Title search for properties in Cuyahoga sheriff sale
Member since 2018 · 10 posts · 2 votes
Hi everyone :)
I'm looking to go to Cuyahoga sheriff sale (weekly auction in downtown Cleveland)
In the term of Sale - https://sheriff.cuyahogacounty.us/pdf_sheriff/en-U... looks like that I need to do the title search because I need to deal with any property debts (tax delinquency, water/electric debt etc..)
Am I right? and If I do, I know how to check tax delinquency, but what about all the others potential debts?
Thanks
Moshe
Hi Moshe,
You can go to the Cuyahoga County Auditor's site and do a search by property number to identify if there are delinquent taxes.
Good Luck!
Lindsay
Thanks for your answer, yes I know I can check the tax delinquency, but what about others potential debts like water/electric?
You'll need to do a title search to see what other liens may be on the property that have superior status and survive foreclosure. You'll also want to ensure that it's a 1st lien you're bidding on. You can call the local utilities and inquire if there are any outstanding bills. You should also check with Code Enforcment as well to make sure there are any infractions against the property. Be careful on which jurisdiction it's in (mostly Heights suburbs) as you'll be responsible for any Point of Sale inspection items if you plan on reselling the property.
what is Code Enforcment? do you mean parsel?
No.....infractions against the property put in place by county/city inspectors for things like illegal additions, uncut grass, abandonment, etc.
Hi Moshe,
You can go to the Cuyahoga County Auditor's site and do a search by property number to identify if there are delinquent taxes.
Good Luck!
Lindsay
Hi Moshe,
You can go to the Cuyahoga County Auditor's site and do a search by property number to identify if there are delinquent taxes.
Good Luck!
Lindsay
Thanks for your answer, yes I know I can check the tax delinquency, but what about others potential debts like water/electric?
Hi Moshe,
You can go to the Cuyahoga County Auditor's site and do a search by property number to identify if there are delinquent taxes.
Good Luck!
Lindsay
Thanks for your answer, yes I know I can check the tax delinquency, but what about others potential debts like water/electric?
You'll need to do a title search to see what other liens may be on the property that have superior status and survive foreclosure. You'll also want to ensure that it's a 1st lien you're bidding on. You can call the local utilities and inquire if there are any outstanding bills. You should also check with Code Enforcment as well to make sure there are any infractions against the property. Be careful on which jurisdiction it's in (mostly Heights suburbs) as you'll be responsible for any Point of Sale inspection items if you plan on reselling the property.
Hi Moshe,
You can go to the Cuyahoga County Auditor's site and do a search by property number to identify if there are delinquent taxes.
Good Luck!
Lindsay
Thanks for your answer, yes I know I can check the tax delinquency, but what about others potential debts like water/electric?
You'll need to do a title search to see what other liens may be on the property that have superior status and survive foreclosure. You'll also want to ensure that it's a 1st lien you're bidding on. You can call the local utilities and inquire if there are any outstanding bills. You should also check with Code Enforcment as well to make sure there are any infractions against the property. Be careful on which jurisdiction it's in (mostly Heights suburbs) as you'll be responsible for any Point of Sale inspection items if you plan on reselling the property.
what is Code Enforcment? do you mean parsel?
Hi Moshe,
You can go to the Cuyahoga County Auditor's site and do a search by property number to identify if there are delinquent taxes.
Good Luck!
Lindsay
Thanks for your answer, yes I know I can check the tax delinquency, but what about others potential debts like water/electric?
You'll need to do a title search to see what other liens may be on the property that have superior status and survive foreclosure. You'll also want to ensure that it's a 1st lien you're bidding on. You can call the local utilities and inquire if there are any outstanding bills. You should also check with Code Enforcment as well to make sure there are any infractions against the property. Be careful on which jurisdiction it's in (mostly Heights suburbs) as you'll be responsible for any Point of Sale inspection items if you plan on reselling the property.
what is Code Enforcment? do you mean parsel?
No.....infractions against the property put in place by county/city inspectors for things like illegal additions, uncut grass, abandonment, etc.
Actually, new auditor site has all the liens and recording dates on them.
Electric bills don't apply generally - it's on Tenants/residents. However, mechanic lien won't be removed by Sheriff sale as well as water - it's stick with the property.
Right now the biggest problem with Sheriff sale - to win the bidding :)))
Even if bank doesn't bid up, some locations are so in demand that people buy it higher than market value.....if price doesn't make sense - it's easier to buy off MLS.
Ok so in summery only the plaintiff lien will be remove by the Sheriff sale even if the winning bid was really low, the electric bills is on the tenants.
tax delinquency, water/sower, secondary lien (not the plaintiff), Code Enforcment and HOA debt won't be removed by Sheriff sale and I need to check it before bidding.
Did I miss something?
Not at all!
