USA Home Buyers

Des Moines, IA › Foreclosure

Can I sell my Des Moines house before foreclosure?

If a foreclosure sale is scheduled, tell us the date right away so we can try to close before it.

Yes. A sale before an Iowa sheriff's sale may still be possible if the payoff or redemption amount can be paid in time. Iowa home mortgages are generally foreclosed through a court case, and a court judgment leads to a sheriff's sale. The actual deadline depends on the foreclosure procedure and your case.

USA Home Buyers buys houses as-is in Des Moines, Iowa, including the city portions in Polk and Warren counties. You do not need to repair, clean, or clear out the house before asking about a sale.

Call 888-274-5006 to talk through the house and the notice you received.

We'll give you a written cash offer within 24 hours.

We give written cash offers in 24 hours.

Share the property address and the notice or sale date you have.

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How we help you work toward closing

We review the Des Moines house as-is. No repairs, cleaning, or cleanout are required to sell to us. A possible sale still depends on the property, payoff, title, court status, and time available before a scheduled sale.

You receive a written offer and written terms before you commit; closing is through a title company. If you choose to proceed, the title company checks title and current payoff information and works through the closing details with us.

You don't need to pay off your back taxes before we settle. We buy houses with back taxes and liens — payoffs get handled through the closing, not by you upfront.

When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including Iowa real estate transfer tax. That payment does not cover your mortgage payoff, liens, back taxes, or your share of current property taxes.

Which sale is named in your notice?

Mortgage foreclosure

Iowa home mortgages are generally foreclosed through a court case. Before suing, most lenders must give the owner of an occupied one- or two-family home a notice with 30 days to cure the default and tell the owner that counseling and mediation are available. A court judgment leads to a sheriff's sale.

The sheriff's sale must be posted and published, with the first publication at least four weeks before the sale. Keep track of the date and instructions in your current case papers.

After the sale, some Iowa foreclosures allow redemption, generally for one year, with shorter periods in some cases. If the lender chooses foreclosure without redemption for nonagricultural property, there is no right to redeem after the sheriff's sale. Under that court procedure, a written demand may delay the sale. Ask an attorney or title company to confirm which procedure and deadline apply to your case.

Property-tax sale

A property-tax sale is separate from a mortgage foreclosure and has its own notice and deadline. Follow the tax-sale notice and contact the county treasurer about the property-tax account. Do not use mortgage-foreclosure dates or redemption rules to work out a tax-sale deadline.

If the payoff is the problem

Think the payoff is more than the house is worth? Ask us — we've gotten lenders to come down before.

A current payoff statement and title review help show what must be addressed at closing. Your mortgage payoff is separate from back taxes and your share of current property taxes.

What happens next

  1. 1. Tell us about the house and notice. Share the Des Moines address, the date on the notice, and what you know about the mortgage payoff or case.
  2. 2. We review the house as-is. We give you a written cash offer within 24 hours.
  3. 3. You read the written terms. You see the offer and terms before you decide whether to commit.
  4. 4. Title and payoff are reviewed. If you choose to move ahead, a title company works through title, lender payoff, liens, and closing details.
  5. 5. Work toward closing. If a foreclosure sale is scheduled, tell us the date right away so we can try to close before it. Keep following the current notice unless the court or sheriff confirms a change.

It's real estate. Sometimes there are bumps in the road. We won't disappear when that happens, and we'll be fighting to get this to the closing table.

Polk and Warren County offices

The incorporated City of Des Moines intersects Polk and Warren counties. That citywide boundary does not identify the county or court for a particular property. Check the property and the county named in your notice. Both counties are in Iowa Judicial District 5; its county court pages are contact routes, not a decision about the venue or result of an individual case. For a mortgage case or sale date, use your court papers and confirm the current information with the court or sheriff handling it.

See the Iowa Judicial District 5 page for the district and use the county links below for local contacts.

Questions and contact

Use the Des Moines home-sale net proceeds calculator to compare a possible sale with your assumptions. It is a planning estimate, not a property-specific offer.

Read customer reviews on the Des Moines reviews page.

Frequently Asked Questions — Foreclosure in Des Moines, IA

Can I sell my Des Moines house before a sheriff's sale?

A sale may still be possible if the payoff or redemption amount can be paid in time and the title, court status, and closing timing line up. If a foreclosure sale is scheduled, tell us the date right away so we can try to close before it. Keep following the date in your current notice unless the court or sheriff confirms a change.

Is an Iowa mortgage foreclosure the same as a property-tax sale?

No. A mortgage foreclosure is generally a court case over the home loan and can lead to a sheriff's sale. A property-tax sale is separate and has its own notice and deadline. Follow the notice for the process named on it; do not apply mortgage-foreclosure dates to a tax-sale notice.

Can I redeem my house after an Iowa sheriff sale?

It depends on the foreclosure procedure. Some Iowa foreclosures allow redemption after the sale, generally for one year, with shorter periods in some cases. If the lender chooses foreclosure without redemption for nonagricultural property, there is no right to redeem after the sheriff's sale. Have an attorney or title company confirm the deadline and amount for your case.

What if my mortgage payoff is more than my Des Moines house is worth?

Think the payoff is more than the house is worth? Ask us — we've gotten lenders to come down before. The current payoff and title details still need to be reviewed for your property.

What happens after I contact USA Home Buyers?

We review the Des Moines house as-is and give you a written cash offer within 24 hours. You receive written offer terms before you commit. If you choose to proceed, a title company works through title and payoff details for closing.

Call USA Home Buyers at 888-274-5006 to talk through the house and the notice you received.

We'll give you a written cash offer within 24 hours.

We give written cash offers in 24 hours.

Share the address and the notice or payoff information you have.

By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. You consent to receive calls and texts from USA Home Buyers. We never share your information.

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