Sheriff Sale Information

Welcome

  • Sheriffs’ foreclosure sales are held every Wednesday at 2:00pm at the Warinanco Ice Skating Center, 1 Park Dr, Roselle, NJ 07203.  No parties will be allowed to check in once sales begin. Any changes to the sale date will be published on the Sheriff’s website.
  • If attending the sale, please arrive at 1PM to check in.

View List of Foreclosures

General information you need to know

  • Sales in foreclosure are for real property only, not structures. We cannot authorize persons to enter or inspect any property that may be offered for sale. The rule of caveat emptor (let the buyer beware) is applicable to all foreclosure sales.
  • All property to be sold at an auction is advertised in the “Star Ledger” four Monday’s prior to the sale. Property is also advertised in a paper serving the sale community. In addition to this advertising, notices of sales are also posted at the sheriff’s business office.  Sales information can be obtained from the Union County Sheriff’s website.
  • We recommend calling the sheriff’s foreclosure unit the late morning of the sale at 908-527-4478 or 908-527-4479 to determine if the sale will be held. Adjournments, settlements or bankruptcies may cause a sale to be canceled. This may occur at any time prior to the sale. In most cases, property will not be re-advertised. To speed your inquiry, refer to the “CH” number that appears in the legal notice or newspaper advertisement.
  • Title searches are conducted by private firms. They may be found in through an internet search. They charge a fee for title searches.
  • In most cases, the property can be redeemed by the former owner within ten days of the sale. In some cases, the owner can also declare bankruptcy within this same time period. If this is done, the sale is put on hold until the court makes its decision.
  • If the property is occupied, it will be your responsibility to have any occupants legally removed.
  • Eviction proceedings are only done by Superior Court order. There is a fee for this order and a fee for the sheriff to evict persons from property purchased at a sheriff’s sale.
  • On January 12, 2024 the Community Wealth Preservation Program took effect

How the sales work

  • All parties may be required to sign in and show funds prior to bidding.
  • No more than $500 cash will be allowed for a deposit, the balance must be in certified funds.
  • Parties with deeds beyond the 30 days may not be eligible to bid
  • Sheriff’s’ sales of property are open type auction sales (sealed or mailed bids are not accepted). The plaintiff opens with a bid of $1,000.00 and all subsequent bids are in multiples of at least $1,000.00. Property is sold to the highest bidder.
  • All persons bidding on property must identify themselves when entering a bid. 
  • To determine how much will be needed as a deposit; you must determine how much you intend to bid for the sale property.  A certified check/s for 20% of the highest amount you intend to bid should be made payable to Union County Sheriff or County Sheriff.  If you were the successful highest bidder, certified funds presented at sale must be issued within 6 months of the sale date.  Further, all certified funds used at any time to pay off any balances must also be issued within 6 months of all payoff dates.
  • Eligible participants of the Community Wealth Preservation Program are subject to different deposit percentages and payoff deadlines. Consult A5664 or the Training Manual in the links above.

