New York Consolidated Laws, Real Property Tax Law - RPT § 1195. Definitions

1. “Former homeowner” means a person or persons who lost title to and/or ownership of residential property due to a tax foreclosure.

2. “Public sale” means a sale resulting from a public auction conducted in accordance with the provisions of section two hundred thirty-one of the real property actions and proceedings law.

3. “Surplus” means the net gain, if any, realized by the tax district upon the sale of tax-foreclosed property, as determined in the manner set forth in section eleven hundred ninety-six of this title.  Where no such gain was realized, no surplus shall be attributable to that sale.

4. “Tax-foreclosed property” means a parcel as to which a judgment of foreclosure has been issued pursuant to section eleven hundred thirty-six of this article.