{"id":146,"date":"2019-08-08T15:03:19","date_gmt":"2019-08-08T15:03:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/?p=146"},"modified":"2026-03-17T19:41:45","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T23:41:45","slug":"county-foreclosure-auction-how-to-bid-low-win-big","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/county-foreclosure-auction-how-to-bid-low-win-big\/","title":{"rendered":"County Foreclosure Auction How to Bid Low &amp; Win Big!"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"background-color:#f4f4f4;border-left:4px solid #aaaaaa;border-radius:4px;padding:8px 14px;margin:0 0 24px 0;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;color:#666666\"><strong>Updated:<\/strong> March 16, 2026<\/div>\n\n<p>Real estate auctions can be very stressful but also extremely exciting due to the potential for a tremendous profit margin. Many real estate investors are hesitant to get involved with tax deed auctions and the county foreclosure auction, because they feel like they lack the knowledge required to actually place a winning bid. But in reality, you don\u2019t need loads of experience to come out on top; investors just need a well-architected real estate auction bidding strategy.<\/p>\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 ez-toc-wrap-left counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">In this Article:<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/county-foreclosure-auction-how-to-bid-low-win-big\/#Foreclosure_Auction_Bidding_Strategy_How_to_Win_Below_Market_Value\" >Foreclosure Auction Bidding Strategy: How to Win Below Market Value<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/county-foreclosure-auction-how-to-bid-low-win-big\/#What_Makes_a_Winning_Real_Estate_Auction_Bidding_Strategy\" >What Makes a Winning Real Estate Auction Bidding Strategy?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/county-foreclosure-auction-how-to-bid-low-win-big\/#Avoid_getting_into_an_early_bidding_war\" >Avoid getting into an early bidding war.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/county-foreclosure-auction-how-to-bid-low-win-big\/#Come_up_with_two_bid_figures\" >Come up with two bid figures.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/county-foreclosure-auction-how-to-bid-low-win-big\/#Dont_bid_until_the_last_moment\" >Don\u2019t bid until the last moment.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/county-foreclosure-auction-how-to-bid-low-win-big\/#Learn_as_much_as_you_can_about_the_auction_community\" >Learn as much as you can about the auction community.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/county-foreclosure-auction-how-to-bid-low-win-big\/#Check_your_email_after_the_auction\" >Check your email after the auction.<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Foreclosure_Auction_Bidding_Strategy_How_to_Win_Below_Market_Value\"><\/span>Foreclosure Auction Bidding Strategy: How to Win Below Market Value<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Makes_a_Winning_Real_Estate_Auction_Bidding_Strategy\"><\/span>What Makes a Winning Real Estate Auction Bidding Strategy?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n<p>Winning a <a href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/january-2026-florida-foreclosures-surge-32-massive-opportunity-at-county-auction-sales\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"71833\" target=\"_blank\">Florida County Foreclosure Auction<\/a> requires a solid understanding of buyer psychology and how auctions tend to progress over time. PropertyOnion.com chatted with two very experienced real estate investors: Dan Henley, of Cape Coral, FL, and Mark Williams of Weston, FL. Over the past decade, Henley and Williams have acquired a combined total of nearly three dozen pieces of South Florida real estate at public auction.<\/p>\n\n<p>&#8220;I\u2019ve refined my approach to the point where I win about 75 percent of the auctions I bid in. For me, it was a process of research, trial and error,&#8221; Williams said. Henley added, &#8220;I was surprised at how much insight I gained by simply observing the auction process in the areas where I invest. So that would be my first tip for any investor who\u2019s looking to get involved in auctions. Watch and learn from the other bidders.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n<p>Williams and Henley offered these additional tips to help you craft a great real estate auction bidding strategy:<\/p>\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Avoid_getting_into_an_early_bidding_war\"><\/span>Avoid getting into an early bidding war.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n<p>&#8220;Early bidding wars are pointless, as they drive up the price unnecessarily. The seller is the only one who wins in an early bidding war,&#8221; Henley cautioned. And he\u2019s right. You may win the battle, but a majority of bidding activity happens in the last hour of a county foreclosure auction, so there\u2019s still a good chance you\u2019ll be outbid. Those early bidding battles won\u2019t give you an upper hand, so it\u2019s wasted energy and potentially, wasted money if you drive up the price significantly.<\/p>\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Come_up_with_two_bid_figures\"><\/span>Come up with two bid figures.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n<p>Henley recommends coming up with two figures after you\u2019ve researched the property: a competitive price that represents what you\u2019d like to pay and a price that represents the absolute maximum that you\u2019ll pay. He keeps these two figures in mind while bidding, only resorting to the higher figure if it appears that the &#8220;like to pay&#8221; price will be insufficient to win. Williams added, &#8220;Always do your homework and run the numbers well in advance of placing a bid. This is a business decision and if you forget that because you get excited during an auction, then you\u2019re going to lose money.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Dont_bid_until_the_last_moment\"><\/span>Don\u2019t bid until the last moment.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n<p>&#8220;I almost never bid until the last minutes of the auction. You\u2019d be surprised how often people get complacent, assuming they\u2019ve won,&#8221; Williams explained. Both Williams and Henley use the same strategy, waiting until the last minutes to place a bid that represents their maximum. Henley added, &#8220;This also helps you avoid a scenario where you get wrapped up in the excitement and place a bid that exceeds your budget. So it\u2019s a great tactic if you tend to make bad decisions when your adrenaline level rises.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Learn_as_much_as_you_can_about_the_auction_community\"><\/span>Learn as much as you can about the auction community.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n<p>&#8220;Take some time to get acquainted with the auction community as a whole in the area where you\u2019re looking to invest,&#8221; Henley advised, adding, &#8220;You can gain lots of useful knowledge by simply watching other auctions and how they tend to unfold. You can get a good feel for how aggressive the other bidders are in a region. I\u2019ve also found that some areas tend to have almost all bidding activity in the last minutes and seconds of the auction, while this may be atypical for another area. You\u2019ll get a good feeling of what you\u2019re up against by just watching a few auctions and how they unfold.