What is likely to happen if Ralph failed to pay property taxes for three years?

If Ralph failed to pay property taxes for three years, a tax lien will be placed on the property. This lien is a legal claim that the government can place on the property as a means of securing payment for the owed taxes. It acts as a safeguard for the municipality, providing them a legal right to the property until the debt is settled.

Once a tax lien is established, it can affect Ralph's ability to sell or refinance the property, as most buyers and lenders will require all liens to be cleared. If the taxes continue to remain unpaid, the government could eventually proceed to auction the property to satisfy the outstanding tax debt, but the initial consequence is the placement of the lien. This underscores the importance of keeping property taxes up to date to avoid such legal complications.