Equestrian and farm auctions in Middle Tennessee

A horse farm auction in Tennessee sells the whole property in one public sale: the acreage, barns, fencing, pasture, water and any house on it. Before the catalogue goes out, Common Hour sorts what conveys with the land from what sells as personal property. Jennifer Davis, our Principal Auctioneer, is a second-generation auctioneer whose focus is farms, homesteads, horse properties and rural land.

Request a consultation Horse properties and farms to bid on

Is this the right fit?

Horse farms vary widely, and auction does not suit every property. It fits when the barns, arenas, fencing and water make a place hard to compare with recent sales, and when more than one buyer is likely to compete. An estate or a divorce that needs an open sale can also point this way. If the farm is ordinary enough that comparable sales already set the price, or you can wait quietly for one buyer, list it another way.

How it works.

Walk the farm
We walk it with you: barns, stalls, arenas, paddocks, run-in sheds, fencing, gates, wells, ponds, springs and the way in from the road. Seeing what works and what needs attention matters, because the property sells as is, where is, with all faults.
Sort what conveys from what does not
Some things stay with the land and some do not, and that gets settled before the catalogue goes out. A built-in stall front may convey, while portable panels, hay, tack and the tractor can sell as separate personal property lots.
Confirm the acreage and the lines
A current survey answers what bidders ask first: how many acres, where the lines run and how the farm reaches the road. If the survey is old or missing, we talk through what to do before the sale goes to market.
Take the farm to market
The farm is catalogued and marketed nationally, then bidding opens online, live or both. Online bidding reaches buyers nationwide, which matters for a property that may draw interest from well beyond the county.
Hold the sale
Bidders are pre-qualified before they bid, and bids are irrevocable. The farm sells only if bidding meets the reserve. Any equipment lots close on their own schedule under their own rules.
Close on the land, clear the rest
The buyer pays earnest money to the escrow agent within 24 hours and closes within 30 days of the auction unless the Special Terms say otherwise. Personal property lots are paid in full within 24 hours and picked up in the published window.

Who handles what.

Common Hour handles

Walking the barns, fencing, pasture and water with you
Sorting real estate from personal property before the catalogue goes out
Describing acreage, improvements, road frontage and access in plain terms
Marketing the farm nationally and pre-qualifying bidders
Selling tack, trailers and equipment as separate lots when that suits the job
Referring anything that belongs elsewhere to the right specialist

You handle

Finding the deed, any survey and records on wells, septic and fencing
Telling us about leases, easements, shared drives and boarding arrangements
Moving horses and other livestock before the buyer takes possession
Asking your CPA or attorney how the sale affects any farm tax classification

How fees work.

Both the farm and any equipment carry the standard buyer's premium in Common Hour's auction terms, twelve percent of the hammer price unless modified in writing. On the farm it also serves as the non-refundable earnest money, and on tack, trailers and tractors it is paid with the hammer price within 24 hours of the close. Seller's and agent commissions are disclosed in writing.

Commissions and fees are not set by law and are fully negotiable.

Questions about equestrian and farm auctions.

Is a horse property auction different from any other farm auction?

The method is the same and the catalogue is not. A horse property needs detail on stalls, arenas, paddock fencing, water at the barn and room to turn a trailer. A cattle or crop farm leans more on pasture, soil, fencing and road access. Bidders verify all of it on their own, so we describe what is there and skip the sales talk.

Can a horse barn auction include tack and equipment?

It can, as separate lots. A barn that is part of the land sells with the real estate. Tack, trailers, tractors and other personal property sell under different rules: payment in full within 24 hours of the close, Tennessee sales tax unless the buyer gives a valid resale or exemption certificate, and pickup in the published window.

Where do you run a farm auction in Tennessee?

Across Tennessee and beyond, and we lead with Middle Tennessee. A farm auction in Middle Tennessee might sit in Williamson, Maury, Rutherford or Davidson County, or around College Grove or Leiper's Fork. Online bidding reaches buyers nationwide wherever the farm is.

Where can I find upcoming farm auctions in Tennessee?

Any farm Common Hour has coming up appears on our auction listing pages with its Special Terms. If nothing is posted, nothing is open for bidding yet. You can reach us by appointment at 971-400-6420.

Can a buyer use a farm loan at auction?

A buyer can use a loan, but the sale does not wait on one. Real estate sells with no financing contingency, so failure to get a loan does not release the buyer or return the earnest money. Registration can require lender pre-approval, and lender costs are the buyer's to pay. Any questions about farm credit belong with your lender.