What triggers a sheriff's sale?

A sheriff's sale is primarily triggered by the failure to make mortgage payments, which leads to a foreclosure process. When a borrower is unable to make their mortgage payments, the lender has the right to initiate foreclosure proceedings to recover the owed amount. This typically culminates in a sheriff's sale, where the property is sold at auction to the highest bidder to recover the outstanding loan.

In this context, other options do not directly lead to a sheriff's sale. Successful redemption of a mortgage suggests that the borrower has managed to pay off the debt or fulfill requirements, preventing the sale. Approval of a short sale occurs when the lender agrees to allow the homeowner to sell the property for less than the amount owed on the mortgage, which is a negotiated process that avoids foreclosure. Filing for bankruptcy may provide temporary protection from foreclosure, though it can sometimes complicate the situation rather than directly triggering a sale.

Thus, the failure to make mortgage payments stands out as the clear catalyst for a sheriff’s sale, as it represents the initial breach of contract prompting legal action by the lender.