Using the San Bernardino County Tax Sale Site

San Bernardino County conducts its tax-defaulted property auctions through an official online platform hosted at sbcounty.mytaxsale.com. This website is operated by the County of San Bernardino in partnership with a third-party auction service provider.

The platform serves as the primary interface for viewing upcoming auction inventory, reviewing parcel details, and participating in the bidding process. All official auction activity takes place through this site.

Important clarification: SBC Tax Properties is an independent research publisher. We do not operate the auction, process bids, or have any affiliation with San Bernardino County or its tax sale platform. The information on this page is educational—intended to help you understand how to navigate and interpret the official site, not to replace it.

The county auction site provides several categories of information. Understanding what each section contains—and what it doesn't—is essential for effective research.

Upcoming Auctions vs. Past Auctions

The site typically displays both upcoming auction events and archives of past sales. Upcoming auctions show properties currently available for bidding, while past auctions provide records of what sold, at what price, and what remained unsold. Both views are useful: upcoming auctions are where you participate, and past auctions reveal patterns and expectations.

Parcel Lists

Each auction event includes a list of tax-defaulted parcels offered for sale. These lists include basic identifiers such as the Assessor's Parcel Number (APN), a general location or description, and the minimum opening bid. Parcel lists may be updated as properties are withdrawn or added prior to the auction.

Minimum Bids

The minimum bid represents the starting price for each parcel, typically based on the outstanding taxes, penalties, and administrative costs owed. This figure does not reflect market value. Minimum bids can range from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands, depending on the accumulated delinquency.

Status Indicators

Parcels are assigned status indicators throughout the auction process. Common statuses include:

• Available — Open for bidding
• Sold — Successfully auctioned to a winning bidder
• Unsold — Received no bids or bids did not meet requirements
• Withdrawn — Removed from the auction, typically because the owner paid the outstanding taxes before the sale

Bid Counts

During and after an auction, the site may display the number of bids placed on each parcel. A high bid count suggests competition and demand for that property. A low or zero bid count may indicate limited interest, though the reasons for limited interest vary widely and are not always apparent from the listing alone.

Auction Dates and Timing

Each auction operates within a defined timeframe. The site displays start and end dates, and bidding typically occurs online over a period of several days. Registration deadlines and deposit requirements are also published in advance.

Each parcel listing on the auction site contains a limited set of information. Understanding what is shown—and what is conspicuously absent—helps set appropriate expectations.

What a Listing Typically Includes

• APN (Assessor's Parcel Number) — A unique identifier assigned by the county. This number is essential for looking up additional information in county assessor and recorder databases.
• Minimum Bid — The starting price, based on accumulated taxes and costs. This is not an appraisal or market valuation.
• Property Description — A brief description, often limited to the general area, lot size, or a rudimentary address. Descriptions vary in specificity and may be incomplete.
• Status — Whether the parcel is available, sold, unsold, or withdrawn.

What a Listing Does NOT Include

The auction listing is not a comprehensive property report. Critical information is typically absent and must be researched independently:

• Road access — The listing does not indicate whether legal or physical access to the property exists.
• Zoning — Permitted uses, setbacks, and restrictions are not displayed.
• Property condition — For improved properties, no information about the condition of structures is provided.
• Title issues — Liens, encumbrances, easements, and other title matters are not disclosed on the listing.
• Utilities — Availability of water, power, sewer, or other services is not indicated.
• Environmental concerns — Flood zones, fire hazard areas, contamination, or protected habitats are not identified.

The absence of this information is not an oversight—it is standard for tax sale auctions. Properties are sold "as-is," and buyers are expected to conduct their own due diligence before bidding.

First-time researchers often draw conclusions from auction data that do not hold up under closer examination. Here are several patterns worth understanding.

Low Minimum Bids Are Not Necessarily Good Deals

A parcel with a minimum bid of $1,500 may appear attractive at first glance. However, minimum bids reflect accumulated taxes, not market value or utility. A low minimum bid may indicate a property with very low assessed value, which often correlates with remote location, lack of access, poor terrain, or limited development potential. The "bargain" may be no bargain at all.

