Auction Basics3 min read
How Do Real Estate Auctions Work? A Buyer’s Guide
A practical walkthrough of the property auction process—from researching a listing to bidding responsibly and completing the post-win steps.
Read the guideAuction14 field notes
Better research makes a better bid.
Plain-language guides for researching distressed property, understanding auction rules, calculating total cost, and preparing for the post-win workflow.
28
Buyer guides
Built around the questions that appear before, during, and after an auction.
Explore by topicAuction BasicsDue DiligenceFinancing & ClosingForeclosure & REOBuyingBuying a HomeBidding Strategy
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The buyer essentials
Auction Basics
How Do Real Estate Auctions Work? A Buyer’s Guide
A practical walkthrough of the property auction process—from researching a listing to bidding responsibly and completing the post-win steps.
02 / Due Diligence
Buying a House at Auction: The Complete Checklist
A repeatable pre-auction checklist for documents, condition, occupancy, title questions, total cost, funding, and closing readiness.
03 / Auction Basics
What Is a Buyer’s Premium in a Real Estate Auction?
Learn how a buyer’s premium changes the total purchase price, how percentage and minimum premiums work, and what it does not include.
Research library
All property auction guides
Educational information only. Property-specific documents and applicable law always control.
Auction Basics
Due Diligence2 min read
Buying a House at Auction: The Complete Checklist
A repeatable pre-auction checklist for documents, condition, occupancy, title questions, total cost, funding, and closing readiness.
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Auction Basics2 min read
What Is a Buyer’s Premium in a Real Estate Auction?
Learn how a buyer’s premium changes the total purchase price, how percentage and minimum premiums work, and what it does not include.
Read the guide
Financing & Closing4 min read
Title Insurance vs Homeowners Insurance: What Each Policy Actually Covers
Title insurance and homeowners insurance protect against completely different risks. Understanding what each covers — and what each excludes — helps you ask the right questions before closing and after you move in.
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Financing & Closing5 min read
Loan Estimate vs Closing Disclosure: A Side-by-Side Comparison Guide
The Loan Estimate gives you an early snapshot of your mortgage terms and costs, while the Closing Disclosure shows the final numbers before you sign. Knowing which sections to compare and why amounts may differ helps you catch errors, ask the right questions, and close with confidence.
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Due Diligence5 min read
How to Read a Property Survey: A Practical Guide
Learn to identify a property survey's legend, dates, parcel references and surveyor details. Use a practical checklist to record questions about boundaries, markers and scope for the professionals reviewing your purchase.
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Financing & Closing5 min read
Earnest Money vs Down Payment: What Every Buyer Must Know
Earnest money and a down payment serve different purposes, but the deposit can be credited at closing. Compare their timing, track the remaining cash needed and identify the questions to resolve before transferring funds.
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Foreclosure & REO5 min read
What Is a HUD Home? A Plain-Language Guide for Buyers
A HUD home is a property the federal government acquired after an FHA-insured mortgage went into default. Learn how these homes are sold, where to verify official listings, and what questions to bring to a licensed professional before you buy.
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Due Diligence5 min read
Home Inspection vs Appraisal: What Every Buyer Needs to Know
A home inspection and an appraisal serve entirely different purposes. One protects you by revealing physical conditions; the other protects your lender by establishing market value. Understanding the difference helps you avoid costly surprises and negotiate with confidence.
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Buying9 min read
How to Find Houses for Sale Near Me: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Searching for houses for sale near you can feel overwhelming, especially in today's competitive market. This guide walks you through practical steps to narrow your local search, understand current conditions, and avoid common pitfalls—whether you're a first-time buyer or a seasoned homeowner looking to move.
Read the guideBuying a Home8 min read
Houses for Sale: A Complete Guide to Finding and Buying Your Next Home
Navigating the houses-for-sale market in 2026 means understanding rising inventory, elevated mortgage rates, and a multi-step buying process. This guide walks you through current market conditions, practical steps from budgeting to closing, and key caveats to help you make a confident, informed decision.
Read the guideDue Diligence5 min read
How to Find a Parcel Number by Address
Use an address to locate the official tax parcel record, then check that it matches the land or unit you are researching. Includes New York and New Jersey examples and common lookup problems.
Read the guideForeclosure & REO5 min read
How to Find REO Properties: Sources and Verification Steps
Start with identified sellers and trace each listing back to its current source. This guide shows where to search for REO homes and how to build a shortlist worth investigating.
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Due Diligence5 min read
What to Look for When Buying Land: A Buyer’s Checklist
A vacant lot can look simple until you investigate access, permitted uses and site costs. Use this checklist to separate a promising parcel from one that cannot support your plans.
Read the guideAuction Basics3 min read
How to Buy Bank-Owned Homes: A Practical Guide
Buying a bank-owned home starts with verifying the seller and sale method. Use this sequence to move from a promising listing to a researched purchase decision.
Read the guideDue Diligence3 min read
Buying Land at Auction in New York: What to Check
An inexpensive parcel can be costly to use. Research whether the land can support your intended project before deciding what to bid.
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Due Diligence3 min read
REO Property Inspection: A Buyer's Checklist
An REO inspection helps you understand the building you may buy. The most useful report separates observed conditions, untested systems, and follow-up work.
Read the guideForeclosure & REO2 min read
Foreclosure vs. REO: What Property Buyers Should Know
Foreclosure and bank-owned properties sit at different stages of the process. Compare ownership, access, funding, title, and closing considerations.
Read the guideDue Diligence2 min read
Auction Property Due Diligence: 12 Checks Before You Bid
Twelve repeatable checks for researching an auction property, documenting unknowns, calculating total cost, and setting a defensible maximum bid.
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Financing & Closing2 min read
Can You Finance an Auction Property? Questions to Ask First
Financing may be possible for some auction properties, but the sale timeline and property condition must fit the lender’s process before you bid.
Read the guideDue Diligence2 min read
Occupied vs. Vacant Auction Properties: Why It Matters
Occupancy affects access, possession timing, condition risk, insurance, security, and cost. Learn how to treat it as a core due-diligence question.
Read the guideDue Diligence2 min read
Auction Property Title Searches, Liens, and Buyer Questions
A title search can reveal ownership and recorded interests, but buyers still need to understand the sale terms and which obligations may survive.
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Financing & Closing2 min read
What Happens After Winning a Property Auction?
Winning the bid starts a time-sensitive workflow. Prepare for buyer verification, proof of funds, contracts, payment, title work, and closing.
Read the guideBidding Strategy2 min read
Reserve Prices, Bid Increments, and Anti-Sniping Explained
Four auction mechanics can change how bidding feels. Learn what each one means and how to keep your maximum bid in control.
Read the guideBidding Strategy2 min read
How to Calculate Your Maximum Bid on an Auction Property
Turn property research into a walk-away number by working backward from value and subtracting every acquisition, repair, holding, and risk cost.
Read the guideDue Diligence2 min read
What Does “As-Is” Mean for an Auction Property?
As-is shifts condition investigation and repair planning toward the buyer. It does not turn missing information into a safe assumption.
Read the guideFinancing & Closing2 min read
Proof of Funds for a Real Estate Auction: What to Prepare
Proof of funds helps confirm that a winning buyer can complete the transaction. Prepare clear, current documents before the auction closes.
Read the guideForeclosure & REO2 min read
New York Foreclosure Auctions: A Buyer Preparation Guide
A New York-focused preparation framework covering sale documents, title and occupancy questions, funding, bidding limits, and post-sale deadlines.
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