&#8221; Henley does recommend placing greater weight on the auctions for properties that are similar to the properties that you\u2019ll be bidding on. You\u2019re most likely to see the same bidders competing for properties that are similar in terms of property size, city\/town and so forth.<\/p>\n\n<p>Henley even keeps notes on each region where he routinely takes part in county auctions, but noted that it\u2019s important to remember that the landscape in a particular community will change and evolve over time. That\u2019s because investors are routinely expanding into new and different areas, so it\u2019s wise to take some time to observe auction activity if it\u2019s been a while since you\u2019ve done business in a particular region.<\/p>\n\n<p>&#8220;Take advantage of any and all information that the bidding portal provides. It varies dramatically from region to region, but some places will provide with useful data like number of bids, number of bidders and even anonymized bidder IDs.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Check_your_email_after_the_auction\"><\/span>Check your email after the auction.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n<p>&#8220;If you lose an auction, not all hope is lost because some counties will offer the property to the second highest bidder if the winning bidder fails to pay by the deadline,&#8221; Henley said. And he\u2019s right. Each city or county is somewhat unique in this regard, but many will offer a property to the second highest bidder if the bid amount is close to the winning bid and the winner fails to pay in the allotted time frame, usually, 24 hours. &#8220;I\u2019ve acquired a couple properties this way. And I also missed one because I didn\u2019t check my email in time. That\u2019s a mistake you make only once!&#8221;<\/p>\n\n<p>This last bit of advice also underscores the importance of ensuring that you\u2019re ready to pay in cash or another acceptable payment method within 24 hours of the auction end. Otherwise, you risk losing your claim to the property. Contact the city or county clerk\u2019s office and verify what payment methods are accepted and if you\u2019re going to miss the deadline for any reason, inform the clerk\u2019s office immediately. They\u2019re typically far more willing to honor a late payment or refund your deposit if you\u2019re honest and straightforward.<\/p>\n\n<p>First-time bidders must also understand that you can\u2019t simply register with the auction portal and place a bid. You\u2019ll typically need to place a deposit with the county or city clerk in advance. This deposit generally represents 5% of your maximum bid amount. This sum will be applied to the purchase if you win. If you lose or decide not to place a bid, then you can opt to get the money refunded or simply allow the city clerk to keep it on-file so it can be applied to a future auction.<\/p>\n\n<p>With these tips, you\u2019ll be in a great position to develop a winning county foreclosure auction bidding strategy; one that will give you the ability to acquire properties at a price that allows for plenty of profit. Just be sure to keep your cool, perform plenty of research and approach the auction as a business opportunity. Don\u2019t allow excitement or emotion to take control or you could find yourself with a winning bid on a property that proves to be a financial loss.<\/p>\n\n<p>Effective foreclosure auction bidding strategy begins with knowing your maximum number before you walk in the door. Calculate your all-in costs including purchase price, title search, any surviving liens, and estimated repairs, then subtract your desired profit margin. That number is your hard ceiling for foreclosure auction bidding.<\/p>\n<p>Experienced investors treat foreclosure auction bidding like a discipline rather than a competition. Emotional bidding is the fastest way to overpay. When foreclosure auction bidding heats up and the price approaches your ceiling, walk away without hesitation.<\/p>\n<p>Want to understand the full picture before you start foreclosure auction bidding? Read our guide on <a href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/florida-foreclosure-county-auctions-mini-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">florida foreclosure county auctions<\/a> for a complete overview of how Florida sales are structured.<\/p>\n<p>Once you win a bid, your title research becomes critical. Learn why a thorough <a href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/florida-title-search-101-how-to-uncover-hidden-liens-encumbrances-and-red-flags-before-you-bid\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">florida title search<\/a> is essential before you commit to any purchase price.<\/p>\n<p>Understanding <a href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/understanding-foreclosure-laws-in-florida-for-real-estate-investors\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">florida foreclosure laws<\/a> will help you know exactly what rights you have as a winning bidder and what obligations come with the purchase.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color:#eef6fd;border-left:5px solid #1a73b8;border-radius:6px;padding:24px 28px;margin:32px 0;font-family:Georgia, serif\">\n<p style=\"font-size:20px;font-weight:bold;color:#1a3a5c;margin:0 0 10px 0\">Get the Complete Investor Toolkit at PropertyOnion<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:15px;color:#2c4a6e;margin:0 0 14px 0\">Get instant access to Florida&#8217;s most comprehensive foreclosure and tax deed auction platform. <strong>PropertyOnion members<\/strong> enjoy full county coverage, in-depth property research tools, and free eBooks covering every aspect of auction investing from due diligence to closing.<\/p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/?&amp;reference_member_id=wpposts45&amp;ref2=wpposts45\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" style=\"background-color:#1a73b8;color:#ffffff;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:15px;font-weight:bold;padding:12px 24px;border-radius:4px;text-decoration:none\">Claim Your Free Membership<\/a>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Updated: March 16, 2026 Real estate auctions can be very stressful but also extremely exciting due to the potential for a tremendous profit margin. Many real estate investors are hesitant to get involved with tax&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":151,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[60],"class_list":["post-146","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-real-estate-investing-articles","tag-auction-bidding-strategy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/146","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=146"}],"version-history":[{"count":43,"href":"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/146\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23301,"href":"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/146\/revisions\/23301"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/151"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=146"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=146"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=146"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}