1. Attend live auctions. While online auctions are very convenient since you can participate in them from the comfort of your home, this in turn means there is much competition among participants. Going for live auctions, which usually have low participants compared to online auctions, increases your chances of getting the property.
2. Strive to get properties that are not in the metropolitan areas. Institutional investors target properties in metropolitan areas and will easily outbid you in the auctions. Looking for properties in rural areas gives you a better chance of winning as there will be less or no institutional investors. You will only have to worry about a couple of individual investors and the competition will not be very stiff.
3. Be visible during the auctions. Get a seat that is near the front or at the center. If you are unable, positioning yourself near an isle would also work. Since it is the auctioneer and his assistants who declare the winning bid, you want them to see and hear you.
4. If the weather is bad on the day of the auction, for instance, it’s is raining, ensure you still go for the auction. This may in fact be your best time to win the bid as many bidders will simply not show up due to the bad weather. Going the extra step may give you a handsome reward as the auction will still take place and the person with the highest bid, which in this case will not be very high due to the low completion, will be given the property.

The bottom line is: avoid auctions in metropolitan areas where institutional investors are largely interested. Instead, look for properties that are mostly in a rural setting and you are sure to get a good tax deed sales deal.