Maryland vs Colorado
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.
| | Maryland | Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Sale type | Tax lien certificate | Tax lien certificate |
| Rate / penalty | 6% default, set by each county (20% in Montgomery and Prince George's); price bidding, not rate | 13% for 2026 (discount rate + 9), premium bidding |
| Redemption | Until a court forecloses (suit allowed after 6 months, 9 if owner-occupied) | 3+ years |
Both states run the same kind of sale — tax lien certificate — so the real difference between them comes down to rate and redemption, not the underlying mechanism.
Redemption windows differ: Maryland gives owners Until a court forecloses (suit allowed after 6 months, 9 if owner-occupied), Colorado gives 3+ years — the state with the shorter window resolves faster, for better or worse depending on what you're optimizing for.
Maryland bidders compete on price, not rate: each county fixes the redemption rate before the sale (6% by default under § 14-820, 20% in Montgomery and Prince George's) and owner-occupied homes are capped at 10%. The owner can redeem until a court forecloses, and you can't sue until 6 months after the sale (9 for owner-occupied).
Full Maryland page →Colorado's rate is nine points above the federal discount rate, set each September 1 by the State Bank Commissioner (C.R.S. 39-12-103): 13% for liens sold from October 1, 2026. Bidders compete on a premium that goes to the county and earns no interest (C.R.S. 39-11-115). From August 1 of the third calendar year after the sale the holder can apply for a treasurer's deed, which now means a public auction (C.R.S. art. 11.5); the owner can redeem until seven days before it.
Full Colorado page →Property & tax market
| | Maryland | Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $419,900 | $539,400 |
| Median property tax / year | $4,093 | $2,602 |
| Tax / home value | 1.0% | 0.5% |
| Tax / household income | 3.9% | 2.7% |
| Homes owned outright | 29.0% | 30.6% |
| “Other vacant” homes | 3.0% | 1.7% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1988 |
A typical home in Maryland pays 1.6× the property tax of one in Colorado ($4,093 against $2,602 a year). One unpaid year is roughly the face value of a one-year certificate, so a typical Maryland lien ties up about 1.6× the money of a Colorado one — and, at the same rate, earns 1.6× the dollars.
Homes owned outright — where no lender has a reason to pay the delinquent bill for the owner — are 29.0% of owner-occupied homes in Maryland and 30.6% in Colorado. The Census “other vacant” share (foreclosures, homes in legal limbo or needing repairs, abandoned homes) is 3.0% against 1.7%: Maryland has more of the empty properties that tend to go unredeemed — and to need work if the deed ends up yours.
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 Maryland or Colorado a tax lien state?+
Maryland is a tax lien certificate state. Colorado is a tax lien certificate state.
Which has the higher rate, Maryland or Colorado?+
Maryland: 6% default, set by each county (20% in Montgomery and Prince George's); price bidding, not rate. Colorado: 13% for 2026 (discount rate + 9), premium bidding. Compare the actual statutory ceiling, not just the headline number — most "up to" rates get bid down at auction.
Which redeems faster, Maryland or Colorado?+
Redemption windows differ: Maryland gives owners Until a court forecloses (suit allowed after 6 months, 9 if owner-occupied), Colorado gives 3+ years — the state with the shorter window resolves faster, for better or worse depending on what you're optimizing for.
Are property taxes higher in Maryland or Colorado?+
The median homeowner pays $4,093 a year in Maryland and $2,602 in Colorado (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates). A typical home in Maryland pays 1.6× the property tax of one in Colorado ($4,093 against $2,602 a year). One unpaid year is roughly the face value of a one-year certificate, so a typical Maryland lien ties up about 1.6× the money of a Colorado one — and, at the same rate, earns 1.6× the dollars.
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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.