Conditions of Sale

  1. The highest bidder will be the purchaser of the property. The minimum bid is $1000. Bids will be accepted in multiples of $1000.00
  2. If the successful bidder fails to comply with any of the conditions of the sale, the property will be re-sold and the former purchaser held responsible for all losses and expenses. The former purchaser will receive no benefit from this second sale.  Eligible participants in the Community Wealth Preservation Program, CWPP, may secure return of their forfeited deposit and shall not be liable for accrued interest if their failure to close on the sale of a property within the applicable 90 business day period is due to the participant’s inability to close on a mortgage through no fault of their own, as defined under the CWPP, in which case the participant shall be refunded the deposit on the property and the participant shall be responsible only for the payment of accrued interest.  The Sheriff will not determine a participant’s right to receive a refund of the deposit under the CWPP.  The Sheriff will retain the deposit until it receives written consent from the foreclosing plaintiff or a court order authorizing release of the deposit.
  3. The purchaser must pay 20% of the purchase price in cash, certified, or cashier’s check at the end of the sale. Monies presented in excess of the deposit will be applied to the balance. There will be no return of excess monies without a court order. They must also sign an acknowledgment of the purchase conditions and indicate who will prepare the deed.  If an individual meets the definition of a “defendant,” “next of kin,” “tenant,” or “nonprofit community development corporation” pursuant to the terms of the CWPP, and is eligible to exercise the right of first or second refusal, the subject residential property may not proceed to public auction.  Parties purchasing the property pursuant to the rights of first or second refusal shall make a deposit of 3.5% of the original upset price listed in the notice provided by the foreclosing party to the Sheriff or the final starting upset price listed for the sale of the property.  Any “nonprofit community development corporation” that takes title to the subject property pursuant to the right of second refusal and fails to strictly abide by the CWPP shall be subject to the penalties set forth in the statute.
  4. If a residential property proceeds to public auction because the rights of first refusal and second refusal afforded under the CWPP have not been exercised, a successful bidder who is an eligible participant under the CWPP, may pay a deposit of 3.5% of the original upset price listed in the notice provided by the foreclosing party to the Sheriff or the final starting upset price listed for the sale of the property.  The balance of the purchase price is to be paid within 90 business days with lawful interest calculated on the unpaid balance from the 60th day after sale.  A balance of the bid payoff request is to be submitted in writing prior to requested date of payoff.  We will NOT accept payoffs past the 90th day without permission from the plaintiff.
  5. Individuals who are eligible to participate in the CWPP based upon a commitment to reside at the property for 84 months, and take title to the subject property are required to satisfy the relevant conditions and reporting requirements of the CWPP.
  6. The CWPP applies to residential properties and excludes property used for investment purposes.
  7. Any CWPP provisions not expressly set forth shall nonetheless be binding.  Information regarding the CWPP is available on the state’s website.
  8. Property is sold subject to restrictions and easements of record which are unknown to me and to unpaid taxes, or assessments, water and sewer liens if any, and such state of facts as an accurate survey, title search, and physical inspection of the premises would disclose.
  9. Subject to the rights of occupants or tenants, if any.
  10. Subject to State and Municipal Ordinances, Statues and Regulations including Zoning   Ordinances, Federal Laws and Regulations that may apply.
  11. Except for the provisions provided by the CWPP, all monies due to the Sheriff must be paid within 30 days from the date of the sale. Deeds will be available at the Sheriff’s Office 10 days from the date of the sale, exclusive of the final weekend and legal holidays. All monies due the Sheriff must be paid before a deed will be delivered.
  12. At the conclusion of the sale the Sheriff will need copies of any additional announcements that have been made by the plaintiff’s attorney or representative. Deeds will not be prepared unless all announcements are received.
  13. Successful bidders at Sheriffs Sales will be required to produce photo identification, address, and a telephone number as a condition of sale. This information will be memorialized.

Payment Terms

  • The successful bidder must pay 20% of the purchase price immediately in cash or certified check at the end of the sale. They must also sign an acknowledgement of the purchase conditions and indicate who will prepare the deed. No more than $500.00 in U.S. currency will be allowed.
  • If the balance is not paid in 10 days, the purchaser must pay default interest at the current prevailing rate.
  • The balance must be paid within 30 days.  If the balance is not paid within 30 days the buyer may lose his/her deposit.  Additional time is not granted to the buyer to obtain a mortgage.  Parties that have not paid for their purchase after 30 days from the date of sale may be ineligible to bid at future sales. 
  • Eligible participants of the Community Wealth Preservation Program are subject to different deposit percentages and payoff deadlines. Consult A5664 or the Training Manual in the links above.

After the Sale

  • The purchaser will receive a sheriff’s deed when full payment of the purchase price is received by the sheriff’s office. This deed may not give clear title to the property. In order to obtain clear title, all liens, taxes or encumbrances must be satisfied.
  • Deeds will be prepared in the name of purchaser. Properties will have deeds prepared by the plaintiff’s attorney. Any changes to the assignment of bid must be made through the plaintiff’s attorney for these deeds.

Defendant Request for Adjournment

  • A defendant in a foreclosure matter is entitled to two (2) – 28 day adjournments.  The cost for each adjournment is $28.00. 
  • One (1) additional adjournment may be taken if both the lender and debtor agree to an adjournment. 
  • Exact change or money order is accepted.
  • An adjournment must be done in person by the defendant. Identification is required.
  • If someone other than the defendant comes to take the adjournment, a letter must accompany that party giving authorization for that person to take the adjournment on the defendant’s behalf. The defendant’s representative must also provide identification.
  • Adjournments are not taken between 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. on Wednesdays, the day of sales