Frequently Asked Questions

Sales are held as a public auction.  Bidders must pre-register, and all registration must be done by 10:00 am.  The judgment holder will provide the Sheriff's office a starting bid, which will be announced at the time of the sale.  Interested parties will then bid against each other.  The winning bidder will then have two hours from the close of the sale to bring in a cashier’s check for the amount of his/her highest bid.

For more information check out our Foreclosure Page.

All properties are sold as-is, and are buyer beware.  It is the responsibility of the bidder to do any and all necessary research before bidding on a property.  The Sheriff's office is not responsible for a bidder’s lack of knowledge in any area, and will not refund the purchase price once payment is made. 

Bids made at a Sheriff’s sale are considered a legal obligation to pay.  If payment is not made, the bidder may face legal action (Iowa Code 626.85), and may be prohibited from bidding at future sales (Iowa Code 626.80).

For more information check out our Foreclosure Page.

There is more information regarding Sheriff's sales on the Pottawattamie County Sheriff's Office website.  That information is a general overview, and is not intended to provide answers to every possible question, or to be a substitute for legal advice, which the Sheriff's office cannot provide.  Any legal questions should be referred to an attorney of your choosing.

For more information check out our Foreclosure Page.

All sales are conducted at the Pottawattamie County Sheriff's Office, located at 1400 Big Lake Road, in Council Bluffs.  Sales start at 10:00 am on the date of sale.  The Sheriff’s Office only conducts sales on Fridays, barring unforeseen circumstances.

For more information check out our Foreclosure Page.

All Notices of Sheriff’s Levy and Sale are published in the Daily Nonpareil.  Properties on the east half of the county are also published in the Avoca Journal Herald.  Publications will be on the Fridays that are four and five weeks before the originally scheduled sale date.

Notices of Sheriff’s Levy and Sale are posted in four locations in Council Bluffs:  Pottawattamie County Courthouse (227 S. 6th St.), Council Bluffs City Hall (209 Pearl St.), Council Bluffs Public Library (400 Willow Ave.), and Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office (1400 Big Lake Road).

Sales may be postponed or cancelled at any time.  Postponements and cancellations will be announced on the scheduled day of sale.  The most up to date information on the status of properties can be found here.  Click on the details link to check on the status.

For more information check out our Foreclosure Page.