Start here, whichever auction you are considering
Before bidding, identify what is being sold, who is conducting the sale, and which rules apply. The same research questions recur, but the legal process, deposit, participation requirements and completion deadline can differ by court, county and sale type.
This guide covers the research process across NYC and explains where New Jersey and private sales differ. It is not a live calendar or confirmation of a particular sale.
1. Identify the sale type
- New York court foreclosure: start with the court case, judgment, filed notice and court-appointed referee. Confirm the property and interest described in the sale documents.
- Sheriff sale: identify the county or city sheriff and read that office’s notice and conditions. A sheriff sale should not be treated as the same process as every court mortgage foreclosure.
- Private co-op or UCC sale: identify the secured party, auctioneer and collateral. A co-op purchase involves corporation shares and a proprietary lease, rather than a deed to the apartment. Read the specific notice and seek legal review of transfer requirements.
2. Keep the sale identifiers together
Record the jurisdiction, court or organizer, advertised date and year, time/session, location or bidding platform, property address and unit, and case or sale reference. For NYC real property, also match the borough-block-lot (BBL), the tax parcel identifier. A building BBL alone does not identify the shares for a particular co-op apartment.
3. Check status and terms before committing
Compare the advertised notice with the official calendar and available case filings. Ask the referee, sheriff or auctioneer to resolve a change or conflict. A published listing does not guarantee that a sale will proceed.
Confirm bidder registration, identification, deposit amount, funds format, payee and payment deadline. Read default consequences and the closing timetable. Remote bidding must be available for the specific sale; a general online platform advertisement is not enough.
4. Investigate the investment
Review title and lien questions, possession, lawful use, condition, comparable transactions, financing and the full project budget. Keep facts, estimates and missing information separate. A successful bid does not establish clear title, vacant possession or a profitable project.
Liens and title checks · Costs beyond the bid · Due diligence checklist
Official starting sources for all five NYC boroughs
Use the source for the property’s county, then confirm its specific sale documents. These links are starting points; they do not supply one universal weekly schedule.
| Borough / county | Official starting point |
|---|---|
| Brooklyn / Kings County | Court foreclosure sources |
| Queens / Queens County | Court foreclosure sources |
| Bronx / Bronx County | Court foreclosure sources |
| Manhattan / New York County | Court foreclosure sources |
| Staten Island / Richmond County | Court foreclosure calendar |
For Staten Island court assistance, start with Richmond County Supreme Court. For NYC sheriff matters, start with the NYC Sheriff and the particular property-sale notice.
New Jersey: use the county sheriff
New Jersey’s state guidance directs foreclosure sales to the county sheriff. For Essex, Union, Hudson or another county, locate that sheriff’s current sale listing and conditions, then match the docket, property and date. Do not carry a New York court’s deposit or closing rules into a New Jersey sale.
See New Jersey’s explanation of county foreclosure sales. Its separate discussion of state surplus-property auctions is not the rulebook for a sheriff foreclosure sale.
Match the records to the asset
ACRIS offers recorded property documents for Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx from 1966 onward. For Staten Island land recordings, use the Richmond County Clerk. For a co-op, the apartment’s share and lease documents require separate identification; a building-level record is not a complete apartment search.
Choose the research scope
PRS screens one identified property. FAR compares an agreed auction roster. Due diligence starts with a meeting about a shortlisted investment and the professional work it needs. Our current online PRS/FAR checkout accepts NYC auctions; contact Matias before ordering for another jurisdiction.
Compare reports · How we research
Local detail
The general process above applies beyond these two examples. Brooklyn source notes and Queens source notes explain those courts’ published instructions.
Sources and review
Official sources checked October 5, 2026: the court and agency links above, New York Courts’ foreclosure-sale explanation, the NY Attorney General’s co-op explanation, and New York UCC §9-610. This explains research steps; case-specific legal conclusions require the operative documents and appropriate professional advice.
Investigate your selected property
Before-bidding checklist · Occupied properties · Upset price and judgment amounts