Sheriff sale date set in Hamilton County?
You may still have time to sell.

How do Hamilton County sheriff sales work?

After a court enters a foreclosure judgment, the lender's attorney asks the Sheriff to sell the house. Three appraisers value it, the sale is advertised in the Cincinnati Court Index for four Mondays, and the auction runs online on a Wednesday at 11:00 am. Bidding opens at two-thirds of the appraised value unless the court orders otherwise.

Since 1 January 2024, Hamilton County sheriff sales have been held online through RealAuction, at hamilton.sheriffsaleauction.ohio.gov. The Sheriff's property sales page explains the process from the buyer's side. From the owner's side, the important thing is this: the auction is not the end. The court still has to confirm the sale.

Can I still sell my house after the sale date is set?

Yes. You still own the house. If a sale to a buyer closes before the auction and pays the judgment, the lender is paid and the sheriff sale is cancelled. The tighter the date, the sooner you need to start, because the title company needs a payoff figure from the lender's attorney.

I can usually close in 14 to 30 days, and in as little as 10 business days when the title is straightforward. With a sale date close, call me and your attorney the same day. Tell me the sale date and the case number so we can work back from it.

If the house is worth less than the judgment, a regular sale cannot pay it off without the lender agreeing to take less. I will tell you honestly whether the numbers work.

What happens if my sale is withdrawn or rescheduled?

Sales are often withdrawn, cancelled or moved: the lender and owner reach an agreement, a bankruptcy is filed, the paperwork needs fixing, or the case is reset. A new date usually means more time to sell, but the case is still open and a new sale can be set.

Use the time. A rescheduled sale is a second chance that does not always come a third time. If you were trying to refinance or catch up and it did not work, a sale before the new date keeps the decision in your hands.

Can I get my house back after the auction?

Yes, until the confirmation entry is signed and recorded. Ohio lets the owner redeem by depositing the full judgment, court costs and interest with the clerk of the court of common pleas. The sale is then set aside and the auction buyer's deposit is returned.

The right of redemption is ORC 2329.33. The Sheriff's office notes that the attorney files the confirmation order within about 30 days of the sale, so the window is short. Paying the whole judgment usually takes a refinance or a sale. If you are in that window, call an attorney right away.

What happens to the money left over after a sheriff sale?

If the house sells at auction for more than the judgment and costs, the extra is held and paid out only on a court order. Owners can claim it, but it takes time and paperwork, and an auction price is often far below what the house could sell for.

That gap is the main reason to sell first. At a closing table, the money left after the loan is paid comes to you in days. After an auction, any surplus waits on the court, and there may be none.

How fast can Greg close before a sheriff sale?

Often in 10 business days when the title is clear and the lender's attorney sends the payoff quickly. I put the offer in writing within 24 hours of seeing the house, and the title company coordinates directly with the attorney on the case.

For the earlier stages, see facing foreclosure in Cincinnati and behind on mortgage payments. If back taxes are what put the house up for sale, see selling a house with back taxes.