| A government auction is a good place to buy quality or | | | | not just one big auction. Each agency has its own |
| unusual merchandise at a bargain. Government | | | | auction either on its own or in conjunction with other |
| auctions take place continually, both online and in | | | | agencies. For example, the U.S. Air Force runs its own |
| different parts of the country. Information on all | | | | auctions. The U.S. Marshals Service runs the auctions |
| government auctions can be found at Firtgov.gov. This | | | | for itself and the Department of Justice, the FBI, the |
| is billed as being the official United States government | | | | DEA, the INS and the ATF. This means that any |
| portal. It contains information on all federal, state and | | | | merchandise seized by any of these agencies is |
| local government auctions. What do governments | | | | auctioned through the U.S. Marshals Service. The U.S. |
| have to sell at auction? They sell surplus goods and | | | | Treasury handles auctions for itself and the IRS. |
| seized and forfeited property at auction. Surplus goods | | | | Border Patrol and Customs handle their own auctions, |
| are goods that the government bought and no longer | | | | and so on. What makes it even more difficult is that |
| needs. This can include anything from office furniture | | | | they all have their own quirks and rules that the buyer |
| and office equipment to telemetry guidance systems | | | | has to be aware of. For example, houses sold at the |
| and Coast Guard boats. Forfeited property can consist | | | | IRS auctions can be redeemed by the original owner |
| of houses that had a federally guaranteed mortgage | | | | within a specified period of time. The owner has to |
| that the owner defaulted on. When the mortgage is | | | | pay the auction price plus the interest and the buyer |
| foreclosed on, the house is sold at auction. Seized | | | | can't do anything about it. That is why it is important to |
| property is property that criminals owned and | | | | know the rules that the auction functions under. |
| purchased with money earned from the commission | | | | The best thing to do is to look at the different auction |
| of crime. This can include houses, boats, cards, planes, | | | | at Firstgov.gov. The rules and procedures are given |
| artwork, jewelry, various personal belongings, etc. | | | | for each of the online and in-person auctions with |
| When the government seizes this property, it sells it at | | | | instructions on where merchandise can be viewed |
| auction to the highest bidder. | | | | prior to the auction. |
| The problem with government auctions is that there is | | | | |