Page Text: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Sales of Federal Land
You can buy federal lands from the government without going through an auction. The land falls into two categories: real property and public land.
Federal Real Property for Sale
This land consists of developed land with buildings. The General Services Administration (GSA) is in charge of selling developed surplus property.
Federal Public Land for Sale
Public land is undeveloped land with no improvements. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) oversees this land.
To buy public land, contact the BLM state office for the area where you're interested.
State Auctions
Many states and even some local governments sell surplus property. Contact your state's surplus property division to find out if it operates an auction program.
Tips for Participating in Government Auctions
The general rule for auctions is that the highest bidder wins, and cancellation is not possible. Check with the auction site ahead of time to find out if you can cancel a bid.
Each auction website operates differently. In some cases, the government agency itself runs the auctions. In other cases, the agency operates the shopping site, but a third-party company handles the auction itself.
Find out what forms of payment auctions accept. There is no uniform payment policy across all the different auctions. Some auctions accept credit card payments or personal checks. Others, such as the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), don't accept either of these. Most auctions accept cashier's checks.
For real estate auctions, you may need to work with a broker or real estate agent to bid or make the purchase. Also, for real estate auctions, find out if financing is permitted. Many times it is not and the full purchase price is due when you win the bid.
Share This Page:
Do you have a question?
Ask a real person any government-related question for free. They'll get you the answer or let you know where to find it.