I've had mixed experiences with online auctions myself. A couple years back, I was helping a client source some affordable land for a vacation cabin. We found a promising listing online, but the photos were pretty limited and the description was vague. Decided to drive out and check it out in person before bidding... and thank goodness we did. The property was on a steep slope and would have required major excavation just to build anything decent. Definitely not the hidden gem we hoped for.
Since then, I've leaned heavily toward local auctions or at least listings close enough to visit beforehand. Being able to walk the property, get a feel for the surroundings, and visualize the potential is invaluable—especially if you're planning to build or develop. Online auctions can be great deals, sure, but there's nothing like seeing it firsthand to avoid unpleasant surprises down the road.
Yeah, I've been there too—photos online can be pretty misleading. I once drove two hours to check out a "flat, build-ready" lot that turned out to be half swamp. Definitely learned my lesson about trusting descriptions alone. Curious though, has anyone had luck finding decent land through county tax sales or foreclosure auctions? I've heard mixed things but haven't tried it myself yet.
I've actually had some decent luck with foreclosure auctions, but you really need to know what you're doing. Last year, I snagged a pretty nice lot through a county tax sale—got it for way less than market value. But here's the catch: you have to do your homework beforehand. I spent weeks researching property records, zoning restrictions, and even drove out multiple times to scope it out in person. The auction itself was straightforward enough, but competition can be fierce if the land is decent.
Honestly, if you're willing to put in the legwork and accept some risk, it's worth trying at least once. Just don't expect every auction to be a hidden gem—there's plenty of junk mixed in too. And yeah, never trust online descriptions alone... learned that one the hard way myself when a "gently sloping" lot turned out to be practically vertical.
I've had similar experiences—especially the part about misleading descriptions. A few years back, I was scouting land for a client's vacation home and found what seemed like a perfect wooded lot online. The listing described it as "lightly wooded," but when I visited, it was practically a dense forest... clearing it would've blown the budget completely. Definitely agree that thorough research and in-person visits are non-negotiable steps if you're serious about auctions or tax sales.
"The listing described it as 'lightly wooded,' but when I visited, it was practically a dense forest..."
Had a similar run-in myself. Found a promising parcel listed as "gently sloping," which turned out to be more like a steep hillside—would've needed serious retaining walls just to build anything stable. Listings can be pretty subjective, so I always cross-reference with topo maps and satellite imagery before even stepping foot on-site. Nothing beats boots-on-the-ground verification though... learned that lesson the hard way.
