At Smith Auction Marketing our relentless pursuit to offer the best attended auctions, make the best use of technology and achieve top dollar for our clients we have completed our recent effort to take our Live Public Auctions online.  Our Live Public Auctions will not be simultaneously broadcast online at the same time.  Onsite and online bidders will compete for your property at the same time. This option allowsanybody in the world to bid at your auction, and since they have been prescreened and required to post a deposit before bidding you can feel secure in knowing the transaction will complete. 

This online option also allows us the ability to accept prebids on your auction so you don't have the worry and concern all the way up to auction day what your property might bring.  Prebids can not be viewed by the public but can be viewed by our staff.  This will be a great indication of what the property will bring and perhaps if you reserve has been met prior to sale day. 

If you are selling real estate in Iowa contact us about our auction services.  Real estate auctions bring real buyers, right now with closing in 60 days.  Only auctions can promise you an offer on the table in 30 days for market value.   Our sales include Iowa farmland, recreational land, estates, machinery and farm sales now with the great ability to welcome online bidders to your sale.  Visit our Iowa Auctioneering website or click on the Proxibid logo to see our upcoming auction with online bidding.

The best Iowa Auctioneers, or at least those competing to be the best Iowa auctioneer this year will all come together on Tuesday, August 12, 2008 in Des Moines, Iowa to compete against each other in a bid calling championship. On February 2, 2008 in Des Moines, Iowa 30 contestants competed at the annual Iowa Auctioneers Association convention and the field was narrowed to 20 auctioneers that would move on to the state final.

• Scott Stutzman - Mt. Ayr, IA
• Leroy Hoffman - Titonka, IA
• Steve Maynes - DeSoto, IA
• Steve Gaul - Hawarden, IA
• Jason Knapp - Cedar Rapids, IA
• Jeffery Craun - Boone, IA
• David Wendt - Des Moines, IA
• Ben Hollesen - Sioux Rapids, IA
• Emily Wears - Solon, IA
• Jeremy Clay - Maryville, MO
• Craig Hilpipre - Cedar Falls, IA
• Gary A. Littrel - Bettendorf, IA
• Chris Richard - Mt. Pleasant, IA
• Larry Sears - Grinnell, IA
• J.J. Wise - Manly, IA
• Brent McCall - Onawa, IA
• R.J. Brinkmeyer - Hubbard, IA
• Randy Stabe - Merrill, IA
• Chad Shepard - Waterloo, IA
• Eron Prevo - Bloomfield, IA

The state final to determine this years best Iowa Auctioneer will be held at the Iowa State Fair.  In reality it doesn't make them the best Iowa Auctioneer but the state champion bid caller for the year, who will then represent the Iowa Auctioneers Association at events and functions throughout the year.  Those competing in the competition do put a great deal of work and practice into their bid calling and with the enthusiasm and dedication of an Olympic athlete they practice day and night.  If you want to see something new at this years state fair I hope you'll come out and have a great time with us there.

My Website: Iowa Auctioneer and Iowa Land For Sale

Western Iowa Land Auction

Yesterday I was able to attend the large land auction in Monona County in western Iowa conducted by Ed Spencer.  The land up for auction in this case was a of some historical value and a well known local operation.  The large 560 acre feedlot had originally been built by the Hanson family and was later purchased by the Johnson family.  The land auction was held at Moorhead Iowa while the location of the land was near Turin Iowa. 

With many local folks in attendance, many of them to see who would purchase the farm and what the land would be valued at by the end of the auction.   Many stories were shared about the old farm and especially the number of head they used to run in the feed lots.  Even today it would be considered a large operation. 

Bidding on the land started around $1500 per acre.  The farm was sold based on a taxable acres of 554.81 with all of the structures and infrastructure to go with the property.  It was all set up and ready to recieve a new cattle operation that very day, in fact the buyer would be allowed to place cattle on the property after signing the purchase agreement after the sale.  That was very generous of the sellers, and in addition the sellers were also throwing the 95 acres of corn crop in with the sale. 

By the time bidding stopped the last bid was $2200 per acre for a sale price of $1,220,582 which was right where I thought it would land in the end. 

If you are thinking of selling a farm or land in Iowa give us a call today to discuss it.  We sell Iowa farms and land and they are in demand today. Visit our Iowa Farm and Land website for more information on farm and land auctions in Iowa.  While you may be tempted to accept an offer from a neighbor for the ease of "not dealing with it" I'm sure you won't realize a higher price than with a live public auction.  Auctioneers more than pay for themselves and can put more money in your pocket. 

Iowa Farmland Auctions

With Spring planting well underway in Iowa and the midwest the 2008 growing season officially on.  It may only be the beginning of the planting season but if you plan to sell your farmland this year its time to begin preparing for your sale. 

Here in the midwest farmland sales are popular in the fall through winter but sales to occur at other times as well.  Auctions are the most popular method of selling farmland and in the past 5 years land prices have doubled.  There have been some surprises along the way.  At a recent auction I was told by a person in attendance that the farm would sell for no more than $3500 per acre.  In fact the seller had nearly sold the land for close to that price before contacting us earlier this year.  When the bidding was complete the farm sold for $4900 per acre.  Those are surprises that sellers love.  There have been many other examples in the past few years.  With land values climbing nearly 22% the last September to September period I suspect we'll see positive gains again this year in farmland values at auction.

