Johnson County Sheriff Sale FAQs and Other Information

1.) Can I bring a bank approval letter to purchase a home at the sale?
Answer: No, you MUST have 100% of the money with you here at the sheriff’s office before the sale begins in the form of cash, money order, or cashiers check. “NO EXCEPTIONS�

2.) If I purchase a property at the sale, is it then free and clear of any liens, etc.?
Answer: No, the only liens paid out of the proceeds of the sale will be delinquencies as of the date of the sale, example; delinquent taxes/certified delinquent sewer liens. Such things as mechanics lien and any other lien that may be attached to the property will be the purchaser’s responsibility.

3.) How do I find out if there are any liens attached to the property?
Answer: It is the potential purchaser’s responsibility to check into this information. You can find this information by doing a title search on the property or by going to the Johnson County Recorders Office and go through their books to see if their records show anything attached to the property.

4.) How do I get inside to see the house/property?
Answer: You can not. The sheriff department does not warrant the property or property address.

5.) What do I need to do to be able to purchase property at the sale?
Answer: You would first have to have 100% of the money you are willing to bid up to on property of interest. Again in the form of cash/money order/cashier’s check, you would have to bid over the minimum bid amount and be the highest bidder.

6.) Who do I make my money order/cashier’s check payable to?
Answer: Money order/cashier’s check must be made payable to the “Johnson County Sheriff’s Office�.

7.) Where and when will I know what the minimum bid amount is?
Answer: The list with the minimum bid amounts added will be available the day before the sheriff sale (Wednesday) after 10:00 am. You can find it online or in the Jail Administration Lobby.

8.) What if I purchase a property for a lesser amount than my money order/casher’s check is made out for?
Answer: After the sale you will be given a receipt it will list the amount you are to be refunded and a check for that amount will be available to you the day after the sheriff sale (Friday) after 11:00 am.

9.) When do I take possession of the property?
Answer: After the sale you will pay for the property and the receipt you are given gives you possession of the property immediately. However, if there is someone still living in the home that you purchased, you would have to file eviction papers with the court to have those people evicted. You can not just walk in to a home someone is still living in. If there is not anyone living there you can change the locks that day.

10.) Is there any time frame where the foreclosed on homeowner could come back and redeem the property?
Answer: No, once the property has been sold at the sheriff sale, the foreclosed homeowner can’t redeem property.

11.) How and in what order will the properties be sold?
Answer: It is an oral auction. Bids will be taken "Orally". Any third party bidder will state their bid verbally. Again bid must be higher then the minimum bid amount. Properties will be sold 1-?? in numeric order.

12.) Where and who does the minimum bid come from?
Answer: The minimum bid amounts come to me from the attorney’s that have the property listed. They get this amount from their client(s) (mortgage companies/lender).

13.) What is a third party bidder?
Answer: A third party bidder is a person (other than the attorney for property) that is verbally bidding at the sheriff sale.

14.) Can someone interested in a property submit their bid before the sale takes place?
Answer: NO. There will be NO third party bids accepted before the sale from any person.

15.) When will a new list for the next sheriff sale be posted?
Answer: The lists will be posted on the 5th or shortly there after of every month. A Sale is held every 3rd Thursday of the month and the lists are released a month ahead.

16.) Can I attend a sale even if I do not plan on bidding?
Answer: Yes.