Step #1 Determine that the property has been adjudicated to the Parish, the City or both.

Finding whether or not a piece of property is adjudicated is only possible online by referring to the information available to CPTA Professional Search Subscribers, otherwise you will need to visit to the Caddo Parish Assessor's office in the Courthouse. (Sorry, the information cannot be given out over the telephone.) You will need the street address, geog number or assessment description of the property you are interested in purchasing. From either source, the record will include adjudication information in the "History" section. Read the information carefully. Make sure you come away with a complete copy of the record so that you will have everything you need to fill out the application.

If the phrase "(ADJ. FOR 19XX TAXES; ALSO ADJ. FOR 19XX CITY TAXES)" appears, then the property has been adjudicated to both the parish and the city. In this case or if the notice does not mention adjudication for the city at all, follow the instructions below for the Parish Procedures. If the property is ONLY listed as "(ADJ. FOR 19XX CITY TAXES)" and mentions no other adjudication, then you should follow the instructions for the City Procedures. They are very similar but you will be dealing with different offices. As neither the Parish nor the City takes possession of the property at any time during this process, they cannot grant you right of access to the property.

PLEASE NOTE: If successful, you will be buying the Parish and/or City's tax lien position against the property which is superior to the original owner's and even mortgage holder's claims. It could, however, still be subject to State or Federal liens.

Parish Procedures

Step #2 Complete the application form and return it with your certified funds, payable to Parish of Caddo.

All information, fees and signatures requested in the application must be completed. Incomplete applications will not be processed and will be returned to the applicant.

The application and funds should be turned in to the Department of Public Works, Engineering Department at Suite 820, Government Plaza, 505 Travis St. Shreveport, LA 71101 or mailed to PO Box 1127, Shreveport, LA 71163-1127.

Step #3 Property Status Determination by all taxing authorities.

All taxing authorities must declare that the property in question is "surplus property" and available for sale. ONLY PROPERTY THAT HAS BEEN ADJUDICATED AND NOT REDEEMED FOR MORE THAN THREE YEARS MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR SALE. Adjudication normally takes place by June of the year following the one for which the taxes are not paid. So, if the 1999 taxes are not paid and the property is adjudicated, you could make an application to purchase it during or after July of 2003.

Step #4 Applicant to provide Parish with a Title Report. (Title Report Fee $125)

Caddo Parish will provide a list of approved title companies to applicant. Fee and title report contents have already been agreed to by all parties.

Step #5 Caddo Parish will notify all interested parties noted on Title Report.

A mailing will be made at your expense to every party ($5 per interested party) with an interest in the property listed on the title report. If necessary, a newspaper advertisement will also be run. Legal time limit is sixty (60) days from date last green card received or advertisement run. Once that period has elapsed, the parish will request an appraisal.

Step #6 Applicant to provide Parish with an Appraisal Report. (Appraisal Report, lot without improvements $150, lot with improvements $250, large tracts with acreage are negotiable)

Caddo Parish will provide a list of approved appraisers to applicant. Fees and appraisal report contents have already been agreed to by all parties. After receiving the appraisal, Caddo Parish will request applicant to make an offer to purchase for a specific price.

Step #7 Applicant to make offer to purchase.

You will then need to make a specific bid for the property in writing. If the offer is deemed presentable to the Commission, an ordinance will be prepared to sell the property for NOT LESS THAN THE AMOUNT OFFERED.

Step #8 Ordinance presented to the Commission and the City Council, if necessary. An ordinance allowing the sale is submitted to the Commission (and the City Council, if necessary) for approval.

Step #9 Caddo Parish determines the date and time of bidding session and runs notice advertisement to Public, then conducts the auction.

After the ordinance is passed, Caddo Parish will notify the Public of the date and time of the bidding session, the required deposit and a minimum offer of at least one dollar more than the original bid. If no one appears to bid against you, your bid will be the high bid. If others appear to bid on property, then everyone can submit a sealed bid. If your bid is not highest, you will receive all fees paid to the Parish back and they will be added to the highest bid amount which the high bidder must pay. Caddo Parish reserves the right to reject any or all bids.

Step #10 Caddo Parish will notify purchaser of date, time and place to come sign deed.

You will need to bring certified funds to the closing in the amount of your winning bid plus any fees due.

Note: Additional important information is included in the attached documents. After all the procedures above have been followed, there will still be one additional legal step necessary for you to take to obtain an insurable title to the property. Caddo Parish strongly advises potential purchasers to consult with their legal professional during this process.

City Procedure

Step #2 Complete the application form and return it with your certified funds, payable to City of Shreveport.

All information, fees and signatures requested in the application must be completed. Incomplete applications will not be processed and will be returned to the applicant.

The application and funds should be turned in to the Department of Operational Services (DOS), Property Management Department at Suite 570, Government Plaza, 505 Travis St. Shreveport, LA 71101.

Step #3 Property Status Determination by all taxing authorities.

All taxing authorities must declare that the property in question is "surplus property" and available for sale. ONLY PROPERTY THAT HAS BEEN ADJUDICATED AND NOT REDEEMED FOR MORE THAN THREE YEARS MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR SALE. Adjudication normally takes place by June of the year following the one for which the taxes are not paid. So, if the 1999 taxes are not paid and a piece of property is adjudicated, you could make an application to purchase it during or after July of 2003.

Step #4 Applicant to provide City with a Title Report. (Title Report Fee $125)

DOS will provide a list of approved title companies to applicant. Fee and title report contents have already been agreed to by all parties.

Step #5 The City will notify all interested parties noted on Title Report.

A mailing will be made at your expense to every party ($5 per interested party) with an interest in the property listed on the title report. If necessary, a newspaper advertisement will also be run. Legal time limit is sixty (60) days from date last green card received or advertisement run. Once that period has elapsed, the city will request an appraisal.

Step #6 Applicant to provide City with an Appraisal Report. (Appraisal Report, lot without improvements $150, lot with improvements $250, large tracts with acreage are negotiable)

The City will provide a list of approved appraisers to applicant. Fees and appraisal report contents have already been agreed to by all parties. After receiving the appraisal, the City will request applicant to make an offer to purchase for a specific price.

Step #7 Applicant to make offer to purchase.

You will then need to make a specific bid for the property in writing. If the offer is deemed presentable to the City Council, an ordinance will be prepared to sell the property for NOT LESS THAN THE AMOUNT OFFERED.

Step #8 Ordinance presented to the City Council. An ordinance allowing the sale is submitted the City Council for approval.

Step #9 The City determines the date and time of bidding session and runs notice advertisement to Public, then conducts the auction.

After the ordinance is passed, the City will notify the Public of the date and time of the bidding session, the required deposit and a minimum offer of at least one dollar more than the original bid. If no one appears to bid against you, your bid will be the high bid. If others appear to bid on property, then everyone can submit a sealed bid. If your bid is not highest, you will receive all fees paid to the City back and they will be added to the highest bid amount which the high bidder must pay. The City reserves the right to reject any or all bids.

Step #10 The City will notify purchaser of date, time and place to come sign deed. You will need to bring certified funds to the closing in the amount of your winning bid plus any fees due.

Note: Additional important information is included in the attached documents. After all the procedures above have been followed, there will still be one additional legal step necessary for you to take to obtain an insurable title to the property. The City of Shreveport strongly advises potential purchasers to consult with their legal professional during this process.