If you’re a Minneapolis homeowner facing foreclosure, it can feel like your options are shrinking fast. But even after receiving a sheriff’s sale notice, you still have time to act — and selling your home could be your best move.
Minnesota’s foreclosure process gives most homeowners months to make decisions — and sometimes even a second chance after the auction through a redemption period.
👉 In Minneapolis, foreclosure doesn’t end your ownership overnight — but it does start a clock. The sooner you act, the more control you keep.
Understanding Foreclosure in Minnesota
Minnesota uses two types of foreclosure:
- Foreclosure by advertisement (nonjudicial): The most common process for owner-occupied homes.
- Foreclosure by action (judicial): A court-supervised process used less often.
Both end with a sheriff’s sale, followed by a redemption period — a window of time when you can still save or sell your property.
Here’s the typical timeline for Minneapolis homeowners:
- 6-month redemption period after the sheriff’s sale.
- 12-month redemption in rare cases (older loans or large acreage).
- 5-week redemption if the property is ruled abandoned or if you postpone the sale using an affidavit.
👉 Translation: You can usually sell before the sheriff’s sale — or, in some cases, during the redemption period if you act fast enough.
Postponing the Sheriff’s Sale (to Buy More Time to Sell)
If you live in your home (up to 4 units), Minnesota law allows you to postpone the sheriff’s sale by filing an Affidavit of Postponement.
You gain extra time before the sale (5 or 11 months, depending on your case), but you’ll have only 5 weeks to redeem after the sale.
As LawHelp Minnesota explains, this trade-off works best for owners actively preparing a sale. One Reddit homeowner on r/Minneapolis wrote:
“We postponed our sale five months — that gave us the breathing room to find a buyer and close before it ever hit auction.”
💡 Use the postponement window strategically — it’s your legal pause button before foreclosure hits the courthouse steps.
Can You Sell a House in Foreclosure (or During Redemption)?
Yes, you can. You remain the legal owner until the sheriff’s certificate holder receives the deed — meaning you can sell any time before or even after the sheriff’s sale (if within redemption).
Here’s how it works:
- Before the sale: Proceeds at closing pay your mortgage, back taxes, and fees.
- During redemption: You must sell for enough to pay off the sheriff’s certificate holder (the auction’s winning bidder) plus interest and allowable costs.
In Reddit’s r/RealEstateInvesting, Minnesota sellers often note that local cash buyers can help close even during redemption, as long as the payoff covers the amount due.
🏡 If you can find a buyer who can close quickly — even in redemption — you can stop foreclosure and walk away debt-free.
Key Concepts
- Foreclosure Type: Most Minneapolis homes are foreclosed by advertisement.
- Sheriff’s Sale: The public auction after default; triggers redemption rights.
- Redemption Period: 6 months (standard) to 12 months (older cases).
- Affidavit of Postponement: Delays the sale up to 5 or 11 months; shortens redemption to 5 weeks.
- Seller Disclosure (§513.55): Required for all Minnesota residential sales.
- Deed Tax: 0.33% of the sale price (plus 0.01% ERF in Hennepin County).
🧭 Understanding these terms helps you time your sale — and avoid surprises when deadlines hit.
Deadlines and What They Mean for Minneapolis, MN Homeowners
Minnesota’s foreclosure timeline may sound generous, but those months disappear quickly. Once you receive your foreclosure notice, your sheriff’s sale date is already scheduled.
If you plan to sell, act before that auction date or file for postponement. Remember: if your redemption is shortened to 5 weeks, your window to close becomes very tight.
⏳ Start your sale early — once the sheriff’s sale happens, you’re racing against the calendar.
Communicating with Your Lender
Open communication can help. Let your lender’s attorney or the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office know if you have a signed offer or are working with a cash home buyer. Sometimes, auction dates can be delayed a few weeks to allow legitimate sales to close.
A user on r/Minnesota shared:
“We had a signed contract and title order — the lender’s attorney agreed to push our sale back three weeks so we could close. Transparency helped.”
💬 Proof of an active sale — not silence — can buy you critical time in Minnesota.
Short Sales vs. Cash Sales
If you owe more than your home’s market value, a short sale may work, but it requires lender approval and could take months. With Minnesota’s foreclosure pace, that’s risky.
A cash sale is faster. Buyers can close within days, allowing you to settle before the sheriff’s sale or even during redemption if numbers align.
As one Minneapolis seller put it on r/RealEstateMN:
“We thought 6 months was enough time, but everything moves slower than you expect — the cash home buyer made it possible to finish before the sale.”
