Auction Information

Real Estate Auction Action - Buying A Home At Auction


Due in part to the popularity of the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)'s home auction program, more potential homebuyers than ever are buying homes at auction. Homes for auction aren't limited to just HUD, however. Many government entities auction homes for payment of back taxes, and some homeowners even auction their homes on eBay.com!

Homebuyers considering buying a home at auction should take some steps in advance to help them with their bid price, and even whether to bid at all on a specific home. There will always be a degree of risk when buying a home this way, but with a little diligence, potential homebuyers could save a lot of money buying in this manner.

Before the auction, you should have your financing arranged, and have enough cash on hand or in your bank account to cover a deposit on your purchase. You need to check the features, location, condition, and ownership history first. Afterwards, be sure to learn what the property is worth by looking at sales of comparable properties in the same area. Compare homes with the same number of rooms is possible, but be sure to allow for price differences due to pools, decks, carpeting, window treatments, etc.

At the auction itself, resist the temptation to get into a personal bidding war, just "to beat out the other guy". Have a set price limit and stick to it. Other houses will come along, and you don't have to win the first auction that comes your way.

You should know that the price of a home at auction is typically the loan balance (if foreclosed), plus any back taxes owed, plus legal fees and other expenses in foreclosing the property. This will typically be the opening bid amount, and the price will go up from there. Even so, it's possible to get a great deal in an auctioned house, with a little research and planning first.

Also, know that you probably won't be able to get an inspection, and are buying the home "as is". If you can't do any needed repair work yourself, or can't hire it done within your budget, you may not end up getting such a bargain in the end.

About The Author

Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.cashbazar.com. Visit his website for the latest on personal finance, debt elimination, budgeting, credit cards and real estate.


MORE RESOURCES:

MutualArt.com

Top auction houses to put art market rally to test
Reuters
By Mike Collett-White | LONDON (Reuters) - Auction houses pinching themselves after bumper 2011 sales are now turning their attention to 2012, amid cautious optimism that the two-year bull run for top works of art will continue.
Surreal Art positioned to steal the show at $265 million London auctionsMutualArt.com
Final portion of Elizabeth Taylor Collection to go on salePanARMENIAN.Net

all 23 news articles »


Wayne Co. offers homes in Detroit for cheap
The Detroit News
In a stark sign that paying property taxes is optional for some in Detroit, Wayne County Treasury officials decided last week its workers will go door-to-door to some of the 6500 city properties unsold at last fall's tax auctions and offer to make a ...

and more »


Fewer buffalo, higher prices from past years mark stock show auction
Rapid City Journal
He travels to auctions in Custer, Denver and Rapid City looking for animals, he said. "People tend to bring their better bulls to these things," White Thunder said. "They say if you go to a ranch, it's kind of like a feed lot so you don't really know ...

and more »


Treasury Yield Is 3 Basis Points From One-Week High Before Debt Auctions
Bloomberg
Ten- year Treasuries yielded more than German bunds for the first time in four days as the US prepared to sell $72 billion of debt this week, starting with an auction of three-year securities tomorrow. “What's going on in Greece underlines the ...

and more »


Belfast Newsletter

Bargain homes bagged at auction
Belfast Newsletter
BARGAIN hunters were celebrating this weekend after seizing on the collapse in property prices to snap up super-cheap houses at auction. Twenty-four residential lots, starting from £10000, were sold in little more than an hour at the major sale in ...

and more »


Treasury Auctions Set for This Week
New York Times
The Treasury's schedule of financing this week includes Monday's regular weekly auction of new three- and six-month bills and an auction of four-week bills on Tuesday. At the close of the New York cash market on Friday, the rate on the outstanding ...



Spain Renewable-Energy Future May Center on Auctions, Cinco Says
Bloomberg
Spanish renewable-energy projects may be awarded in the future through auctions, Cinco Dias reported, citing language in the January royal decree that eliminated guaranteed subsidies. The law champions “a new model for retribution” in which “resources ...

and more »


The Hindu

Uninor to bid for 2G spectrum: CEO
NDTV
Uninor, a 67 per cent subsidiary of Norway's Telenor, plans to look at all options including fresh auctions of second generation spectrum by India to protect its investments. Sigve Brekke, CEO, Uninor said that the company was ready to participate in ...
Telenor readies legal, diplomatic fight to save investmentTimes of India
Norway's Telenor says 'not dead yet' in India marketEconomic Times

all 91 news articles »


USA TODAY

Tom Brady Game Jersey Sells for Thousands at Super Bowl Auction
Patch.com
The 2011 game jersey was purchased at The Super Bowl XLVI Live Auction in Indianapolis on Saturday, tripling the item's presale estimated value, Hunt Auctions reports. Brady wore the jersey during the Oct. 16 game against the Dallas Cowboys.
Tom Brady Jersey Auctions For $46KWRTV Indianapolis
Tom Brady Jersey Sells For $46K At Auction Before Super BowlHuffington Post
Super Bowl 2012 Buzz:Indianapolis Star
WLKY Louisville
all 505 news articles »


CAPS auction brings record haul
Salina.com
By CHRIS HUNTER As the bids poured in from the crowd on a Bud Light speaker at the 23rd Annual Celebrity Benefit Auction for Child Advocacy & Parenting Services, Dr. Merle "Boo" Hodges was hoping to get a crack at the speaker if it stayed lower than ...

and more »

Google News

home | site map
© 2006