Bid4Assets said California counties have sold more than $239 million in tax-defaulted real estate on its online-auction site since 2000, and $40 million in 2006 alone. The auction site has sold nearly 25,000 tax-defaulted properties for the state's counties, which collect back taxes, penalties, interest and fees from the selling price and return any remaining money to the property owner.

Lake County, California, is conducting its tax sale on Bid4Assets January 29-31, and 109 properties are up for auction. Other upcoming California county tax sales include Imperial, Kern, Santa Cruz, Alameda, San Francisco and San Bernardino.

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