Joseph Mills, a long‑time resident of Hickory Lakes Estates, had been behind on homeowners’ association dues for months, prompting the association to place a lien on his property in February 2024. The lien led to a foreclosure judgment by August, setting an October 18, 2024 auction to recover the debt.
At the auction, Real Estate Services Group Inc. emerged as the highest bidder and received a certificate of sale from the court clerk. Five days later, on October 23, Mills transferred the full amount owed to the association’s attorney and asked the judge to cancel the sale, a request the association now supports.
The judge granted the cancellation, preventing the clerk from issuing the final deed to RESG. However, the buyer, unaware of the developments, objected when it learned the sale had been annulled, arguing that its legal interest had been ignored.
The Florida Second District Court of Appeal ruled that RESG had been denied notice and a fair hearing, overturned the lower court’s cancellation order, and remanded the case for a new hearing that must inform all parties, including the buyer, before a decision is made.