Can You Buy A House Before Auction?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

, , , ,

Can you buy a house before auction? As a matter of fact,

mortgage lenders won’t approve a mortgage if the investment property you’re trying to acquire is not in a livable condition

. If you participate in an auction without getting preapproval or making sure that the property is mortgageable, you might end up losing your deposit.

Contents hide

What is a pre auction bid?

Pre-bidding is

the first step of any online auction

. During the pre-bidding period for any auction, prior to the real-time bidding starting on auction day, individuals are able to place bids on lots.

What happens if you buy at auction and can’t get finance?

Conditional Approval is a necessity if you are bidding at auction because there is no finance clause so you can’t back out if you fail to get a loan –

you will lose your deposit and be in breach of your contract

.

Are auction houses cheaper?


Houses sold at auction tend to achieve much higher prices now than they used to

. They can sell for as little as 70% of their market value, but can sell for as much as 10% more than market value. The average is about 85-90%.

Can you put an offer in before auction?

Making a pre-auction offer is simple:

you put in writing what you are prepared to pay for the property, then submit your offer a week or two before auction day

. Your job is to make the offer more appealing to the vendor than watching would-be owners in a property Hunger Games on their lawn.

Should I accept offer before auction?


A healthy offer before auction should be considered, particularly if it is above expectation

. When market conditions are subdued buyer interest is likely to be low. The potential buyer could be deterred from attending the auction if the pre-offer is refused with little or no negotiation.

Can you negotiate a pre-auction offer?

Pre-auction offers and winning bid strategies

Auctions are stressful – especially when you’ve fallen in love with a house. However, so you don’t end up paying more than you should,

it’s critical to approach any sort of negotiation with logic rather than emotion

.

How much deposit do I need for auction property?

A

10% deposit will be required on the date of the auction to secure the property you have successfully bid on

. The funds available to pay a building surveyor and any other fees such as solicitors, surveyor and auction administration fees.

Do you have to be a cash buyer to buy a house at auction?

Get your finances in order

Contrary to popular belief,

you don’t have to have cash on the hip to buy property at auction

. You do, however, need a broker who has knowledge of the auctioneering process and is willing to work closely with you throughout the deal.

Do auction houses have to be paid in cash?


You don’t need to be a cash buyer to purchase a property at auction

. You can use specialist auction finance, or a bridging loan instead. You can even get a normal mortgage on an auction property, however this comes with certain risks you need to be aware of heading in.

Is buying property at auction risky?

If you are interested in trying to pick up a bargain property at an auction, there is a lot to learn.

Auctions are a riskier way to purchase a property than through a real estate agent

. It’s important to be extremely well educated about the process and the properties on which you are interested in bidding.

Who pays auction fees buyer or seller?

The answer is that they charge fees – commission –

to the seller and to the buyer

. All you as the buyer need to do is know what those auction fees are and then take those charges into account when you decide how much to bid. The auction fees to buyers are typically added on to the hammer price.

What happens to unsold lots at auction?

So what does happen after a property is unsold at auction?

It all boils down to what the seller is after

. If they want to sell the property, there will be scope for negotiation in price. They might be willing to take a lower figure to close the sale.

Why is the pre auction open house crucial?

It’s only natural that buyer feedback and a vendor’s aspiration on price may not always be in the same place, but

the best auction campaigns are run on evidence and facts, so the buyer feedback throughout open homes is critical

.

Should you bid first at auction?

The best advice here is two-fold. Firstly,

attend plenty of auctions before you bid so you can see how different scenarios play out

. Secondly, talk to agents and the auctioneers, particularly those selling your desired property. They will happily answer questions and give direction well before the auction.

Why do real estate agents prefer auctions?


They are strong negotiators and can skilfully extract the best bid from a buyer, making it the best decision they’ll make in the long run

. Every property should be marketed if you want to sell it for a good price. Marketing is not exclusive for when you auction a house. It’s just as applicable in a private treaty sale.

Can you make a conditional offer before auction?