Thinking of selling?

If you are considering selling farmland this year there has probably never been a better time.  With land values up sharply and grain markets reaching all time highs land is in demand. 

The sooner you contact us about your land auction the more time we will have to prepare and advise you.  Certain timelines will apply if you have tenants leasing the property and you'll want to take a look at the lease you have in place if you have a written lease.  Generally you must notify your tenant of termination of the year to year lease before September 1, in which case they will relinquish possession of the land on the following March 1.  If this notification is not executed before the notification deadline you'll likely have to allow the tenant one more year of farming the land.  This does not mean you can not sell the land, however the buyer will only have landlords possession of the land for the first growing season.  Now if the farm is being purchased by an investor many times they are glad to have a tenant already on the land and may continue the lease or negotiate a new lease with the tenant.

Absentee landowner?

Are you an absentee landowner or settling an estate?    When distance is an issue we want you to contact us and let us handle it for you.  We understand the complexity of trying to do things from a distance and are able to handle everything on our end.  In today's world of faxes, email and overnight mail we are able to complete and entire transaction with ever requiring you to travel to the area. 

Date of Sale

Timing a land auction is an important consideration and with this years crop going in late, its going to be harvested late as well.  Timing your land auction at the height of harvest is likely to result in less than idea attendance at your sale.  Additionally there are other timing considerations that are important which are often determined by the area the sale will be held.  Visit our Iowa Farmland Auctions site to get more information on booking your own sale.  Get your auction booked early to ensure great placement on the calendar and a highly attended sale.

Iowa Farmland Auction

View the Sale Flyer (takes a minute or two to load)March 5th 2008 at 10:00am

Stanton Community Center 205 Broad Avenue Stanton, Iowa

On March 5th we will be offering 235 Acres of land at auction in Stanton Iowa.  This farm is located west of Stanton The LEGAL DESCRPTION is E1/2 E 1/2 of Section 7, and W 1/2 NW 1/4 of Section 8, all in Township 71 North, Range Thirty-Seven, West of the Fifth Principal Meridian, Scott Township Montgomery County Iowa.  This farm is a high quality Iowa farm.

Tract #1:  Total Acres 80 m/l , Cropland 75.6 acres according to FSA. Taxable Acres 76.96.  Method of sale 76.96 X bid price to determine total sales price.  FSA Info

Tract #2: This tract will be 155 acres  more or less.  Cropland 141.3 acres.  Approximately 5 acres to be surveyed off at sellers expense for homesite at 2337 M Avenue.  Taxable acres 149.09.  Method of sale 149.09 X bid price to determine total sales price.  1.4 acres enrolled in CRP.

CSR (Combined Parcels) 74.8 overall average

FSA Data (combined parcels): Farm #804 Tract #1097  

Method of Auction: Auction will begin promptly at 10 am and the order of the sale will be Tract 1 then Tract 2.

Survey: Should Tract 2 sell the buyer will be given the opportunity to purchase the home and buildings, otherwise a survey will be completed at the sellers expense to remove the home and buildings from their current parcel. The survey will determine the property boundaries. Cost of the survey will be paid by the seller.

Minerals: All mineral rights owned by the sellers, if any, will be conveyed to the buyer.

Conditions: The sale is subject to all easements, covenants and restrictions of record.  All property is being sold on an "as is, where is" basis with no warranties or guarantees expressed or implied, made by the auctioneer, seller or seller's agent. All inspections are the responsibility of the buyers and at the buyer's expense.  Farm is leased through the 2008 season.  Lease available for inspection by buyer. 

Possession:  Landlords possession at closting subject to tenants rights until March 1, 2009.

Earnest Payment : A 10% earnest money payment is required on the day of the auction. The earnest money may be made in the form of a check or cash. The earnest funds will be held in the Cramer Realty, Inc. Real  Estate Trust Account. Your bidding and this sale are not subject to buyer financing, so buyer financing must be arranged prior to the auction.

Contract and Title: Directly upon the conclusion of the auction, the high bidder(s ) will enter into a real estate contract and deposit with Kramer Realty, Inc., the required earnest payment. The seller will provide a current abstract at their expense for review and opinion by the buyer's attorney.

Closing: The closing date for all tracts will be on or before 30 days after auction date.

Real Estate Taxes: Real estate taxes will be prorated to the date of closing.

NOTICE:  All equipment, livestock and machinery found on the property are not included in the sale and will be removed prior to closing. Property information provided herein was obtained from sources deemed reliable, but the auctioneer, sellers or seller's agent, make no guarantees as to its accuracy. All prospective buyers are responsible for conduction of their own independent inspections, investigations, inquiries and due diligence concerning the property. All sketches, dimensions and acreage figures in this information are approximate or "more or less".  Lines drawn on photos are approximate.  Any announcements made the day of the auction will take precedence over any other printed material or oral statements. Absentee or telephone bids will no t be accepted without prior approval of the seller's agent or auctioneer. Conduct of the auction and increments of bidding are at the direction and discretion of the auctioneer. All decisions of the auctioneer and/or seller's agent are final.