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The average sales price for properties sold at foreclosure auction in Q1 2019 increased by 8% from the previous quarter to $147,115, or 7% higher than a year ago, according to a report from Auction.com. This is the highest level since Auction.com began recording this data in Q1 2016.
“Auction.com has digitized much of the foreclosure auction process over the past several years, giving us access to real-time transactional data from our leading marketplace that provides forward-looking insight for the distressed market as well as a good barometer for the larger retail housing market,“ said Auction.com CEO Jason Allnut
The Q1 2019 Auction.com Distressed Market Outlook notes that scheduled foreclosure auctions decreased 1% from a year ago nationwide but were up in 30 states, including California, Texas, Colorado and Nevada. According to the report, the declining rate of completed foreclosure auctions as a%age of scheduled foreclosure auctions in the first quarter shows more distressed homeowners who fall into foreclosure are able to avoid a completed foreclosure.
Foreclosure auction properties sold for 20.8% below estimated market value on average in the first quarter, down from a 23.5% average discount in the previous quarter but up from a 19.7% average discount in Q1 2018.
By state, 25 states posted a year-over-year increase in the third-party buyer sales rate at foreclosure auction, including New Jersey (up 22%), Florida (up 2%), North Carolina (up 7%), Missouri (up 3%), and Virginia (up 6%). Additionally, average foreclosure auction sales prices increased from a year ago in 36 states, including New Jersey (up 22%), Florida (up 2%), Texas (up 4%), Georgia (up 3%), and Illinois (up 12%).
Twenty-five states posted an annual increase in third-party foreclosure auction sales, including Texas (up 11%), Ohio (up 34%), Virginia (up 32%), Wisconsin (up 47%), and Oklahoma (up 130%).
“Solid real estate investor demand and a limited supply of distressed properties continues to push average prices up in most parts of the country,” said Ali Haralson, Chief Business Development Officer at Auction.com. “Even in areas with decreasing prices, the decrease can often be explained with a shift in the type of inventory being sold at auction.
