Property auctions are a great place to find bargains be it for your own personal dream rural property, or to start, or add to your property investment portfolio.

All sorts of properties can be found at auction, both comercial or residential, along with plots of land.

There are all sorts of reasons why a property may end up at an auction. It could be that a house is considered unmortgageable because structual problems. A flat may have extensive fire damage. Or a seller may need to sell his property quickly because of debts or because it is part of probate, and is there for willing to sell cheaply in return for a quick sale.

Such properties are ideal for investment. Either they can be renovated and sold or can be renovated and then rented out. The small terraced houses in the north west have for a long time been very popular with those looking for buy to let properties.

Some properties will need extensive renovations, others will need just a cosmetic overhaul. For people looking to buy a property for themselves the ability to look beyond the hideous wallpapaer and general neglect of a house can pay dividends in the long run if you are prepared to put the work in.

In spite of the downturn in the UK property market, property auctions have continued doing business. There have been a few that have folded or discontinued holding auctions but most auction houses are still going and some have been reporting high percentages of sales at their auctions even though the general property market is sluggish.