BINGHAMTON, N.Y. -- So how does home go from 28 Spring Forest Avenue to Lot Number 14682?

Broome County held a foreclosure sale Sunday, where 98 County properties were auctioned off, including the Leip Family's Spring Forest house.

"I think it's unfair, I think they should go to the people first," said John Leip, who's lived at this address for seven years.

If their house sold, the Leip's have until February to move out.

Leip lost this home after losing his job, the new owners let him stay but now owe several thousand in back taxes.

But some auction bidders weren't sympathetic to stories like John's.

"I would think in most cases, it is people's fault. You need to budget and pay to live somewhere. So unless you become ill or something terrible happens, there aren't many good excuses," said Debra D'Angelo, who was observing the auction.

But while people at foreclosure auctions talk about financial responsibility, they may not even realize that the purchases they're making have real-life consequences.

"My son Christopher is in first grade. He's in the school here, he loves it. So that'd be tough if we have to pull him out of school. That's always hard on the children," said Leip.

But there are two sides to many foreclosure stories.

One of the Leip's neighbors, who didn't want to be identified, said she's happy they might leave.

"I feel that if people don't do anything to improve their circumstances, if they don't work, they sit around the house, and don't even bother to clean up their house, they bring down the neighborhood, I think it's good to have a foreclosure in that instance," the unidentified neighbor told News 10.

But in the moral haze of foreclosures, auctions and evictions there was some good.

A few bidders tried to buy up properties to sell back to former owners at a lower cost.

"I can understand, owning a house myself, how the bank can lead you into thinking you've got something good when it's really not. It's just about helping people out. That's why i'm trying to do this," said Diaugnese Harris, who was bidding on a few specific properties.

The Leips will receive a letter in the next few days from the new owners letting them know if they can stay.

For now, they're thinking about where they'll go next.

"I have no idea," Leip said. "We're thinking Conklin. We're hoping that if we can stay here that'd be a good thing."

News 10 contacted the former owner of the Leip's home, Bryce Peters Financial Corporation of Reno, Nevada, but calls weren't immediately returned.