New Castle County, Delaware
"The First County in the First State"
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Sheriff Sales

Bidder Registration and Auction Guidelines

  • ***NEW*** Effective June 12, 2012 ALL bidders must register prior to the start of the New Castle County Sheriff Sale.***
  • Registration will begin at 9:00 A.M. on sale day and remain open during the auction.
  • Pre-Sale Registration will be held in the Council Workshop room attached to the council chambers until 10:30 after which registration will be in the Sheriff's Office on the 5th Floor. Please be patient and allow enough time for the registration of new bidders.
  • A Bidder Number will be issued at time of Registration and collected at the end of the sale or as you leave. You are responosible for maintaining custody of and returning the Bidder Number.
  • In order to receive a bidder number, you must sign a copy of the Auction Rules acknowledging the receipt of the rules and complete the Bidder Registration Form. You are encouraged to read, understand and pre-complete the forms. PLEASE PRINT LEGIBLY! Copies will be available at the registration site.
  • Only one (1) Bidder Number will be issued to any registered Business or Law Firm.
  • We will NOT collect the certified funds or cash UNTIL you bid on a property. Immediately upon bidding you must submit your certified check and Current Government ID with Photograph to the Sheriff sale personnel.
  • No bids will be accepted by any bidder who is not registered.  No Exceptions
  • Registration Requirements:
    1. On hand Current Government ID with Photograph  (Valid State Driver's License Preferred)
    2. On hand verification of $5,000 in Certified Funds or Cash AND Checkbook to pay balance of bid deposit.
    3. Current Phone Number and email address.
    4. Signed Bidders Sheriff Auction Rules Form
  • Any Financing for Sheriff sale properties should be arranged prior to the auction, not after.  Being pre-approved is not sufficient.

All sheriff sales are buyer beware. You are urged to download and review the below BIDDER AUCTION RULES.

Sheriff Foreclosure Listing

The Sheriff Sale list is available here  in .pdf format and is downloadable for your own use.
 
The list will be updated with Stayed properties on a daily basis.
The list is in order by Sheriff Number (13-xxxxxx) in the left hand column.
You can search any string of text in the list by choosing CTRL-F and typing in the search window.
 

Where and When

Real Estate Sheriff Sales are held at 10 a.m. on the second Tuesday of each month in council chambers - 800 North French St., City/County Building. 
There is a Fire Marshall limit of 152 persons at the sale so GET THERE EARLY.
Goods and Chattels Sheriff Sales are held at the location and time listed on the G&C sale list and property detail list.

Obtaining Foreclosure Listings

Prior to each sale, a complete list of the foreclosed properties involved in the sale can be purchased at the Sheriff's office for $20.00 cash.  You may also download the list for the upcoming sale here. 

Winning Bidder Responsibilities

  • Sales are FINAL and Deposits are non-refundable.
  • The balance of mortgage foreclosure bids are due the third Monday of the month after the sale. Balance of bid payments are payable via cashiers check to the Sheriff of New Castle County. Confirmation of all sheriff sales occurs the Friday following the third Monday of the Month after sheriff sales.
  • It is the policy of the Sheriff's Office to encourage the high bidder of a real estate foreclosure sale to deed the property purchased within a reasonable amount of time.  Therefore, any real estate purchased at a Sheriff Sale and not deeded within 6 months after confirmation will result in a return of the Superior Court Writ indicating that the property was purchased, paid for but not deeded. The accumulated transfer tax will be capitulated to the State, and/or County, and/or City, and/or Town.
    The high bidder acquires an equitable interest in the property as soon as the bid is accepted. The high bidder's legal responsibility to maintain the property is not diminished by this policy.
  • You may have to evict occupants at your own expense.

Sale Results

After each sale, a complete list containing details of each purchase can be obtained from the Sheriff's Office for a fee of $20.00 or viewed for free on our website.