or keep up on taxes?
IMO, because one owes back taxes and any interest/fines/penalties AND THEY GET PAID ON SALE of the property, what is the reason why government gets to keep the entire proceeds? It is legalized (or not) theft of personal property.
My guess is a relative moved into the condo, but they were a deadbeat. Geraldine may not have known there was a problem until the deadbeat couldn’t hide it anymore.