FAQ

If you choose not to verify your identity, we place a $1,000 hold on your credit card during event registration—this makes sure bids are only placed by serious buyers.

The hold is removed within 24 hours of either the event ending (for non-winners) or the escrow or closing company’s receipt of earnest money deposit (for winners).

We work with a third party to verify information and do not store credit card information.

Log in to your account and click the Complete Verification link at the top of any page.

If you don’t receive the verification email within 5 minutes, please check your spam folder. It’s also a good idea to make sure you correctly typed your email address.

After logging in, click the Complete Verification link on the top of any page and select Send Text.

Then, simply follow the instructions that pop up.

Our verification safeguards customer information and ensures only authentic bidders are registering for Xome auctions, as well as allowing our auction professionals to easily assist you before, during, and after an auction.

After verification, you also receive full access to place bids, submit pre-auction offers, and use the “own it now” feature.

After registration, you’ll receive a verification email from [email protected].

Open the email and click on the provided link.

After making your request, look for the 6-digit verification code sent to your mobile device.

Input the 6-digit code on the Xome Auction account verification page and click Submit.

You can verify through your email or cell phone.

It’s most likely because the link expired or was already used.

To easily request a new verification email, log in to your account and click the Complete Verification link on the top of any page.

It’s probably because the link expired or was already used.

You can easily request a new verification code, simply click the Complete Verification link on the top of any page and then click “send text.”

You need to confirm your legal first and last name and provide one of the following: address, phone number, date of birth, or driver’s license number.

Your date of birth, driver’s license number, and passport number will be used for this one-time identity verification and will not be stored in our database.

Log in to your account, then click Complete Verification. Click the pencil icon beside the box labeled Email. Change the address and hit the Send Email link.

Log in and hover over your name in the top right corner of any page, then select My Profile from the drop-down menu,

From there, you can edit your mobile number or any other profile information.

We partner with Trulioo, a global online identity verification service to verify your identity information.

This is an online auction where you bid on properties where the former owner has the right to redeem the property.

Yes—and it’s super easy!

Redemption properties are cash only.

Proof of funds plus an earnest money deposit are due within 24–48 hours of receiving the fully executed purchase agreement, and the balance for the property is due at closing.

It’s the former homeowner’s ability to stop a foreclosure sale from happening by paying off the mortgage debt, or by repurchasing their property after it’s been sold at auction.

Yes, a buyer’s premium is added to the winning bid amount.

The premium is typically 5% of the winning bid or $2,500—whichever is greater.

Regrettably, redemption properties usually aren’t eligible for traditional financing, since there’s no opportunity to inspect and appraise the property prior to its sale.

These auctions usually last 3-5 days.

For specific auction event information and to register for an upcoming event, check a property’s page or use the Auction Calendar to view all upcoming events.

Yes! You just need to register first.

You can register for an auction on a property’s page or via the Auction Calendar.

Unfortunately, no.

1. Create a Xome Account

   We’re excited to get you signed up! We have a simple step-by-step process, whether you want to sign up online or in the app. Here’s how to get started:

   On Xome.com: Click Sign In/Sign Up in the top left to begin.

   In the Xome Auctions app: Click Create Account on the app’s homepage to begin signup.

   Download the Xome Auction app for Apple

   Download the Xome Auction app for Android

   Downloading the app is highly recommended so you’ll have access to all Xome has to offer at the touch of a button. From quickly accessing your event registrations and seeing saved searches, to receiving push notifications about properties you’re bidding on, you’ll always be on top of important information.

2. Search Auction Properties

   On the Xome.com homepage, click Auction Properties, then enter your search criteria (e.g., address, city, state, neighborhood—whatever location you’re interested in) in the auction search field. If you’d like to search by auction type, you can select from the choices in the Browse Homes dropdown.

   Pro tip: Want to find your recent and saved searches? Just click in the search bar for quick and easy access.

   Xome provides access to one of the largest and most exclusive online collections of auction properties across the nation, giving you a single location to search for and find your next investment.

3. Register for an Auction

   In order to bid on a property, first you have to register for the auction that it’s in. You can register directly from a property’s page or view all our upcoming auctions in our Auction Calendar, located on the homepage beneath the main search bar.

