Auction "method" in Various Form

[Ows News]

I live in Boston, and in most foreclosure "auction".. the bank representative shows up at the property and the auction process takes place. The crowd is tiny and it's adminstered/ran by the auctioning company (third party).

I see on t.v. and have heard about "sheriff auction" in which a room is packed with people and the auction process is much different from what I typically see. Again, this is all second hand information about "sheriff auction."

I was hoping someone would shed some light on this issue, i.e. is there two different "auction" process and it really depends on the county? Or does Boston also have "sheriff auction" but I am just missing it somehow?

thanks.