“While it feels like an auction, auction rules might not apply,” warns Bakos.

Sellers might also not accept conditional offers that make the bid subject to finance, inspection or the buyer selling their existing property

.

Can you cancel an auction?


Yes, you may end the listing by cancelling all bids

. You may be charged a final value fee based on the amount of the highest bid, or you may sell the item to the highest bidder.

Can you make a conditional offer at an auction?


You may submit a conditional offer to show your intent, but this is unlikely to be accepted prior to the auction

.

What happens if no one bids at auction?

When no bidding takes place,

a vendor bid is made by the auctioneer

and this can be all that is required to set the wheels into motion. In a situation where there was some bidding, but the vendor’s reserve price was not reached, the auction will pass in.

How long do you have to pay for an auction house?

Usually a

28-Day Completion Deadline

Traditional auctions then have a standard deadline of 28 days. You’ll have to pay the remainder of the funds by this date. Again though, check the auction terms.

How long do you have to pay for an auction property?

You will need to to pay the remainder of the purchase price and the fees

within 28 days

of the auction.

How do I get financing for an auction property?

Once you’ve identified a property you want to bid on and set aside enough deposit , you can

approach an auction finance lender to apply for an agreement in principle

. This will tell you whether you qualify for the funds you’ll need and the rates available to you.

What are auction fees?

You can expect an auctioneer to charge anywhere from

$400 to $1,000

to sell your home. The variance in these figures will come down to how experienced your auctioneer is and where you live. $1000 is usually at the top end of the scale – a fee an experienced auctioneer with a record of getting high bids could charge.

Is it good to buy auction property?

Even if you plan to buy a commercial property, you can get a ready-to-occupy or let-out property. This helps the buyer to save time, energy and money as compared to buying an under-construction property. As much as it is tempting to buy a property at an auction,

it is important to keep the few points in mind

.

How do you pay for an auction house?


Usually the auction house will email you with an invoice showing what you have purchased and how much you owe them for the item(s)

. Sometimes they will email you a link where you can make a simple online payment. On other occasions the auction house will send an invoice request for a bank transfer.

How much more do houses sell for at auction?

While it varies from auction house to auction house, as a rule of thumb

try adding an extra 10%

on to guide prices for a more realistic selling price.

Do auction houses sell for guide price?

How does buying a house at auction work?

Traditional auctions are usually held at an auction house. All interested buyers will be there and they’ll place bids in front of each other. If you’re the highest bidder, you exchange contracts and pay your deposit on the day of the auction. The deposit is usually 10% of the purchase price.

Can first time buyer get mortgage for auction property?


Yes, you can buy at auction with a mortgage

. If you need a mortgage, like most First Time Buyers, it is sensible to start arranging this as soon as possible, preferably before you find a potential purchase.

How much should I offer on a bank owned property?

Do auctions start at the guide price?


The guide price is usually the “starting bid” for the auction, but not always

. If there are no bids at the guide price then the auctioneer may reduce the starting bid to tempt offers. Likewise, if the auctioneer expect a lot of interest they may start the bidding higher in order to save time.

How often do houses not sell at auction?

In December,

31.4 per cent of properties nationwide were sold by auction

, the most recent Real Estate Institute figures show. In contrast, 26.4 per cent of sales were by auction in December 2020.

Why are auction fees so high?

So why are property auction fees so high?

Property auctions offer a faster and more convenient way to sell compared with going through an estate agent

. They also give you a much higher likelihood of success. It’s normal to expect to pay a higher price for better results, so a higher price is justified.

Do auction houses charge for unsold items?

Do auction houses charge if my picture is unsold? Yes!

Most art auction houses charge an unsold charge and insurance before you can get your picture back

. They often charge storage if you do not collect you item on time.

Emily Lee
Author
Emily Lee
Emily Lee is a freelance writer and artist based in New York City. She’s an accomplished writer with a deep passion for the arts, and brings a unique perspective to the world of entertainment. Emily has written about art, entertainment, and pop culture.