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 Utah, as in other states, there are various opportunities to purchase real estate from state and federal government agencies. These sales often occur due to law enforcement seizures, tax foreclosures, or because the property is no longer needed by the agency. The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) is the primary federal entity responsible for the disposal of federal real property. The GSA's Office of Real Property Utilization & Disposal Resource Center provides information on excess real property and lists properties for sale to the public. Sales can include a wide range of property types, from undeveloped land to residential and commercial buildings. These properties can be found across the United States, including Utah, and can be used for various community benefits such as housing, employment, and public spaces. Interested parties can bid on federal real estate through the GSA's auction site or through other federal agencies such as Fannie Mae, FDIC, USDA, HUD, and the VA. State and local government property sales, including sheriff's sales and tax foreclosure sales, can typically be found by searching online resources specific to cities, towns, or counties in Utah.