Thanks everyone for the comments - yes you are correct - The bank foreclosed on the home & it was currently free & clear except for the taxes...... there was less than 7K in taxes ..... however the tax collector is not all that unwise ---- the bidding on the property started at  around $ 70K .... I asked them about this & they told me it was something about it being a residential homestead property so they start all the bidding at 50% of the county appraised value ---- I checked out the house & with the amount of work it needed & the current area it was in --- no longer was it that good looking of a deal. also the tax collector was going off the 2009 county appraisal --- which in FL homes in most areas have taken another big drop in value from 2009 - 2010

oh well --- Thanks again everyone for the input & take care