(a) Notwithstanding section 476 of this title, if the court orders a sale of heirs property, the sale must be an open-market sale unless the court finds that a sale by sealed bids or an auction would be more economically advantageous and in the best interest of the cotenants as a group.
(b) If the court orders an open-market sale and the parties, not later than 10 days after the entry of the order, agree on a real estate broker licensed in the Virgin Islands to offer the property for sale, the court shall appoint the broker and establish a reasonable commission. If the parties do not agree on a broker, the court shall appoint a disinterested real estate broker licensed in the Virgin Islands to offer the property for sale and shall establish a reasonable commission. The broker shall offer the property for sale in a commercially reasonable manner at a price no lower than the determination of value and on the terms and conditions established by the court.
(c) If the broker appointed under subsection (b) obtains within a reasonable time an offer to purchase the property for at least the determination of value:(1) the broker shall comply with the reporting requirements in section 521; and(2) the sale may be completed in accordance with Virgin Islands law other than this subchapter.
(1) the broker shall comply with the reporting requirements in section 521; and
(2) the sale may be completed in accordance with Virgin Islands law other than this subchapter.
(d) If the broker appointed under subsection (b) does not obtain within a reasonable time an offer to purchase the property for at least the determination of value, the court, after hearing, may:(1) approve the highest outstanding offer, if any;(2) redetermine the value of the property and order that the property continue to be offered for an additional time; or(3) order that the property be sold by sealed bids or at an auction.
(1) approve the highest outstanding offer, if any;
(2) redetermine the value of the property and order that the property continue to be offered for an additional time; or
(3) order that the property be sold by sealed bids or at an auction.
(e) If the court orders a sale by sealed bids or an auction, the court shall set terms and conditions of the sale. If the court orders an auction, the auction must be conducted under subchapter 1 of this chapter.
(f) If a purchaser is entitled to a share of the proceeds of the sale, the purchaser is entitled to a credit against the price in an amount equal to the purchaser’s share of the proceeds.