In the counties which do not have a master-in-equity, judicial sales of real property which a master has authority to perform may be performed by a referee in those matters referred to him by the presiding judge of the court of common pleas, or by a referee appointed by the presiding judge for this purpose.

The provisions of law governing these sales by masters also apply to referees acting pursuant to this section. These referees have the same powers and are entitled to the same fees as masters when performing these sales.

Judicial sales of real property by referees prior to the effective date of this section, in those counties that did not have a master-in-equity and which sales a master had authority to perform, are confirmed, ratified, and declared valid.