- Citigroup Gets Burned in the Caribbean September 3, 2010The bank is selling its mortgage on the Viceroy Anguilla to Starwood Capital Group at a hefty discount, the latest example of capitulation by a bank that has nursed a troubled real-estate project for years. […]
- New Resorts Owners Roll Dice September 1, 2010Morris Bailey and Dennis Gomes are paying $35 million for Resorts Atlantic City, at a time when gambling revenue is declining and customers are being siphoned off to Pennsylvania venues. […]
- Capital Freeze Thaws for Real-Estate Funds September 1, 2010Real-estate funds saddled with boom-time properties are getting relief from Wall Street firms and other investors hoping to capitalize on their need for cash. […]
- Corio's Turkish Strategy Stumbles September 1, 2010The Dutch company's expansion has yielded disappointing results due to the weak economy, competition and the difficulties of exporting Western shopping concepts to a country steeped in different traditions. […]
Archive for the ‘Real Estate Auctions’ Category
The History of Auctions
Auctions are increasingly seen as the best way to sell real estate, due to the benefits they provide for buyers and sellers, but the history of auctions is long and storied, dating back at least to Ancient Greece.
Auctions have likely been conducted from time immemorial, but Greek scribes in 500 B.C. were the first to leave a written record, telling of auctions being the only legal way to sell brides to prospective husbands. Particularly beautiful women were subject to vigorous bidding, and fetched the highest prices, while families of those judged less attractive had to add dowries or other extras to make the sale.
The word “auction” comes from the Latin word, augere, meaning “to increase” or “augment,” and Roman emperor and philosopher Marcus Aurelius was said to use auctions to sell family furniture, and others sold war plunder. Rather than the gavel used today, a spear was thrown down to signal the start of proceedings.
The history of auctions in America dates back to the Pilgrims’ arrival in the 1600s and became a popular way to sell land, crops, furs, livestock, and most notoriously, slaves. Just as today, they were seen as the fastest and most efficient means to convert assets into cash. During the Civil War, colonels regularly auctioned off the spoils of war and surplus, and auctioneers are still often called “colonel.”
Many auction schools started in the early 1900s in the United States, with the Jones’ National School of Auctioneering and Oratory win Davenport, Iowa thought to be the first. After World War II, the number of auctions held increased considerably, due to the ability to move real estate and personal property faster than the private market would allow. There are numerous types of auctions, but the ones commonly used for real estate are absolute auctions, reserve auctions and minimum bid auctions.
During the 1990s, technology was finding its way into the auction business. The online auction house of eBay was launched in 1995 and went on to become an “online leader” in the bidding business. With the increasing use of technology and the Internet, the future promises to be as interesting as the history of auctions. Many auctioneers today offer both live and online auctions to meet the needs of customers who could be anywhere in the world. Technology lets buyers participate in the sale without even being there, but as anyone who has attended an well-run auction will attest, being there is half the fun.
Auctions
You are ready to buy a home! How exciting is that! An auction may be a great way to get your price and reduce the time and red tape of a traditional home purchase. Can you imagine moving into your new home in as little as 30 days. It can happen and we are going to give you a road map on how to do it.
I know your first question. How does an auction work? You have seen auctions on TV or may have even participated in an Ebay auction for smaller items but auctions all work basically the same way. The properties we make available to you are obtained from private sellers, banks or developers and most importantly to you are free and clear to close the day of the auction. That’s how you can close in so little time!
Picture this! You are in a room filled with people and the excitement is like an electric charge throughout the room. The auctioneer calls up the first property to be sold. Everyone is on the edge of their seats waiting to see what is about to happen. It is an absolute bid property which means no matter the final price the property is sold when the gavel goes down. Everyone is in anticipation of what the property will sell for and who walks away as the winning bidder. Only registered bidders with paddles can bid so don’t worry about scratching you ear or blinking – that only happens in the movies. If you want to bid, raise your paddle and the bid assistants in the room will help you through the process, making certain you know the current bid and that the auctioneer has acknowledged your price. But the auction is not over by any means because the auctioneer has not declared the item sold until the gavel goes down and bidding is closed. The auctioneer calls for the final bid, there is a silence in the room, finally the gavel goes down and applause and congratulations fill the room. You are now the proud owner of your new home!!!
Auctions are thrilling! There is anticipation, excitement and reward for the winner bidders. They got a great deal on the home they want and best of all you will know in just a few minutes the home is yours and you will be moving in less than a month.
How exciting is that!!!
Types of Auctions
Each event held by RealEstateAuctions.com typically features three types of auctions. Each is easy to define, understand and participate in.
Absolute Auction
Highest bid wins, regardless of price. Absolute auctions are usually the most exciting and well-attended of the day. Potential buyers are attracted to absolute auctions because of the possibility of landing a property at a bargain price. Sellers love absolute auctions for the buzz they generate and the competitive bidding that is almost sure to result. The result? Typically a happy meeting ground for both parties.
What a great feeling for a winning buyer to know that he or she outlasted fellow bidders and won a desirable property at a fair price, while the seller has absolute confidence that he or she has received true market value for the property in the purest form possible: direct, head-to-head competition.
Minimum Bid Auction
These auctions begin at a minimum set price established by the seller. The minimum bid is published in the brochure and announced by the auctioneer at the start of bidding for that particular property.
Reserve Auction
This type of auction allows the seller to accept, reject or counter the “winning” bid. Sellers may make this decision before the event ends or they may take up to three days to decide. This gives sellers protection that their properties will not be sold below a level they can live with.
To learn which types of auctions apply to each property, be sure to check them on this website. Printed materials, large-screen displays and announcements at the event will also provide that information. In addition, we’ll have plenty of helpful associates on hand to provide assistance, as needed.
Sellers, be sure to contact us if you’d like more information about which type of auction to choose for your property.