From listing to auction day
When a property listing appears on an auction platform, there are usually 20–30 days until the auction itself. This period is for participant registration, guarantee deposit payment and property viewing. Registration closes a few days before the auction — typically 3–5 working days before. This stage is your opportunity to carry out document checks and assess the property.
If the auction is repeated (the reserve price was not reached the first time or the winner did not pay), a new auction is announced within 5 working days after notification of the failure. In some cases a property can go through three or more auctions — and each time the process starts again.
After winning: 30 or 60 days
This is the most important stage, where cash buyers and credit buyers diverge:
- Cash: the notarial sale-purchase agreement must be concluded within 30 calendar days of the winning decision. This means the full payment must be made before the agreement is signed.
- With a bank loan: the deadline is extended to 60 calendar days, because the bank must carry out a valuation, approve the loan and prepare the financing. Even 60 days can be tight if the credit process is delayed.
If payment is not made within the set deadline, the guarantee deposit is confiscated and the property is returned to a new auction.
Notary and Register Centre — the final stage
When payment is confirmed, the notary signs the agreement and within 5 working days it must be submitted to the Real Estate Register. The Register Centre re-registers the ownership right within up to 10 working days of receiving the documents.
Total time from auction announcement to ownership in your name:
- Cash: ~2–3 months (20–30 days until auction + 30 days for payment + 2–3 weeks for documents)
- With a bank loan: ~3–5 months (20–30 days until auction + 60 days for payment + 2–3 weeks for documents)
When can the process take longer?
Several situations can significantly extend the process: repeated auctions due to unmet reserve price, legal disputes over the property (for example, disputed ownership or an appeal process), resolution of utility debts, or bank valuation complications. In extreme cases — court disputes — the process can take a year or more.
Practical recommendation: always build buffer time into your planning. If you expect to move in within 3 months — plan for 5.