{"id":2013,"date":"2020-07-22T17:10:04","date_gmt":"2020-07-22T21:10:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/?p=2013"},"modified":"2026-03-17T19:30:47","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T23:30:47","slug":"you-won-the-foreclosure-auction-this-is-what-happens-next","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/you-won-the-foreclosure-auction-this-is-what-happens-next\/","title":{"rendered":"You Won the Foreclosure Auction &#8211; This is What Happens Next"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Understanding what happens after winning a foreclosure auction is essential preparation for any investor participating in Florida&#8217;s foreclosure auction market, because the post-sale process involves specific legal steps, payment requirements, and property access considerations that differ significantly from a conventional real estate closing.<\/p>\n\n<p>After winning a piece of real estate at a county foreclosure auction, a first-time buyer like you is probably wondering what\u2019s next. You\u2019re in luck! I\u2019m here to take you through the first steps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 ez-toc-wrap-left counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">In this Article:<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/you-won-the-foreclosure-auction-this-is-what-happens-next\/#First_Things_First_Pay_Your_Balance\" >First Things First: Pay Your Balance<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/you-won-the-foreclosure-auction-this-is-what-happens-next\/#Havent_Received_Your_Certificate_of_Sale\" >Haven\u2019t Received Your Certificate of Sale?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/you-won-the-foreclosure-auction-this-is-what-happens-next\/#Yes_You_Can_Lose_Your_Win_from_the_County_Foreclosure_Auction\" >Yes, You Can Lose Your Win from the County Foreclosure Auction<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/you-won-the-foreclosure-auction-this-is-what-happens-next\/#Time_to_Get_Your_New_Property_in_Order\" >Time to Get Your New Property in Order<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/you-won-the-foreclosure-auction-this-is-what-happens-next\/#Remove_Any_Occupants_from_Your_Property\" >Remove Any Occupants from Your Property<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/you-won-the-foreclosure-auction-this-is-what-happens-next\/#Beef_Up_Your_Unoccupied_Propertys_Protection\" >Beef Up Your Unoccupied Property\u2019s Protection<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/you-won-the-foreclosure-auction-this-is-what-happens-next\/#Stay_Tuned_for_the_Best_Real_Estate_Tips_Around\" >Stay Tuned for the Best Real Estate Tips Around<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/you-won-the-foreclosure-auction-this-is-what-happens-next\/#The_Full_Sequence_of_What_Happens_After_Winning_A_Foreclosure_Auction\" >The Full Sequence of What Happens After Winning A Foreclosure Auction<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"First_Things_First_Pay_Your_Balance\"><\/span>First Things First: Pay Your Balance<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Before you think of doing anything else, pay the balance of your winning bid to the county court. A word of caution: <strong>If you fail to pay the balance of your bid within 24 hours of winning (unless it is a Friday, in which case you must pay the balance on the following Monday), then you\u2019re out of luck. <\/strong>No amount of pleading will prevent you from losing your deposit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Assuming you have followed the payment guidelines, you will have to wait ten days to receive a certificate of sale from the county. Only then are you legally allowed to gain entry to and start work on the property that you have successfully bid on at the county foreclosure auction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Havent_Received_Your_Certificate_of_Sale\"><\/span>Haven\u2019t Received Your Certificate of Sale?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Every once in a while, the certificate of sale does not arrive either by email or mail due to an objection or redemption just before the foreclosure auction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This usually means something happened late on the previous day or the morning of the foreclosure auction that did not have time to be recorded at the county court, which would have canceled the sale. The foreclosure auction went ahead in ignorance of very recent events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What could have happened, you ask? Some examples include the lender agreeing to a modified loan to the mortgagor or the defendant issuing a motion at the county court suggesting their probable bankruptcy, a well-known delaying tactic that buys the debtor more time to fight for their home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Judges hate these situations, but the statute pertaining to them is very rigid. The judiciary usually has no option other than to grant a stay of execution or, in this case, foreclosure sale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Yes_You_Can_Lose_Your_Win_from_the_County_Foreclosure_Auction\"><\/span>Yes, You Can Lose Your Win from the County Foreclosure Auction<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Occasionally the mortgagor finds a way to clear their indebtedness and get back on schedule or even remove the entire debt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You should receive a notification email within seven days of your winning bid notifying you of any of the above circumstances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To be honest, the soft side of me ,  and yes, there is one ,  always finds an element of joy in this. It&#8217;s emotional when the underdog comes through at the very end. C&#8217;mon, everyone likes a happy ending occasionally! It&#8217;s not all about the money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In any event, if this happens to you, don&#8217;t worry; <strong>you will get every penny of your deposit and balance monies back from the county, usually within ten to fifteen working days<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After this happened to me five years ago, I got into the habit of visiting the county court online document search and checking the last docket recorded after winning a property at the county foreclosure auction. You simply put the case number into the document search and review the last activity related to the case number, which is hopefully the notarization of your winning bid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Time_to_Get_Your_New_Property_in_Order\"><\/span>Time to Get Your New Property in Order<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>When you successfully win a tax deed property at the county foreclosure auction, you immediately receive the tax deed, which allows you instant possession of the real estate you have just won. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are a few specific requirements you need to know, <strong>including the need to promptly start a quiet title action<\/strong>. This will cost you approximately $1,500 to $3,500 depending on the attorney, property value, and complexities of the case, plus two months of time if no objections are received.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/what-is-quiet-title-action\/\" target=\"_blank\">quiet title action<\/a> is a circuit court action or lawsuit that lets a future buyer know you have contacted every previously recorded owner on the title of the property you have just acquired and notified them that you are the new legal owner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Any objections to the title being vested in your name or selected entity should be made at this point. Failure to make such a claim results in a judgment in your favor, and you will be able to receive title insurance so you can convey your property to a future buyer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 99.9% of cases, a judgment in a quiet title action is absolute, but there\u2019s a slight chance that your situation will turn out different. I urge you to check with a property attorney to make sure your quiet title action judgment is sacrosanct within the jurisdiction of the real estate location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>When you win a foreclosure property, you will receive a certificate of title from the municipality where you gained the property within approximately ten days following the certificate of sale.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A certificate of title is the instrument from the municipality letting everybody know you are the legal owner; however, it does not guarantee that the real estate is free of all encumbrances. In a typical transaction, you would give your seller a warranty deed that says you warrant that your property is free and clear of all encumbrances AND show title insurance guaranteeing this!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Remove_Any_Occupants_from_Your_Property\"><\/span>Remove Any Occupants from Your Property<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The following applies to both tax deed and foreclosure properties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A practice I regularly employ, even if there is no sign of occupancy, is to put an <a href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/how-to-evict-a-tenant-in-5-simple-steps-yourself\/\" target=\"_blank\">eviction notice<\/a> on the front door of the property the moment I receive the certificate of title. I also send a recorded delivery letter to the address informing the known or unknown occupier that I am the legal owner and am issuing a three-day notice to quit the property. This may seem like overkill, but <strong>it\u2019s in your best interest to cover all of your bases<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If the property is occupied, you will file an unlawful detainer lawsuit with the county court three days after posting the eviction notice. This lawsuit gives the occupant five days from the day they were served to file a response in court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Usually, the county clerk&#8217;s office schedules a trial within 20 days, and at the trial, the judge will order the eviction of the occupier(s) from the property. This will give the occupier(s) five days to vacate or, alternatively, trash and\/or remove all of the copper piping and wiring from the premises before you and the sheriff&#8217;s department arrive to remove them and change the locks. True story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On one occasion I entered a foreclosed house that I had won in auction. I discovered it was missing a complete kitchen and appliances, and the bathrooms didn\u2019t have toilets and sinks! Every light fixture and fitting was gone, and there were holes in the wall where the plumbing belonged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The newly evicted occupiers were outside filling a truck with their belongings. I called out, &#8220;Hey, I would have paid you for demoing this property. It saved me a fortune.&#8221; They looked at me incredulously, and one of them asked if I would pay them to continue!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They were tenants of the previous owner, and I had offered them $500 to move out within ten days of me receiving the certificate of title and leave the place intact; they figured there was more money in stripping the place, apparently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I wanted to tell them \u201cto go forth and multiply\u201d in a shorter phrase than I am allowed to publish on this website. This situation is extremely frustrating, and I highly recommend avoiding it. On reflection, I should have offered more money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can find several articles on PropertyOnion.com regarding <a href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/foreclosure-eviction\/\" target=\"_blank\">evictions and the process<\/a>, but let me say here and now that <strong>it is best if you can convince the occupier to vacate the property in good condition in an acceptable time frame with the incentive of a cash payment<\/strong>. This is commonly known in the trade as \u201ccash for keys.\u201d Anything that helps you avoid the long, drawn-out judicial process that keeps you from getting into the property you gleefully won at auction is worth the effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have not purchased an occupied property at a county foreclosure auction before, all of this can seem quite daunting. However, <a href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/how-to-start-investing-in-county-foreclosure-tax-deed-auctions-wholesalers\/\" target=\"_blank\">sticking to the well-trodden guidelines<\/a> which I am describing will help you enjoy a successful outcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Beef_Up_Your_Unoccupied_Propertys_Protection\"><\/span>Beef Up Your Unoccupied Property\u2019s Protection<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you scouted the property before the auction and discovered that it was unoccupied, then I suggest ,  <strong>after making doubly sure there are still no inhabitants<\/strong> ,  entering your newly acquired property, immediately changing all of the locks, and securing the ingresses and egresses to the premises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Depending on the value of the property and the type of work you intend to do, a chain link fence is also a great option; they are not expensive compared to what can happen when you or your team are not on site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the trunk of my car, I keep corrugated cardboard signs with my company logo (can also be purchased at Home Depot without a logo) that read \u201cNo Trespassing\u201d or \u201cTrespassers Will Be Prosecuted\u201d and \u201cProperty Surveillance In Force.