Many Parcels Receive Zero Bids

In any given auction, a significant percentage of parcels may receive no bids whatsoever. This is normal. Experienced buyers recognize that many tax-defaulted properties have fundamental issues—access problems, title complications, or unfavorable locations—that make them unattractive at any price. Zero-bid parcels are not "overlooked opportunities"; they are often parcels that informed buyers have explicitly avoided.

Repeat Listings Can Signal Unresolved Issues

Some parcels appear in multiple consecutive auctions without selling. While this could occasionally represent a timing mismatch between buyer and seller expectations, repeated unsold status more often indicates persistent problems that have deterred all potential buyers. Researching why a parcel has failed to sell is as important as researching why it might be worth buying.

Bid Count Alone Is Not Enough

A high bid count indicates demand, but it does not guarantee value. Competitive bidding can push prices well above what comparable properties sell for in the open market. Conversely, a single-bid win at minimum does not mean you got a deal—it may mean you were the only buyer willing to take on the associated risks.

Our research builds on publicly available auction data to identify patterns that may not be obvious from individual listings. We do not predict outcomes or guarantee results. We provide context that can inform—but never replace—your own research.

Historical Sell-Through Analysis

We track what percentage of parcels sell in each auction and how this varies by area, property type, and price range. Sell-through rates differ substantially across geographic regions. Some areas consistently see strong buyer interest; others consistently see parcels go unsold. Understanding these patterns helps focus research on areas with demonstrated demand.

Area-Level Patterns

Certain communities within San Bernardino County have distinct buyer profiles and market dynamics. Mountain communities, high-desert areas, and Inland Empire cities attract different types of buyers with different investment theses. We analyze results at the area level to surface these distinctions.

Overbid Distributions

The difference between minimum bid and winning bid varies widely. Some parcels sell at or near minimum; others sell for multiples of the opening price. We examine these distributions to understand competitive intensity and buyer behavior across different property categories.

Filtering Out Historically Underperforming Parcels

By analyzing characteristics of parcels that consistently fail to sell—or that sell but present known issues—we can help identify properties that may warrant extra caution. This is not a recommendation system; it is a research filter to help prioritize where to spend due diligence effort.

Scoring for Research Priority

In our Dashboard materials, we assign scores to parcels based on a combination of factors: area sell-through history, road access indicators, zoning compatibility, and other observable characteristics. These scores are research prioritization tools, not endorsements or guarantees. A high score means the parcel may merit closer investigation—not that it is a good purchase.

The following is a general framework for how auction data and independent research can be combined. This is not bidding advice—it is an illustration of a methodical approach to evaluating tax sale inventory.

Step 1: Monitor Upcoming Auction Inventory

When an auction is announced, review the parcel list on the official county site. Note the total number of parcels, the geographic distribution, and the range of minimum bids. This provides a baseline understanding of what is available.

Step 2: Cross-Reference with Historical Patterns

Compare the current inventory against historical data. Which areas have shown strong sell-through rates in past auctions? Which property types have attracted competitive bidding? Which parcels are appearing for the second or third time? Historical context helps distinguish signal from noise.

Step 3: Identify Research-Worthy Candidates

Based on historical patterns and initial review, narrow the list to a manageable set of parcels that warrant deeper investigation. This is not a shortlist of "buys"—it is a shortlist of "parcels worth spending time on."

Step 4: Perform Independent Due Diligence

For each candidate parcel, conduct thorough research using county records, GIS tools, and other public sources. Verify road access, confirm zoning, check for liens or encumbrances, review environmental considerations, and estimate realistic market value based on comparable sales. This step cannot be skipped or outsourced.

Step 5: Decide Whether to Participate

After completing due diligence, decide whether to register for the auction and place bids. This decision depends on your own risk tolerance, investment goals, available capital, and confidence in your research. No amount of external analysis can make this decision for you.