Sheriff's Sale in Texas

[Connor Heim]

Howdy!  I'm looking for info about how Sheriff's Sales work in Texas.  My county has foreclosure auctions the first Tuesday of each month.  The bank sends a trustee to conduct the sale.

Separately, from time to time there is a Sheriff's Sale of real estate, and those sales are to satisfy a judgment.  They are NOT bank foreclosure sales, but often one party has won a lawsuit against the owner of the property and the Sheriff forces a sale.

My question is, what happens if the real estate is NOT paid off.  If there is a mortgage against a home, and the Sheriff sells the property at auction, are you gaining only the owner's equity?  Or does the Sheriff's Sale trump a bank mortgage?    I thought that *only* tax sales would wipe out a mortgage.

Anyone have experience and care to enlighten me?  Thanks!!!