Texas is considered the best tax deed state because aside from having 25% interest rate for the first 6 months on tax deed properties that will be redeemed by the owner, it also contains a lot of available properties.
It has 2 redemption periods – first will be when the property enters in the tax deed process (which may take a year to 2 years) and after the property is sold at a sale where the owner will have 6 months to redeem the said property before getting the clear title.
All auctions are by competitive bidding but sheriffs and private law firms usually handle the sales.