WEEKLY FORECLOSURE SALE

The Arapahoe County Public Trustee holds foreclosure sales at 10:00 a.m. Wednesdays (except certain holidays) in the East Hearing Room in the County Administration Building, 5334 South Prince St., Littleton, CO 80120. Doors open at 9:45 a.m.

You can find information such as the foreclosure number or whether a property is still scheduled for sale using the Foreclosure Property Search or call the Public Trustee’s office at 303-730-0071 for assistance. The Pre-sale list is posted to the website by 3:00 p.m. two business days before the Wednesday sale date. An updated list is posted by 4:00 p.m. the day before the sale.  Be advised that properties may be continued or withdrawn right up to the time of the sale on Wednesday.

RULES OF THE SALE

• Talking or visiting is not allowed during the sale, and will be strictly enforced. Any discussions must be done outside the sale room and prior to sale. Anyone violating this rule may be banned from future sales. The Sheriff's Deputy is instructed to escort anyone talking out of the room for the duration of the sale.
• Any disruptions of the foreclosure sale process will not be tolerated and may violate C.R.S. § 6-4-106 (bid-rigging), C.R.S. § 18-8-306 (attempt to influence a public servant), C.R.S. 18-9-108 (disrupting a lawful assembly), C.R.S. § 18-8-102 (obstructing government operations), and/or C.R.S. § 18-9-110 (public buildings – trespass, interference).

BIDDING

The Public Trustee issues NO express or implied warranty on the properties offered for sale. 
 It is the responsibility of the person bidding to do their own due diligence prior to bidding.

• It is strongly recommended that bidders review C.R.S. § 38-38-302. (Redemption by lienor - procedure) prior to participating in a foreclosure sale auction.
• Doors open at 9:45 a.m. 
• Bidders must personally attend the sale. 
• Bidders must complete a separate bid sheet for every property on which they plan to bid. Copies will be available at the sale. Bidders must have their bid sheet completely filled out at the time they are asked to come forward. The sale will not be held to wait for late arrivals to fill out their bid sheet. 
• Properties are sold in chronological order of foreclosure date (oldest first) .
  
• The Public Trustee will announce each property and ask for bidders to come forward with their bid sheets and funds. Bids must be at least $1.00 over the Lender's Bid. Once submitted, your bid is binding and may not be withdrawn, even if you are the only outside bidder on the property. 
• The Public Trustee will open the bidding with the highest bid submitted and the sale will proceed, with each bidder raising their hand to bid. 
• Bidders must wait to be acknowledged by the Public Trustee before announcing their bid.
• Once acknowledged by the Public Trustee, bidders must state their name and the amount of their bid. Bidders must remain in sight of the Public Trustee or Deputy Public Trustee handling the sale.
• Once the highest bidder is determined, the Public Trustee will verify the funds before announcing that the property is struck and sold. If the highest bidder fails to honor their bid, then the next highest bidder who tenders the full amount of their bid shall be deemed the successful bidder.
• In the situation where the highest bidder does not honor their bid, they will be prohibited from bidding at the next four sales and will be required to show all funds before any future bidding. The Public Trustee keeps a list of any bidders who fail to have all funds for any particular property and will report the incident to the Office of the State Attorney General. The four-sale ban will apply to the bidder, their agent, and any of their companies, as this could be considered bid-rigging or a fraudulent transaction. Other action against that bidder and/or their company or companies may also occur.

PAYMENT

• Bidders must bring certified funds in the form of cashier's checks payable to the Arapahoe County Public Trustee, or cash to the sale. MONEY ORDERS ARE NOT ACCEPTED.
• One cashier’s check cannot be used to purchase two separate properties. We will not apply any refund due on one property to another property.
• Bidders who plan to pay with any amount of cash must indicate so on the bid sheet where applicable and verbally inform the Deputy Public Trustee when submitting their bid sheet. The funds must be counted by the Arapahoe County Treasurer; therefore, the sale of that property will be moved to the end of the list so as not to delay the sale.
• If the funds submitted for payment of the winning bid exceed the amount of the bid, the Public Trustee will issue a refund after five business days. The check will be mailed to the winning bidder unless a request is made on the bid sheet for it to be held for pick-up at the Public Trustee's office. Alternatively, the winning bidder may bring a certified check for the exact amount to the Public Trustee’s office by noon that same day and exchange it for the funds submitted at the sale.

AFTER THE SALE

• No later than five business days after the sale, the Public Trustee will execute and record a Certificate of Purchase. For details, see C.R.S. § 38-38-401. Recorded copies of the Certificate of Purchase are available from the Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder. Unofficial copies are available using the Foreclosure Property Search application.
• Execution of the Certificate of Purchase does not transfer title and the highest bidder (grantee named in the Certificate of Purchase) does not have immediate right of access to the property. The Certificate of Purchase is simply evidence of the investment made. Ownership of the property occurs only once title vests as set forth in C.R.S. § 38-38-501. Therefore, the highest bidder (grantee named in the Certificate of Purchase) cannot evict someone from the property prior to title vesting.
• If the successful bidder is the holder of the evidence of debt (Lender), they or the foreclosing attorney may rescind the sale any time within eight (8) business days after the sale. C.R.S. § 38-38-113.
• The Public Trustee cannot set aside a sale after announcing that the property is struck and sold. Any request by a non-lender to set aside a sale, or by a lender after the statutory eight (8) business-day period (C.R.S. § 38-38-113), is outside the jurisdiction of the Public Trustee and must be handled in a court of law.
• If a valid Intent to Redeem is filed by a junior lienor within eight (8) business days after the sale, the holder of the Certificate of Purchase will be contacted by the Public Trustee for a signed and notarized Redemption Statement that complies with C.R.S. § 38-38-302.
• The Public Trustee, including any of his or her employees, cannot give legal advice. Please consult with an attorney if you have any questions about your rights.

INFORMATION FOR LENDERS

• Lenders (holders of evidence of debt) must submit their bids by 12:00 pm, two business days prior to the sale. Lenders may submit amendments to their bids until 12:00 pm the day before the sale by notifying the Public Trustee by email, or orally at the time of sale if the person amending the bid is physically present at the sale and modifies and executes the bid before the bidding starts.
• Lenders may send a representative to participate in competitive bidding, but the representative must be disclosed to the Public Trustee in writing at least one business day prior to the sale. The lender or their representative must then make themselves known to the Public Trustee at the auction.The lender does not need to provide funds to the Public Trustee if it is the high bidder and there is a deficiency remaining on the property.