What is a sheriff sale?
A sheriff sale is a public auction, run by the county sheriff after a court judgment, where a property is sold to pay a debt — usually an unpaid mortgage or delinquent property taxes. The highest bidder wins, but buys the property as-is and must usually pay a deposit on the spot.
Read guide →2How to buy a house at a sheriff sale (step by step)
To buy at a sheriff sale: find upcoming listings, estimate the value and compare it with the debt, run a title/lien search, confirm the sale is still on, bring the required deposit in certified funds, bid no higher than your maximum, then pay the balance by the deadline and record the deed.
Read guide →3How to calculate equity and your maximum bid
Equity is the property's value minus the debt being foreclosed. A conservative maximum bid is value × 70% minus repairs and costs; stop bidding when the price reaches that number, even if the equity looks large.
Read guide →4Sheriff sale vs tax sale: what's the difference?
At a mortgage-foreclosure sheriff sale you bid on the property itself after a lender's court judgment. At many county tax sales you buy a tax certificate or lien for the unpaid taxes — the owner can still redeem, and you only get the property after a redemption period and further legal steps.
Read guide →5New Jersey sheriff sales: upset price, adjournments and deposits
In New Jersey, county sheriffs sell foreclosed properties after a Chancery Court judgment. Bidding opens near the 'upset price' (roughly the judgment plus costs), winners typically pay a 20% deposit at the sale and the balance within about 30 days, and sales are often adjourned.
Read guide →6Indiana tax sales explained
Indiana counties sell tax sale certificates on properties with delinquent taxes. The minimum bid covers the taxes, penalties and costs; the owner can redeem — typically within one year — and if they don't, the buyer must give statutory notices and petition the court for a tax deed.
Read guide →Glossary: every auction term in one line
Judgment, upset price, equity, redemption, REO, tax certificate… →