4. Place a Bid

   As soon as an auction goes live, you can place bids. Navigate to the property page for whichever property you’re interested in, enter an amount, then click the Bid Now button. Be sure to keep track of the properties you’re interested in by saving them to your favorites so you can receive notifications about them.

5. You’re a Winner

   Congratulations! You will receive an email verifying your winning bid and detailing next steps, as well as a notification in your Xome.com auction dashboard. Your immediate next step is to fill out the checkout form, which must be completed within 24 hours of the auction’s close.

6. Seal the Deal

   After the contracts are signed, the next step is closing. Our asset manager will be in touch with you and other necessary parties by email to discuss closing activities, such as moving the property into escrow and transferring the title.

7. It’s Yours!

   Huzzah! You’ve completed the purchase transaction. Thank you for using Xome and we hope to see you again soon.

Generally, online auctions occur over a 3–5-day period. They typically run Saturday through Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. Look at our auction calendar for exact dates of events you’re interested in.

CWCOT auctions occur on Xome.com/Auctions.

Specific auction dates and times are listed on the property details page.

Depending on the type of asset, properties can come up for auction in a number of ways. They may be sent to auction by the bank, by a real estate agent, or even by an investor. A home may go to auction due to foreclosure, tax liens, hardship resulting in a short sale, or simply because an investor wants to sell via auction.

Sellers make properties available on Xome.com to be included in upcoming online auction events, or the auction is scheduled to be presented in an upcoming live in-person auction (i.e., a foreclosure auction).

Once auctions are scheduled (both online and in-person), the auction event information will appear on the Xome.com Auction Calendar, the search results page, and the Property Details page. Please note that event start and end days and event time are subject to change. Find out more by learning how to register for an auction event.

It’s an online auction where you can bid on properties such as office buildings, hotels, stores, apartment complexes, industrial spaces, and more.

It basically means confirming or discovering the complete details of a property.

The best way to perform your due diligence is to contact the Titles and Records department (typically located at the county courthouse where the property is located), and look up the property on their website or from their paper files.

Learn more about due diligence here.

A standard closing for cash deals is 15 business days and 30 business days for financed deals. All funds are wired to the seller’s selected title company.

Closing costs will vary, but average about 3% of the purchase price.

A bankruptcy trustee property is real estate that is involved in a bankruptcy proceeding where the bankruptcy trustee has decided to sell the property for the benefit of the bankruptcy estate creditors. Bankruptcy trustees retain Xome to liquidate these properties on their behalf.  

Related to:

• bankruptcy trustee

• property types

Bankruptcy trustee assets will be offered through auction in the same way as a standard foreclosure event. If the assets do not sell within the first six auction runs, the property will be sold through a traditional MLS listing.  

Related to:

• bankruptcy trustee

• property types

No, please contact the listing agent or Xome. 

Potentially! Financing may be available depending on the circumstances surrounding the property. 

On the Xome.com homepage, click the dropdown menu on the left-hand side of the search box under Auction Properties. Then, select Bankruptcy Trustee and enter your search criteria in the box.

From the All Auctions page, click Asset Type in the Filters section and select Bankruptcy Trustee.

Yes, please contact the listing agent or Xome to arrange an inspection or tour.

Yes! This is one of the benefits of purchasing a bankruptcy trustee property. In most cases, access will be available, and inspections are allowed. 

Any winning bids will have to be approved by the lender and the sale will be subject to final approval of the bankruptcy court, which may result in a delayed closing. Typical closing timelines for bankruptcy assets are 45–60 days.  

Keep an eye out for emails and ensure both SMS and push notifications are activated to receive the latest updates on bankruptcy properties. Additionally, you can take advantage of the Asset Type filter in Xome's search to easily locate bankruptcy properties.  

Yes! This is one of the benefits of purchasing a bankruptcy trustee property. These properties can be a great option for buyers because the property is usually sold free and clear of all liens pursuant to the bankruptcy court order. 

Typically, the bankruptcy trustee will have possession and control of the property when it is sold without the borrower on the premises. However, procedures may vary across jurisdictions. In some areas, the trustee may opt to sell the property in its current state while the occupant remains. If the property is occupied at the time of sale, the buyer assumes responsibility for any necessary eviction proceedings, similar to the foreclosure process.  

The only difference from other asset types is that a bankruptcy trustee property may have a delayed closing because it is subject to both the lender and the bankruptcy court's approval. 

