Lackawanna County Sheriff's Office, Sheriff Sales page
Sale schedules, cost sheets and bidding terms. The page we read did not list an office phone number or address.
Official pageLackawanna County guide · Foreclosure & sheriff sale
Facing Foreclosure in Lackawanna County, PA: Sheriff Sale Guide
Lackawanna County's sheriff sales are normally held at 10:00 a.m. in the Lackawanna County Courthouse, 200 North Washington Avenue, Scranton. The county lists them in only some months, typically February, March, June, July, October and November. The next listed sale is November 6, 2026. If your house is on a list, the date matters more than anything else on this page.
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Kaizen's county notes describe century-old coal-region houses in the Scranton area, with mine subsidence, radon and aging foundations among the local issues. A house like that can be hard to finance for a retail buyer, which is one reason timing matters. This guide covers Act 91, the county sale rules and options. It is general information, not legal advice.
Step by step in Lackawanna County
- 1
Look for the Act 91 notice
Your lender issues an Act 91 notice to tell you about HEMAP. PHFA says to apply within 33 days of the notice date, and the lender cannot act further while the application proceeds. The home must be owner-occupied and the delinquency caused by events outside your control.
- 2
Get the free counseling started
PHFA says any Pennsylvania resident can get housing counseling at no charge. After you meet with a counselor, you have 30 days to submit the HEMAP application, and PHFA has 60 days to decide. Call 1.855.U.Are.Home (827.3466) if you have not yet.
- 3
Find the sale on the county schedule
The Sheriff's page links 2026 and 2027 sale schedules and posts cost sheets about a week before each sale. Look for your address and write down the date.
- 4
Understand the deposit rule
A bidder must pay 10 percent of the bid price immediately, in cash, cashier's check or certified check. The page says the deposit is forfeited if the balance is not paid by 2 o'clock on the afternoon of the stated date. This keeps the pool of buyers to people who have cash or certified funds ready.
- 5
Know that sales are as is
The county states that properties are sold as is and the Sheriff is not responsible for a clear title. For a bidder, that means a possible lien or title problem; for you as the owner, it is a reason a sale price may land well below market. Ask an attorney how a sale would affect any balance you owe.
- 6
Ask the lender's side whether the date still stands
Lenders and their attorneys control whether a scheduled sale goes forward, so ask them in writing whether your address is still on the next list. The county page links the schedules but does not say who can pull a property, and it lists no phone number for the Sheriff, so keep the paper trail yourself. A real estate attorney can tell you what a sale would mean for any remaining balance.
- 7
Get a payoff and compare options
Ask the lender for a written payoff. If the house is worth more than the debt, a sale before the auction may protect equity. If it is worth less, talk to a counselor or attorney about lender approval. Weigh a workout, a listing and a cash sale side by side.
Typical timeline
| Stage | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Act 91 notice, HEMAP application | 33 days from the notice date |
| Counselor submission and PHFA decision | 30 days to submit; PHFA then has 60 days |
| Cost sheet available | About one week before each sale |
| Lackawanna sheriff sale | Normally 10:00 a.m. on the listed date; next listed date is November 6, 2026 |
| Kaizen offer and closing | Offer in 24 hours; close in 14 to 30 days or on your date |
Lackawanna County offices you may deal with
Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency
1.855.827.3466
Act 91, HEMAP and free housing counseling.
Official pageYour selling options
Owners generally have several paths: HEMAP if eligible, a workout, a short sale, a listing with an agent or a cash sale. A listing can bring the most when the house is sound and a sale date is months away. A coal-region house with a foundation or radon question often draws buyers who ask for repairs or a lower price, and that takes time the schedule may not allow.
Kaizen can make a cash offer within 24 hours on an as-is house, with no repairs and no agent commission, and close in 14 to 30 days or on your date. We do not control whether the lender's attorney postpones a Lackawanna sale, so ask your lender's attorney in writing. Have your own attorney review any contract. Our number is 267-329-0084.
Lackawanna County foreclosure questions
When are Lackawanna County sheriff sales?
The county says sales are normally held at 10:00 a.m. in the Lackawanna County Courthouse, 200 North Washington Avenue, Scranton. The next date on its page is November 6, 2026. It lists sales typically in February, March, June, July, October and November.
How much do I need to bid in Lackawanna County?
The county page says a deposit of 10% of the bid price is paid immediately in cash, cashier's check or certified check. The deposit is forfeited if the balance is not paid by 2 o'clock on the afternoon of the stated date.
