re: If a piece of property is going to the sheriffs sale

The owner still owns it and is the only one who could sell it before the sheriff sale. You would have to make a deal with both. The owner would have to agree with the terms and sign over the title to you, and the bank would have to agree to call off the sheriff's sale. If the bank buys it at the sheriff's sale, then you could make your deal only with the bank.