I just spoke with Substitute Trustee David Pryzwansky who confirmed that news.

So, the drama continues and we will wait for later this month for a resolution.  And the community and neighbors will continue to hold their breath.

Several attendees were adjacent property owners who were concerned about the possible impact on their homes, or other property nearby.

And, there were a few Realtors, including yours truly, of course.

How could the auction be canceled?  Trustee David Pryzwansky was not at liberty to say, but typically postponements occur when the lender and the property owner are trying to work things out and avoid foreclosure.

Rescheduled for February 3, 2009, 10:00AM.

It is a matter of paying your money and taking your chances.

We agreed that a Sheriff’s Deed does not really give the Buyer more than a claim with few assurances.  The property may have title issues, IRS liens, easements and encroachments, deteriorated structures, and serious environmental issues.  Unless one is very diligent, any of these problems may exist, without any recourse for the Buyer.

Another issue, often overlooked, is the possibility that the home may be occupied.  The original owner or a tenant may be living there, and the successful foreclosure auction Buyer will have to deal with that.  If the home is purchased as an investment, it may be easy to negotiate a suitable lease with a tenant, or even the former owner. 

But if the home is intended as a primary residence, the Buyer must be prepared to follow through with an eviction, if such action is required.  This may mean having the Sheriff remove a family or elderly people from the home under extreme duress.  It doesn’t happen all the time, but before buying a property at the courthouse, the smart Buyer will include occupancy status in his homework.