Everything will be paid off from proceeds of the sales but if the bid is too low, you'll pay only taxes. Mechanic lien is the only one which is not going to be paid but it's very strict requirements how long ago you can file for that lien...plus, you have to have a written agreement with the owner. It's not so easy to slap this lien against the property.
HOA will be the last in the line and if there is not enough money - they won't get any.
Actually, sheriff deed is pretty decent one - you start all over from clean page. All of the plaintiffs will be paid off or left with nothing. I never get anything but taxes and marketing fees for Sheriff department.
If you are talking about specifics of Cuyahoga county sheriff sale, read carefully the rules. I've seen many times when the one who won the bid, left with nothing and the case was reopened. People didn't have money - $10K in cash or bank check, no personal checks.
During recession it was the best place to buy houses ;)
Now it' s too overpriced
Not at all!
Everything will be paid off from proceeds of the sales but if the bid is too low, you'll pay only taxes. Mechanic lien is the only one which is not going to be paid but it's very strict requirements how long ago you can file for that lien...plus, you have to have a written agreement with the owner. It's not so easy to slap this lien against the property.
HOA will be the last in the line and if there is not enough money - they won't get any.
Actually, sheriff deed is pretty decent one - you start all over from clean page. All of the plaintiffs will be paid off or left with nothing. I never get anything but taxes and marketing fees for Sheriff department.
If you are talking about specifics of Cuyahoga county sheriff sale, read carefully the rules. I've seen many times when the one who won the bid, left with nothing and the case was reopened. People didn't have money - $10K in cash or bank check, no personal checks.
During recession it was the best place to buy houses ;)
Now it' s too overpriced
Thanks for your answer!
I was asking the Sheriff Foreclosures department the below question:
Do you know if there is any way I'll need to pay to the plaintiff more then the winning bid?
For example if the prayer amount is 100,000$ and the winning bid is 50,000$ automatically the extra 50K cancelled or the winner need to pay it?
They told me that it depends on the case and I need to run title search... I think it's like a generic answer that they tell anyone but I'm not sure if it true and how to ensure it, do you know if it true?
Thanks :)
Disclaimer: my answers apply only to Cuyahoga County Sheriff sale.
Sheriff deed will erase off all the debts excluding taxes and mechanic liens. However, now some banks do such a trick - they don't participate in the sale but retain their right to claim.
There will be fine print on the sale publishing:"subject to second mortgage" or whatever else. If you see that "subject to", you need to research it and thus you'll know how much you'll pay over your bid.
I know couple cases when bank foreclosured on the new owner because the lien was still attached to the property.
Sheriff department doesn't know anything beside their procedure: they are not lawyers. Title search would be helpful but you do it prior to the purchase and it might cost you handsomely if you that for each property you want to bid on.
If you do it after you bought a property, you can't get out of the sale: not only you'll lose your $10K but also there will be legal charges against you, so you'll have to play along.
In reality, all the liens, mortgages etc are public info - it might take plenty of your time but you'll know for sure what's there on each property.
The auditor site has changed recently and there is tab for all liens on each property. Might take extra research of something, but generally it's as good as the title search.
Example: if the owner didn't pay their INCOME taxes (not property tax), the lien for that still could be attached to the property they owned. So far, I've never seen it but I did get a letter from IRS that they might post lien on the house I own for 4 years. When I consulted CPA, he said it's only if the previous owner still would be in the title
Disclaimer: my answers apply only to Cuyahoga County Sheriff sale.
Sheriff deed will erase off all the debts excluding taxes and mechanic liens. However, now some banks do such a trick - they don't participate in the sale but retain their right to claim.
There will be fine print on the sale publishing:"subject to second mortgage" or whatever else. If you see that "subject to", you need to research it and thus you'll know how much you'll pay over your bid.
I know couple cases when bank foreclosured on the new owner because the lien was still attached to the property.
Sheriff department doesn't know anything beside their procedure: they are not lawyers. Title search would be helpful but you do it prior to the purchase and it might cost you handsomely if you that for each property you want to bid on.
If you do it after you bought a property, you can't get out of the sale: not only you'll lose your $10K but also there will be legal charges against you, so you'll have to play along.
In reality, all the liens, mortgages etc are public info - it might take plenty of your time but you'll know for sure what's there on each property.
The auditor site has changed recently and there is tab for all liens on each property. Might take extra research of something, but generally it's as good as the title search.
Example: if the owner didn't pay their INCOME taxes (not property tax), the lien for that still could be attached to the property they owned. So far, I've never seen it but I did get a letter from IRS that they might post lien on the house I own for 4 years. When I consulted CPA, he said it's only if the previous owner still would be in the title
What is the link to the auditor site? I know only about the recorder site (https://recorder.cuyahogacounty.us/Searchs/parcels...)
Thanks again!!
https://myplace.cuyahogacounty.us/
It's fiscal officer site, just different link
Here is the site in general