Yes, you need to register just as you would for a standard foreclosure event. 

Yes. Xome will assign a listing agent when the bankruptcy trustee obtains court approval for Xome to sell the property. 

Real Estate Owned (REO)—also known as bank-owned—is a property owned by a lender that hasn’t been successfully sold at a foreclosure auction. It’s been re-valued at an amount acceptable to the lending institution but that also encourages a sale.

Learn more about bank-owned properties here.

It’s easy, and you can do it in two different ways.

On the Xome.com homepage, click the dropdown menu on the left-hand side of the search box under Auction Properties. Then, select Bank Owned and enter your search criteria in the box.

From the All Auctions page, click Asset Type in the Filters section and select Bank Owned.

Great question, as this is one of the most important steps. A good way to research a bank-owned property is to contact the Titles and Records department in the county where the property is located.

Generally, this information can be found at a county courthouse, either in their paper files or on their website.

ValueYourHome® is a free home value estimator from Xome® that produces an instant custom report on a property’s estimated value in the United States. It allows users to easily access the home's Xome Value®, calculate home equity, and more. Users may also enroll to receive a free monthly ValueYourHome® report to monitor their home's estimated value and other details.

The Xome Value® is an estimated home value generated by our industry-leading automated valuation model (AVM). The model was built by a dedicated internal team with decades of experience in evolutionary programming, genetics, computer science, and artificial intelligence.

The Xome Value® is an estimate calculated through various proprietary mathematical formulas and techniques using currently available local market, licensed, and proprietary data.

Various factors go into the calculation of the Xome Value®:

• Property sales and related information

• Listed property and related information

• Comparable properties and related information

• Price trends, such as home price indexes

• Property features and characteristics

The high and low ranges of the Xome Value® show the likely range of the property's true market value based on potential fluctuations in the estimate due to market conditions, data quality, or other influences.

The Xome Value® strives to be as accurate as possible by using historical and current data. However, it does not replace a traditional appraisal. Estimates are not guaranteed, not provided by a licensed appraiser, and may vary due to unique property characteristics or rapid market changes.

We update our data at regular intervals (usually weekly or monthly) to reflect changes in the housing market and capture recent sales, listings, and trends. Additionally, any major economic shifts may prompt more frequent updates.

Because the Xome Value® is based on a number of objective data points, there is no direct way to change the Xome Value® of your home. Home improvements that are reported via public records may be able to positively impact future versions of your Xome Value®.

The Xome Value® is a supplemental tool for property research but is not a replacement for a traditional appraisal. Instead, the Xome Value® should be used for personal, non-commercial purposes to help gauge the value of a property.

Consulting with a local real estate expert can provide additional insights based on the home’s unique features and current market demand.

Federal law administered by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a bureau of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, requires certain residential real estate transactions to be reported to the federal government to help prevent money laundering and other financial crimes.

In some foreclosure sales, if you are the winning bidder, Xome, the foreclosure trustee, or another designated reporting party may be required to collect limited identifying information about the buyer and, if applicable, the buyer’s legal entity or trust.

This information is required by federal law, is not used for marketing purposes, and is collected solely for compliance with FinCEN’s residential real estate reporting requirements. Failure to provide required information after winning a foreclosure sale may delay or prevent completion of the transfer.

These requirements are currently scheduled to take effect on March 1, 2026, subject to further guidance from FinCEN.

Registration with Xome isn’t required, but your experience will be enhanced if you do.

Registration gives you access to the most up-to-date information about an auction, including any updates to the properties you’re interested in bidding on, or any changes to the auctions you’re registered for.

Learn more about registering with Xome.

Full payment for a property is due in the form of certified funds as soon as the winning bidder is announced.

A live, in-person public event where a lender can sell a property to recover amounts owed on a defaulted loan.

These are typically held at designated locations, traditionally on the steps of a local courthouse in the county where the property is located.

Learn more about foreclosure properties.

There are certain states in which you can bid on foreclosure auctions online, but most are held live at in-person locations.

Unfortunately, no.

Full payment for a property is due in the form of certified funds as soon as the winning bidder is announced.

Sale locations and times are specific to each county, so you’ll need to check out specifics for each auction.

Details for each auction are listed on each property’s page, or by clicking on any upcoming auction on our auction calendar.

No! (Hooray!)

It depends! They vary in duration.

