THE SHERIFF IS AN OFFICER OF THE COURT.
HE CONDUCTS OR ADJOURNS SALES
IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE STATUTES
OR COURT RULES.

IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT YOU TALK TO
AN ATTORNEY BEFORE BIDDING ON PROPERTIES AT THE SHERIFF'S
FORECLOSURE SALE.

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 located at the Union County Administration Building, and on the property to be sold.

The Sheriff's Office also offers printed listings of sale properties at a cost of $1.00 a page. Persons interested in properties may copy from the master list, which is available at our business office, or they should save advertisements printed in the "Star Ledger" or local newspapers.

We recommend calling the sheriff's foreclosure unit the late morning of the sale at 908-527-4478 or 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.

Sheriffs' sales of property are open type auction sales (sealed or mailed bids are not accepted). The plaintiff opens with a bid of $100.00 and all subsequent bids are in multiples of at least $100.00. Property is sold to the highest bidder.

The successful bidder must post a deposit of at least 20% of the total bid price immediately at the close of the sales. The balance, and a deed preparation cost of $35.00, is due within 30 days from the date of the sale. Interest will accrue until the balance is paid.

If the balance is not paid within 30 days, the buyer may lose his or her deposit. Additional time is not granted to the buyer to obtain a mortgage.

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. We recommend a title search before you bid on sale property.

Title searches are conducted by private firms. They may be found
in the yellow pages of the telephone directory. They charge a fee
for title searches.

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 for 20% of the highest amount you intend to bid should be made payable
to yourself. If you were the successful highest bidder, you would then endorse the check to "Sheriff of Union County."

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.

Sheriffs' foreclosure sales are held every Wednesday at 2:00pm at
the Union County Sheriff’s Office, Union County Administration Building, Elizabethtown Plaza, Elizabeth, NJ.

All persons bidding on property must identify themselves when entering
a bid.

The total amount due will not be given at the sale. You must obtain
this information prior to the sale.

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.