These figures answer different questions
| Figure | What it describes | What it does not establish |
|---|---|---|
| Judgment amount | The amount stated in the foreclosure judgment at its relevant date. | Today's total debt, market value or the price you will pay. |
| Upset price | A sale-specific figure used under the applicable auction procedure; confirm its meaning with the referee or organizer. | A universal formula, valuation or investor bid ceiling. |
| Plaintiff's bid | A bid made for the foreclosing party at the sale. | A figure necessarily identical to the judgment or any stated upset price. |
| Winning bid | The successful bid that becomes the purchase price under the sale terms. | Total project cost, clear title or vacant possession. |
Local rules and the actual sale documents matter
Kings County's published rules address the upset price and permitted adjustments for judgment interest and taxes. That is a local rule, not a formula to apply automatically to every foreclosure auction. Check the court rules, notice and Terms of Sale for your specific sale.
Can the upset price be known before bidding?
It may be available from current sale documents or the responsible sale contact. If an operative figure has not been supplied, mark it unavailable. Do not present an old judgment amount or your own calculation as the confirmed upset price.
Record the source, date and any stated adjustments. Ask the referee or organizer whether the figure is current, what it represents and whether the terms may change at the sale.
A fictional example
Suppose a judgment shows $250,000, a sale contact supplies an upset figure of $270,000 and the successful bid is $310,000. These invented figures describe different parts of the transaction. They do not establish market value or profit. Review the source for each number and budget buyer costs separately.
How we report these amounts
For your identified property, MCR separates documented amounts, dates and unresolved balances. We label unavailable figures explicitly. PRS organizes one property; FAR organizes your agreed roster. Your bidding decision remains yours.
Source and related guidance
Kings County foreclosure auction rules, checked October 5, 2026. Read the general auction guide and costs beyond the bid.