For specific sale locations and times, refer to the property details page.

Sadly, this can occasionally happen.

To find out if the event will be rescheduled and/or if the property will appear in another auction event, contact the foreclosure trustee listed on a property’s page, or visit the foreclosure sale section of our website.

Yes, creating an account is the first step participating in auctions.

Placing a bid

Bidding on a property during an auction. It’s done on an individual property’s page by putting in your bid amount and clicking the Bid Now button.

Pre-auction offer

An offer made before the auction’s start date. The offer period ends, however, 48 hours before the event start—so if you’re really interested, get your offer in early. If the seller accepts your offer, the property will be removed from the auction once the purchase agreement is signed by all parties.

Many sellers allow this prior to an auction beginning, so look at the property page to see if it’s an option. You can also check out all properties currently accepting pre-auction offers, to get first dibs on great investments.

Pro tip:

Pre-auction offers can be a great way to reduce the competition on a property you’re interested in purchasing.

Own It Now

An option to purchase a property by offering to pay the seller's approved Own It Now price.

This option is presented at the seller’s discretion and will be listed on the individual property’s page if available. It can be offered before an auction begins as well as during a live auction. If a property is purchased via Own it Now, then the auction will immediately end.

Pro tip:

This is another great option to beat the competition and skip the auction process entirely.

Yes, the auctioneer is allowed to bid on behalf of the seller to move the price closer to the reserve price (or minimum) a seller will accept.

The auctioneer will not place bids once the reserve price has been met.

No fees are required to bid in Xome auctions.

If you choose not to verify your identity, we place a $1,000 hold on your credit card during event registration—this makes sure bids are only placed by serious buyers. The hold is removed within 24 hours of either the event ending for non-winners or the escrow or closing company’s receipt of earnest money deposit for winners.

First, you get an email confirming your pre-auction offer. Then, you receive an email stating whether your pre-auction offer is accepted or rejected.

We extend the auction time by 5 minutes any time someone has been outbid during the last 5 minutes of an auction.

The auction will continue to be extended by 5-minute increments until 5 minutes have passed without any bidding activity. Extending the time ensures transparency and a fair bidding opportunity to all.

If you were the one outbid within the last 5 minutes of an auction event, we send you an email letting you know the auction is now extended for an additional 5 minutes, so you have time to place another bid if you want to. We highly recommend you keep your phone nearby and/or track your email alerts and your listings nearing their bidding time limits.

You can begin placing bids soon as an auction begins. Some sellers allow the ability to place pre-auction offers before the event begins.

You can’t lower a bid you’ve already placed, but you can remove your bid prior to the end of an auction event by contacting our customer service team at 1-844-400-9663 or by emailing [email protected].

The seller has up to 15 business days to review your bid, but usually only takes 3–5 business days to respond.

If the seller is sharing the number, it will appear on the property’s page.

Most of the time a seller will opt to share this price with potential buyers. But if no reserve price is listed on the property’s page, then per the seller’s request, we will be unable to disclose this information.

No, we do not offer proxy bidding. You need to be an active bidder and manually place your bids.

Sadly no. Post-auction offers aren’t accepted.

No, you can’t see who is bidding or how much they’re bidding—but that means they can’t see those things about you either. We want to protect everyone’s privacy.

Welcome! We have a simple step-by-step process, whether you’re on the site or the app.

On Xome.com: Click Sign In/Sign Up in the top left to begin.

On the Xome Auctions app: Click Create Account on the app’s homepage to begin signup. Xome Auctions app:

Download for Apple

Download for Android

Downloading the app is highly recommended so you’ll have access to all Xome has to offer at the touch of a button. From quickly accessing your event registrations and seeing saved searches, to receiving push notifications about properties you’re bidding on, you’ll always be on top of important information.

Reach out to our customer service team at 1-844-400-9663 or by email at [email protected]

No, buyers and agents have the same Xome.com account type and interact with the website in the same ways.

It’s the first required step to participate in auctions.

Once you have an account, you can save searches, favorite properties, and—best of all—access your unique auction dashboard. This tool makes it easy to see an overview of anything you’re involved with at a glance, as well as the ability to track statuses and see a property’s full auction life cycle. (Convenient, right?)

Unfortunately, no.

Unfortunately, no.

Yes! If the property is vacant and has a listing agent, you can contact the listing agent to schedule an inspection.

