FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Milton, FL – January 22, 2014
With 873 foreclosures filed in 2013, the Santa Rosa County Clerk announces the launch of their new online foreclosure sale website www.santarosa.realforeclose.com. Santa Rosa’s online foreclosure sale is designed to ensure fairness and increase the number of potential buyers for each property, thereby benefitting bidders and property owners alike. The neighboring counties of Bay, Escambia, Okaloosa and Walton also offer the convenience of online sales.
Live foreclosure sales that are currently held at the Santa Rosa County courthouse in Milton will immediately switch to the online system on February 10, 2014. Free Bidder Training sessions will be held at the Santa Rosa County Courthouse in Milton on January 28, 2014. Interested parties may register for training with Realauction in advance by calling (877) 361-7325. Also, webinar classes covering the use of the new auction site software are available.
Providing the software, hosting the website, and providing customer service is Fort Lauderdale based Realauction.com. The intuitive website allows a person to make deposits, place bids, monitor auction activity and pay for their winning bids, all from the convenience of their home, office, or mobile laptop. Also, due to the auction-style format, the Santa Rosa County foreclosure site allows a person to be in more than one place at a time by offering a “proxy bidding” process. Bidders must register in advance for this service.
Donald C. Spencer, Clerk of the Courts and Comptroller, said the software will provide ease-of-use, allowing individuals to register, review property data, and enter bids at any time until the auction ends. Once the auction closes, payment is accepted by electronic wire transfer or Certified Funds directly to the Clerk of the Court.
“The site is very simple to use even to those that have limited computer experience,” said Spencer. “Prospective bidders are provided with tools such as links to the Tax Collector, Property Appraiser, and Official Records which will assist them in their preliminary research. In addition to all of the other benefits of the electronic venue, bids can be placed from the comfort of their homes or offices.”
The Clerk said the system also protects bidders from “sniping” or placing last-second bids hoping to beat the clock and win the bid. The Clerk said any late bids would add time to the auction, giving bidders more time.
Interested parties are required to register on the website before placing deposits and bids. Registration on the website opens January 28, 2014. Please review the information regarding auction procedures and be sure to read through the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on the new website before getting started.
For additional information, please visit the Clerk of Court’s website at www.santarosaclerk.com or call (850) 981-5675.
About the Santa Rosa County, Florida Clerk of the Court and Comptroller
Donald C. Spencer is your constitutionally elected Clerk of Santa Rosa County, Florida. The Clerk of Court‘s Office is a place where public trust and confidence are built in local government. The clerk plays an essential role in providing services that touch virtually every resident in the county. The Clerk’s Office assists local residents with many of their day-to-day needs, from acquiring a marriage license or a copy of a property deed, to paying traffic fines and providing forms for court filings. As an independently elected constitutional officer, the Clerk is committed to serving the people of this county.