Iowa vs Ohio
Same underlying data as the individual state pages, side by side. Statutory rates and redemption windows only — always confirm against the county's own auction notice before bidding.
| | Iowa | Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Sale type | Tax lien certificate | Tax lien certificate (some counties) + foreclosure |
| Rate / penalty | 24% flat (2%/month), no bid-down | Up to 18%, bid down or negotiated |
| Redemption | 1 year 9 months (+ 90-day notice) | 1+ year |
These aren't the same kind of sale: Iowa runs a tax lien certificate, while Ohio runs a tax lien certificate (some counties) + foreclosure. That changes what you actually hold after the sale — a claim against the debt in one case, the property itself (or a right to it) in the other.
Redemption windows differ: Iowa gives owners 1 year 9 months (+ 90-day notice), Ohio gives 1+ year — the state with the shorter window resolves faster, for better or worse depending on what you're optimizing for.
Iowa fixes its tax lien interest at 2% per month (24% a year) under Iowa Code § 447.1, so the rate is never bid down; bidders compete on the smallest percentage of the parcel instead (§ 446.16). After one year and nine months the holder may serve notice, and the right to redeem ends ninety days after service is complete (§ 447.9, § 447.12).
Full Iowa page →Ohio county treasurers may sell tax certificates (R.C. 5721.31): at auction the rate is bid down from 18% in quarter-point steps and the owner pays at least 6% of the price on redemption (R.C. 5721.32, 5721.30(E)), or the whole list goes to one buyer in a negotiated sale (R.C. 5721.33). The holder can file for foreclosure after one year (R.C. 5721.37) and the owner can redeem until the sale is confirmed. Where no certificate is sold, the county forecloses and the sheriff sells the property (R.C. 5721.18–5721.19).
Full Ohio page →Property & tax market
| | Iowa | Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $208,000 | $214,800 |
| Median property tax / year | $2,897 | $2,822 |
| Tax / home value | 1.4% | 1.3% |
| Tax / household income | 3.9% | 4.0% |
| Homes owned outright | 40.6% | 39.4% |
| “Other vacant” homes | 4.0% | 4.3% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1970 |
Typical tax bills are close in the two states ($2,897 in Iowa, $2,822 in Ohio), so a typical lien or opening bid is of a similar size — the difference is in the rules above, not the dollars.
Homes owned outright — where no lender has a reason to pay the delinquent bill for the owner — are 40.6% of owner-occupied homes in Iowa and 39.4% in Ohio. The Census “other vacant” share (foreclosures, homes in legal limbo or needing repairs, abandoned homes) is 4.0% against 4.3%: about the same, so neither state's lists should carry noticeably more empty properties.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (tables B25077, B25103, B25081, B25002, B25004, B25035, B19013). Medians of what owners report paying, not statutory rates. County-level figures are on each state page.
Quick answers
Is Iowa or Ohio a tax lien state?+
Iowa is a tax lien certificate state. Ohio is a tax lien certificate (some counties) + foreclosure state.
Which has the higher rate, Iowa or Ohio?+
Iowa: 24% flat (2%/month), no bid-down. Ohio: Up to 18%, bid down or negotiated. Compare the actual statutory ceiling, not just the headline number — most "up to" rates get bid down at auction.
Which redeems faster, Iowa or Ohio?+
Redemption windows differ: Iowa gives owners 1 year 9 months (+ 90-day notice), Ohio gives 1+ year — the state with the shorter window resolves faster, for better or worse depending on what you're optimizing for.
Are property taxes higher in Iowa or Ohio?+
The median homeowner pays $2,897 a year in Iowa and $2,822 in Ohio (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates). Typical tax bills are close in the two states ($2,897 in Iowa, $2,822 in Ohio), so a typical lien or opening bid is of a similar size — the difference is in the rules above, not the dollars.
Want to line up more than two states, or swap in different ones? Use the interactive comparison tool — up to four states at once.
See where these two rank against all 50 states: full rankings.
This page is general information, not financial or legal advice. Rates and redemption periods are set by state statute and can change by county or legislative session — always confirm against the county's own auction notice before bidding.