Where you can purchase HUD-backed, cash-only foreclosure properties through online auctions.

The program is intended to reduce HUD’s inventory by allowing buyers to purchase properties through traditional public foreclosure sales and online auction events. As part of the CWCOT program, HUD requires all such properties to be marketed online to increase the number of potential buyers who may see them. While they can be a great deal, they are sold in “as-is” condition, as occupied, and without warranties.

Nope! (Plus, most CWCOT properties aren’t on MLS, so there’s less competition for a property you might be interested in.)

Not necessarily. CWCOT properties are sold “as-is,” which may include faults, liens, or limitations.

The program allows you to buy properties at highly discounted prices.

Properties are sold in “as-is” condition, but HUD performs appraisals on all CWCOT properties to determine their market values, then applies additional discounts on top of that—which is why they’re usually priced lower than even a typical foreclosed property.

Once your bid is approved by the lender, you’ll receive a purchase contract to review and sign. After that, one of our closing coordinators will email you to discuss the closing.

Absolutely. Properties can be transferred quickly using a quitclaim deed.

Just register as a bidder, then search our available CWCOT properties and check out the ones you’re interested in.

A short sale auction is one in which properties are sold for less than what sellers owe on a mortgage.

Short sale properties usually occur when the seller is under financial distress and can’t keep paying the mortgage. Under a short sale arrangement, the seller will sell the property to a third party and use the profits to pay the lender.

Short sales can often take longer to process because of the amount of paperwork involved.

Learn more about short sale properties here.

After becoming the high bidder, here’s what happens:

• Your bid is submitted to the servicer for review.

• After approval, you will receive a contract to review and sign.

• Once you and the seller sign the contract, the offer is submitted for final short sale review by the servicer.

• After that, the servicer gets any necessary investor or mortgage insurance approvals that are needed, and then provides you with a short sale approval letter outlining the terms of the sale.

• Finally, our Closing Coordinator emails you to discuss closing activities, such as transferring the title and moving the property into escrow.

No, there typically aren’t any inspection, financing, or other contingencies related to purchasing a short sale through the auction platform.

Buyers can save a lot of money.

Although the lender must approve the sale of the property, they’ll accept less than the amount a borrower owes on a mortgage—meaning you could benefit from a significantly lower price in comparison to a traditional sale.

Good news! Besides the standard buyer’s premium, there are no other costs for the winning bidder.

Each property’s page includes information on whether it’s financeable or cash only.

Filter your search to easily see only financeable properties or cash only properties.

Yes, you’ll need to show proof of funds or pre-qualification documents if you are the high bidder on a property.

Unfortunately, yes. You can win the auction, but not have your high bid accepted.

If the reserve price isn’t met, or the property is being “sold subject to seller approval,” then the seller has the right to accept, counter, or reject the winning bid.

Once you’ve executed your purchase agreement, your earnest money deposit must be submitted within 48 hours.

Simply put, the seller must review and accept your high bid before the transaction can move on.

Even if you are the highest bidder, the seller may not accept your bid, or they may counter it. If the seller rejects your bid, the property may go back into another auction (or the seller may remove it from auction all together and attempt to sell it outside of auction).

Once you are the highest bidder at the close of an auction, a purchase agreement is created and immediately available to review and eSign.

In cases where the offer requires a seller’s approval, a signed purchase agreement can aid in expediting the review and approval process.

Most often you’ll receive a special warranty deed, which guarantees the seller is the rightful owner of the property and authorized to sell it.

Because this deed only provides a warranty against any issues during the seller’s ownership of the property, we recommend that you perform your due diligence on any property you’re interested in prior to bidding on it in an auction event.

Quitclaim deed – also known as a non-warranty deed, is used to transfer whatever property interest a seller may have to a buyer. It’s a speedy way to handover interests, but provides no guarantees about ownership or any title issues associated with the property.

Special warranty deed – guarantees the seller is the rightful owner of a property and is authorized to sell it.

General warranty deed – guarantees the seller is the rightful owner of a property and is authorized to sell it, as well as provides a warranty against any title issues for the property’s entire history.

Not necessarily. Redemption properties are sold “as-is,” which may include faults, liens, or limitations.

Not necessarily. Foreclosure trustee properties are sold “as is,” which may include faults, liens, or limitations.