Mercer County Sheriff's Sales Office
175 South Broad Street, Trenton, NJ
(609) 989-6102
Sales are held at the Civil Courthouse, 175 South Broad Street, Trenton.
Official pageMercer County guide · Foreclosure & sheriff sale
Facing Foreclosure in Mercer County: Trenton Sheriff Sale and Mediation Guide
In Mercer County, the Sheriff's Office conducts the sale of real property after foreclosure proceedings are complete. Sales take place at the Civil Courthouse on South Broad Street in Trenton. The path to that room runs through a notice, a court case and a judgment, each with its own deadline. This page lays them out so you can see how much time you have.
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Trenton rowhouses and multifamilies, and houses in Hamilton or Ewing, often carry a mortgage plus back taxes and sometimes tenants. Those layers change what a sale can pay off. This is general information, not legal advice. A housing counselor or real estate attorney should review your papers.
Step by step in Mercer County
- 1
Open the Notice of Intent on the day it arrives
New Jersey Courts says the borrower has 30 days from receipt of the Notice of Intent to pay off the debt or arrange something else. Write down the date it came. Call the lender and a counselor within that time.
- 2
Answer the complaint within 35 days
Once the lender files, the case gets a docket number. The answer is due in 35 days. A missed answer lets the lender request default. Ask a lawyer or legal aid office for help if the papers are confusing.
- 3
Request mediation if the home qualifies
The state says free mediation is available. Ask within 60 days of service. The home must be your primary residence and a one to four family dwelling. All borrowers must take part, bankruptcy blocks it, and counselor help comes through NJHMFA at 609-278-7508.
- 4
Do not treat mediation as a stay
The court's instructions say mediation does not stop the foreclosure action. The lender can continue to move forward while you talk. Keep every court date and deadline.
- 5
Count the 150 days after the writ
After a final judgment, the court issues a writ of execution. The sheriff has 150 days to auction the property. Both parties can request two stays to delay the sale.
- 6
Know how Trenton auctions run
Sales are open auctions with no sealed bids. The plaintiff opens at $100. Later bids start at $100 over the upset amount and rise by $1,000. The top bidder pays 20% right after signing the Conditions of Sale, by certified check, treasurer's check or cash, and the balance is due on the 30th day.
- 7
Price a sale before the auction
After a sheriff sale the debtor has 10 days to redeem. Before it, a sale on your terms may protect equity. Get a written payoff and have an attorney review it. Call the Sheriff's Sales Office at (609) 989-6102 to confirm a sale date.
Typical timeline
| Stage | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Notice of Intent to Foreclose | 30 days from receipt |
| Answer to the complaint | 35 days |
| Mediation request | Up to 60 days after service of the summons and complaint |
| Sheriff sale after the writ of execution | Sheriff has 150 days to auction; two stays each |
| Winning bidder's balance | Due on the 30th day after the sale |
| Kaizen cash offer and closing | Offer in 24 hours; close in 14 to 30 days or on your date |
Mercer County offices you may deal with
NJ Superior Court Clerk's Office, Office of Foreclosure
609-421-6100
Mailing address for mediation requests: Attn: Foreclosure Mediation, P.O. Box 971, Trenton, NJ 08625.
Official pageYour selling options
Owners here have several routes: a loan modification through mediation, a payment plan, a deed in lieu, a listing with an agent or a sale to an investor. A listing can bring the best price when the house is in decent shape and time allows. A Trenton rowhouse with back taxes and repair needs often runs out of time before a retail sale can close.
A Kaizen offer is cash and as-is. You hear from us within 24 hours, you pay no agent commission, and you do not fix anything first. Closing can be in 14 to 30 days or on a date you choose. A Kaizen offer does not pause a Mercer sheriff sale. Only the plaintiff's attorney, the sheriff or the court can do that. Call 267-329-0084.
Mercer County foreclosure questions
Where are Mercer County sheriff sales held?
At the Mercer County Civil Courthouse, 175 South Broad Street, Trenton, every other Wednesday. They start promptly at 2:00 pm. Call the Sheriff's Sales Office at (609) 989-6102 to confirm a date.
How do the bids work at a Mercer sale?
The plaintiff opens at $100. Later bids must start $100 over the upset amount and continue in $1,000 increments. The property goes to the highest bidder, who owes 20% right after signing the Conditions of Sale.
Can I sell my Mercer County house while in foreclosure?
Generally yes, before the sheriff sells it, but the payoff, the date and the court case matter. Get a written payoff and talk to an attorney or counselor. Only the plaintiff's attorney, the sheriff or the court can confirm a stop.
Is mediation open to me if I rent out the second unit?
Possibly, if you live in the building as your primary residence and it has one to four units. The court form also requires every borrower to agree and no bankruptcy. A counselor via NJHMFA, 609-278-7508, can check.
Does Kaizen buy Mercer County houses in foreclosure?
Kaizen makes as-is cash offers and can close in 14 to 30 days or on your date, with no repairs and no agent commission. Whether that beats the auction depends on your lender, the payoff and the docket, which we do not control.
Related Mercer County pages
Sell your house fast in Mercer CountyHow to Sell an Inherited House in Mercer County (Probate Guide)Facing Foreclosure on a Trenton HouseWhat 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 Lackawanna County, PA: 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 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.
- County market notes (Mercer County) (Kaizen Home Buyers, 2026-07-15)
- Kaizen process steps (Kaizen Home Buyers, 2026-10-23)
- Sheriff's Foreclosure Sale (Mercer County Sheriff's Office, undated page; text read from a search excerpt because the site blocked direct fetch)
- Foreclosure in New Jersey (New Jersey Courts, Superior Court Clerk's Office, undated page)
- Foreclosure Self-Help (New Jersey Courts, undated page)
- How to Apply for Foreclosure Mediation (CN 11270) (New Jersey Courts, revised 09/01/2021)
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