Polk County Clerk Launches Online Foreclosure Sale Website

POLK COUNTY, Fla., Sept. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- With over 10,000 foreclosure cases filed in 2009, Richard Weiss, Clerk of the Circuit Court, sought a solution to the labor-intensive and costly process of foreclosure sales. As a result, Weiss is pleased to launch a new online foreclosure sale website, https://www.polk.realforeclose.com. Weiss says the online process will "ensure fairness and increase the number of potential buyers for each property, and will help bidders and property owners alike."

Live foreclosure sales currently held in the Polk County Courthouse in Bartow will immediately switch to the online system starting September 21, 2010. Free bidder and plaintiff training sessions will be offered in the Clerk's Human Resources Training Room at the Polk County Courthouse located at 255 North Broadway Avenue in Bartow. Four separate sessions will be provided. On September 8 and 9, 2010, Bidder training will be held at 3:00 p.m. and Plaintiff training will be held at 1:00 p.m.  Webinar classes covering the use of the new auction site software are also available by calling Realauction.com at (954) 734-7401 or Toll Free at (877) 361-7325.

Providing the software, hosting the website, and providing customer service is Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based Realauction.com. The intuitive website will allow 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. Bidders must register in advance for this service.

Florida law changed in July, 2008, to allow electronic foreclosure sales. According to Weiss, 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 transmitted using the online ACH process or electronic wire transfer through the website.

"It's very simple to use. Even a novice investor or computer user can be up and running in just a few minutes. The site has links to the Tax Collector, Property Appraiser, and Official Records, and Customers can bid from the comfort of their homes or offices," Weiss said. "In addition, the system also protects bidders from 'sniping' or placing last-second bids hoping to beat the clock and win the auction."

Registration on the website opens September 7, 2010. It is important to review all information regarding auction procedures and to read through the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) before getting started. Bidders are responsible for conducting their own research of the property being sold and should be aware that all properties are sold "As Is".

For additional information about Realauction, please contact Craig McIntyre at 954-734-7400 Ext 203.

SOURCE Realauction.com