When a third party purchases at foreclosure auction, are they encumbered by the debt?

• A. Yes
• B. No
• C. Only If Liens Exist
• D. Depends On Bid

Answer: (B)

Foreclosure sale extinguishes the specific debt tied to that mortgage. The lender recovers what it can from the sale proceeds, and the debt isn’t transferred to or assumed by the person who buys at auction. The buyer takes title, but only subject to other existing liens or encumbrances on the property. So the third-party purchaser is not encumbered by the foreclosed debt itself (any deficiency would typically be a claim against the borrower, not the new owner).