Bid Early, Bid Often

The Second Life Auction House is officially open for business. Last week's preview auctions were an unmitigated success, and the parcels we have lined up for the official launch are even more enticing.

First to go under the hammer is a rare chance to own an entire sim. This private island, a Mature-rated oasis picturesquely located in Second Life's North West Sea, offers the winning bidder a here-to-fore unheard of opportunity to create something from a blank canvas -- the new owner will even choose the name of their island paradise. An island all to yourself to build anything that you can dream. Will it become an all-inclusive resort? A Monte Carlo of black-tie casinos and upscale shopping? Only the wining bidder will decide; this much sought after island will be auctioned to a SINGLE buyer for US DOLLARS.

Also upcoming on the auction slate are a selection of Mature-rated parcels in the new region of Magenta at the top of Second Life's Northern continent. Magenta's 35 parcels -- ranging in size from 240 square meters all they way up to 16,304 square meters (a quarter sim!) will be auctioned individually; some for US DOLLARS and others for LINDEN DOLLARS. Mature-rated parcels are in high demand, and Magenta's lush river valley landscaping is sure to make this one of Second Life's most exclusive regions.

Visit the Second Life Auction House to view the properties available for bidding. Bidding for the private island ends on Wednesday, January 7 at exactly 7:00 PM PST. As soon as the hammer falls on the island, bidding on Magenta's parcels will begin to close -- with the final auction set to end at 1:45 PM PST on Friday, January 9.

More auctions – including more new regions, sales spaces in the Luna Oaks Galleria, and stalls in Busy Ben's Vehicle Lot -- will be announced later this week.

Here's some additional information about auctions:

Auctions and "My Account"

Does the land I win in auction count against my land allocation?

Yes. Before you bid, be sure you are comfortable with paying any additional monthly fee (“tiering up”) that might be triggered. You can review your land allotment by going to “Your Account”

Can I bid on land if it would put me in a higher land tier?

Yes, you can adjust your land tier after winning the bid.

Can I bid with L$ that I don’t have?

No, the auction program checks your account to make sure you have adequate L$ to cover your bid.

Bidding and Winning

Where are the auctions located?

The auction are located at the Second Life Auction House.

How will I know if I won?

You will be notified by email so make sure your email address is up to date in "Your Account".

Is the auction legal outside the United States?

No matter where you live, Second Life insists that your transactions comply with the laws of the countries where you reside. We can't give you legal advice about your particular transaction - users are responsible for ensuring that their transactions are lawful in their country. Therefore, to avoid the potential for legal difficulties, Second Life strongly suggests that users educate themselves about the laws of their own country.

Winning and Paying

How soon will my account debited after I win?

Your account may be debited immediately (L$ from your Second Life Account or a charge on your real world credit card).

What if I want to use a different credit card?

You can change your active credit card at"Your Account". All subsequent charges, including subscription charges, will go against that card until you change it again.

Collecting Your New Land

How will I know when I can take possession of the land?

You will be notified via email and receive an IM when the land is ready.

How soon can I take possession of the land after I win the auction?

Typically, you can take possesion of the land within 24 hours.

How soon do I have to buy the land I won in the auction, and can I sell other land first?

You must purchase three days after your receive notification that the land is ready.

How do I take possession?

The land will be set for sale to the winner of the auction. You “buy” the whole parcel for $L1.

Is it possible to avoid tiering up by releasing other land before confirming a new higher tier?

Yes, you would have to return to the confirmation page after releasing the land and confirm your previous tier level.

Can I purchase land and immediately release part of it to avoid having to tier up?

No, you can’t release land until you buy it and confirm moving to a new tier.

Resolving Auction Problems

Where can I go for more information?

You should check the Knowledge Base for answers to a variety of questions.

Who do I contact if I have a problem?

You should email [email]realestatelinden@lindenlab.com[/email]

Indigo – a whole Mature sim, connected to the mainland, will go to the highest bidder of $USD.

Crimson – 25 parcels of a wide variety of sizes from 480 to 15,360 square meters will go for both $Linden and $USD. These lots include some of the best waterfront properties in Second Life. And none of the land in this sim can ever be terraformed.

For those who have yet to discover it, individual parcels are clearly visible by pressing "P".

Most auction deadlines fall on Sunday January 18 with a few more on Monday.

Link here for details and to make your bid.