There are many opportunities to purchase real property (real estate) from state and federal government agencies. For example, many cities, towns, and counties have sheriff’s sales or auctions—many of which a buyer can participate in online. You can locate more information about these sales in your city, town, or county by searching online for sheriff’s sales, tax foreclosure sales, and delinquent property tax sales.

State and federal government agencies sell real property assets for several reasons:

• Law enforcement agencies sell real property seized from or forfeited by criminals.

• The U.S. Treasury Department and state departments of revenue sell items forfeited for violations of Treasury laws or state tax laws—including failure to pay income taxes and property taxes.

• Agencies sell items they no longer need.

United States General Services Administration (GSA)

The United States General Services Administration (GSA) is a federal governmental agency that is responsible for promoting effective use of federal real property assets—as well as the disposal of real property that is no longer mission-critical to federal agencies.

With thousands of properties in the federal portfolio, disposing of underused federal property is a considerable task. GSA—while working together with partner federal agencies, state and local governments, non-profit organizations, business groups, and citizens—leaves a lasting positive impact on communities by making valuable government real estate available for numerous public purposes.

Unneeded or underutilized federal property can vary widely in type and value, and may include:

• Undeveloped land;

• Office buildings;

• Warehouses;

• Commercial and industrial facilities;

• Military holdings; and

• Single- and multi-family residences.

These former federal properties can contribute to a community’s vitality by providing benefits such as:

• Expanded employment opportunities;

• Housing for the homeless; and

• Establishment of educational centers, parks, and open spaces.

Real property available for purchase from the U.S. government may be located in any of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the U.S. Pacific Territories.

• The Office of Real Property Utilization & Disposal Resource Center provides information about the handling of excess real property and information on properties being offered for sale to the general public. https://disposal.gsa.gov/s/

• GSA’s Real Property auction website allows the public to bid on property 24 hours a day/365 days a year. https://realestatesales.gov/gsaauctions/gsaauctions/

Additional information is available specifically for:

Federal agencies disposing of real property:

• https://disposal.gsa.gov/FAA

Federal agencies looking for real property:

• https://disposal.gsa.gov/FederalExcessNotices

State agencies and public organizations looking for real property:

• https://disposal.gsa.gov/SurplusNotices

Citizens looking for real property:

• https://realestatesales.gov

You can bid on real estate for sale through the following federal agencies’ websites:

• Fannie Mae

• Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)

• U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

In South Carolina, as in other states, both state and federal government agencies are involved in the sale of real estate, which can include properties seized from criminals, forfeited items, and surplus assets. The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) is the primary federal agency responsible for the disposal of federal real estate. The GSA conducts sales that are open to the public, which can be beneficial for community development through job creation, housing, and the establishment of public spaces. These properties are available throughout the United States, including South Carolina and its territories. The GSA provides online resources and auctions to facilitate the acquisition or disposal of real property by various entities. In addition to the GSA, other federal agencies such as Fannie Mae, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) also offer real estate for sale, often through their respective websites. These sales are subject to federal regulations and guidelines, and interested parties in South Carolina can participate in these sales to acquire properties for various uses.