All Tax Foreclosures will be held at the new Columbus County Courthouse, just outside the main entrance unless there is inclement weather until further notice!
THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS AN INFORMAL LIST OF ANSWERS OF FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS! FOR ALL THE DETAILS OF THE SALE AND THE REQUIREMENTS AS ORDERED BY THE COURTS, YOU MUST READ THE NOTICE WHICH IS POSTED ON THE BULLETIN BOARD AT THE COLUMBUS COUNTY COURTHOUSE AND/OR THE ADVERTISED NOTICE IN THE NEWSPAPER.
The list here is a general description of the property. What is being sold, is the legal description of the property, as it is written and posted in the newspaper advertisement and as posted on the bulletin board in the Columbus County Courthouse. (the 911 address may not always be the exact location nor the mapping but it should be close). If you have questions, you can see me at the office and I can help you.
You have to be present at the sale, OR to make an upset bid, AT THE CLERK'S OFFICE, during the upset bid period once the sale is held.
All bids are subject to a 10-day upset period. Property may be redeemed by the owner prior to the order of confirmation of the sale by the courts.
A cash deposit of 20% of the successful bid, or $750, whichever is greater, will be required. For property sold over $5000, a cash deposit of $1000 will be required immediately at the conclusion of the sale, with the rest of the deposit due within 2 business days. For properties less than $5000 a cash deposit of $750, or the price of the property, whichever is less, will be due immediately after the sale.
All upset bids are done through the Clerk of Courts Office and they require a deposit of 5% of the upset bid amount or $750.00, whichever is greater.
Once the upset period ends, once the sale is confirmed, the last high bidder has (3) three days to pay the balance to the attorney holding the sale, or you may lose all or part of your deposit.
The current owner of the property owns it until a new deed is recorded, once the sale is final; they also have the right to redeem the property up until the courts confirm the sale of the property. The current owner would have to give one permission to enter upon the property!
ONCE THE SALE IS HELD, YOU CAN CONTACT THE CLERK OF COURTS OFFICE TO SEE WHAT THE CURRENT BID AMOUNT IS AND WHEN THE LAST DAY TO UPSET THE BID IS. YOU WILL NEED THE FILE NUMBER ___ CV________ FOR THEM TO LOOK IT UP. 910-641-4400.
If you had the high bid at the sale or you upset the bid, you may want to stay in touch with the clerks office to make sure you are still the high bid on the property and that your bid has not been upset! If the high bidder's bid is upset and they do not wish to continue bidding, you will receive your deposit back accordingly.