No. I have attended auctions though

Yes, but it can be time consuming, and also a time waste as many people come up with the money to keep their property at last minute, so many of the properties get pulled from the auction.

yes....but at the 'virtual' courthouse steps.

For curiosity sake, I attended real estate auctions of this and other types but have not personally participated or represented buyers.  

All of our foreclosure purchases were purchased from the lender after the sheriffs auction, for much less than they went for at the auction.

    I have attended foreclosure auctions when they were held at the Courthouse.  Bought = none.

   In Florida today, most "Courthouse Foreclosure" auctions are done online.   Visit the Clerk of Court for the Florida county where the property is located.

   Here is Leon County (Tallahassee)    https://www.leon.realforeclose.com/index.cfm?zaction=home&zmethod=faq

I have sold at Trustee's Sale!

Many people buy in this fashion.

It's buyer beware, but you do get time before the auction to research the property. You don't get to 'see inside'. So there's risk.

I have not Bob "RealMan" Timm and I would be cautious with this one.  You cannot see the inside of the house. I attended once a long time ago but never bought any.  I think with the right of redemption in Texas this would be even more fun.  Big risk but can be a big return.  Also check out auction.com or hubzu.  They were really famous back in the day in my area. 

I work with investors/flippers.  That's a big yes on the courthouse steps.  I even bid on one for them a couple weeks ago.  Lots of risk there and not for the faint of heart, or those without cash.

In Maryland, we have trustee sales at the courthouse steps. I have purchased a number of those properties to fix up and resell.

Yes...in a court room supervised by the Judge held by the Trustee the bidding began. We needed this parcel to complete a gate community project and we had to have it. I was armed to win. The bidding started and that is when you find out how many people are bidding. After two rounds, I made an announcement: I will continue to bid until I get this property and said why. The other two dropped out. The judge was silent/stunned and the Trustee of course would have preferred higher bidding. Adding to that, I had to come back the next day with the money which is unheard of as you have to pay there and then. Trustee was upset but I convinced him

No but here in the 'big city' it can get kind of wild I've heard. There is a guy in my office that does it. Not for the weak hearted.

I have not. I've been contacted by would be investors that wanted my help. I declined. Not my wheelhouse. 

My father bought a number of properties at Sheriff Sales

I have bought tax lien properties in the past on the county court steps.

It has become like the market now, generally going higher than they should and have not purchased in a few years now.

I've mentored new investors at the county courthouse steps that wanted to try it (these were not sheriff's auctions), but I have never purchased that way myself. I've been to these auctions many times, but I prefer performing my due diligence prior to purchase and I was particular as to location and most properties seemed to be outliers in our county.  That said, we bought a boat at a sheriff's auction when I was a kid, but my Dad was a cop at the time (1970's) and knew what to do.

We really do not have sheriff sales here in NH. Our foreclosures are done in front of the property. Tax sales are a central location by the auctioneer. AND yes i have bought the all. 

No, but have attended just to watch the process to expand the knowledge base. 

Bob,

No we have not...A

No I haven't 

not a chance.  I wouldn't dare buy anything without an attorney and title search and clear title.  My attorney has bought these properties at auction and done well with them, but he generally knows what he's getting in to.

I have not, but went with a buyer and she did.   She fixed it up, and then I sold it.   It can be a money pit without seeing the inside, but some do it.

yes. very competitive... anyone carries millions of money order? Never know what is for sale and do not know what the house looks like or debt info.

no, but I've attended a few....

No I haven't Bob. When I read your question I thought you were going to have a story to go with it.

I have not.

Bob "RealMan" Timm Before taking any sheriff sale seriously, be sure to get full title report.  

If you decide to get into them, you will want a team available - title officer, then attorney and CPA to cover all the bases for your specific situation.

I have not. I used to help an investor who did that, fixed and flipped but, I only helped her on the sale end of it.

Yes, I have bought at the Sheriffs Auction (and still live in the property) and represented other Buyers there.  It is rare now to be able to get a "deal".

Have attended but not purchased. Lender bid their owed amount and it was too high for me too compete!

No, never have and do not plan to. Not my thing.

I have never done so or represented a client at an in person auction.  They are crazy for not making them all online auctions.  I guess they just don't need the best offer they can receive.