why are auction property selling for market value?

[Edith Acevedo]

Hello, 

I am looking for guidance. I have personally done 4 flips, one was a hold/rental that I eventually flipped and old, one was a house hack, and two I did out of market with HML(my first two were out of pocket) 1 I sold and 1 I held.

I have been trying buy at the Texas (Harris County, fort bend county) county auction and on some auction sites, in hopes I find a deal in the Houston area that I can flip or fix & hold. To my surprise, bidders are reaching market value and in some cases I even saw a bid go above market value. I have also placed cash offers on bank owned properties and have been denied or countered dollars under market value. at this point why not buy off MLS, closing with title, less risk.

any advice? I want to find deals I can rehab to hold or flip. I can't house hack, I'm a family of 5 with kids in school. 

thank you!!