**IMPORTANT NOTICE** Beginning on April 19, 2022, Sheriff Sales will be conducted every Tuesday at 10:00 AM in Room 354 of the City-County Building 210 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. Madison, WI. Sheriff Sales will take place in this room throughout 2024.
Foreclosure sales are for real property only. The Sheriff's Office does not know whether or not persons occupy the property. Further, we cannot give permission for any prospective bidders to enter and inspect any structure that may be located on the property to be sold.
Properties sold at auction by the Sheriff's Office are generally advertised in The Wisconsin State Journal and Capital Times online newspaper. Notices appear for at least three weeks prior to the date of the sale. This is different from posting because the publication just has to appear for 3 weeks before the sale date but can start a maximum of 6 weeks before the date and run for 3 straight weeks, then the publication (even though it may stop 2 weeks before the sale date, as long as it runs for 3 weeks straight).
In addition to newspaper advertising, a written notice describing the real estate to be sold is posted, at least three weeks prior to the date of the sale, in the town or municipality where the real estate is to be sold and also in public places of the town or municipality where the real estate is situated if it is not in the City of Madison. A copy of the notice may also be found on this website.
All properties are sold "as is". The Dane County Sheriff's Office does not have any specific information regarding the condition of the property being sold. Persons interested in obtaining information about a property are encouraged to contact the plaintiff or their attorney of record.
Sales of property are “open-type” auction sales with the plaintiff normally submitting an opening bid. Anyone else can bid on the property. The property goes to the highest bidder. If you have a serious interest in a property, you may desire to contact a title company or an attorney to perform a title search. Questions regarding the legalities of purchasing a foreclosed home should be directed to an attorney that specializes in foreclosures. Further, it is the buyer’s responsibility to have the occupants legally removed if the property is occupied.
An original notice and one copy of the notice is needed for property located in the City of Madison and an additional copy is needed for property located within Dane County (original plus 2). If you would like a copy signed and returned, please include an extra copy along with a self-addressed stamped envelope. A posting fee of $75 should be included with your notices made payable to Dane County Sheriff. The additional $75 sale fee can be billed to you after the sale or sent in prior to the sale. If you send the sale fee along with the posting fee and the sale is canceled you will receive a refund, generally within 90 days of the sale.
The successful bidder is responsible for any and all legal encumbrances on the property, including any unpaid real estate taxes and the real estate transfer fee. The successful third party bidder is required to have 10% of their bid in cash or in bank-certified funds made payable to the Dane County Clerk of Courts at the time of sale. The balance is due following the confirmation of the sale hearing.
There are times a sale does not take place as advertised due to adjournment, settlement, or cancellations. All sales are subject to cancellation or adjournment at any time without notice.
