If you buy a house at "auction," can you put it on any property?

Question

A housing auction occurs when there is a housing shortage, and people want to buy more houses than there are houses available. Then houses are auctioned to the highest bidder.

My question occurs under the following scenario: Suppose you have the orange and navy blue monopolies (one cheap and one expensive). Normally, I would pay $100 a house for the ones I wanted to put on the oranges, and $200 a house for the one I would put on the navy blues.

But let's say we were short on houses so there was an auction whereby I bought the house for $300. Can I put it on New York Avenue, or must I put it on Boardwalk or Park Place, since $300 is closer to $200?

All other things being equal, I would put the house on the higher valued blue properties. But suppose Boardwalk/Park Place already had three houses each. Then the difference between the third and fourth house is $300 for Boardwalk. The oranges have only two houses each. The difference between two and thre houses is $380 for New York Ave. Would it then make sense to put the extra house on the "cheaper" property?

(In my question, I meant "can" in two different senses. The first one is "Is this allowed under any reasonable interpretation of the rules?" The second is, does this make sense under the scenario I have outlined?)

Answer 1

The rules are unclear on the exact procedure:

. Building Shortages

... If there are a limited number of houses and hotels available and two or more players wish to buy more than the Bank has, the houses or hotels must be sold at auction to the highest bidder.

My interpretation is that everyone entering the auction must announce, on entry, which Colour Group they are bidding for; and upon winning an auction must place the acquired house on that Colour Group.

Further, if an auction is being held for more than one house it is likely best that the players agree to hold separate auctions for each one. Some interesting game theoretic concepts might arise, in this circumstance, when an auction is being held for multiple houses at a single occurrence; and it would be a shame for these to not come to light.

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Update

To be clear, my proposal is:

• A house auction begins when players have stated intention to buy more houses than there are houses available.

• To have stated such intent, each player has, per force announced the Colour Group for which they are buying a house; and must have the capability of making such purchase from cash on hand (House Rule: and by mortgaging additional properties) but not by selling houses back to the bank. An invalid entry comprises Bankruptcy to the Bank - know your limits.

• Auction price always begins at $1, regardless of what combination of Colour Groups have been announced by the auction Entrants for this House(s).

• The number of houses at auction is the amount by which house demand exceeds supply. If there are 9 houses and four players announce intent to buy (for a maximum of 1 Colour Group each) 13 houses. than an auction begins for 13-9 = 4 houses.

• A bid by a valid entrant (above) is final once made. If an Entrant bids an amount greater than they can immediately pay from cash and from mortgaging undeveloped properties on undeveloped Colour Groups that entrant is Bankrupt to the Bank and out of the game.

• The Player winning each House Auction must place all houses won on any properties of the one Colour Group announced by that player as destination when entering the Auction; in accordance with the normal placement rules for houses on a Colour Group.

There are two deliberate strategic considerations explicitly available to the players here:

1. The last Player(s) into an Auction have increased ability to control the size of that Auction.

2. It is possible, and allowed, to attempt acquisition of houses more cheaply than normal through strategic auctions. The Players have an obligation to protect themselves against such activity by being in a position to compete in Auctions. this is no different from acquiring Properties cheaply in Property Auctions.

Answer 2

This is an interesting question. It is not explicitly mentioned in the rules. But there is nothing in the rules prohibiting an auction if players want houses for different tiers. And it must have been if that was the case. Besides, it is an auction so the bidders decide the value they want to pay.

There are some topics on BGG about house auctions and one person even asks the same question but it is never explicitly answered.

Answer 3

Question : If you buy a house at “auction,” can you put it on any property?

Short answer : No

According to the Monopoly 2020 World Championship rules https://www.2020monopolyworldchampionship.com/hk/MWC%20Rules%20(Eng).pdf

RUNNING OUT OF BUILDINGS If the banker has no houses left, you must wait for other players to return theirs before you can buy any.

If there is a limited number of houses or hotels left and two or more players wish to buy more than the banker has, the banker auctions them off individually to the highest bidder, starting at the lowest price shown on the relevant Title Deed card(s). Note: You can only join in the bidding if you have room for that house or hotel on one of your properties. You can never buy a house or hotel to use later.

Therefore, if there are left a limited number of houses or hotels, and at least two players want to buy some, then the bank auctions off the houses, or hotels, individually.

The bank will fix the starting price at the lowest price shown on the relevant title deed card. In other words, each bidding player must first reveal on which property the house or hotel will be legally built, if it is won.

Conclusion : A player can win a house or hotel for an price that is lower than the price indicated on the title deed.