Why Land Auctions Are Gaining Popularity Among Buyers

Land auctions are gaining popularity among buyers. Many land buyers choose to purchase land via traditional real estate listings, such as those facilitated by Whitetail Properties. While traditional listings are a widely used method by buying and selling land, auctions are very popular, too. In fact, these are becoming more common as time goes on. 

Land auction benefits are numerous. Here are reasons why land buyers are buying land at auction. Don’t miss out on these auction real estate investment trends and reasonings. 

Editor’s Note: This is not financial, investment, legal, or real estate advice. Consult with a financial planner, investment specialist, real estate lawyer, and real estate professional before buying or selling land at auction.

1. Increased Access to Available Land

Obviously, good deals can be found with both traditional listings and real estate auctions. While most land is sold via traditional real estate listings, auctions are gaining steam. One reason buyers are attending auctions is due to increased access to available land for sale. 

It’s common sense, really. Auctions that go to auction aren’t offered as typical listings. Therefore, going to auctions creates additional opportunities to buy land. Essentially, it increases the pool of properties for sale.

Oftentimes, attending auctions can lead to excellent deals. Buyers might end up scoring per-acre prices they couldn’t find with a traditional listing. If the property doesn’t draw a lot of interest, you might be one of few people bidding on it. Or you might learn that a certain tract (or tracts) are being undervalued by auction attendees. Either way, buying land at auction can yield excellent bargains.

2. An Exciting Environment

Auctions create excellent opportunities for exciting environments. Land auctions are quite nuanced and primed to produce a unique blend of fun and professionalism. Generally, this is a time to see who attends and who might be potential buyers.

Enjoyable Socialization: Auctions tend to draw large crowds. Generally, the locals know each other quite well. This is a great time to socialize with family, friends, and acquaintances. Furthermore, it’s a good opportunity to get to know potential future neighbors.

Rich Heritage: Some properties sold at auction come with rich family stories or notes of other historical importance. Furthermore, new generations of farmers might look to continue the legacy of farmed land while adding to their operation at the same time as a buyer.

Recreational History: Hunting tracts might come with harvest and/or trail camera photos of big deer and other wildlife. At auctions, you sometimes learn of these things, which can create additional buzz and perspective.

Good Food: Most auctions have concessions. At times, the food is excellent and keeps bellies full and people happy while in attendance. Quality auctions place an emphasis on this, and auction attendance can include good refreshments. 

Other Things for Sale: Some sales involve much more than just land. Estate and other sales might include homes, vehicles, farm machinery, personal items, etc. Attendees can score great buys at these events.

Competitive Environment: Bidding against other people facilitates a fun, competitive environment. This adds another layer that putting in offers on traditional listings doesn’t provide.

3. A Fair Bidding Process

Auctions are designed for complete fairness. It treats all bidders fairly and equally. This prevents qualifying bidders from being cut out of the buying process. A fair bidding event facilitates a trustworthy transfer of land ownership.

4. Transparent Bidding Environment

While traditional listings are designed for everyone to be treated fairly, auctions provide another layer of transparency because the buying process is completed out in the open and in real time. Sure, some individuals might be bidding online or over the phone. Others might have representatives bidding for them. Even so, the bidding environment is transparent and open. Some buyers prefer this format. 

5. Increased Accuracy in Property Market Value

Another benefit is confidence in fair and true sales prices. Because auctions produce numerous bidders, and each one is competing for the same land, it tends to bring tract sales prices relatively close to the property market value. As long as bidders maintain their emotions, by purchasing land at auction, odds of buying land at market value, are good.

6. Chances for Securing Good Deals

Attending land auctions also provides opportunities for securing good deals. Most of the time, auctions result in land going for its current market value, especially with only one (or a few) tracts in the sale.

However, when larger properties are broken up into 10, 15, or more tracts, buyers have better odds of one or a few of these tracts selling for less than market value. Maybe a tract (or tracts) are more rugged and less attractive to most buyers. Perhaps the serious bidders already bought what they wanted, and a tract or two toward the end of the sale goes for less than expected. Regardless, it’s possible to find a good deal on a tract, especially at larger sales. 

7. Online Buying Opportunities

Most modern land auctions aren’t just live (in person). Rather, they’re online, or hybrid, meaning live and online. Therefore, those who can’t attend the auction in person may still bid online from anywhere with a quality internet connection. 

These online buying opportunities increases the number of auctions individuals can attend. This is true even when scheduling conflicts arise. Therefore, it expands the number of available lands buyers have access to.

Bidding online also produces a layer of anonymity. (Not to the auctioneer, but to others who are bidding on the land.) This can be advantageous, especially if you don’t want other auction attendees to know you’re bidding. (This concept is no different than having another person bid for and represent you at a live auction.)

8. More Time to Prepare

A traditional property listing can go from “available” to “contingent” or “pending” at any time. If someone puts in an accepted offer before you, that’s it. Before you know it, that land is “sold” and no longer available.

Auctions provide everyone with equal preparation time. Generally, auctions are advertised months in advance. Therefore, everyone has the same amount of time to ponder on and prepare for the sale. This levels the playing field and ensures fairness for all parties involved.

9. A Fast Sale and Closing Process

The traditional listing sales process tends to go rather quickly and smoothly. That said, a small percentage of these transactions hit snags and road bumps. Extreme cases result in longer negotiations, and other hoops and hurdles.

Land sold at auction tends to produce a faster sale and closing process. This is better for those who need or want the process to complete as quickly as possible. Therefore, with qualified buyers who are prepared, auctions tend to offer a faster closing.

10. Definitive Sale Outcomes

When the hammer falls, the sale is complete. Whoever produced the highest bid wins the tract(s). This offers a definitive sale outcome. Whether it’s an absolute or reserve auction, chances are good the property is going to sell at the conclusion of the auction (one way or another). Therefore, prospective land buyers can rest easy knowing a conclusion will likely be reached at the end of the day.

Find an Auction Near You

Those in search of land might find it at an upcoming auction near them. Attend the live auction or consider bidding online. Either way, prepare properly for the auction, and you just might win the bid.

If you don’t have auction experience, and hope to gain confidence before actual bidding, consider first going to auctions you aren’t interested in. Study the process and how it unfolds. Then, you’ll be ready when attending an auction for land you really hope to purchase.

For landowners looking to sell at auction, contact Ranch & Farm Auctions. We can answer questions and help with your auctioneering needs.

The Ranch & Farm Auctions process comes with numerous benefits. These include the following and more.

Step 1: Contact Ranch & Farm Auctions, and within one business day, we will respond and discuss your auction needs.

Step 2: The Ranch & Farm Auctions consultation process is a one-on-one meeting that addresses your needs, explains our approach, and outlines the auction strategy.

Step 3: A local Land Specialist real estate agent will be assigned to your auction. They deliver important localized knowledge, which assists with many things, including accurate property value assessment.

Step 4: With auction terms in place, we plan, produce, and execute a targeted marketing strategy that attracts prospective local and national buyers. 

Step 5: Auction attendees can participate in the auction live, online, or over the phone. This increases the pool of buyers who can attend the auction.

Step 6: With a complete team of experienced professionals, we ensure a smooth auction process and execution. This facilitates a fair auction process for sellers and buyers alike.

In summary, land auctions are gaining popularity among buyers and sellers alike. Find your desired outcome with Ranch & Farm Auctions.

Published on 2025-02-14