First off, I know this has been discussed ad nauseum on this forum, and this is a slightly different question.

How do I find out if a property sold at courthouse steps in auction?

We have some neighbors down the road that I noticed on the county website was selling in their foreclosure auction. It supposedly was January 2.

I would hat to lose these neighbors as they are good people and maybe there is something I could do to help, but if it has already sold, then I'm thinking it is too late.

Check with the county real property records for a recorded deed.

I'm wondering how long it might take to update the property records.

Would the office tell me if it sold over the phone?

I would assume they can only see what deeds have been recorded which their online system can show.

Otherwise, you can call whoever handles the auctions and see if it sold.

Or just talk to the neighbors. Since you're going to have to make contact with them anyway to offer your help.

What help would you provide? Just curious.

Honestly, I'm not sure but if I knew earlier, several us in the community could have likely helped before it got here.

Not saying we are great friends with the family but we are fairly tight knit group and will rally around our people.

The sale was by the sheriff.

I thought about dropping in but I'm not sure we are that kind of friend to them. Just trying to avoid anyone's pride really.

I've talked to 2 people involved firsthand in separate instances of property being sold in a courthouse auction and the original landowner ends up being able to get the land back before closing, so there's some kernel of truth involved in my description of events. Evidently once it's sold in auction, the original owner has 90 days to pay back taxes and they can retain the property, I'm not sure if that would apply to a mortgage though. In the first case, a local business owner bought a foreclosed property, began renovations, and on the 89th day another local businessman paid the back taxes for the original owners and bought the property from them. In another case, my Uncle bought a house on a large lot to flip, and was approached by the son of the current owner asking if he'd cancel the purchase, as the son agreed to pay the back taxes. He agreed and nothing more came of it.

Spoony Love said:

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The sale was by the sheriff.

I thought about dropping in but I'm not sure we are that kind of friend to them. Just trying to avoid anyone's pride really.

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If it was a sheriff's sale, it was most likely a tax sale, not a mortgage foreclosure. Foreclosures are done by the Trustee in the Deed of Trust.

That's was my misunderstanding.

The notice was titled Notice of Substitute Trustees Sale.

It wasn't by the sheriff.