Lee County Clerk of Court, FL

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TAX DEED SALES FAQS

How do I contact Customer Service?
For assistance with Real Auction, the auction service provider, visit their Contact Us webpage. Their service hours are Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
How do I update my bidder account information?
RealAuction executes any changes to your bidder account, such as a contact name, address, or email address. An Account Update Form
must be completed to make any changes to your account. This form can be accessed through the My Account link located on the left menu of the RealAuction site. The required form along with a photo ID and any other supporting documentation can be emailed to the RealAuction Customer Service Center.

Updating any information in your bidder account does NOT automatically update the information associated with any of your aliases, such as names on title. Those changes are done by the bidder through the My Account option. After clicking on that link, select Manage Aliases (Names on Title) to manually make any changes needed.
What happens to my proxy bid if a case is canceled?
If a presale/proxy bid is placed on a case that is subsequently canceled, all bids will be removed. If that same case is reactivated for the same date or rescheduled for another sale date, bids previously placed will NOT be restored. It is the sole responsibility of participants to check the status of the cases for which they intend to participate.
Does the tax deed sale erase all other liens on the property?
No. There may still be other encumbrances, such as (judgments, priority mortgages, taxes, or liens) that remain after the sale. The winning bidder takes title to the property subject to all defects, liens, encumbrances, and matters of which he/she has or could obtain knowledge. It is the bidder's responsibility to perform all research regarding the property, including the value, title defects, liens, mortgages, or other encumbrances. The Clerk's office does not guarantee a clear title and is not responsible for any encumbrances on the property purchased at auction.

The laws regarding foreclosures are extremely complicated. It is recommended that all bidders perform a title search and consult an attorney prior to placing a bid.
What is the overtime period? Why does the auction keep extending?
Any bid placed with less than 30 seconds remaining on the auction clock will automatically extend the bidding period by one full minute.
How do I request a refund?
Funds on deposit are only returned when requested. Select the Request Refund under the Funds Transfer menu on the RealAuction website to request a refund.
What happens to leftover deposit money?
Unused deposit money may be used to pay for winnings by clicking on Make Payment and following the steps indicated. To request a refund, select the Request Refund under the Funds Transfer menu on the RealAuction website.

Refunds will be made in the form of paper check and will be sent to the name and address of the registered bidder. Please allow 2-3 weeks for the processing and mailing of the check refund.
What if I fail to make the final payment or choose not to purchase the property?
If full payment is not made by 1 p.m. the business day following the sale, your deposit will be forfeited. If you are the highest bidder, and you do not honor your bid for any reason, you may be barred from participating in future tax deed sales. Any payments received after the payment deadline will be applied to your bidder account as a deposit, and can be refunded pursuant to normal refund procedures.
If I am the high bidder, how long do I have to pay for the property?
If you are the successful bidder for property at a tax deed sale, full payment must be received by the Clerk's office by 1 p.m. the business day following the sale. Acceptable forms of payment are a wire transfer, cash, cashier's check, or money order. There may be a transfer fee depending on the type of account you are wiring from. Please check with your banking center to determine additional wire fees associated with domestic and international wires. Depending on the financial institution, a third party may be involved in sending an international wire and fees associated with this are not the responsibility of the Clerk's office.
Can I change or cancel my bid?
Bids may be cancelled or modified (raised or lowered) at any time before the auction officially begins for that case. Once an auction begins, however, bids may be increased only. Cancelling or lowering a bid during a live auction is NOT permitted.
What happens in case of a tie bid?
If identical bids are placed prior to the auction start date and time, the first participant to place the bid will be deemed the official high bidder.

Tie bids are not allowed once the auction begins. However if a bidder enters a bid that equals a proxy bid placed by another bidder, the bid entered first would be deemed the current high bid. If this occurs, you will receive a message indicating that you “Do Not Have the Current High Bid” and will then have the opportunity to raise your bid if desired.
How does the bidding work? What is a proxy bid?
Auction participants enter their highest acceptable bid for a property. The auction system then checks all other bids and enters a bid on your behalf at $100 more than the next highest bidder (proxy bidding). The system stops entering bids for you when your highest acceptable bid is reached. When an auction closes, each property is awarded to the participant with the highest bid.
Can other participants see my bids?
No.
How do I pay for my deposit? How do I pay for my winning bids?
Deposits can be made on the RealAuction website via wire transfers. Cash, cashier's check, or money order made payable to the Lee County Clerk of Courts will also be accepted in person at the Clerk’s office.

Payments must be delivered to the Clerk’s office in the form of a wire transfer, cash, cashier’s checks, or money order made payable to the Lee County Clerk of Courts.
How much is the deposit?
You will need to place a deposit of $200 or 5 percent of the maximum bid, whichever is greater, for each item you anticipate winning at the sale.
What do I need in order to participate?
To participate in a sale, bidders must register on the RealAuction website and place a valid deposit for bids to be considered.
What equipment and software will I need?
No special software or hardware is needed to participate. Bidders must have a computer with access to the internet. The latest versions of Internet Explorer and Firefox are preferred. Apple users are encouraged to use the Firefox browser on their computers to participate.
Do I have to be present on the day of the sale?
Tax deed sales are conducted online RealAuction website, and it is not necessary to be present on the day of the sale.
How does the online auction work?
Auctions are held on properties offered for sale to the highest bidder. The Clerk's office conducts the sale via public auction in accordance with F. S. 197.542. The property or interest being auctioned may be worth less than the assessed value.

Anyone may bid on the properties by registering with the clerk on the RealAuction website prior to the sale. The site provides information for each sale item, including the name of the owner, legal description, and the opening or base bid.

At the date and time specified for the sale, each item is auctioned in order of file number and sold to the highest bidder.

At the time of the sale, the successful high bidder must post with the Clerk a nonrefundable deposit of $200 or 5 percent of the winning bid, whichever is greater. The remainder of the bid is due within 24 hours, including the recording fee and state documentary stamps of $.70 per $100 of the bid.

Deposits may be made in the form of wire transfer, cash, cashier’s check, or money order. After the sale, the remainder of the winning bid may be made in the form of a wire transfer, cash, cashier’s check, or money order.

Upon payment of the remainder of the bid, the Clerk will issue a tax deed to the property. The sale is final when the clerk’s office receives the purchase balance.