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South Carolina
Foreclosure Law Summary

Quick Facts
- Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes
- Non-Judicial Foreclosure Available: No
- Primary Security Instrument: Mortgage
- Timeline: Varies
- Right of Redemption: No
- Deficiency Judgments Allowed: Yes
In South Carolina, lenders may foreclose on a
mortgage in default by using the judicial foreclosure process.
Judicial Foreclosure
The judicial foreclosure process is one in which
the lender must file a complaint against the borrower and obtain a
decree of sale from a court having jurisdiction in the county where
the property is located before foreclosure proceedings can begin.
Generally, if the court finds the borrower in default, they will
give them a set period of time to pay the delinquent amount, plus
costs. If the borrower does not pay within the set period of time,
the court will then order the property to be sold.
In South Carolina, the property is generally sold
in the following manner:
- A notice of sale, containing a description of
the property, the time and place of sale, the borrowers name and
the lenders name, must be published at the courthouse door and two
other public places at least three weeks prior to the date of
sale. The notice must also be published in a newspaper of general
circulation within the county where the property resides for the
same time period.
- Unless otherwise ordered by the court, the sale
must be conducted at the courthouse where the property is located
by the sheriff of said county. The sale must be held on the first
Monday in each month, unless it is a holiday and then the sale may
take place on the following Tuesday. The sale may begin at 11:00
am and go until 5:00 pm, but the sheriff may close the bidding
prior to that time.
- Despite the fact that the bidding at the public
sale has ended, in South Carolina, the auction actually stays open
for a full thirty days after the date of the public sale. During
this thirty day time period, anyone may place a bid higher than
the last bid amount and the successful purchaser will be the one
with the highest bid at the end of the thirty days. This ongoing
bid process is referred to as upset bidding. Anyone, other than
the successful purchaser, who has placed a bid during this time,
will be entitled to a refund of any deposit made in good faith and
he or she will have no further interest in the property.
- If no objection to the sale price of the
property has been filed with the sheriff's office within three
months after the date of sale, the sale will be considered
confirmed and the sheriff will make any necessary deed
endorsements.
Lenders in South Carolina may file for a
deficiency judgment against the borrower and borrowers have no
rights of redemption.
More information on South Carolina foreclosure laws.
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