Every Ontario tax sale property, in one free list.

When property taxes on a piece of land in Ontario are still unpaid on January 1 of the second year after they came due, the municipality can register a tax arrears certificate. If the debt is still unpaid a year after that, the municipality can sell the land to recover what it is owed. Most sales are by sealed public tender, and the minimum bid is roughly the unpaid taxes plus costs, not the market value.

Every sale must be advertised in the Ontario Gazette, the province's official weekly publication. We read each new issue, pull out the facts for every property, and link back to the official notice so you can check it yourself.

Sometimes, but do not count on it. The highest sealed bid at or above the minimum wins, and popular properties attract bids far above it. You must include a deposit of at least 20 percent of your bid, and the winner also pays land transfer tax, any taxes that have built up since, and HST where it applies.

They are real. You usually cannot go inside the property. The municipality promises nothing about the title, the building, or whether anyone lives there, and it does not have to give you vacant possession. Some interests, such as Crown claims and easements, survive the sale. Sales are often cancelled at the last minute. The treasurer can call one off any time before the tax deed is registered, and usually does if the owner or a lender pays in full, even late. Talk to a real estate lawyer before you bid.

Yes. The list, the property pages and the weekly email are free. We may add paid extras later, such as same-day alerts and closing reminders.