\u201d They are placed strategically around the property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The signs do have a proven effect; while they won\u2019t stop the most desperate individuals from reentering the property, anyone with doubts may hestitate. Burglary is a felony, and breaking and entering is a misdemeanor ,  both carry jail sentences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some people may be shocked at this approach. I think that if there is no sign of anybody living in the house, there is no reason not to take this course of action. But don\u2019t take my word for it: <strong>Consult a property attorney before AND NOT AFTER taking any of these actions.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Stay_Tuned_for_the_Best_Real_Estate_Tips_Around\"><\/span>Stay Tuned for the Best Real Estate Tips Around<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As you continue your real estate journey, you\u2019ll surely have more questions. I have answers! Next month I will give you some practical tips concerning the decisions that need to be made before undertaking any work on the real estate you have won at the county foreclosure auction.<\/p>\n\n<p>The first thing that happens after what happens after winning a foreclosure auction is the payment requirement. Florida foreclosure auctions typically require the winning bidder to pay the full purchase price by the end of the same business day, with cash or a cashier&#8217;s check. Investors who fail to bring adequate funds or arrange same-day wire transfers can forfeit their deposit and potentially be barred from future auction participation, which is why capital preparation is one of the most critical aspects of what happens after what happens after winning a foreclosure auction from a practical standpoint.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Full_Sequence_of_What_Happens_After_Winning_A_Foreclosure_Auction\"><\/span>The Full Sequence of What Happens After Winning A Foreclosure Auction<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The full sequence of what happens after winning a foreclosure auction is just one part of the complete auction investing process. Before you ever place a bid, understanding how <a href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/understanding-foreclosure-auctions-in-florida\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">florida foreclosure auctions<\/a> work from listing through bidding to sale completion gives you the preparation needed to execute confidently on the day of the sale.<\/p><p>One of the most important steps that follows what happens after winning a foreclosure auction is conducting a complete <a href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/florida-title-search-101-how-to-uncover-hidden-liens-encumbrances-and-red-flags-before-you-bid\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">florida title search<\/a> to identify any encumbrances or title defects that the foreclosure sale may not have extinguished, since some junior liens and HOA obligations can survive an auction sale and become the new owner&#8217;s responsibility.<\/p><p>Part of what happens after what happens after winning a foreclosure auction is understanding the timeline for receiving the certificate of title, which in Florida is typically issued after a 10-day upset bid period expires. Our guide on the <a href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/what-is-the-foreclosure-timeline\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">florida foreclosure timeline<\/a> explains every stage from final judgment through certificate of title issuance.<\/p><p>After what happens after winning a foreclosure auction, investors who find the property is occupied need to understand the <a href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/foreclosure-eviction-buying-a-foreclosure-with-tenants\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">foreclosure eviction process<\/a> for removing former owners or tenants who did not vacate following the sale, since Florida has specific legal procedures for post-auction occupant removal that must be followed precisely.<\/p><p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/what-is-due-diligence-in-real-estate\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">due diligence real estate<\/a> process that should have been completed before the auction continues after what happens after winning a foreclosure auction as you gain physical access to the property and can inspect for previously unknown conditions, defects, or encumbrances that affect your renovation budget and resale timeline.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color:#eef6fd;border-left:5px solid #1a73b8;border-radius:6px;padding:24px 28px;margin:32px 0;font-family:Georgia, serif\"><p style=\"font-size:20px;font-weight:bold;color:#1a3a5c;margin:0 0 10px 0\">Start Investing in Florida Foreclosures the Right Way<\/p><p style=\"font-size:15px;color:#2c4a6e;margin:0 0 14px 0\">Join <strong>PropertyOnion.com<\/strong> for complete coverage of every Florida foreclosure and tax deed auction across all counties. Download step-by-step eBook guides written specifically for investors who want to buy smart at county auction sales.<\/p><a href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/?&amp;reference_member_id=wpposts45&amp;ref2=wpposts45\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" style=\"background-color:#1a73b8;color:#ffffff;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:15px;font-weight:bold;padding:12px 24px;border-radius:4px;text-decoration:none\">Claim Free Trial Access<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Understanding what happens after winning a foreclosure auction is essential preparation for any investor participating in Florida&#8217;s foreclosure auction market, because the post-sale process involves specific legal steps, payment requirements, and property access considerations that&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":2015,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[266,123,265,77,95,264],"class_list":["post-2013","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-real-estate-investing-articles","tag-certificate-of-title","tag-foreclosure-auction","tag-post-auction","tag-quiet-title","tag-tax-deed-auction","tag-winning-bid"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2013","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2013"}],"version-history":[{"count":32,"href":"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2013\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32152,"href":"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2013\/revisions\/32152"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2015"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2013"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2013"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2013"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}