Sheriff Sale vs Tax Deed Sale vs Federal Auction: Trustee Sales and Courthouse Auctions Compared (2026)
Five kinds of sale share the word auction and follow five sets of rules. A sheriff sale enforces a court judgment. A trustee sale enforces a deed of trust without a court. A tax deed sale enforces unpaid property tax. A courthouse auction is the venue for the first and third. A federal auction sells property the government seized or owns. The wire's AUCTION rows are the last kind only.
- 142 federal AUCTION rows on the free wire as of October 20, 2026: 16 ahead, 126 past.
- County and marketplace sales (Bid4Assets) in the same window: 6,920, in the working file.
| Date | Type | Source | Property (sheriff sale) | ST | Price / bid | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-12 | AUCTION | IRS Real Property Auctions | 515 N Goddard Rd Goddard, 67052 KS United States | — | 22,588.29 | verified |
| 2026-08-12 | AUCTION | Treasury Seized Real Property | 4615 Forest Hill Road S, Olive Branch, Mississippi 38654 | — | $25,000 | verified |
| 2026-08-06 | AUCTION | Treasury Seized Real Property | 177 Angel Ridge Lane, Sherman, Texas 75090 | — | $50,000 | verified |
| 2026-07-30 | AUCTION | IRS Real Property Auctions | 3860 Hwy 90, Westlake, LA 70669 Lake Charles, 70669 LA United States | — | 792,387.39 | verified |
| 2026-07-23 | AUCTION | IRS Real Property Auctions | 763 County Route 1 Pine Island, 10969 NY United States | — | 113,394.00 | verified |
| 2026-07-23 | AUCTION | IRS Real Property Auctions | 763 County Route 1 Pine Island, 10969 NY United States | — | 113,394.00 | verified |
sheriff sale: 6 of 142 rows, October 20, 2026.
What survives and what is wiped
Judicial and trustee sales wipe liens junior to the foreclosing one and leave seniors. Tax deed sales wipe most liens but not federal ones. Federal auctions convey the government's interest; the notice describes encumbrances. None of them guarantee clear title.
Redemption
Sheriff sales carry a state redemption period in many states; trustee sales usually none; tax deeds vary by state; IRS sales 180 days; Treasury and Marshals none.
Where each is on DLRadar
Federal auctions on the free wire. Sheriff, trustee and tax deed sales on the live board and in the working file, including the Bid4Assets county sales.
More sheriff sale rows seen on the wire
2026-07-22: IRS Real Property Auctions listed North Entry Rd Houghton, 49931 MI United States. 2026-07-22: IRS Real Property Auctions listed 1520-1522 Central Ave., South Kent, 98032 WA United States. 2026-07-21: IRS Real Property Auctions listed 1819 Adams Place Bowling Green, 63334 MO United States. 2026-07-16: IRS Real Property Auctions listed 18520 Kittiwake Circle Anchorage, 99516 AK United States. 2026-07-16: IRS Real Property Auctions listed 1407 W. 58th Pl. Los Angeles, 90047 CA United States. 2026-07-13: IRS Real Property Auctions listed 756 Keeneland Pike Lake Mary, 32746 FL United States.
sheriff sale: questions
Is a courthouse auction a sheriff sale?
Usually. The courthouse steps are the venue for judicial foreclosure and tax sales in many states.
Which is safest for a first buyer?
Government REO, which is a listing. Among auctions, federal sales publish the clearest terms.
What are the newest sheriff sale rows on the wire?
2026-08-12: IRS Real Property Auctions listed 515 N Goddard Rd Goddard, 67052 KS United States. 2026-08-12: Treasury Seized Real Property listed 4615 Forest Hill Road S, Olive Branch, Mississippi 38654 at $25,000. 2026-08-06: Treasury Seized Real Property listed 177 Angel Ridge Lane, Sherman, Texas 75090 at $50,000.
How many sheriff sale rows carry a published figure?
For sheriff sale, 8 of 142 rows show a figure, and 134 sheriff sale rows show a dash.