⚡ When the timeline is short, cash is certainty.
Tips for Minneapolis, MN Homeowners
- File your Affidavit of Postponement early if you need extra pre-sale time.
- Stay current on utilities and basic maintenance to avoid abandonment rulings.
- Complete your seller disclosure (§513.55) — honesty is required even “as-is.”
- For homes built before 1978, include lead-based paint disclosures.
- Expect Hennepin County deed tax (0.33%) plus the Environmental Response Fund tax (0.01%) at closing.
- Condo/townhome sellers must provide a Resale Disclosure Certificate from the HOA.
Investors often tell sellers on sites like BiggerPockets that getting important papers like payoff statements, tax receipts, and HOA clearances in order ahead of time can help avoid title problems at the last minute.
✅ The best defense against foreclosure isn’t legal paperwork — it’s taking fast, informed action to sell before deadlines close in.
Key Takeaways
- You can sell your house fast before foreclosure or during redemption in Minneapolis.
- Most homeowners have a 6-month redemption period (sometimes 12).
- Filing a postponement affidavit can add 5 months before the sale.
- Disclosures still apply even “as-is.”
- Expect a 0.33% deed tax (+0.01% ERF in Hennepin).
- Cash home buyers offer flexibility when you’re short on time.
🌟 Foreclosure in Minnesota comes with rights — use them to sell, settle, and move on before the sheriff’s sale becomes final.
Sell a House in Foreclosure in Minneapolis, MN: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sell my house in foreclosure in Minneapolis, MN?
Yes. You can sell before the sheriff’s sale or during redemption if the proceeds cover what’s owed.
Peregrine REI helps homeowners in this situation by providing fast fair cash offer and buying houses as-is. We work with trusted local title companies to close quickly—often before the auction date—so you can avoid foreclosure and protect your equity.
How long is the redemption period in Minnesota?
Typically 6 months; 12 months in limited cases.
Can I postpone the sheriff’s sale?
Yes — file an Affidavit of Postponement if your home is a homestead.
Can I sell during the redemption period?
Yes, but the sale price must pay off the sheriff’s certificate holder plus interest and fees.
Can I sell “as-is”?
Yes, but you must disclose known material defects under §513.55.
Do I have to pay deed tax?
Yes — 0.33% statewide, plus 0.01% ERF in Hennepin County.
Who pays off my debts at closing?
The title company deducts your mortgage, taxes, and liens from your sale proceeds.
Can I sell if my home is vacant?
Yes, but your redemption may shorten to 5 weeks if it’s ruled abandoned.
Do I need an attorney to sell?
Not required — title companies commonly handle closings in Minnesota.
Who buys homes in foreclosure in Minneapolis, MN?
Local cash home buyers and investors who specialize in quick closings and redemption sales.
Peregrine REI is one of those trusted local cash home buyers—we purchase Minneapolis, MN homes in foreclosure for cash, buy properties as-is, and work with local title companies to close quickly so homeowners can avoid foreclosure and move forward with peace of mind.
💬 Even if foreclosure feels final, your redemption period gives you power — you can still sell and start over.
Are You Ready to Sell a House in Foreclosure in Minneapolis, MN?
If you’re behind on payments or received a sheriff’s sale notice, you’re not out of time — but the clock is ticking. Selling your home before or during redemption can protect your credit and keep your future in your hands.
As one homeowner shared on r/MinnesotaHomeowners:
“We didn’t realize we could still sell after the sheriff’s sale — that knowledge saved us.”
🚀 Take the first step today — act before foreclosure becomes final. You still have options, and help is closer than you think.
How Our Simple 4-Step Process Works
Helping Minneapolis, MN homeowners sell quickly, stress-free, and with confidence.
Step 1 – Tell us about your home (no repairs needed) in Minneapolis, MN:
Just share a few details about your Minneapolis property. Don’t worry about cleaning or fixing anything—we buy houses exactly as they are.
Step 2 – We take a quick look:
If your home meets our buying criteria, we’ll schedule a short visit at your convenience. No open houses, no strangers walking through—just a quick look so we can confirm details.
Step 3 – Get your fair cash offer:
Within 24 hours, we’ll send you a no-obligation fair cash offer based on your home’s condition and the Minneapolis market. You’re in control—no pressure, no hidden strings.
Step 4 – Choose your closing date:
We’ll handle the paperwork and close with a trusted local title company, often in about 7 days. You pick the date that works best for you.
✨ No commissions. No waiting. No stress—just a straightforward, fair cash offer from Peregrine REI.