, manage a portfolio, and handle the redemption process. The book has held up remarkably well despite its age.

What makes it great:

• Clear, no-nonsense writing style
• Practical portfolio management advice
• Good coverage of risk management
• No upsell to courses or programs

What's missing: Some state-specific information is outdated. Online auction platforms didn't exist when this was written, so in-person processes are emphasized. Use this for the strategic framework, then supplement with current state-specific research.

Best for: Anyone who wants the foundational concepts in a well-written, concise format.

3. Tax Lien and Tax Deed Investing — Ted Thomas

The most comprehensive single resource.

Ted Thomas has been teaching tax lien and tax deed investing for over 30 years, and this book distills that experience. It covers both liens and deeds, which is valuable because most books focus on one or the other.

Thomas is honest about both the opportunities and the risks. He includes examples of deals that went wrong alongside success stories, which gives a more balanced picture than most investing books.

What makes it great:

• Covers both tax liens AND tax deeds in one book
• Includes failure case studies, not just wins
• Practical worksheets and checklists
• Good coverage of online auction platforms

What to watch for: Thomas also sells courses and mentorship programs. The book stands on its own, but you'll notice occasional references to his paid offerings. Ignore those and focus on the content.

Best for: Investors who want to understand both the lien and deed sides of tax sale investing.

4. The Complete Guide to Investing in Real Estate Tax Liens & Deeds — Alan Northcott

A solid all-in-one resource that covers the basics of both tax lien certificates and tax deeds. Northcott's writing is accessible and well-organized. The book includes useful reference tables showing rules by state.

What makes it great:

• Well-organized state comparison tables
• Clear explanations of the legal process
• Good introduction to due diligence
• Reasonable expectations about returns

Best for: Beginners who want a textbook-style overview before specializing in a particular state.

5. Make Money in Real Estate Tax Liens — Cheri Hill

Cheri Hill brings practical experience as a tax lien investor and educator. This book is more actionable than many others — Hill includes specific scripts for contacting property owners, negotiation strategies, and real numbers from her own deals.

What makes it great:

• Specific scripts and templates you can use immediately
• Real deal numbers and case studies
• Good coverage of the "people" side of investing (negotiation, owner contact)
• Practical advice on building a portfolio

Best for: Investors ready to move beyond theory into action, especially those interested in pre-foreclosure outreach to delinquent property owners.

6. Real Estate Tax Deed Investing — Matt Andrews

One of the few books focused specifically on tax deed states (like Texas, Georgia, and California). Andrews covers the courthouse-step buying process, property evaluation, and exit strategies for tax deed properties.

What makes it great:

• Specific to tax deeds, not tax liens
• Covers auction bidding strategy
• Good discussion of title issues (quiet title, clouded title)

What's missing: Could go deeper on state-specific details. Texas investors, for example, will want to supplement with resources specific to the Texas Property Tax Code.

Best for: Investors in tax deed states who want a focused resource. If you're investing in Texas, pair this with our Texas tax lien vs tax deed guide.

7. The Tax Lien Lady's Guide — Joanne Musa

Joanne Musa has carved out a niche as "The Tax Lien Lady" and her guide reflects years of practical experience. The book is particularly good on the research and due diligence process — she walks through exactly how to evaluate a potential certificate investment.

What makes it great:

• Detailed due diligence process
• Good coverage of online auction platforms
• Practical, step-by-step approach
• Honest about time commitment required

Best for: Beginners who want a step-by-step guide to their first tax lien certificate purchase.

8. Tax Sale Investing From Home — Phil Kline

Written for the remote investor who wants to participate in tax sales without traveling. Kline focuses on online platforms and strategies for evaluating properties remotely using Google Maps, county websites, and third-party data services.

What makes it great:

• Focused on online/remote investing
• Good tips for remote property evaluation
• Covers multiple online platforms

Best for: Out-of-state investors who plan to invest entirely online.

9. The Art of Tax Lien Investing — Alex Goldstein

A concise guide that focuses on portfolio theory for tax lien investors. Goldstein treats tax lien investing like a financial portfolio rather than a real estate play, which is a refreshing perspective.

What makes it great:

• Portfolio diversification strategy for tax liens
• Risk/return analysis framework
• Good for analytically minded investors

Best for: Investors with a finance background who want to think about tax liens as a portfolio strategy.

10. Rich Dad's Advisors: Tax Lien Certificates — Tom Wheelwright

Part of the Rich Dad series, this book provides a good introduction to tax lien investing within the broader framework of tax-advantaged real estate strategies. Wheelwright is a CPA, so the tax benefit angle is well-covered.

What makes it great:

• Tax benefit perspective from a CPA
• Integration with broader real estate strategy
• Accessible writing style

Best for: Investors who want to understand how tax lien investing fits into an overall wealth-building and tax strategy. See also our real estate investor tax benefits guide.

11. The Intelligent Real Estate Investor — Richard Nickerson

While not exclusively about tax sales, this book dedicates significant coverage to tax delinquent property as one of several acquisition strategies. The broader context is valuable — it helps you understand when tax sales are the right strategy vs. other approaches.

What makes it great:

• Puts tax sale investing in context with other strategies
• Good market analysis framework
• Practical deal evaluation techniques

Best for: Investors who want tax sale knowledge as part of a broader real estate education.

12. Real Estate Investing for Dummies — Eric Tyson & Robert Griswold

The ultimate beginner reference. If you're completely new to real estate investing, start here before diving into tax-specific books. It covers the fundamentals that every investor needs — financing, market analysis, property evaluation, and legal structures.

What makes it great:

• Comprehensive foundation for all real estate investing
• No prior knowledge required
• Regularly updated editions

Best for: Complete beginners to real estate investing who need foundational knowledge before specializing in tax sales.

What Books Won't Teach You

Books are great for frameworks and strategies, but there are things you'll only learn through experience or with the right tools:

• Finding actual deals — Books explain the theory, but you need real data. Tools like LienSuite let you browse scored tax-delinquent properties with owner information, delinquency history, and deal quality ratings.
• State-specific nuances — Laws change frequently. Always verify current statutes for your target state. Our Texas county directory and Florida county directory are good starting points.
• Local market knowledge — Which neighborhoods are appreciating? Where are the flood zones? This comes from experience and local research, not books.
• Due diligence shortcuts — Experienced investors develop systems for evaluating properties quickly. See our due diligence checklist for a proven process.

Recommended Reading Order

If you're starting from zero, read these in this order:

1. "The 16% Solution" by Moskowitz — Get the big picture (quick read)
2. "Profit by Investing in Real Estate Tax Liens" by Loftis — Understand the legal framework
3. "Tax Lien and Tax Deed Investing" by Ted Thomas — Go deep on both sides
4. A state-specific resource — Focus on the state(s) where you plan to invest
5. "Make Money in Real Estate Tax Liens" by Hill — Get actionable scripts and strategies when you're ready to do deals

Total investment: under $100 for all five books. That's the cheapest real estate education you'll ever find — especially compared to $2,000-$10,000 guru courses that often teach the same material.

A Note on Books to Avoid

Be wary of any tax lien investing book that:

• Promises guaranteed returns with no risk
• Spends more pages selling a course than teaching content
• Claims you can get rich with no money down and no experience
• Was self-published with no verifiable author track record
• Hasn't been updated since before online auctions became standard

The books on this list are the real deal. Read them, apply what you learn, and build your experience one deal at a time.