Counties don’t tell you when you are delinquent because they make more money that way. They have auctions and people compete to pay your taxes and the county pays them interest. If you don’t pay for 3 years (in my state) you can lose the property to whoever has paid the taxes.
I've made several investments in these. Never to the point of taking over a property (I don't want that for me, or the state's caretaker), but the interest payments make for spending $$$.
“If you don’t pay for 3 years (in my state) you can lose the property to whoever has paid the taxes.”
No. The lien holder can file for public auction with the property going to the highest bidder.
“They have auctions and people compete to pay your taxes and the county pays them interest. If you don’t pay for 3 years (in my state) you can lose the property to whoever has paid the taxes.”
No. They bid for the right to place a lien on the property.
If the property owner does not pay the taxes due they are paid out of the sales proceeds. The county then pays off the lien.