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1. When and where do Sheriff Real Estate Sales take place?

Sales are held on the third Thursday of the month, January through November. There is no sale in December. All sales begin at 11:00 a.m. and are conducted online via Bid4Assets.

2. How can I obtain a list of the properties to be sold?

Listings are posted, and printed listing books are available, in the Sheriff’s Office in Suite 1201 of the Chester County Justice Center, located at 201 W. Market Street, West Chester, PA.

Listings are advertised in the three weeks leading up to every sale in the Chester County Law Reporter, the Daily Local newspaper, and the Chester County Press newspaper.

Listings are posted and updated on our website under “Sheriff Real Estate Sales Information”.

3. Can I inspect a listed property prior to the Sheriff Real Estate Sale?

No. Sheriff Sale properties are not available for inspection prior to sale.

4. Do I need an attorney in order to purchase a property at a Sheriff Real Estate Sale?

No. Attorney representation is not required to purchase a property. However, you may wish to consult an attorney with expertise in this field as there are numerous legal issues that accompany the purchase of real estate at the Sheriff Sale.

5. How do I purchase a property at a Sheriff Real Estate Sale?

In order to bid on a Sheriff Sale, registration is required to participate in the Bid4Assets online auction at least 7 days prior to sale date.  A $35.00 non-refundable registration fee paid to Bid4Assets is required, along with a $10,000.00 deposit. Please visit the Bid4Assets website for more information, including our Conditions of Sale.

6. How will I know how much to bid on a property?

The minimum bid price, also called the upset price, is set by the plaintiff or the plaintiff’s attorney. These upset prices can be obtained by contacting the plaintiff’s attorney of record on the day before the sale or can be viewed, once uploaded by plaintiff's attorney on the Chester County landing page on Bid4Assets. 

Contact information for plaintiff’s attorneys is in our website database under “Sheriff Real Estate Sales Information”. The Sheriff’s Office does not set or publish the upset prices.

7. Do Sheriff Real Estate Sales differ from Tax Sales or Judicial Sales?

Yes. There are significant differences between Sheriff Sales and Tax Sales or Judicial Sales. For information regarding Tax Sales or Judicial Sales, contact the Chester County Tax Claim Bureau at (610) 344-6360.

8. Can I get legal advice from anyone in the Sheriff’s Office?

No. No Sheriff’s Office employee is permitted to give legal advice; we can assist with factual and procedural questions. You may wish to consult an attorney for any issues related to Sheriff’s Sales or other matters involving the Sheriff’s Office, and you can reach out to the Chester County Bar Association for a referral at www.chescobar.org. If you have financial constraints, you can contact Legal Aid of Southeastern PA at www.lasp.org. You may also choose to conduct your own legal research by visiting the public Law Library located in the Justice Center at 201 W. Market Street, West Chester, PA.