Are Lackawanna sheriff sale properties sold with clear title?
No. The county says properties are sold as is and the Sheriff is not responsible for a clear title. Anyone bidding should have an attorney review the title first.
What is an Act 91 notice?
The Act 91 notice comes from your lender and explains HEMAP. PHFA says you have 33 days from the notice date to apply, and the lender cannot take further action while the application proceeds. Free counseling: 1.855.827.3466.
Can Kaizen close before a Lackawanna County sheriff sale?
Kaizen can make an as-is cash offer within 24 hours and close in 14 to 30 days or on your date. Whether it works before the next listed sale depends on the payoff and the lender's attorney.
Related Lackawanna County pages
Sell your house fast in Lackawanna CountyHow to Sell an Inherited House in Lackawanna County (Probate Guide)Selling a House Facing Foreclosure in ScrantonWhat is an Act 91 notice in Pennsylvania and what should I do when I get one?How long does foreclosure take in Pennsylvania?How much notice do I get before a sheriff sale in Pennsylvania?Can I sell my house after a sheriff sale is scheduled in Pennsylvania?Can I stop a sheriff sale in Philadelphia?What is HEMAP and who qualifies in Pennsylvania?Facing Foreclosure in Berks County, PA: Online Sheriff Sale GuideFacing Foreclosure in Lehigh County, PA: Options Before a Sheriff SaleFacing Foreclosure in Luzerne County, PA: Sheriff Sale GuideFacing Foreclosure in Northampton County, PA: Sheriff Sale GuideFacing Foreclosure in New Castle County, Delaware: Mediation and Sheriff Sale GuideFacing Foreclosure in Kent County, Delaware: Mediation and Sheriff Sale GuideFacing Foreclosure in Sussex County, Delaware: Mediation and Sheriff Sale GuideFacing Foreclosure in Atlantic County, NJ: Court Steps, Mediation and Sheriff SaleBergen County, NJ Foreclosure Guide: Court Timeline and Sheriff Sale RulesBurlington County, NJ Foreclosure: Timeline, Adjournments and Your OptionsCamden County, NJ Foreclosure: Wednesday Sheriff Sales and Your OptionsCape May County, NJ Foreclosure Guide: Seasonal Homes, Court Steps and OptionsCumberland County, NJ Foreclosure: Court Steps, Mediation and Selling OptionsEssex County, NJ Foreclosure Guide: Multifamily Owners, Mediation and OptionsFacing Foreclosure in Gloucester County: Sheriff Sale and Mediation GuideFacing Foreclosure in Hudson County: Sheriff Sale and Mediation GuideFacing Foreclosure in Hunterdon County: Flemington Sheriff Sale GuideFacing Foreclosure in Mercer County: Trenton Sheriff Sale and Mediation GuideFacing Foreclosure in Middlesex County: Sheriff Sale and Mediation GuideFacing Foreclosure in Monmouth County: Freehold Sheriff Sale and Mediation GuideFacing Foreclosure in Morris County: Morristown Sheriff Sale and Mediation GuideForeclosure in Ocean County, NJ: Options Before the Sheriff's SaleForeclosure in Passaic County, NJ: Options Before the Sheriff's SaleForeclosure in Salem County, NJ: Options Before the Sheriff's SaleForeclosure in Somerset County, NJ: Options Before the Sheriff's SaleForeclosure in Sussex County, NJ: Options Before the Sheriff's SaleForeclosure in Union County, NJ: Options Before the Sheriff's SaleForeclosure in Warren County, NJ: Options Before the Sheriff's SaleFacing Foreclosure in Philadelphia County: Diversion Program and Sheriff Sale GuideFacing Foreclosure in Delaware County, PA: Sheriff Sale GuideFacing Foreclosure in Montgomery County, PA: Online Sheriff Sale GuideFacing Foreclosure in Bucks County, PA: Sheriff Sale GuideFacing Foreclosure in Chester County, PA: Sheriff Sale Guide
Sources
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm details with the office or a professional.
- Sheriff Sales (Lackawanna County, PA, page lists sales through Nov. 6, 2026 and links 2026 and 2027 schedules)
- Foreclosure: Act 91 Notice and HEMAP (Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, undated page)
- County market notes (Lackawanna County) (Kaizen Home Buyers, 2026-07-15)
- Kaizen process steps (Kaizen Home Buyers, 2026-10-23)
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