Iowa Code Title XV. Judicial Branch and Judicial Procedures [Chs. 595-686] § 654.16A. Right of first refusal following recording of sheriff's deed to agricultural land

1. Not later than the time a sheriff's deed to agricultural land used for farming, as defined in section 16.58, is recorded, the grantee recording the sheriff's deed shall notify the mortgagor of the mortgagor's right of first refusal. The grantee shall record the sheriff's deed within one year and sixty days from the date of the sheriff's sale. A copy of this section, titled “Notice of Right of First Refusal” is sufficient notice.

2. If, after a sheriff's deed is recorded, the grantee proposes to sell or otherwise dispose of the agricultural land, in a transaction other than a public auction, the grantee shall first offer the mortgagor the opportunity to repurchase the agricultural land on the same terms and at the same price that the grantee proposes to sell or dispose of the agricultural land. If the grantee seeks to sell or otherwise dispose of the agricultural land by public auction, the mortgagor must be given sixty days' notice of all of the following:

3. The grantee is not required to offer the mortgagor financing for the purchase of the agricultural land.

4. The mortgagor has ten business days after being given notice of the terms and price of the proposed sale or disposition, other than a public auction, in which to exercise the right to repurchase the agricultural land by submitting a binding offer to the grantee on the same terms as the proposed sale or other disposition, with closing to occur within thirty days after the offer unless otherwise agreed by the grantee. After the expiration of either the period for offer or the period for closing, without submission of an offer or a closing occurring, the grantee may sell or otherwise dispose of the agricultural land to any other person on the terms upon which it was offered to the mortgagor.

5. Notice of the mortgagor's right of first refusal, a proposed sale, auction, or other disposition, or the submission of a binding offer by the mortgagor, is considered given on the date that notice or offer is personally served on the other party or on the date that notice or offer is mailed to the other party's last known address by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested. The right of first refusal provided in this section is not assignable, but may be exercised by the mortgagor's successor in interest, receiver, personal representative, executor, or heir only in case of bankruptcy, receivership, or death of the mortgagor.