The number of properties offered for sale via real estate auction doubled in 2011, according to propertyauction.com.? Sellers of both residential and commercial property are turning to auctions as they can help drive up prices.? Locally, however, auctions are hardly popular: New York state was among the states with the lowest amount of auction activity.? Here in Buffalo, where the market went almost untouched by the national crisis, there is no need for auctions.? With a stable market, Buffalonians are still using traditional means to buy or sell real estate.